Glorious God Throne

As March had just begun, a major news story broke in the Chenxing Empire.

Boom!

It was as if an atomic bomb had been dropped over the Chenxing Empire, with the terrifying shockwave hitting everyone. As Silver Capital TV Station’s noon news broadcast aired, the Chenxing Empire exploded.

#TrueNatureOfTranscendenceProject#, #EmpireScandalsExposed#, #EvilBehindTheLight#, #UnethicalHumanExperiments#, #VioletMedal:HonorOrBribery#… In the blink of an eye, these related topics shot to the top ten trending searches. The explosion of public opinion and the intense outrage of the masses were so severe that even if the empire’s upper echelons wanted to forcefully control the comments, they had to think twice.

The Shadow Council, silently manipulating everything, had merely tossed a small pebble, yet it had caused a tidal wave!

The live broadcast from Silver Capital TV Station wasn’t a pre-recorded video that could be explained away with excuses of photo manipulation. What appeared on screen was the interior of a research facility that looked highly advanced, security personnel engaging in a real armed arrest operation… If so much manpower and military resources were mobilized just to put on a show for the whole world, to frame the Transcendence Project and the empire’s higher-ups behind it, wouldn’t that require an enormous amount of energy?

At this point, even the most foolish person would find it difficult to be deceived by the lies fabricated by the empire.

Moreover, many of the people who appeared on camera were familiar faces who occasionally showed up on TV and in newspapers. Their faces were not unfamiliar to the people of the Chenxing Empire.

After all, even the lowest-ranking researchers involved in the Transcendence Project were likely top-tier figures in the scientific community of the Chenxing Empire. In this era of advanced internet, even if some of their research needed to be kept confidential, their personal identities were still public. Anyone who cared to search online could find a host of renowned scientists, scholars, or promising young talents.

Not to mention, there were also assistants, secretaries, and direct subordinates of certain high-ranking officials, as well as an imperial princess.

Afterwards, clever netizens directly annotated the figures who appeared on camera with golden text, even for those who flashed by in the corners. Those glittering titles and identities were displayed above their heads, forcibly educating even those who originally didn’t recognize them.

On this day, countless citizens of the Chenxing Empire fell into a daze.

[Is this all true? I can’t believe the Transcendence Project involves such inhumane experiments.]

[I’ve long heard that our neighbors were promoting martial arts, and I’ve been eagerly waiting for the Transcendence Project to succeed. But if this is the true face of the Transcendence Project, I can only say I’m disappointed. Research results obtained through human experimentation are not what we want, no matter what!]

[Is this the evil scientist villain from movies appearing in reality? I used to admire Dr. Wells so much, I never imagined he would be this kind of person…]

Just as emotions were running high in the Chenxing Empire, and while the world was either showing support or engaged in heated discussions, the imperial authorities suddenly issued an announcement.

—It was an announcement regarding the occupation of Silver Capital TV Station.

The announcement solemnly explained the course of events, stating that the culprits were members of a terrorist organization that had planted bombs across the empire and occupied the TV station in an attempt to intimidate the empire. Currently, the organization had been apprehended, with a few members still at large. At the end of the announcement was a list of wanted individuals and an emotionless official summary, which essentially meant:

After their arrest, members of the terrorist organization confessed that there was another person behind this case who had provided them with strategies. The sudden broadcast from the research facility after occupying Silver Capital TV Station was not part of their plan. Therefore, the authorities reasonably suspected that Leiyin was a member of another criminal group cooperating with the terrorist organization.

The subtext was clear: Anyone who could conspire with a terrorist organization planting bombs across the empire must be extremely evil. As a member of such a group, what good could Leiyin possibly be?

This announcement was clearly an attempt to take the moral high ground and discredit Leiyin first, just as they had initially wanted him as a terrorist attack suspect. If someone could collaborate with terrorists, would others still see him as a hero exposing darkness? Was the empire he attacked really that dark?

Once the announcement was made, coupled with the authorities’ subtle damage control, public opinion on the internet indeed began to shift. Many people who had nearly been killed by the bombs immediately focused their attention on the terrorists, their hatred firmly locked in place. As for Leiyin himself, no longer being seen as a perfect victim, he indeed attracted scrutiny and discussion from various perspectives, with voices of doubt constantly emerging.

The empire, manipulating public opinion behind the scenes, continued to exert pressure. They repeatedly portrayed Leiyin as a criminal, a spy recruited by other countries to deliberately smear the empire, an anti-social person who hated the empire, or a narrow-minded individual who practiced martial arts and didn’t want to see ordinary people have the chance to enter the extraordinary realm, thus deliberately sabotaging the Transcendence Project…

This overwhelming public opinion offensive was undoubtedly effective. Many voices can melt gold, and even though many people could still maintain rational judgment, a small portion of people without the ability to discern right from wrong could easily be swayed by online public opinion. At the very least, public opinion was no longer unanimously bombarding the empire.

