[Name: Li Hao]
[Age: 0 years old]
[Cultivation Level: Mortal]
[Mastered Arts: None]
[Skill Points: 0]
These clearly displayed characters were actually a character panel Li Hao was very familiar with.
The reason he called it familiar was that he had seen it in his previous life.
But not in reality, rather in a game.
When he crossed over, Li Hao had been idly downloading a casual mobile game from a leading store, and this panel was from that game.
However, now there was an additional attribute, [Cultivation Level].
The age and name slots had also switched to his current real status, not that unchanging username: Memories with the Wind.
As for the [Skill Points] at the end, they were even more familiar to him.
Unlike the typical adventure exploration and card-based grueling mobile games on the market, this game was all about casual entertainment.
It had no battle system, no combat equipment, only fancy dazzling outfits, and various forms of artistic leisure activities.
Such as playing chess, fishing, painting, carving, and so forth.
You could also watch movies or play poker.
The serious kind.
The only things missing were wild monsters and combat.
Different artistic skills when improved, would accumulate [Skill Points], each of which would directly enhance the artistic level, unlocking more gameplay.
He hadn't expected that crossing over would bring this feature along.
Wait a moment.
Could this thing actually intend for him to become a full-time lifestyle master like in the game?!
Li Hao was somewhat startled and lost for words.
This was the Perishing Realm, art was useless here!
He needed to fight!
…
…
"Report—"
While Li Hao was immersed in the shock of the panel, a jarring military report suddenly came from outside the courtyard.
A Li Family soldier rushed into the courtyard, breaking the peaceful and joyous atmosphere. He knelt on one knee in front of Lord Xingwu, quickly reporting:
"My Lord, Northern Yan is in chaos, Prince Pingcheng has conspired with demons and slaughtered Mofeng City, as well as eight surrounding towns. Emperor Yu has decreed that you set off immediately to quell the uprising!"
The eyes of the nobility and ladies within the courtyard instantly focused on Lord Xingwu, their expressions varied.
Li Hao snapped out of his shock, somewhat astounded.
It had just been a few months, and there was already war?
Lord Xingwu's face, previously smiling, now wore a grave and determined expression. His eyes cold as he stared at the soldier before him, then slowly stood up.
Noticing something, he looked up at Li Hao's direction and his gaze met his wife's.
The killing intent in his eyes instantly dissolved, showing a remorseful expression: "Qingqing, stay with Hao Er for his hundredth-day celebration, I will return promptly."
Ji Qingqing looked slightly distressed. She turned around, handed Li Hao to the Fifth Lady beside her, and looked at the infant in her arms. Ji Qingqing felt an illusion as if the child was also earnestly looking at her, his eyes filled with reluctance.
She was momentarily dazed, assuming it was just an illusion, after all, the child was only a few months old, how could he understand parting?
"Mommy will be back soon, be good," Ji Qingqing gently touched Li Hao's forehead, her eyes also full of reluctance.
But she then resolutely walked towards Lord Xingwu, "This journey is fraught with danger, I will accompany you!"
Lord Xingwu immediately shook his head: "Stay with Hao Er, he is still young and needs your care."
"I am a high-ranking general in the army, and the commander is already in place. How can I be absent?"
Ji Qingqing's expression was stern: "Prince Pingcheng is cunning and has been patient for many years, now to strike suddenly, I worry there might be more to this. Let me accompany you."
Lord Xingwu stared at her, aware of his wife's stubborn character, sighed without persuading further: "Alright, then we entrust Hao Er to the care of the sisters and brothers. We will return as soon as possible."
"You must be careful."
The lady who walked over, looking worried, said: "Leave Hao Er to us; don't worry."
"Thanks, sister-in-law."
Lord Xingwu smiled faintly, then turned and barked an order: "Prepare the horses, soldiers of Fazi Camp assemble, follow me!"
In a family of military nobles, things moved swiftly and they were accustomed to deploying at once. The couple quickly led a team of soldiers out of the mansion, speeding toward the Northern Yan border camp by night.
This had been the site of the Li Family's numerous battles over the years, familiar with the terrain, the demons, and the opponents – also a place guarded by the Li Family.
