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

The scene was completely silent.

Wang Xian's voice echoed in the silence:

"Will you be afraid? Will you be angry? Will you...despair?"

"As long as talent transplant technology exists, this fear will loom over every ordinary family."

"Today, they can kidnap me for an S-level talent. Tomorrow, they can kidnap your child for an A-level talent. The day after tomorrow, they can kidnap your younger siblings for a B-level talent."

"Because of this technology, talent has become a commodity that can be taken away and traded at will!"

Wang Xian's voice grew louder and louder:

"Those who are rich and powerful can use this technology to monopolize the best talents forever."

"And ordinary people, even if they awaken the greatest talent, will only become prey in their eyes!"

"What is this?"

"This is another form of enslavement! A talent monopoly that is far more terrifying than monetary or power monopolies!"

Below the stage, many reporters began to breathe rapidly.

In the live stream chat, countless netizens began to spam the screen:

"He's right! This technology is terrifying!"

"I have a nephew with B-level talent, and now I'm really starting to worry!"

"This technology must not be allowed to exist! Absolutely not!"

Looking at the reactions of the crowd below the stage, Wang Xian knew in her heart that the emotions had been right.

He slowly stood up.

His back was ramrod straight.

Looking at the camera, and at the countless eyes behind it, he spoke each word with utmost solemnity:

"So today, in front of everyone, I am going to make my choice."

Even if... this choice will make me completely lose hope of becoming stronger.

Even if... this choice means I'll never be able to stand before those who plotted against me and personally seek justice.

"Even if... this choice will make me fail as the son of Major General Wang Quan and the grandson of Marshal Wang Junba."

He paused.

The audience was silent.

Everyone was waiting for his next words.

Wang Xian took a deep breath, and her voice suddenly rose:

"but--"

"I'd rather have no future than let talent transplantation technology continue to exist in this world!"

"I would rather remain an ordinary person forever than let any ordinary family live in fear and shadow because of this technology!"

"I would rather forgo any opportunity for revenge than let my fellow countrymen live in constant fear that their children or family members will mysteriously disappear because they have awakened their good talents!"

His voice boomed through the hall like thunder:

"Therefore, I hereby declare—"

"All core data, experimental information, and research findings related to the talent transplantation technology will be completely destroyed today, in front of everyone!"

"This technology will disappear from this world forever from this day forward!"

boom--

The entire venue erupted in cheers!

The applause came like a tidal wave and lasted for a long time!

Countless reporters stood up and applauded wildly!

Many people had red eyes and were frantically pressing the shutter button!

The live stream chat was completely flooded with comments:

"Holy crap!! He actually did it!!"

"Wang Xian is awesome!!!!"

"This is the son of a hero! This is the grandson of a marshal!"

"I cried! He really gave up his own future for us ordinary people!"

"Wang Xian! Wang Xian! Wang Xian!!!"

The comments section was filled with nothing but praise, affirmation, and admiration!

Wang Xian stood on the stage, looking at the boiling crowd below and listening to the thunderous applause around her.

He knew that his first objective had been perfectly achieved.

A great deal of prestige has already been acquired.

Moreover, this prestige was not earned by the Wang family's power or the old man's name, but by Wang Xian himself, through his choices, his sacrifices, and his sense of righteousness, bit by bit!

From this day forward, no one in the entire Great Xia Empire will be unaware of the name Wang Xian.

Everyone knows it.

There was a young man who gave up his future for the peace and tranquility of millions of ordinary families.

Just then—

online.

Countless pre-prepared online troll accounts began to operate silently.

Posts and comments sprang up like mushrooms after rain:

"Wait! Don't you guys find this strange? The deal Wang Xian just mentioned—offering an A-level talent to quell public opinion in exchange for technology and the release of the person… Don't you guys find the outline of that 'certain person' familiar?"

"Don't talk nonsense, you need evidence for this kind of thing!"

"Evidence? Fine, then let me ask you, who does the Provincial Inspector Li Mo work for? The Long family of the capital! That's no secret in the entire circle!"

"Also, look at this link—this is a photo of Li Mo attending a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a company under the Long family three years ago. Who's standing next to him? The second master of the Long family!"

"And this—this is Li Mo's son, who is currently studying at a prestigious academy sponsored by the Long family, with tuition completely free!"

"Coincidence? So many coincidences?"

Pieces of evidence and analyses, like precision-guided missiles, began to spread wildly on the internet.

At the very beginning.

It was just some "enthusiastic netizens" forwarding and commenting.

then.

More and more people are starting to notice this information.

Then, the anger began to shift.

"Holy crap! Is the Long family behind this?!"

"The Long family?! The Long family, one of the four top families in the capital?!"

"Why are they targeting Wang Xian? Just because he's Wang Quan's son? Just because they fear his future power?!"

"How despicable! Cursing Bai E to death, destroying someone's talent! Manipulating public opinion, forcing someone to hand over their technology! Is this even human?!"

The netizens, whose emotions had been ignited by Wang Xian's speech, were now like a pile of dry tinder, ready to burst into flames with just a spark.

The evidence presented by the online trolls is that spark.

"Brothers, isn't the Long family a family of beast tamers? Aren't their businesses related to exotic beasts?!"

"That's right! The Long family owns hundreds of exotic beast pet shops, exotic beast feed factories, and exotic beast hospitals across the country!"

"Let's go! Let's go leave them terrible reviews!"

Leave a message on their official website!

"They need to give us an explanation!"

Within just one hour.

Longjia's offline stores across the country began to see a large number of "angry customers".

These people didn't engage in looting or vandalism; they simply stood at the door, holding up their phones, repeatedly playing video clips of Wang Xian's speech, and then loudly questioning:

"Why is your Long family targeting Wang Xian?!"

"Why curse and destroy the vessel of his talent?!"

"Why force him to hand over his technology?!"

The shop assistants were completely bewildered and at a loss for words when asked the question.

on-line.

The number of comments on all of the Long family's official accounts has skyrocketed, and they are all questions and condemnations:

"The Long family should come out and take their punishment!"

"How dare you bully an orphan who has just regained his identity?!"

"This is the power structure of the four major families? Bah!"

The stock price of the Long family began to plummet.