Versatile Mage: Starting with the White Tiger Pendant
Chapter 277: Public Outcry

Chapter 277: Chapter 277: Public Outcry

The internet was in an uproar.

Lu Jun’s slaughter, fueled by international current affairs and the momentum of the National Institute Competition, generated an astonishing level of publicity.

As more and more people recognized Lu Jun, the previously one-sided public opinion began to shift. However, with the conclusive truth not yet released, the general public’s concerns about an unstable living environment exploded, and the debate grew increasingly fierce.

Both sides argued their positions, neither able to dominate.

"A national team captain? Acting so recklessly he’s probably just some spoiled rich kid. I think he deserves even harsher punishment."

"Heh, members of the national institute are this arrogant? All bark at home, useless abroad. No wonder our performance has always been poor just a bunch of scum representing us. We demand a full investigation and accountability."

Soon, the opposing side stood up to refute.

"You don’t understand anything. Lu Jun from Pearl Institute isn’t that kind of person. He’s a hero he took out the Blue-Clothed Deacon in Magic City and dealt with the Black Serpent incident in Hangzhou."

"I’m a student from the Water Element Court of Pearl Institute. I’ve interacted with Chairman Lu he’s gentle and upright, not someone bloodthirsty or mad."

"Exactly! You know nothing yet spout nonsense here. I believe there’s more to the story."

"Come on, if I had a bright future like his, why would I throw it all away and ruin myself?"

In Magic City, Hangzhou, the Ancient Capital, and other regions, many who knew Lu Jun spoke out in his defense.

Eventually, once Magic City deemed the timing right, they released the truth through major media and information channels. The public learned the facts, and in an instant, public opinion flipped.

"The Lu family’s Lu Xin and his son attempted to force National Team Captain Lu Jun to withdraw by threatening the families of other team members, paving the way for their direct descendant Lu Yilin to take his place. Their tactics were insidious, and they deserve severe punishment..."

A few hundred words laid out the entire sequence of events clearly, fully exposing the vile conduct of Lu Xin’s branch of the Lu family.

The most brilliant part was how the statement subtly revealed Lu Jun’s identity as a commoner’s son, aligning him with the general populace and resonating deeply with countless ordinary people.

As for the mage duel and resulting death, it was defined as a private dispute within the Lu family’s personal territory not encouraged, but not illegal.

Moreover, to protect Lu Jun and his family, Ding Yumian’s name was withheld and only referred to as a relative. In every way, the public narrative was handled flawlessly.

"Hahaha, I knew Lu Jun couldn’t be the kind of person who disregards human life! Now that the truth is out, what do you losers have to say?"

"Damn the Lu family! Honestly, if I were in Lu Jun’s shoes, I’d probably go even further."

"For real. Thankfully, Lu Jun had power. If he were just an ordinary student, powerless and facing this kind of pressure, he wouldn’t even have had the means to fight back or go down swinging. All I can say is well done!"

"These noble families are all parasites! Interfering with national team selection is exactly why our results have been poor. Framing even the national team captain? Outrageous."

"Huh? Isn’t that user ID the same one who was slamming Lu Jun earlier? You clown, you dropped your ID card!"

The public was furious, rallying behind Lu Jun with overwhelming support. The Lu family was cursed left and right, their associated industries taking heavy damage and suffering huge losses, forced to cower and remain silent.

This might’ve been the only gap in the official statement, but the Lu family had it coming those in power simply couldn’t be bothered to defend them.

The wave of public opinion spread rapidly, affecting many noble families. They were forced to scramble and clarify that they had never done anything similar.

Seeing that the moment had arrived, the Five Great Mentors took the opportunity to push through reforms abolishing the system in which the institutes and the military operated independently in national selection. At the same time, a supervisory body was established, and all events involving the national team would henceforth be documented and released as documentaries.

The former meant that even if a noble family managed to push their candidate into official membership using connections, that individual would still have to compete against military candidates. Without strength, they’d still be eliminated ensuring that the team would rather have no one than take someone unqualified.

It must be known that the Guardian Faction had only three spots in the past, making the competition extremely fierce. Many powerful contenders walked away empty-handed, while some good-for-nothing scions openly secured those spots. This unfairness had long stirred public outrage.

The second reform brought in the power of the common people for oversight, which raised public awareness of the National Team and promoted the development of the competition. Of course, the identities and cultivation levels of National Team members remained confidential only their daily lives and mentor guidance were filmed.

These two reforms greatly benefited the National Team. The overall strength of future teams was expected to improve to a certain degree.

The national mentors had long wanted to change the old system, which had become a shackle. Now was the perfect time to act.

For a time, the public rejoiced while the noble families were furious, but they didn’t dare blame the Ministry of Public Security instead, they turned their rage on the Lu Family. Day after day, it was always you stirring up trouble. Well, look where that got us now no one gets to play.

On the military plane, Lu Jun scrolled through his phone. The reversal in public opinion came as no surprise to him. The few bleeding-heart keyboard saints didn’t even require his rebuttal netizens found them and flamed them to death.

Because anti-fans who still dared to defend the Lu Family at this point were so rare, they incited netizens’ excitement. Every time one was spotted, a swarm would pounce like the six major sects besieging the Bright Summit.

"I hope when your parents or spouse get killed, you’ll also be able to forgive the murderer."

Eventually, all the virtue-signalers disappeared, and the few who remained just stubbornly insisted, "So what? The National Team loses every year anyway. Doesn’t matter who’s on it."

This sparked widespread discussion. People had wanted to support Lu Jun, but when they remembered the past records, their confidence faltered.

Still, after the sweeping reforms, at least a glimmer of hope arose. The public quietly prayed that Lu Jun could prove them all wrong.

Zhao Manyan, seeing this, said with relief, "Glad I joined the National Team a year earlier. If I waited until next year, I couldn’t have gotten in just by spending money."

Not long after, the Guardian Faction’s plane arrived at their destination. The three disembarked, and all their identification, communicators, and other belongings were confiscated. From this point on, they would operate under aliases for the National Team training.

In Feiniao City, the group assembled—thirteen young men and women, full of spirit and ambition.

Seeing Lu Jun arrive, Ai Jiangtu let out a sigh of relief and asked, "It’s resolved now? Everything okay?"

Jiang Shaoxu looked at him with a smile, her voice teasing and seductive, "I heard what happened. Very impressive~ I like that reliable men."

Lu Jun nodded calmly and swept his gaze over the group. Most of the members already accepted him. Outsiders might just enjoy the drama, but those who knew the inside story were well aware of how powerful the Lu Family was. Lu Jun had slaughtered his way through hundreds his combat strength at the Advanced Level could truly be called earth-shattering.

He recalled the format of the National Team competition. Over the next year, they would travel to various countries to undergo trials, the key objective being to challenge other nations’ National Halls and earn Challenge Badges.

Only the thirty-two countries or regions with the highest badge count would be allowed into the final competition in Venice, serving as a preliminary selection from over 200 nations and regions to determine the final thirty-two contenders.

The format wasn’t just similar to a certain game called Pokémon, where one challenged Gym Leaders it was exactly the same.

Coincidentally, the five national mentors had already arranged a round-the-world route. The first stop was the birthplace of that game—"The Country of Living the Comfortable Little Life."

Mo Fan grumbled, "Right now, we’ve got no identity, no money, and we’ve been dumped in a remote coastal fishing village. How the hell are we supposed to get to Yingzhou?"