12: Shi Li's technique, on-the-spot breakthrough

However, Shi Li did not express concern about this.

It looked like the Barbarian Warrior countered the Crude Stone Demon, but in reality, it was a psychological game between two people.

Because while the Barbarian Warrior's active skill targeted Defense, it required consuming its own health.

If the target didn't have Defense, it would be a wasted 20 health points, a net loss.

"I'll chop you to death!"

At the start of the round, the Barbarian Warrior swung its large axe at the Stone Demon.

-30

Along with the sparks that flew as the axe blade scraped against the stone surface, a damage number popped out.

"Awoo!"

-20

The Stone Demon also butted its head, retaliating.

In this round, both sides only used normal attacks, and Shi Li's card suffered a slight disadvantage in health.

The second round, the reveal phase arrived.

"For fairness, I'll give you one keyword on this card."

Gong Ping once again displayed that composed, confident look of someone who had victory in his grasp.

In this round, the projection he revealed was of an ordinary-looking black bear.

A 30-point, one-star card with no keywords.

"Then should I thank you?"

Shi Li just smiled at this, his mindset undisturbed.

Many card players liked to use external factors such as verbal taunts and aura suppression to influence their opponents.

These non-technical methods that didn't directly affect the card game were usually called 'off-table tricks'.

The card Shi Li revealed was still one of those three one-star cards.

"Holy Fire in the Heart!"

The card projection was of a masked woman in a white night suit.

Holy Fire Believer

Balanced, 30 points, One-Star

Attack 40, 100/100

"Momentum - Passive": When the Holy Fire Believer is revealed, gain 10 points of [Encouragement].

([Encouragement]: Increases the target's attack power by the corresponding value)

The reveal phase is also known as T0 priority.

Under normal circumstances, the action sequence is [Replace Card] (replace a face-down card or a face-down card's keyword) → [Reveal Card] → [Confirm Hand].

So after both sides finished revealing their cards, it should come to the hand confirmation stage.

"I don't need you to give me anything; this hand card is just me returning the favor to you."

After saying that, Shi Li actually revealed a Defense card right in front of Gong Ping.

Then he conspicuously placed it in the hand confirmation area, which immediately glowed faintly.

This action immediately drew dissatisfaction from the teachers.

"Is this kid giving up on himself?"

"Placing hand cards can clearly be done privately through the system, without the opponent seeing."

"Isn't he clearly telling others to target him?"

"I remember Shi Li wasn't such a straightforward and honest kid."

Listening to his colleagues' discussions, Teacher Li, however, showed a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

"You're very good, very fair."

Instead, Gong Ping showed an appreciative look.

For a moment, he even felt a sense of mutual appreciation.

It was just a pity that there could only be one first place.

He was determined to get the Two-Star card.

So when the action confirmation phase arrived, Gong Ping unceremoniously chose to have the Barbarian Warrior activate its skill.

After both sides confirmed their actions, the action phase arrived.

So Shi Li reached out and picked up the hand card on the table, playing it.

"[LV1 Healing]: Restores 30 health to 1 card. (T1)"

"Huh?"

Gong Ping was completely stunned.

"Awoo!"

+30

A green light hit the Stone Demon, instantly invigorating it.

Its health returned to full, from the original 70/100.

So what kind of situation did this create?

The Barbarian Warrior, originally at 80/100, consumed 20 health by activating its skill, and then was hit for 60 health by the concentrated attacks of the Stone Demon and the Holy Fire Believer.

By the end of this round, it was directly killed!

"What's going on?!"

Even after the Barbarian Warrior exited the field, Gong Ping still didn't understand what had happened.

The opponent had clearly displayed Defense, and the card table had confirmed it.

Why, when it was played, did it turn into Healing?!

"Hahahahaha! So that's it!"

"Shi Li, that kid is sly!"

"That guy had another Healing card hidden underneath that Defense card earlier!"

"So what actually landed in the hand confirmation area and made contact with the card table wasn't Defense, but Healing!"

"Well played, what a technique!"

"Old Li, you knew from the start, didn't you!"

Looking at Teacher Li's calm and composed face, the group of teachers suddenly realized.

"Hmph, making a fuss over nothing."

Teacher Li glanced at them, then his gaze returned to the card table.

Shi Li had never displayed this move in public duels before.

But in reality, who would have thought that he was the first victim of this trick.

"You tricked me!"

At this moment, Gong Ping finally reacted.

He had only heard of this kind of 'off-table' trick before; this was the first time he had seen it with his own eyes.

"Has no one ever told you not to trust anything said at the card table?"

Shi Li shrugged and spread his hands.

"..."

For a moment, Gong Ping was speechless.

The ultimate result was that Shi Li's Stone Demon was still alive, while his Barbarian Warrior was the first to retreat.

With this advantage, Shi Li maintained the initiative throughout.

However, Gong Ping still had quite a few cards in his hand, so the gap wasn't widened; instead, he even managed to close some of it.

When Shi Li had only one regular card left, the Thunderhorn Deer, he cleared out Gong Ping's regular cards with it at 40/100 and 30/30 health/energy.

"This is going to be difficult now; the Thunderhorn Deer is currently at full energy."

"This means that even if it's instantly killed by Gong Ping's ace card next round, it can still unleash Double Strike and deal 60 damage."

"At that point, Gong Ping's ace card will be at 140/200, which fundamentally can't defeat Shi Li's ace card."

In the audience, the students discussed animatedly.

"Very, very good!"

Facing this disadvantage, Gong Ping gritted his teeth: "To push me to this point, you're very good."

Originally, he had planned to save this trump card for the city-wide mock exam.

But if he couldn't win this round and get a new Two-Star card, then what was the point of talking about the city-wide exam?

"Watch closely!"

Gong Ping's trump card was a hand card.

"Hmm?"

This made Shi Li take an extra look.

Normally, hand cards are confirmed after the reveal phase.

However, some special hand cards can be played before the reveal phase.

"[LV1 Star Up]: Makes 1 One-Star card revealed this round temporarily become a Two-Star card! (T0)"

Along with Gong Ping's loud shout, this hand card was played onto the card table.

"[Star Up]?!"

"The [Star Up] that can temporarily add a keyword slot to a character card?!"

"A One-Star card that has undergone [Star Up] is called a pseudo-Two-Star!"

"He actually possesses such a rare hand card!"

Upon the appearance of this card, the entire venue gasped in surprise.

And at this very moment, Gong Ping forcefully elevated himself to the Gold 2 rank through this hand card!

...

...

[Shi Li's Card Game Quotes]: 1. Don't trust anything said at the card table.