The names and prefixes of the spells had changed, but the explanations that followed had become much simpler.
Within a hundred zhang, limited control.
At the very first moment of the promotion, Chu Xun had already tried it.
The so-called limited control was a much greater improvement than before.
The Spiritual Rain Spell only condensed water vapor to make it rain, accompanied by precise directional control.
The Water Element Spell was no longer limited to just making it rain, but controlling water!
Chu Xun had tried drawing upon a stream within a hundred zhang.
With a thought, it transformed into a water rope, binding the limbs of a rabbit watching the commotion like a living creature.
No matter how it struggled, it couldn't break free from this seemingly soft, but actually extremely tough water binding.
It could also be condensed into water needles the size of a fingertip. Although they lacked the sharpness of metal and stone, they were endless.
Cutting off water and stopping the flow was even less of an issue.
The Earth Element Spell was the same. Even soft mud could instantly transform into a hard earth wall or sharp earth spikes.
It was much more handy to use, and always successful.
It was just that the spiritual energy at the Qi Condensation stage was truly too little, and the further the distance, the greater the consumption.
With his current spiritual energy, if he really wanted to control a water rope to bind a rabbit at the edge of a hundred zhang, he wouldn't even be able to maintain it for less than half an incense stick's time before falling into a state of spiritual energy depletion.
Come to think of it, such spells couldn't display their proper power at all during the Qi Condensation stage; he would at least need to reach the Foundation Establishment stage.
As for the Five Elements Dao Magic, in Chu Xun's comprehension, it was even more formidable.
The previously fantasized turning stone into gold, and every tree and bush becoming a soldier, lay right within this.
The improvements brought by the Foundation Establishment stage were too many and too great.
This made Chu Xun even more eager to advance. Now, the only thing limiting him was the word "time".
A few old crows hopped to his side, tilting their necks and leaning against his body.
Their feathers had become increasingly hard, like iron plates.
Chu Xun smiled and reached out to pat the crows' heads.
Suddenly, the neighing of a horse came from outside the courtyard, followed closely by a human voice entering his ears.
"Eh? Is this Brother Xun's house? How grand!"
Chu Xun looked up and saw a burly man standing at the door. He wore a six-petaled melon-ridged military officer's cap on his head, a cyan silk round-collar robe, a black iron token tied at his waist, and black boots on his feet.
His face was as dark as iron, carrying a bit of the murderous aura of the battlefield.
Only when he saw Chu Xun did his tight corners of the mouth suddenly break into a grin, and he strode in with large steps.
"Brother Xun!"
Chu Xun stood up, and from between his brows and eyes, vaguely recognized the other party's identity.
"Shitou?"
"Hahaha, who else could it be but me!"
Shitou, who had returned after a full ten years in the army, was much more mature than before, and his entire temperament was vastly different.
The former Shitou was nothing but a reckless boy in the rural village.
Now, his whole body was filled with a fierce and tough aura, very extraordinary.
Seeing him return, Chu Xun was also very happy, "Is your main camp alright now?"
"It's been fine for a long time." Shitou naturally understood what he was asking, and grinned, "It's just that over the past two years, many people couldn't bear the fear in their hearts. Two Princes, plus some nobles and aristocratic families, used tales of ghosts and gods to incite refugees to riot, waiting for an opportunity to mutiny. I followed the army to suppress the rebellion, which is why it delayed the time."
"But it was a blessing in disguise. Now I am a Rank 6a Centurion! How about it, is this outfit passable?"
When he left home, Shitou had said he would return home in glory.
Now he had considered to have achieved it. Chu Xun smiled and nodded, "Indeed not bad."
"Hehe, you're not bad either. This big courtyard, with blue bricks and red tiles, is even grander than the wealthy households in the town. When I came, I heard quite a few people mention the great name of Master Chu."
Hearing the voice, Zhang Anxiu came out from the woodshed.
After seeing Shitou, she didn't recognize him immediately.
