After three rounds of drinks, everyone's faces were flushed red. It was their first time gathering since returning to campus.
"I can still drink!" Huang Xingli shouted, raising her glass before downing it in one gulp.
"Hahaha, I'm out of here! Huang Xingli's all yours!" Mu Lei laughed gleefully as he stood up and left.
Huo Yumeng followed shortly after, leaving only Song Jie, Ding Yiming, and a drunken Huang Xingli behind.
Before drinking, Huang Xingli had sworn that this time she definitely wouldn't get drunk like last time.
So, no one stopped her—it was rare for everyone to meet like this.
Unfortunately, the unlucky ones ended up being Song Jie and Ding Yiming.
Song Jie sighed helplessly. "Let's take her back."
Ding Yiming nodded in agreement.
However, before they could even get far, Huang Xingli started making a scene.
"Xiaolu." Song Jie had no choice but to summon Little Green.
"Ring-ring-ring!"
"Tie her up."
Little Green immediately obeyed, vines curling out and gently binding Huang Xingli in place.
"This is…"
Ding Yiming wanted to say something, but when she remembered how wild Huang Xingli had just been acting, she decided to stay quiet.
A moment later, the two finally reached the dorm building.
Carrying the half-conscious Huang Xingli up the stairs step by step, they finally made it to her door.
Ding Yiming skillfully pulled out the key, unlocked the door, and helped bring Huang Xingli into her room.
After setting her down in bed, both Song Jie and Ding Yiming stumbled out of the bedroom, exhausted.
They collapsed onto the sofa, panting.
Their eyes met by accident—making it look like they had just finished something… rather intense.
Flustered, Ding Yiming quickly stood up and poured Song Jie a glass of water. They sat quietly afterward, neither saying a word.
The sofa was small, so they were sitting quite close together.
For some reason, Ding Yiming's heart started racing.
"Did you participate in your institute's Challenge Week?" Song Jie asked, breaking the silence.
"I did. I barely made it into the top hundred," Ding Yiming replied softly.
"That's already impressive. Not everyone can get into the top hundred right away," Song Jie said sincerely.
"Compared to you, I'm still far behind," Ding Yiming said, lowering her head.
"What, are you envious of me?" Song Jie smiled teasingly as he leaned a little closer.
Seeing his face draw near, Ding Yiming's heart skipped a beat.
Thankfully, Song Jie had hugged her before—otherwise she would've pushed him away out of panic.
"N-No…" she murmured, shaking her head slightly.
"Remember this," Song Jie said with a grin, "you can't compare yourself to me. If you do, you'll never win."
"Your Light Element magic… it's already as strong as Advanced Level attack magic, isn't it?" Ding Yiming asked, her tone full of curiosity.
Song Jie had shown his magic before, and Ding Yiming had seen just how powerful it was.
"Actually, you already know the answer," Song Jie said with a half-smile, giving an answer that wasn't really an answer at all.
After a moment of silence, Ding Yiming said softly, "Thank you… for saving me that time at Jinshan."
Song Jie smiled faintly, then leaned in closer until his breath brushed against her cheek. "I saved you, and all you have to say is thank you?"
Ding Yiming blinked, flustered. "Then… how about I treat you to a meal sometime?"
"That works," Song Jie nodded. "But that incident was partly my fault too. You all got dragged into it because of me."
Ding Yiming frowned. "What were they after you for?"
"I'm not sure," Song Jie replied calmly. "But I know they were targeting me."
He didn't want to tell her the details. This wasn't something she—or any of them—could get involved in.
"Did you report it to Dean Xiao?" she asked.
Song Jie shook his head. "Those people were disfigured. Combined with what happened at Jinshan, tracking them down would be nearly impossible."
Lu Nian was too careful to leave any traces behind. Even if they found leads, there wouldn't be enough evidence.
Song Jie stood up. "If there's nothing else, I'll head back first."
"I'll walk you downstairs," Ding Yiming said, standing as well. "Thank you for helping tonight."
"No need to be so polite," Song Jie smiled.
They walked together to the entrance of the building.
A street lamp glowed beside the doorway, its light falling softly over them.
Song Jie turned around to say goodbye, but just then, a green leaf drifted down and landed on Ding Yiming's hair.
Before she could reach up, Song Jie stepped forward and gently plucked it off her head.
Now, they were only a fist's distance apart.
Their eyes met—Song Jie noticed a faint blush spreading across Ding Yiming's cheeks.
He grinned. "Why is your face red? Are you feeling unwell?"
"Ah? Is it?" Ding Yiming quickly covered her face with both hands, pretending not to know.
Song Jie bent down slightly, his face level with hers, his eyes filled with teasing amusement.
"It really is," he said softly. "Look, your whole face is red."
Unable to meet his gaze, Ding Yiming turned away, her heart pounding wildly.
"I-It's probably just too hot… I'll head back now," she stammered, then hurried off.
Song Jie chuckled as he watched her retreating figure.
"Girls look so pretty when they blush," he murmured, smiling to himself before turning to leave.
A week later.
Song Jie received a message from Old Deng—he had been granted permission to cultivate both the Light Element and Summoning Element!
Old Deng had personally gone to Dean Xiao multiple times to request this special approval.
After all, Pearl Institute had never allowed dual cultivation before.
But Song Jie's Mutated Talent was too extraordinary to ignore. After careful consideration, Dean Xiao finally made an exception.
And so, Song Jie officially became the only student at Pearl Institute cultivating two magic elements!
During this period, his Light Element magic also underwent another evolution:
Light Blessing → Dual Holy Shield → Elemental Holy Shield → Holy Shield Imprisonment → Mental Holy Shield → Holy Shield Retaliation (New).
After his first-level Light Magic had been strengthened five times, he gained a new skill—Holy Shield Retaliation!
This ability could absorb any attack magic below the Super Level and reflect it back at the enemy!
The more damage it absorbed, the stronger the counterattack became.
Song Jie had already mastered its mechanics. It was his hidden trump card—his secret weapon.
After all, who would ever expect a Light Element mage to retaliate with such devastating force?
...
...
Author's Note:
The first half (completed version more that 320 chapters) of Versatile Mage: My Magic Has Gone Beyond Limits! is now available on Patreon!
🔥 I also have an Additional 18+ fanfics now available for readers who enjoy exclusive mature stories. 😉
1.Dragon Ball: Oolong's Sex Adventure
2. Elements of Lust – ATLA & Korra Mixed Smut
3. Doraemon: Filtering with Nobi Tamako
4. The Naive Me Who Became Someone's Everyday Secret
5. High School DxD: Rias Gremory, the Phenex Bride
🔗 patreon.com/Shadow_demon_007
Thank you all for your support and love for this story 💙