However, a live broadcast is a live broadcast, not some fake video. Everything that happened in the research facility was real, and there was no doubt that the Transcendence Project’s use of human experiments was a hammered fact. On this point, even the most eloquent person could not refute it.

Therefore, after pushing Leiyin off his position as a perfect victim and tarnishing his image, causing some people to even think #CriminalsDon’tDeserveSympatheticTreatmentNoMatterWhat#, another voice began to emerge:

[…Has no one noticed the combat ability R displayed? Although we don’t know his real identity yet, and the camera angle couldn’t capture his fighting scenes, we can tell from the security personnel fighting him that his combat power is way off the charts. Is this the effect of the Transcendence Serum No. 1 they mentioned?]

This topic successfully diverted others’ attention.

[Although it feels wrong to say this, has the Transcendence Project made progress? Will we be able to become that strong in the future? It seems the empire wasn’t lying when they were promoting the effectiveness of the Transcendence Project recently. When will it be fully implemented? I can’t help but feel a bit excited.]

[…Me too. Although R was experimented on, he also gained great power, it’s a blessing in disguise. If the Transcendence Serum is officially implemented in the future, his contribution will naturally be part of it. He’s like a pioneer for all of us. I think awarding him the Violet Medal isn’t impossible – after all, the original intention of the Transcendence Project was good, it was for the citizens of the empire. Although the researchers’ methods were inappropriate, since the final results will be used on all of us, as future beneficiaries, we should naturally bear the sins born in this process. Whether it’s awarding the Violet Medal, offering better treatment, or seeking understanding in other ways, the bright future is right before our eyes. If we can resolve the grievances in some way, isn’t that a good thing?]

[What nonsense! If you want to bear the sins, you go ahead. How do you represent us? As for that Transcendence Serum, I will absolutely never use it, how did I become a future beneficiary? You’re quite skilled at moral kidnapping!]

[That’s just the reality. When the Transcendence Serum is released in the future, how many people will refuse to use it? Now you’re self-righteously condemning Dr. Wells, but will you be able to refuse with a clear conscience in the future? Human experiments are indeed wrong, but since it has already happened, and the Transcendence Project isn’t for anyone’s personal desires, but for the benefit of more people, for the strength of the entire empire. What we need to do now is not to condemn anyone or oppose the Transcendence Project, but to accept the facts that have occurred, compensate the victims, and prevent human experiments from happening again in the future, right?]

Similar rhetoric emerged endlessly, having a good brainwashing effect on those with weak willpower, but some people didn’t buy it.

[You start by kidnapping the whole empire, dragging everyone down, with your fancy words. I reasonably suspect you’re an official water army. Wait, will my account be gone soon?]

[The water army content is off the charts. You keep trying to distribute the consequences of your actions to all of us. Are you trying to make everyone think ‘The human experiments in the Transcendence Project were also for us, we shouldn’t be ungrateful’? This PUA is obvious. Now the officials are whitewashing everywhere, even digging up old entertainment news to trend. Who are you trying to fool? I guess the next step is to limit the flow of information, only leaving comments favorable to you, and blocking all unfavorable ones?]

[The previous comment only existed for a second before disappearing, and my account is gone too. I suspect no one saw it at all. This is a burner account now, I won’t say much, just sharing an address. Those who see this, remember to forward it. Only there can we speak freely.]

Someone shared the address of the Extraordinary Forum all over the internet, and in a very short time, a large number of new users flooded into the Extraordinary Forum, making it explode with activity in just three minutes.

At this time, the Extraordinary Forum was discussing this very topic. On this forum that even various official governments couldn’t control, people using anonymous identities spoke even more unrestrainedly.

[What kind of monsters are those people from the Chenxing Empire? I reasonably suspect someone is stirring up trouble online, guiding public opinion, speaking with such rehearsed rhetoric…]

[Isn’t the most popular argument there now moral kidnapping, portraying human experiments as a sacrifice made for the entire empire, saying everyone has a “responsibility”? If you condemn human experiments and oppose the Transcendence Project, you should first swear that you’ll never use the Transcendence Serum to become an extraordinary in the future? This argument seems quite marketable, I see many people don’t know how to respond. After all, the Transcendence Serum is so effective, many people would definitely be willing to use it if given the chance in the future.]

[Aren’t Chenxing Empire people always hypocritical? We should be used to it by now. They clearly have the martial arts cultivation method generously given by the Lord of the Heavenly Capital, yet they insist on stubbornly pursuing this Transcendence Project. That’s not all, they keep slandering our Yao Country, always coming up with conspiracy theories, constantly suspecting there are traps in the martial arts cultivation method. But it turns out their own Transcendence Project is the real problem. This is what you call asking for trouble!]

[The above comment is too much of a generalization! What does character have to do with nationality? Some individuals can’t represent our entire Chenxing Empire. At least I will absolutely not use the Transcendence Serum. I thought the Transcendence Project was for humanity’s bright future, to give every ordinary person the special power to transcend the ordinary. But if the Transcendence Project has to trample on the flesh and blood of test subjects, then this project never had a bright side from the beginning, and I absolutely cannot accept it!]

