Back in the dormitory, Jing Wuji began practicing his control over the stardust particles.
These Shadow Element stardust particles were very difficult to observe. Still, they could faintly be seen—they weren't completely invisible like the Summoning Element's stardust.
Immersed in this controlled practice, time slipped by unnoticed. The entire night passed while Jing Wuji remained focused on mastering his stardust.
"Wake up," Mo Fan said as he shook Jing Wuji.
Jing Wuji opened his eyes and realized it was already daylight.
No way...
Did the whole night pass that quickly?
Seeing that Jing Wuji didn't respond, Mo Fan looked him over carefully and came to an important conclusion.
"You didn't... stay up all night controlling your stardust, did you?"
Jing Wuji nodded, then suddenly realized how serious that was!
A typical novice mage could only maintain control for about an hour before their mental energy ran dry, at which point they'd need to meditate to recover.
"Keep it a secret," Jing Wuji said casually. Then he got up to brush his teeth and wash his face, ready to begin the first day of magic class.
A semester passed in the blink of an eye.
Now, Jing Wuji could already cast a basic Shadow spell—Shadowmeld. Three of his stardusts had already undergone a visible transformation. With another two months, he'd be able to cast the second-level version: Shadowmeld – Phase Shift.
Jing Wuji and Mo Fan walked out of the school together, chatting and laughing—or rather, Mo Fan did most of the talking while Jing Wuji listened with his usual stoic expression, occasionally replying with a word or two.
Throughout the entire semester, aside from necessary meals and class time, Jing Wuji had spent every single moment either meditating or practicing stardust control—he hadn't missed a single day.
Even Mo Fan was deeply influenced by Jing Wuji's intense work ethic. He practiced controlling his stardust for two hours, then meditated for ten more.
Thanks to that kind of effort, Mo Fan successfully learned the beginner-level Lightning spell—Thunder Seal: Serpent Mark.
Their lives had fallen into a strict, disciplined rhythm. Aside from occasionally chatting with his best friend Zhang Xiaohou, Mo Fan rarely spoke to anyone else in class.
And Jing Wuji? He was even more reclusive. Aside from Mo Fan and Zhang Xiaohou—who'd known Mo Fan since childhood—he didn't know a single person in the class.
Except for Mu Bai, of course—Mo Fan's lifelong rival.
When they exited the school gates, it suddenly hit both Jing Wuji and Mo Fan: their house had been rented out by Mo Jiaxing. The two stood there, staring at each other, unsure what to do.
"Should we... just wander around town?" Mo Fan suggested hesitantly.
"Let's go pick up Xinxia," Jing Wuji cut off any other ideas on the spot.
Mo Fan gave a helpless look but agreed to Jing Wuji's plan.
When they were kids, Jing Wuji always gave off an aura of deathly stillness—like he had no emotions at all. Looking into his eyes back then, all Mo Fan could see was emptiness. Nothingness.
But ever since Xinxia started working hard every day to reach out to Jing Wuji, he'd noticed a change—there was finally a glimmer of light in those eyes. Now, even though Jing Wuji rarely showed emotion on his face, Mo Fan could feel the warmth and care he had for them.
That's why things had turned out this way:
Jing Wuji doted on Xinxia. As long as she asked for something, Jing Wuji would find a way to make it happen.
Of course, Mo Fan also cared deeply for Xinxia—just not as obsessively as Jing Wuji. Then again, the little princess had spent more time with Jing Wuji growing up.
Mo Fan's thoughts drifted to Mu Ningxue, and a wave of nostalgia washed over him.
Jing Wuji and Mo Fan boarded the bus and headed to Mingwen Girls' Middle School.
Upon arrival, Jing Wuji immediately made his way to a narrow path within the campus—one that Ye Xinxia often took.
The two of them waited there idly for quite a while, but Ye Xinxia never showed up.
Jing Wuji instinctively frowned and used his spiritual sense to scan the area for any clues.
Suddenly, from the direction of a small hill near the alleyway came a light, cheerful humming—someone was singing softly.
Jing Wuji's frown eased at once. Seeing his expression change, Mo Fan immediately understood: that Jing Wuji had found Ye Xinxia.
"Follow me," Jing Wuji said, and in the next moment, a dark-colored star path appeared beneath him. Shadows enveloped his body as he seamlessly melted into the shadows on the ground—like sinking into the depths of the ocean.
"Shadowmeld – Traverse!"
Watching this, Mo Fan's heart filled with envy. He made a firm decision right then—once he reached the Intermediate level, he had to awaken the Shadow Element!
With Jing Wuji vanished into the shadows, Mo Fan could only sigh and run after him.
At a park at the foot of the small hill...
Near a breezy spot stood a wooden swing wrapped in winter vines.
The swing hung motionless, perfectly still. Next to it sat an empty wheelchair.
On the swing sat a girl with long, waterfall-like black hair. The winter wind tousled her hair, revealing a fair and delicate side profile—long eyelashes, a petite nose, and soft pink lips…
She looked ahead, gently humming a tune as if she were waiting for someone.
Suddenly, from the shadows behind her, a figure cloaked in darkness emerged.
The shadow faded, revealing Jing Wuji.
He grabbed the ropes of the swing and began to push gently.
Ye Xinxia only then realized someone had appeared behind her. Startled, she asked, "Brother Wuji, when did you get here? I didn't even notice!"
"Just now," Jing Wuji replied. "If you had seen me, that would've been unusual—I used magic to get here." He affectionately ruffled her hair.
"You used the Shadow Element's beginner spell, Shadowmeld, right? That's amazing," Ye Xinxia praised him.
She had learned about their awakened elements from Mo Jiaxing. After Jing Wuji and Mo Fan had completed their awakenings, their homeroom teacher, Xue Musheng, excitedly called to tell Mo Jiaxing the good news. And of course, Mo Jiaxing shared it with Xinxia.
The young man gently pushed the swing. The girl swayed with it, smiling as radiantly as a blooming flower.
A moment later, Mo Fan came running up, panting heavily. Seeing that Jing Wuji had already arrived, he grumbled, "You could've waited for me! I had to run the whole way here."
"Brother Mo Fan, you're here too!" Ye Xinxia said joyfully, waving at him.
Seeing her cheerful expression, Mo Fan put aside his complaints and walked over with a smile.
"Xinxia, you're even more beautiful now," Mo Fan complimented sincerely.
Ye Xinxia smiled sweetly, pretending to scold him, "Brother Mo Fan, you're getting slick with your words again."
"I swear I'm innocent! I'm known for being the most honest guy around. What I said was the truth! Ask Jing Wuji if you don't believe me," Mo Fan said with an exaggeratedly wronged expression.
"He's right," Jing Wuji nodded.
Hearing that from Jing Wuji—the one person who never lied—Ye Xinxia's cheeks flushed slightly with a soft blush.
Seeing her shy reaction, Jing Wuji and Mo Fan exchanged a glance and silently agreed not to tease her any further.
"Let's go find Dad," Mo Fan suggested. "It's been a while since we all had a meal together."
"Okay!"
"Mm-hmm!"
Jing Wuji gently picked Ye Xinxia up in a princess carry, carefully placing her into the wheelchair. Then, pushing the wheelchair, he and Mo Fan set off to find their father, Mo Jiaxing.
Of course, during all this, Ye Xinxia couldn't help but feel a little shy.