The event at the Stockholm Concert Hall lasted only half an hour, but Zheng Li spent several months preparing for it.

Just the sight of countless crows flying around required him to both enhance his spellcasting abilities and ensure that the scientists on Earth wouldn't discover any abnormalities in their bodies after he left. This task alone consumed a great deal of his energy.

After the connection to consciousness was severed, the main body in Kuala Lumpur suddenly opened its eyes. The trigger had already been pulled, and Zheng Li could only wait and see what the subsequent effects would be.

He can at most make a rough prediction through deduction, but no one can predict the actual future trend.

Zheng Li's abilities indeed greatly shocked all the countries on Earth, significantly increasing their interest in magic.

Many countries that lack the capital to participate in this game are also trying to gain entry by forming alliances and conspiring with other countries.

Originally, Singapore was promoting joint development among ASEAN countries, and the joint development group made rapid progress in its early stages. However, they were unable to reach a compromise on who should take the lead.

Although the joint research institute has been established and research on cosmic coordinate systems for the search for intelligent life is underway, progress has been slow.

Apart from Singapore sending a top-notch R&D team, the other ASEAN participating countries only sent a handful of people.

After Zheng Liren's miraculous appearance, the Indian side, after more than a year of research, realized that it would take too long to rely on themselves.

India cannot tolerate allying with a major northern power, which is why they want to get involved in ASEAN.

Singapore is clearly unwilling to do so. Without India, relying on strategic alliances and Singapore's own R&D capabilities, it is an achievable goal for Singapore to take the initiative in the alliance after achieving results.

However, after India came in, its size and national strength guaranteed that Singapore simply couldn't compete.

The day after the Nobel Prize ceremony, India contacted ASEAN through official channels, expressing its hope to form a joint research and development team on magic and technology with ASEAN.

Upon receiving the news, Singapore immediately lobbied among ASEAN member states, stating that ten countries were sufficient and there was no need for any other forces to join.

As for Japan, after directly experiencing the power of magic, a magic craze swept through the people.

The government has also appropriately announced joint research plans with England and Australia, indicating that it will make every effort in this direction in the future.

Governments around the world know that information cannot be suppressed; the only solution is to appropriately lift restrictions and make some less important information public.

The Chinese government's department responsible for external communications even directly addressed the BBC's questions during routine press conferences.

"Yes, the new genetically modified seeds from China Seed Industry Group are a product of the combination of technology and magic."

We firmly believe that combining magic and science can better promote technological development and bring benefits to the general public.

This news is an open secret among major countries, and releasing it appropriately is also a way to flex their muscles.

Moreover, the reason Merlin reacted so strongly was because America's probing behavior backfired.

The news has spread to this point and can no longer be contained, yet China can still stand on the moral high ground and criticize America.

Merlin did not harm anyone's life in public, so the general public did not feel much fear or worry.

This sparked another round of heated discussion on domestic social media:

"While English magicians are dominating the Stockholm Concert Hall, Chinese magicians are quietly farming and researching seeds in the fields. Is this the romance of the Chinese? I love it!"

Because Merlin is a wizard from England in mythology, and there is currently no official statement about his true identity, public opinion temporarily considers him to be English.

As for Merlin being an alien, that's just speculation; most people believe that magic has existed on Earth since ancient times.

"Perhaps only Chinese magicians are engaged in industrial research rather than fighting and killing."

"Farming is truly a racial talent of the Chinese people."

"I also want to study magic and contribute to my country. Can I choose to apply to the Chinese Magic Academy for postgraduate studies? I'm willing to take the entrance exam even if it requires a score of 450."

"I second that. I hope the country will provide everyone with a fair opportunity to learn magic. I also want to apply to a magic academy next year."

"I'd like to know how magicians are selected in our country?"

"Will there be an application number for the China Magic Academy in next year's college entrance examination? I won't mind that the last two characters of its name are 'academy'."

The conversation gradually veered off-topic to how to learn magic, and everyone was eagerly anticipating Merlin's grand performance at the Stockholm Concert Hall.

How wonderful it would be if I could have magic too.

Many posts have veered off-topic into the realm of cultivating immortality:

"Since Western magic really exists, what about the cultivation of immortality in China? Logically speaking, cultivation of immortality should also exist."

"My home is right next to Mount Emei. I'll go up Mount Emei tomorrow to find out what's going on."

In recent years, any ancient Chinese Taoist texts with the word "law" in their titles have fetched high prices at auctions.

Highly sought after by collectors, who knows, there might really be some clues about cultivation hidden inside.

Chinese officials were pressed for answers, while in England, where the matter was more directly linked, reporters and members of the public surrounded 10 Downing Street that evening, demanding an explanation from the Prime Minister.

English journalists are much more aggressive than their Chinese counterparts; some threw stones and smashed windows, while others brought empty wine bottles to do so.

We demand an explanation!

We demand an explanation!

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!