Replace me as the top scholar? Go talk to my Marshal Grandpa!

"Through perseverance and talent, they climbed out of the mud step by step... Amazing! Absolutely amazing!"

"The Bai family father and son are truly beasts! Seeing that someone had no background and was easy to bully, they directly resorted to murder and robbed them of their life!"

Public opinion quickly tipped in Wang Xian's favor.

Netizens felt sorry for his plight, admired his perseverance, and were deeply disgusted by the Bai family's actions.

Some astute netizens even noticed a more crucial point:

"Holy crap! Guys, haven't you realized how serious this is?"

"This young man named Wang Xian's S-level talent was 'extracted' and then 'transplanted' into Bai E's body!"

"What does this mean?"

"This means that Hengjin Group, or rather the Bai family, has mastered 'talent transplantation technology'?!"

"Holy crap!!! This is terrifying to think about! If this technology really exists and can be used..."

"Wouldn't that mean kids from ordinary families like us, who are lucky enough to have some talent, just become 'mobile talent pools' in the eyes of the wealthy and powerful?"

"If they can kidnap the top provincial scorer today, can they target the top city or district scorer tomorrow? Can they even arbitrarily strip away someone's talent just because they fancy them?"

"This is horrific! This isn't just a simple crime; it's shaking the very foundations of our society! It's extinguishing all hope for the poorest of the poor!!!"

hiss! ! !

Panic spread like a plague.

Not only the hundreds of thousands of netizens online, but even some of the reporters and anchors at the scene who had been heavily bribed by Hengjin Group to guide public opinion and cheer for the Bai family felt a chill after hearing this speculation.

They may have accepted money, or they may have been afraid of the Bai family's power.

But in essence, most of them are just ordinary people, or come from ordinary families.

They also have children, or they themselves were once young people with dreams.

If "talent transplantation technology" truly exists and can be abused at will by the powerful and wealthy...

If the Bai family can target Wang Xian for a provincial champion today, will other wealthy families target them or their relatives for a municipal champion or a genius teenager tomorrow?

This is no longer a simple matter of taking sides or professional ethics; it touches upon everyone's most fundamental sense of security and bottom line for survival!

In a short time.

The atmosphere at the scene underwent a subtle yet dramatic change.

Some reporters or anchors who had originally intended to speak up for the Bai family showed drastic changes in their expressions, their eyes revealing surprise and unease.

Their gazes toward Zhao Lan were filled with scrutiny and fear.

at last.

A reporter from a major online media outlet, his voice trembling slightly, broke the eerie atmosphere.

He struggled to point the microphone at Zhao Lan, whose face was as pale as paper:

"Ms. Zhao... Ms. Zhao!"

"Please respond directly to the accusations made by this student, Wang Xian, especially regarding 'talent stripping and transplantation'!"

"Is Hengjin Group truly conducting research on this technology? Is this the real reason Mr. Bai E obtained his S-level talent?!"

This question was like a spark that ignited the suppressed panic and doubts of other journalists.

"Yes! Ms. Zhao, please explain clearly!"

"Is this related to Hengjin Group's significant investments in its biotechnology division in recent years?"

Does this technology exist? Has it been successfully applied?

"Ms. Zhao, please don't avoid this! This concerns the future of millions of ordinary people!"

The barrage of questions was no longer the kind of guided, biased "questioning of law enforcement" as before, but rather a soul-searching inquiry that went straight to the core and concerned everyone's vital interests.

The camera remained fixed on Zhao Lan.

It records every detail of her face drained of color, her eyes filled with panic, and her lips trembling.

Zhao Lan was completely panicked.

Known for her tendency to argue unreasonably, throw tantrums, and use emotions and background to intimidate others, she has never faced such a sharp, incisive, and panic-inducing interrogation.

"I...this..."

Zhao Lan's mind went blank, and she stammered, unable to utter a complete sentence.

It seemed that Zhao Lan was about to completely break down in front of the camera, pushing the matter into an irreversible abyss.

Zhao Mingyuan, the chief legal counsel of Hengjin Group, who had been hiding in the back of the crowd with a solemn expression, knew that he had to step forward.

He quickly squeezed next to Zhao Lan, shielding her slightly behind him, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, and forced a calm yet slightly angry "professional" expression onto his face.

"Dear friends in the media! Please remain calm! Don't be misled by the alarmist claims of those with ulterior motives!"

Zhao Mingyuan spoke loudly, trying to intimidate the crowd with his imposing manner.

He directly targeted Wang Xian, his tone stern:

"Mr. Wang Xian, you keep accusing my client of kidnapping, imprisoning, and stripping you of your talent, but where is your evidence?"

"Besides your empty talk, what substantial evidence do you have?"

"Could it be that you underperformed in the martial arts college entrance exam this time, failing to become the provincial top scorer, and thus became jealous and resentful towards Bai E, who achieved the provincial top scorer with his S-level talent and strength? That's why you fabricated such an absurd and bizarre story, even going so far as to cooperate with certain law enforcement officers who abuse their power to stage this slander and frame-up drama?!"

Zhao Mingyuan's words were extremely malicious.

Not only did they deny all the accusations, but they also portrayed Wang Xian as a slanderer whose mentality was twisted by failure, while implying that Sun Tianrui colluded with her.

He knew it all too well.

In the absence of publicly available evidence.

Shifting the focus, creating doubts, and smearing the opponent are the most effective strategies.

Before Wang Xian and Sun Tianrui could object, Zhao Mingyuan suddenly raised his wrist, revealing the expensive holographic projection watch on his wrist, and quickly operated it a few times.

A clear blue light shone from the watch, forming a clear holographic light screen about two meters square in the open space in front of the police station.

The scene that appeared on the screen stunned everyone present and in the live broadcast room.

That appears to be a clip from an official press conference.

In the center of the image.

A middle-aged man in a well-tailored suit, with a serious and dignified expression, is speaking.

The words "Nansha Province Higher Education Department" were clearly printed on the backdrop behind him.

The man's name tag clearly read "Deputy Director: Huang Wentao".

In the video, Deputy Director Huang Wentao speaks to the camera in an official and affirmative tone:

"...After final verification and confirmation by the Higher Education Department of our province, Bai E, a candidate from Xingquan City, has a genuine and valid S-level talent test, and all his assessment scores are correct, meeting all the standards and procedures for the top scorer in the martial arts college entrance examination in our province."

"His status as the top scorer in the province can withstand any scrutiny."

"We are determined to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of every candidate, and we are also determined to defend the fairness and impartiality of the college entrance examination..."

The video is very short.

But it contains a tremendous amount of information!

Zhao Mingyuan turned off the projector at the opportune moment, a smug smile of confidence appearing on his face.

He glanced around the room, his gaze lingering for a moment on Wang Xian and Sun Tianrui's faces, then raised his voice:

"Everyone saw it!"

"This information was personally confirmed by Vice Director Huang of the Provincial Department of Education through official channels!"

"Bai E's status as the top scorer in the province has been officially confirmed by the highest education authority in our province! It has indisputable legal validity and credibility!"

He pointed at Wang Xian again, his tone aggressive:

"Then let me ask you, what gives you the right to question the provincial education department's official assessment when you can't even produce any evidence?"

"Between your statement and Deputy Director Huang's official confirmation, which is more credible?"

"Isn't this the most blatant slander and frame-up?!"