After all, ten years had passed, and Shitou's changes were too great.
Even after Chu Xun explained, Zhang Anxiu still stood there stunned.
This made Shitou a bit puzzled, and he said, "What's wrong with Auntie? Could it be that she feels my official position is too big and got scared?"
He laughed heartily, wanting to use a joking tone to ease the atmosphere.
But Chu Xun knew why Zhang Anxiu was like this. Shitou had just returned to the village and hadn't gone home yet, so he still didn't know his old mother had passed away.
It was hard to say this explicitly, so Chu Xun could only say, "Qiaohua has waited for you for ten long years. Don't chat idly here, hurry back and reunite with the mother and son."
"It's not mother and son, it's the three of them, there's also my mother." Shitou chuckled, "If Mother knew I am now a Rank 6a military officer, even higher than the County Magistrate, she would probably cry from happiness."
Having tempered himself in the army for many years, but separated for ten years, he finally returned to his homeland.
That excitement was beyond words.
Looking up at the crows on the eaves, Shitou said a few more words before leaving.
Zhang Anxiu walked to Chu Xun's side and asked in a low voice, "Should we go over and take a look?"
Chu Xun nodded, it was time to make a trip.
When the two headed towards Shitou's house, Shitou had already ridden his horse to his own door.
Along the way, he shouted loudly at the villagers. The villagers had faces full of astonishment, and some hadn't reacted to who this was yet.
Only after being reminded by others did they suddenly realize, and then their expressions became strange.
A group of people all headed towards Shitou's house. At this time, Qiaohua was drying dried fish in the courtyard.
The figure on the horse leaped down, rushed into the courtyard, and picked Qiaohua up in his arms.
Qiaohua screamed in fright and kicked and beat forcefully.
But a familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar man's voice came to her ears.
"It's me! Haven't seen you in a few years, how do you have so much strength!"
Qiaohua looked carefully, and after seeing the other party's face clearly, she was instantly stunned.
That face, which was much more resolute, mature, and rugged than in her memory, wasn't it exactly her man!
Qiaohua was both surprised and delighted, crying and laughing as she beat Shitou's chest, "Why did you only come back now! Why did you only come back now!"
Shitou laughed heartily. The main camp he was in was temporarily resting, so he rushed home at the first opportunity.
He traveled like the wind and lightning all the way, not even eating a few mouthfuls of food.
Picking up the token at his waist, Shitou said with a chuckle, "Your man is now a Centurion, a Rank 6a military officer, how about it! The Commander said that as long as I make another contribution, he will promote me to a Chiliarch!"
"Sooner or later, you will be a General's wife, hahaha!"
Saying that, Shitou pulled Qiaohua towards the house, "Where are Mother and the child? Quickly let them see, lest they scold me for running off to join the army back then without telling them."
Qiaohua was blankly pulled into the house by him, her face turning a bit pale.
Shitou took a step into the house and saw a ten-year-old child squatting on the ground weaving a bamboo basket.
His eyes lit up slightly. Is this his son?
Just like himself when he was little, looking strong and sturdy!
Liao Licheng looked up at the man who pulled his mother into the house, feeling somewhat at a loss for a moment.
Who is this person?
Shitou knew the child definitely didn't recognize him. Just as he was about to call him over, the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of something that shouldn't be in the house.
He abruptly turned his head to look, only to see two memorial tablets placed on the wooden table leaning against the wall.
One had his father's name written on it, which he had seen since he was little.
The other was slightly newer, engraved with a woman's name.
Shitou stared blankly at that memorial tablet. Qiaohua lowered her head beside him and said, "That day, Mother looked everywhere but couldn't find you. When she found out you secretly ran off to join the army, she couldn't catch her breath..."
Liao Licheng seemed to understand something. He dropped the bamboo basket in his hand, his tender face instantly flushing red, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"You are the person who angered Grandma to death!"
[End of Chapter]