Lingling had another reason for choosing Song Jie.
She suspected that the demon they were hunting might be of the Shadow Element, and Song Jie's Light Element would be the perfect counter!
Not only was his Light magic powerful offensively, but it could also defend effectively—making him the ideal partner for this mission!
At that moment, Song Jie and Lingling stood atop a tall building.
Song Jie didn't say much; he simply watched Lingling operate the computer with incredible precision.
He had to admit—this little loli's computer skills were terrifyingly strong!
She had hacked into all the nearby surveillance cameras and was now patiently waiting for the demon to appear.
Of course, before doing any of this, they had already informed Old Man Ling.
"Let's wait until nightfall," Lingling said, glancing at the glowing city below.
Song Jie nodded. Situations like this—requiring careful analysis—were best handled by her.
He found a quiet corner, sat down, and began cultivating.
Hours passed, night deepened, yet Lingling still hadn't found anything.
For the next few days, the two of them monitored the area, but the demon never showed up.
"Why hasn't this guy appeared yet!" Lingling muttered, staring at the screen in frustration.
It was almost as if the demon knew they were hunting it—it refused to come out.
While she worked, Lingling compiled all previous surveillance footage of its appearances. Dozens of clips now filled her computer.
She and Song Jie replayed them repeatedly, searching for a pattern.
"The demon appears in different places each time, and there's no fixed time pattern," Lingling analyzed aloud.
Then suddenly, she froze.
"Song Jie, did you notice something?" she asked quickly. "Every time this demon shows up, it's near a manhole cover!"
Song Jie leaned in, examining the footage. Sure enough—every single scene featured a manhole nearby.
"You're right," he nodded. "It's likely a shadow creature. Those manholes give it easy access to escape underground."
"Exactly!"
Without wasting time, Lingling refocused all the surveillance cameras toward manhole areas.
As midnight arrived, the streets grew quiet. Apart from the occasional passing car, the city was asleep.
Song Jie glanced at Lingling, whose eyes were heavy with fatigue.
"Why don't you rest a bit? I'll keep watch," he suggested.
"No need, I'm fine," she replied stubbornly.
Song Jie sighed inwardly. What a tsundere loli…
An hour later—
"Song Jie, wake up!" Lingling shook him urgently.
"You found it?" Song Jie's eyes snapped open instantly.
"It's in the Lizheng District!" she said, eyes locked on the screen. A shadowy figure had appeared in the footage!
"I'm on my way!"
Song Jie, already familiar with the district from their previous patrols, summoned his Wind-Riding Sky Eagle and soared toward the coordinates.
By the time he arrived, it was early morning. The streets were dark and quiet; most residents were asleep.
Following Lingling's guidance through the earpiece, he moved carefully.
"It's to your left," Lingling whispered. "There's a corner there. Be light on your feet—this one's very alert."
"Got it."
Song Jie crept closer, cautious and ready to strike.
Even if this demon hadn't harmed anyone yet, its presence posed a serious threat.
He rounded the corner—
But the street was empty.
"See anything?" Lingling asked.
"No," Song Jie replied softly. "But there's a manhole cover here. It probably escaped underground again."
Lingling sighed. "As long as we didn't spook it, we'll have another chance."
When Song Jie returned to the rooftop, he found Lingling fast asleep against the parapet.
She'd been exhausted these past few days. Smiling faintly, he took over the watch himself.
Days turned into weeks. They had caught the demon's shadow several times, but it always managed to slip away—perhaps because it had become more cautious after past encounters with hunter teams.
Then—
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host! "Light Blessing: Elemental Holy Shield" has evolved into "Light Blessing: Imprisonment"!]
Song Jie blinked. Imprisonment?
The skill's description appeared in his mind—it no longer offered defense but control.
He could now trap a target within a radiant golden light barrier, completely immobilizing them!
"Not bad… not bad at all," Song Jie murmured, grinning.
Now he could attack, defend, and even control enemies—like a full team in one person!
"Song Jie!" Lingling's urgent voice pulled him from his thoughts. "It's appearing again!"
"What's its behavior this time?" Song Jie asked, moving beside her.
"It looks more relaxed than before. Maybe it's lowering its guard."
"Then it's the perfect time to strike!"
Lingling nodded. "Head there now—I'll guide you remotely."
Without hesitation, Song Jie summoned his Wind-Riding Sky Eagle once more and flew toward the latest sighting.
Earlier, they had scattered glowing powder over every manhole cover, so if the demon touched one, its movements would be traceable.
Lingling watched the monitor intently. Two blips appeared on the map—a red dot for the demon and a blue one for Song Jie.
"Lingling, I've reached the location," Song Jie reported.
"Good. Move forward—it's in the food street ahead!"
And with that, the hunt began again…
...
Author's Note:
The first half (completed version) of Versatile Mage: My Magic Has Gone Beyond Limits! is now available on Patreon!
🔗 patreon.com/Shadow_demon_007
Thank you all for your continued support! 💙