Time flew quickly—before anyone realized it, only three months remained before the magic college entrance examination.
During this period, Song Jie's Light Element had also advanced to the third level of the beginner stage!
Once a magician reached the third level, they could already attempt to break through into the middle rank—a threshold that separated true magicians from students.
For Song Jie, this progress was especially shocking.
After all, thanks to his system's transformations, his third-level Light Magic had already been strengthened six times—each enhancement amplifying its destructive and purifying power.
Now, his third-level Light Magic was comparable to a high-level third-stage spell!
"Even that lunatic Lu Nian is only at the high level..."
Song Jie clenched his fist lightly, a faint glow flashing between his fingers. "At least now I have a way to protect myself. I don't need to hide everything anymore."
Perhaps it was time to reveal a fraction of his true power… including the mutation of his Light Magic.
"Brother Jie! You haven't gone home yet?"
Zhang Xiaohou returned from outside and blinked in surprise when he saw Song Jie still packing in the dorm.
"I'm heading out now." Song Jie slung his bag over his shoulder and smiled.
He went home every weekend—it was one of the few things he still insisted on.
Because he knew… sooner or later, that home might no longer exist.
When he walked out of Tianlan Magic High's gate, the sky had already darkened. Street lamps glowed dimly, and Song Jie followed the familiar road leading home.
Just as he turned a corner— a figure darted past the other end of the street, moving quickly.
Song Jie frowned slightly.
He could feel the faint fluctuation of magic energy coming from that person.
"A magician?"
He hesitated. Normally, he wouldn't meddle—there were plenty of official magic organizations that carried out missions at night.
But before he could leave, another silhouette appeared in pursuit.
Under the faint streetlight, he saw her clearly—
A tall, graceful woman wrapped in a black windbreaker, her long legs accentuated by black silk stockings…
The same stockings that had caught his eye in class earlier that day—
even with that tiny tear near the ankle.
Tang Yue!
Song Jie's mind sharpened instantly.
Tang Yue was their teacher, but she also held another identity—an investigator for the Magic Association.
"She mentioned a mission in Bo City before… Could this be related to the Black Vatican?"
His expression turned serious.
The Black Vatican—the most ruthless and anti-human organization in the world of magicians.
Every city they touched eventually bled.
Just then, another shadow appeared, silently tailing Tang Yue.
"...She's being followed!"
Without further hesitation, Song Jie's eyes flashed with golden light.
He suppressed his aura completely and began to follow them at a distance.
With his current strength, no one below super level could pose a threat to him.
And Bo City only had one high-level mage—Zhan Kong.
So, unless something went terribly wrong, he could handle this.
The street grew darker as they moved deeper into the alleys.
Song Jie stayed close, familiar with every corner—after all, this was his neighborhood.
He soon saw it clearly.
Tang Yue was tracking the man ahead—but that same man was now preparing an ambush for her.
"They're going to attack her," Song Jie's eyes narrowed.
He began channeling light quietly, ready to strike.
Tang Yue suddenly stopped.
Her instincts screamed—a trap.
The figure in front halted too, then turned sharply.
"Someone's following," Tang Yue thought, but before she could move—
A voice hissed from behind:
"She's over there! Take her down together!"
Tang Yue's pupils contracted.
Two Black Vatican members closed in on her position.
From the darkness beside them, a twisted beast with a ghostly white mask crawled out—it was a Ghost-Faced Monkey, its body distorted and brimming with dark energy.
Tang Yue's silhouette melted into the shadows.
"Shadow Element?"
The cultists stiffened.
"So, she's from the Shadow Department!"
Indeed, in darkness, Shadow Mages ruled absolutely.
But they didn't back down.
"Fire Element—Burning Bones!"
"Water Element—Aegis Wall!"
One attacked, one defended years of battlefield experience evident in their coordination.
Tang Yue countered with Flame Fist, her arms wreathed in bright crimson fire.
The night blazed red, swallowing the alley in heat.
A wall of water surged up and blocked her strike with a hiss of steam.
Before she could press her attack, another spell roared out—
"Earth Wave! Collapse!"
The ground cracked beneath her feet. Tang Yue's eyes flashed.
"Shadow Escape—Shuttle!"
She melted into darkness once more, but the ghost beast lunged, claws bared—waiting to rip her apart the moment she reappeared.
Tang Yue gritted her teeth and prepared to activate her defensive magic tool—
But then—
A golden streak tore through the night sky!
"Light Arrow—Pierce!"
The radiant feather-like arrow shot straight into the beast's skull.
A shrill roar echoed, and the creature collapsed into the dust.
Tang Yue froze for a moment—then turned sharply toward the source.
Under the dim light stood Song Jie, golden radiance flickering faintly around his palm.
"Song Jie?" she whispered in disbelief.
She hadn't expected him here—yet his timely strike had saved her from a dangerous situation.
Without wasting a second, Tang Yue pressed the advantage.
"Fire—Burst!"
"Shadow Bind!"
Flame and darkness intertwined as she unleashed her combo.
One cultist tried to flee, but her shadow caught him instantly.
"No—!"
BOOM!
The explosion threw both cultists into the air. When the smoke cleared, they were already down, their robes scorched and tattered.
Tang Yue exhaled, still wary. After ensuring there were no more enemies, she called the Inquisition for backup.
As the call ended, she turned toward Song Jie—her lips curving into a teasing smile.
"You finally showed your true colors, didn't you?"
Song Jie's eyes twitched slightly.
Could it be… she had been investigating him all along?