That is why Ji Qingqing was resolute in following.
As there were many people in the courtyard, there was one thing she did not say publicly: why had Emperor Yu received the news of the revolt in Northern Yan before them?
…
…
In early winter, Qingzhou City welcomed its first snow.
More than a year had passed since the hundredth-day celebration, and Li Hao was now one and a half years old.
His parents were still on the battlefield in Northern Yan and had not returned. According to secret reports from the Li Family Army, the battle there was in a stalemate, seemingly evolving into a long-term conflict.
At this moment,
One and a half-year-old Li Hao stood alone in the Mountain and River Courtyard, small hands clasped behind his back, like a little adult gazing at the heavy snow falling from the sky.
He wondered how that young girl who had become his mother was faring in Northern Yan.
The house servants and maids around were no longer surprised by the young master's actions.
Though Li Hao had barely turned one year old, the title of child prodigy had already spread within Li Mansion.
Ever since he started making noises at half a year old, Li Hao had never wet the bed again.
While other children were noisy and unruly, young master already used simple words like "eat" and "go" to remind his nurses of feeding and toileting.
At one year old, while other children were just beginning to toddle, Master Li Hao was already running around, pointing at characters in books, asking the servants around him to read to him, and teaching himself to read.
Not crying, not fussing, intelligent and sensible—this was how the house servants and maids viewed the young master.
"Second Madam, the young master is over here."
At that moment, a gracefully poised figure of elegance entered the courtyard.
Upon seeing Li Hao standing alone in the courtyard's snowy ground, the beautiful lady's eyebrows shot up, and she immediately scolded, "How are you looking after the young master? Aren't you afraid the snow will harm him?!"
The surrounding house servants and maids were startled and hurriedly knelt down.
The head steward said nervously, "Replying to the Second Madam, it was the young master himself who wanted to watch the snow. He asked us not to disturb him..."
"The young master is still a child. Are you going to do whatever he says? If he tells you to die, will you die?!"
Anger appeared on the Second Madam's face. She quickly walked over to Li Hao, scooped him up into her arms, and started to brush the snow off his head:
"Even if the young master wants to watch the snow, couldn't you at least hold an umbrella for him and put more clothes on him? It seems you all wish for death!"
Everyone immediately broke into a cold sweat, not daring to breathe.
"Second Mother, don't blame them, it was I who told them not to come over," Li Hao said helplessly.
Since his parents went to the Northern Yan battlefield, he was alternately looked after by the ladies of various courtyards. Each lady treated him extremely well. The present Second Madam, Liu Yue Rong, was gentle in nature but extremely strict with servants. Without speaking up himself, those who served him could not avoid being physically punished.
Liu Yue Rong, hearing Li Hao's clear reasoning, a glint flashed in her eyes, and she huffed lightly:
"For Hao Er's sake, I'll spare you this time. But if I see this again, I will make you taste the harshness of the winter lake!"
After saying this, she turned her face to Li Hao and said softly and smilingly, "Hao Er, Second Mother will take you to have some tasty food. You too, child, why don't you wear more? Even if you have the Dragon Blood Jade given by Emperor Yu, what if you fall ill..."
She rambled on, her words filled with concern as she carried Li Hao out of the yard.
Li Hao was already used to it and let himself be held in her arms.
Soon, Liu Yue Rong carried Li Hao to Shuihua Courtyard.
In the courtyard, a four- or five-year-old child was swinging a wooden sword, spinning it so expertly that the patterns traced in the air looked skilled and practiced.
That was the Second Madam's only son, Li Qianfeng.
Despite his young age, his gaze showed focus and determination.
Next to him, a burly middle-aged man was instructing him, nodding frequently.
Li Hao knew that this was one of Li Qianfeng's seven military masters, specifically teaching him Sword Dao.
Seeing the Second Madam approach, the burly man hurriedly bowed in respect, glancing at Li Hao in her arms—knowing this was the same Qilin child named by Emperor Yu, and once his talents were tested, he might not be inferior to the Li Qianfeng he was currently teaching.
The practicing child wasn't distracted by his mother's arrival and continued to focus on swordsmanship.
Liu Yue Rong did not interfere either, nodding slightly to the burly man, then carried Li Hao to the nearby pavilion.
