Minutes stretched under Li Wei's relentless assault. Kai was breathing heavily, his Qi reserves noticeably depleting as he constantly reinforced his defenses and evaded the most powerful blows. The Combat Module continued to drain his points, pushing his debt further into the negative. [-10 Points. Debt: 17]. But Li Wei, despite his superior cultivation, was also beginning to show signs of exertion. Maintaining such a high-intensity offense wasn't easy, even for a Peak Level 9 disciple. His arrogance had led him to try for a quick knockout, and Kai's unexpected resilience was frustrating him.

  "Still standing, worm?" Li Wei sneered, pausing momentarily to catch his breath. "Your endurance is surprising. But playtime is over!"

  He began gathering Qi for a more powerful technique, one of the signature moves of the Azure Cloud Art available at Qi Condensation Level 9 – the 'Azure Dragon's Roar'. A visible vortex of blue Qi began swirling around his fists, radiating immense pressure.

  Kai saw his chance. Li Wei was momentarily stationary, focused on gathering energy. It was time to stop just defending and show some teeth.

  "My endurance might surprise you, Senior Brother," Kai replied, his voice steady despite his ragged breathing. "But perhaps my strength will too."

  He took a deep, calming breath, focusing his intent. He pushed the Azure Cloud Qi Manual circulating within him to its absolute limit, drawing deeply on his refined Level 7 Qi reserves. He didn't just activate the Combat Module; he mentally commanded it: Full Combat Optimization! Prioritize offensive counters!

  [Full Optimization Engaged. Increased Point Drain Rate: 15 Points/minute. Predicting and suggesting counter-attack vectors based on opponent's technique buildup.] [-5 Points. Debt: 22 Points].

  A surge of clarity, sharper than before, flooded Kai's mind. The system highlighted micro-fluctuations in Li Wei's Qi vortex, potential weaknesses in his stance as he focused, optimal timings for interruption.

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  Instead of waiting for the attack, Kai moved. He exploded forward, his speed surprising Li Wei, who was still charging his technique. Kai didn't aim for Li Wei himself, but for the swirling vortex of Qi around his fists. He poured his own Azure Cloud Qi into his carbon fiber bokken, not in a brute force strike, but in a precise, rapidly vibrating thrust aimed at a specific node identified by the Combat Module.

  Fizzle! Pop!

  Kai’s bokken met the edge of the forming 'Azure Dragon's Roar'. Instead of a massive explosion, the focused vibration and targeted Qi injection disrupted the delicate energy balance Li Wei was trying to maintain. The vortex destabilized, collapsing inwards with a pathetic fizzle, sending harmless sparks of Qi scattering.

  Li Wei stared in disbelief, his ultimate move dispersed before it could even fully form. "Impossible! How did you-?"

  Kai didn't give him time to recover. Flowing seamlessly from the disruption, he launched his own offensive. His bokken became a blur, striking not with overwhelming power, but with speed and precision, targeting Li Wei's wrists, elbows, and knees – points crucial for executing techniques. Each tap carried a sharp burst of Level 7 Qi, enough to sting and disrupt.

  Clack! Clack! Thud!

  Li Wei, caught off guard by the sudden, aggressive counter-attack and the failure of his signature move, was forced back. He tried to re-establish his offense, but Kai, guided by the fully optimized Combat Module and fueled by his own significant Qi reserves, pressed the attack relentlessly. He wasn't just defending anymore; he was dictating the pace of the fight.

  The crowd gasped. Kai, the Level 7 trickster, was actually pushing back Li Wei, the Peak Level 9 powerhouse! His movements were fast, his control exquisite, his Qi surprisingly potent. He was revealing a level of strength and swordsmanship that his previous gadget-reliant victories had hidden. This wasn't just tricks anymore; this was genuine skill, honed and amplified. He parried one of Li Wei's desperate, less-focused palm strikes with surprising ease, the force seemingly vanishing against his resilient bokken and hidden padding.

  Li Wei’s arrogance finally cracked, replaced by genuine frustration and a dawning realization: this opponent was far more dangerous than he had imagined.