The Copy Mage

Damian felt that his energy was being dampened and he couldn't circulate it, but he noticed something that he believed was only possible for him to do because of his unique Soul Spirit and constitution.

He could still transform his changeable energy into any element that he pleased and he found that he could seep the Shadow Element past the dampening effects of the handcuffs that were not completely effective of Shadow Energy.

"I think that is an unfair judgement, and you should at least call for a witness" stated Damian who wanted to delay the trial until he could seep enough Shadow Energy, that he had transformed his changeable energy into, through the handcuffs in order to break past them.

He didn't want to leave behind the academy that had many opportunities, but his survival was his priority and if that was his only option, he could still cultivate and increase his strength using the Golden Flame Inheritance and Shadow Steps Skill Book.

"Come forth academy helper," said Elder Ray who had already made up his mind and was only toying with Damian for his own amusement.

The academy helper that was the referee for Damian's matches, unlike Damian, was very nervous as he stepped forth and stood on a stand beside the one that Damian stood on.

"Speak, what happened during Damian's matches and confirm to us whether he was telling the truth" instructed the elder to the academy helper authoritatively.

Before the trial had even begun, Elder Ray had gone to the academy helper and took him back to his private residence.

He needed someone to be a witness against Damian to reduce the consequences he may suffer from the academy after getting rid of Damian and who better than the referee of the match itself to do so.

"Listen, you will be a witness against Damian and will do exactly as I say" stated Elder Ray as he grabbed the academy helper and threatened him to do as he said.

He gave him 1000 contribution as a reward, but the academy helper would have done so without the reward as he was scared of what the elder would do to him.

In the position of an elder, he could banish him from the academy and find any reason to ruin his life in a matter of minutes.

"I can testify that Damian did attack his opponent after the battle had reached an end and he launched a powerful attack with all his energy at his opponent who had turned his back" stated the academy helper.

All of those that were at Damian's battle, including Damian and his friends, knew that he was lying, but it was enough for the elder to judge Damian.

If there were an investigation afterwards, Damian would have already been punished and the one that lied and would take the brunt of the consequences would be the manipulated academy helper.

No matter what the academy helper did, he would still suffer and there was no way out for him as he did as Elder Ray instructed to protect himself for the time being.

"You would lie in front of so many people for what, what did the elder give you," asked Damian.

"I am telling the truth" stated the academy helper nervously, obviously lying and being forced into it by Elder Ray.

"As you can see Damian is guilty and even the referee of the match has testified against him. This trial is over and I will personally deal him his punishment" declared Elder Ray.

Damian still needed more time to be able to get out of the energy dampening handcuffs and if he did, the only thing he could do was attempt to escape.

He knew his strength and speed were nothing in comparison to the elder and he had no chance of fighting against him or escaping through running away.

But if he could enter his Shadow Form, which would allow him to make his physical body disappear and enter the Shadow Realm, he could travel as far away as he could in that form and escape during the confusion.

Damian was trying to stay calm and was prioritising his survival no matter the cost and he wasn't willing to allow his journey and adventure in his second life to end so soon.

Jumping down from the elevated platform, Elder Ray landed in front of Damian and Damian couldn't help but be intimidated and fear the elder that stood before him and had a frightening and powerful aura around him.

"Your cultivation will end here and you will never be able to cultivate again, then you will be banished from this academy" announced Elder Ray, wanting Damian to despair as much as possible before his death.

He began streaming large amounts of energy into his right fist and any experienced cultivator that was watching knew exactly what the skill was.

'That's the crushing fist and he is planning to destroy Damian's dantian and disperse his Internal Energy, crippling his cultivation' observed both the librarian and Ivan, who were instantly worried about Damian.

Just as Ivan was about to intervene, he saw something travel extremely quickly towards Damian and what he had hoped had occurred.

'The great elder has come to the rescue and Elder Ray can't go against him' thought Ivan to himself as he let out a sigh of relief.

Damian's display of confidence, courageousness and talent was enough for the great elder to value him above Elder Ray and he was willing to become enemies with an elder and the large family behind him in order to save Damian who was one of the rising stars of the younger generation.

The crushing fist was not a skill that somebody would learn with the intention of using it in battle and was a cruel skill used to punish or finish off a defeated opponent, as it took too long to activate to be used in battle.

It took Elder Ray 5 seconds to activate the attack and just as he was about to strike Damian in his lower abdomen where his dantian was situated, which was the largest energy storage for an Internal Cultivator, Damian was finally able to seep enough Shadow Energy through the dampening effects of the handcuffs and was about to enter his Shadow Form to be able to dodge the attack by making his physical form disappear.

However before he needed to do so, there was a sudden flash and the old librarian appeared before Elder Ray and caught the fist with his bare hands.