On the pavilion table lay exquisite fresh fruit and flaky pastries.
Liu Yue Rong held Li Hao, feeding him while watching her own child practice swordsmanship. Her eyes sparkled, and she soon became so absorbed that she forgot to feed him.
"Is this the best swordsmanship of the Li Family, 'Endless Sea'?"
Li Hao, with curious eyes, observed closely.
This Second Madam's child, it was said, had already undergone bone measurement and possessed outstanding talent.
Li Hao wondered what his own bone measurement would reveal in the future.
In the courtyard, the five-year-old Li Qianfeng practiced with precise movements. Though only practicing positions, his posture was standardized, causing the burly man beside him to nod repeatedly and couldn't help but praise him.
However, the child's face showed no pleasure and remained deeply focused.
"Again!"
Though the burly man praised, his teaching was extremely strict.
The child started from the beginning again, his movements fluent, clearly very well-practiced.
Li Hao watched, entranced. Suddenly, a caption popped up before his eyes.
"Basic understanding learned, would you like to record it?"
What?!
Li Hao, startled, subconsciously chose yes.
"Recording successful!"
At that time, a panel popped up before his eyes.
[Name: Li Hao]
[Age: 1]
[Cultivation Level: Mortal]
[Sword Dao: Not started (points can be added)]
[Skill: Endless Sea・Tide (Not started) [Forbidden]]
[Mastered Art: Chess Tao]
[Chess Tao: Tier 1 (82/500) (points can be added)]
[Chess Catalogue Collection: 0]
[Artistic Skill Points: 1]
For over a year, Li Hao had been trying to figure out his panel, but because of his young age and not wanting to seem too precociously monstrous, his opportunities for experimentation were limited. Fortunately, there was a chessboard in the mansion.
At six months old, he crawled onto the chessboard, playing by himself.
The wet nurses and maids who took care of him, seeing the young master seemingly fond of the "chessboard" toy, were also glad to have it easy.
It was better than him crawling everywhere.
In his explorations, Li Hao was amazed to find that he could gain chess experience just like in a game, effortlessly advancing in levels!
To know, in real life, advancing one's chess skill level is very difficult.
It requires focus, talent, and hard work.
And Li Hao's initial skills in Chess Tao were only of an amateur level, not even ranked.
But now, just by playing simple matches on the chessboard, he could gain experience points.
To raise from Tier 0 to Tier 1 in Chess Tao only needed 100 experience points.
From Tier 1 to Tier 2 required 500 points.
If it weren't for the maids occasionally checking on him, allowing Li Hao to not reveal too much, he would have already gained much more experience.
There was no helping it, although these maids didn't understand Chess Tao, they still had some common sense.
If they saw a child less than a year old positioning the chess pieces perfectly, it would definitely seem strange.
And at this moment.
Besides Chess Tao, two new attributes, [Sword Dao] and [Skill], had been added to the panel, which weren't there before.
Especially the prompt behind [Sword Dao] made Li Hao curious and excited. Could it be like Chess Tao, where he could directly improve his level with skill points?
Without much thought, he chose to add points.
When consciousness began to float, a surge of information suddenly flooded into his mind.
Li Hao clutched his head, feeling a swelling in his brain, as if it were about to burst open.
This caused him to show a look of pain on his face.
"Hao Er, what's wrong with you?"
Liu Yue Rong noticed something was amiss with Li Hao and was startled. She quickly showed concern.
Li Hao clenched his teeth tightly.
The tumultuous thoughts in his mind gradually calmed down, and Li Hao then realized that his mind was filled with many pieces of knowledge about swords.
It was as if he had been practicing swordsmanship day and night for two or three years.
Damn, this headache, it's just like when Chess Tao leveled up...
Li Hao rubbed his head, panting heavily. He was still too young; his brain was not yet fully developed, and the vast information from Chess Tao and swordsmanship was a terrifying shock to his fragile brain.
Without speaking, Li Hao was trying to calm himself down.
"Is Lin Xue sick?" Liu Yue Rong stroked Li Hao's forehead but felt no fever, and she couldn't help being puzzled.
