Chapter 406: The War of Public Opinion, the Manifestation of Void Energy

Lin Jiangjun gestured for him to sit down: "I have already heard some things. 'Star Brain Syndrome', right? And the news that your 'Five Elements City Guardian Network' has been listed as an illegal organization."

Lin Xuan was surprised by the old man's well-informed nature, but immediately thought that, given Lin Jiangjun's status and background, these things were not strange.

"The situation is much more serious than it appears on the surface," Lin Xuan said straightforwardly, "Behind the 'Star Brain' devices is a global infiltration plan by Void forces. On the Summer Solstice Day two days from now, all devices will activate simultaneously, forming a Void Energy network covering the globe."

The old man's expression did not fluctuate in the slightest, as if he had long anticipated such shocking news: "Do you have conclusive evidence?"

Lin Xuan took a data chip from his bag: "This records all the data we obtained from the Star Technology secret Data Center, including the detailed content of the 'Global Synchronization Project', as well as the technical principles of how 'Star Brain' devices alter user brainwaves and reduce resistance to Void Energy."

Lin Jiangjun took the chip and inserted it into the terminal device on the table. Half an hour later, he finished reading all the data, his face becoming extremely grave.

"I have always known of the existence of the Void threat, but I did not expect it to have infiltrated to this extent," the old man said, "I will contact Marshal Long immediately regarding the arrest warrant signed by Wei Buzhang and strive to delay its execution. As for the problem of the 'Star Brain' devices, more evidence is needed to convince the higher-ups."

Lin Xuan nodded: "We are collecting more cases and evidence. But time is tight, and the Summer Solstice Day is approaching."

The old man pondered for a moment: "I will do everything I can to help you, but you must also prepare to face the worst-case scenario. If the 'Global Synchronization Project' truly launches, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Lin Xuan said solemnly: "We have already deployed a Five Elements defensive array covering the entire city, hoping to slow the spread of Void Energy at the critical moment. But this is only a stopgap measure; the most fundamental solution is still to stop the launch of the project."

It was late at night when he left Lin Jiangjun's residence. Lin Xuan stood at the edge of the forest, looking at the city lights in the distance, his mood complex. For the past few years, they had been fighting against the Void forces in the shadows, never imagining that one day they would step into the light in this way.

Tomorrow, they will face a government manhunt; the day after, all of humanity will face an unprecedented crisis. Time is running out, but Lin Xuan knows that no matter the result, they must give it their all.

Back in the car, Lin Xuan started the engine and drove toward the city. The communicator suddenly rang, and it was Xu Feng's urgent voice: "Teacher Lin, just received news, the 'Global Synchronization Project' has been moved up to the eve of the Summer Solstice Day! We have less than 36 hours left!"

Lin Xuan's gaze became even more determined: "Notify everyone, prepare for the final battle."

It was three in the morning when Lin Xuan returned to headquarters from the old general's residence. Pushing open the door to the conference room, he was surprised to find the core members still working intensely, not a single person having left.

"The situation has changed," Xiao Yuan greeted him, handing him a cup of hot tea, "The old general's actions were even more swift than we anticipated."

Xu Feng pointed to the news feed on the big screen: "The arrest warrant has been temporarily suspended. According to internal news, three generals of the Central Military Commission jointly requested a re-evaluation of the evidence. This has bought us precious time."

Lin Xuan nodded; the old general's influence was greater than he had anticipated. "But this is only a temporary victory; we must use this window of time to make more preparations."

"It is in progress," Xu Feng switched the screen to show a carefully edited video, "This is the 'Star Brain Hazards' video material I compiled from laboratory surveillance, hospital reports, and witness testimonies. It has already been released to the internet through anonymous channels."

On the screen, the video displayed the abnormal effects of 'Star Brain' devices on users in a calm and objective tone—eyes changing color, black patterns appearing on the skin, violent and out-of-control behavior, and most shockingly, the manifestation of Void Energy. An ordinary office worker on the street was suddenly able to release destructive black-purple energy, destroying two cars.

"The video has been out for just two hours, and the view count has already exceeded thirty million," Xu Feng said, "Major global social media platforms are going viral, and the #StarBrainTruth tag has already reached the top of the trending list."

Lin Xuan finished watching the video with a complex expression. They had finally brought the Void threat into the public eye, but this also meant the battle had shifted from behind the scenes to the front, and the situation would become even more complex and difficult to control.

"What is Star Technology's reaction?" he asked.

Xiao Yuan handed him a statement: "As expected, they claim this is malicious smearing by business competitors, asserting that the video is synthetic fake content, and emphasizing that 'Star Brain' devices have passed all safety certifications."

Just then, Xu Feng's monitoring system suddenly sounded an alarm. "Look at this," he quickly pulled up dozens of social media posts, "A group of loyal 'Star Brain' users has started a collective counterattack."

On the screen, these users were unanimously sharing their "positive experiences" with using 'Star Brain'—clearer thinking, enhanced creativity, and even the ability to perceive "frequencies that ordinary people cannot understand." More unsettlingly, some users described this experience as "evolution," declaring that 'Star Brain' is leading humanity toward a "brand-new cognitive level."

"These are not ordinary internet trolls," Lin Xuan pointed out keenly, "Look at their way of expression and word choice; they are already deeply affected by the Void. Void Energy has already begun to alter their thought patterns."

Zhou Zhuo analyzed the data: "Currently, opinions on social media are clearly divided. According to our statistics, about 40% of people believe our exposure content, 35% firmly support 'Star Brain', and the remaining 25% are taking a wait-and-see attitude."

Lin Xuan pondered for a moment: "The war of public opinion is only the beginning; Yage and Yang Zhiyuan will not sit idly by. We must be prepared to deal with an even stronger counterattack."

Sure enough, at noon that day, Star Technology held an emergency press conference. Yang Zhiyuan attended in person, speaking eloquently to the global media with a confident and composed expression.

"The so-called 'Star Brain Hazards' video circulating online recently has been confirmed by professional institutions to be fake content produced using deepfake technology," Yang Zhiyuan said in a firm voice, "Regarding this malicious smearing behavior, we will reserve the right to pursue legal action. At the same time, I must emphasize that 'Star Brain' devices have passed strict testing by major global authoritative certification bodies, and their safety is beyond doubt."

He skillfully shifted the topic: "More importantly, I am very happy to announce here that 'Star Brain' technology is about to undergo a major upgrade. The new version will be pushed globally tomorrow, and users will experience smoother thought-boosting, more precise emotional management, and a brand-new 'Group Resonance' function."