[Hmm, to be honest, it’s hard for me to confidently promise to reject the Transcendence Serum. If there really is an opportunity to become stronger in the future, I’m afraid it would be hard to give up. I can understand sacrificing some people for the benefit of the empire, but only if those sacrificed are scum. Now they’re saying R is a criminal, mixed up with terrorist organizations, but that’s because the research institute was wrong first. As an ordinary person, how else could he get the power to take revenge and expose the true face of the research institute without joining criminals? According to their conversation in the broadcast, R was clearly innocent when he was initially captured, right?]

[I agree. Death row inmates who have committed heinous crimes are one thing, I’m not very sympathetic to them. But when a law-abiding imperial citizen can be taken away for experiments, what if one day in the future, those scientists decide they need more test subjects, or simply decide that any of us are suitable for experiments? Can they just randomly take any of us to the lab? I think this is the main reason why everyone is so angry.]

[Don’t be ridiculous! This hypothesis is meaningless. Even if the Transcendence Serum really comes into existence, it won’t be our turn as ordinary citizens. On the contrary, lying on the experimental table and becoming the stepping stone for the Transcendence Serum’s creation is more likely to be our fate.]

[I agree. Humans are always quick to empathize with others, not because of overflowing sympathy, but mainly because of the fear that what happens to others could happen to oneself. When you realize this, even the most cold-hearted person can’t remain indifferent, right?]

[We need an explanation! We need the truth! Most importantly, we need a guarantee that we don’t have to worry about waking up one day in some research institute’s laboratory!]

Besides the numerous discussions targeting the Chenxing Empire, there was another post on the forum that was rapidly gaining popularity. The poster was none other than Leiyin.

He publicly revealed his identity information on the Extraordinary Forum and unreservedly shared his past experiences, from secretly practicing martial arts after his fortuitous encounter, to suddenly waking up in a laboratory one day, then the days of being experimented on, including his later escape thanks to the blessing of the Flower Speaker, and being taken away by another kind-hearted person. He hardly concealed anything.

— Except for the fact that the kind-hearted person was the notorious wanted criminal K, and that he had already joined the Shadow Council.

Indeed. After all, the Shadow Council was an organization hidden in the shadows. It didn’t need excessive promotion that would draw too much attention.

His post attracted countless people’s attention.

Even some martial arts practitioners who had been lurking were stirred up.

These martial arts practitioners were divided into two groups. Due to the restrictions in the Chenxing Empire, the number of domestic martial arts practitioners was almost countable, mostly those who had gained fortuitous encounters last time. Originally, they had signed confidentiality agreements and were explicitly and implicitly instructed by the higher-ups to keep a low profile. But Leiyin’s identity as a fellow martial arts practitioner suddenly awakened them. The remaining 99% of martial arts practitioners were from other countries.

Leiyin’s identity made these previously uninvolved people suddenly empathize with the situation, and they all became agitated.

[Wow! You’re actually a martial arts practitioner too? How did you get caught? You must be really weak. No, just kidding, I mean, the Chenxing Empire is going too far! This is a provocation to all of us martial arts practitioners!]

[Goodness. I really didn’t expect them to be so outrageous. I’ll be frank, I’m also a martial arts practitioner from the Chenxing Empire, one of those who experienced the Sword Realm back then. After we returned, we were all monitored by the imperial authorities. Besides signing confidentiality agreements, we had to report to the Special Affairs Management Bureau periodically, and some of us had blood drawn. They claimed it was because no one had ever practiced martial arts before, and they were concerned about potential hidden risks if we explored cultivation on our own. I believed their lies before, but now I wonder, did they use our blood for experiments?]

[It must be so! I’m also one of those unfortunate ones who had blood drawn. Now I feel terrible. I can’t believe I trusted them!]

[…Is the environment in the Chenxing Empire really that treacherous? In our country, except for some high-level confidential information that can’t be leaked casually, people of all ages can practice martial arts. We even have martial arts classes for the public, and nothing bad has happened, let alone blood drawing.]

[Add me to the list of unfortunate blood donors. Should we be grateful that our disappearance and return back then caused such a big stir that everyone recognized us, making it inconvenient for them to directly kidnap us and turn us into missing persons? Otherwise, I fear it wouldn’t have just been blood drawing.]

The truth revealed by Leiyin ignited the fury of a group of martial arts practitioners. If most of the martial arts practitioners weren’t concentrated in several Eastern countries, there might have been impulsive individuals rushing to the gates of the Chenxing Empire’s imperial palace to cause trouble.

However, the content shared by these people, one after another, made others even more fearful, especially the people of the Chenxing Empire, who no longer dared to harbor any hope.

— If Leiyin, as a powerful martial arts practitioner, was powerless against the imperial machine, wouldn’t ordinary people be even more vulnerable? If the Transcendence Project were allowed to continue, and the evil human experiments weren’t stopped, who knew who the next victim would be?

A tidal wave of shock instantly stirred up the entire Chenxing Empire.

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