I looked down at him, my expression unreadable. "It was the consequence of relying on a forbidden weapon, Senior Li. And the price of underestimating your opponent."
I turned and walked away from the prostrate bully. The energy barrier around the platform shimmered and vanished. A hush still lay over the crowd, but it was slowly giving way to a buzz of excited chatter.
"Did you see that?"
"He didn't even hit him!"
"Li's staff… it lost its aura instantly!"
"Han Xiao… he’s completely different."
I approached the proctors, my face carefully neutral, masking the faint exhaustion from the concentrated exertion. "The duel is concluded."
The proctor who had sneered at me earlier looked thoroughly unnerved. He quickly scribbled something on his tablet, his hand shaking slightly. "Victory… H