By this time, Li Hao had fully recovered. He looked at his second mother's astonished expression, pointed to his mouth, and mumbled in his baby voice, "B-bit, bit my tongue."
Liu Yue Rong was taken aback and immediately breathed a sigh of relief and rolled her eyes speechlessly.
Li Hao got away with it and didn't pay her any more mind; instead, he secretly started checking his own panel.
[Name: Li Hao]
[Age: 1 year old]
[Cultivation Level: Mortal]
[Swordsmanship: Level 1]
[Skills: Endless Sea ・ Tide (Perfect) [Forbidden]]
[Mastered Arts: Chess Tao]
[Chess Tao: Level 1 (82/500)]
[Chess Manual Collection: 0]
[Skill Points: 0]
Li Hao was somewhat shocked; the skill points at the end were gone, but his swordsmanship had really started at 'uninitiated' and become 'Level 1'!
And the skill below, Endless Sea・Tide, had changed from uninitiated to perfect!
Li Hao had heard the military teacher who taught Li Qianfeng say.
Every skill is divided into three levels: initiation, dexterity, and perfection!
Initiation means being able to proficiently perform a whole set!
Dexterity means that in addition to proficiency, one can also apply it flexibly, having fully understood it, at one's fingertips!
When facing different situations, one can counter moves spontaneously, rather than mechanically repeating set moves!
As for perfection.
It means the skill has been completely mastered, able to be used as naturally as moving an arm, even if performed in reverse, effortlessly without any flaws exposed!
Unless, there are inherent flaws in the skill itself!
It is said that above perfection, there is an even higher realm.
Such a realm could even compensate for the flaws in skills, increasing their power even further!
And now, after his swordsmanship had advanced to Level 1, Li Hao had reached perfection immediately with the first layer of Endless Sea sword technique!
This would require at least a decade of hard training to achieve!
The current Li Qianfeng, it was said that he had practiced Endless Sea for half a year and had already initiated the first layer of Tide, considered a swordsmanship genius.
So, what did that make him now? A monster?
Seeing that his second mother wasn't paying attention to him, Li Hao's gaze returned to the courtyard.
At this moment.
The children in the yard were still practicing swordsmanship, but through Li Hao's eyes, it no longer appeared as impressive as before. Instead, at a glance, he could tell the other's techniques were immature and their postures stiff!
If it were someone who knew how to use a sword, they would only need a light tap to knock the wooden sword out of their hands!
"Not bad," said the burly middle-aged man, quite satisfied with Li Qianfeng's performance.
Excellent foundation and very good comprehension. In two more years, he should be able to reach dexterity with this first layer.
You should know, Li Qianfeng is still only a child right now, his brain not yet fully developed, so this was already quite remarkable.
Time passed.
Li Hao watched while eating snacks fed to him by his second mother. Gradually, he began to feel a hint of fatigue and boredom.
He yawned, nestled into his second mother's arms, and slowly closed his eyes.
Something seemed to pass by in front of his eyes, but Li Hao had already fallen asleep.
Hearing the faint breathing in her arms, Liu Yue Rong looked down, a hint of complexity flashing in her eyes.
But when she raised her head to look at her son practicing swordsmanship in the snowy yard, the complexity in her eyes vanished, and her gaze returned to calm.
She stood up carrying Li Hao out of the pavilion, back to her own rear courtyard's bedroom. She gently placed Li Hao on her own bed, tucking him in carefully.
Her movements were gentle, as if she were his birth mother.
Li Hao, half-asleep, felt his body being laid down and became slightly more alert.
He felt warmth in his chest, a slight heat emanating from there. It was the Dragon Blood Jade Pendant given by Emperor Yu, which he wore at all times. This was also the reason why he could stand in the snowy yard without feeling the slightest cold.
Just as Li Hao was about to turn over and continue sleeping soundly, he suddenly heard a low voice coming from outside the room.
"Did you really feed that thing to the child?" a voice of an unfamiliar man.
"It has come to this; I had no other choice,"
That was his second mother's voice, but it wasn't soft and affectionate, only as cold as one would be to a house servant.
"You saw it too, how hard my son is striving and that he is a once-in-a-century talent! The people from Mount Wuliang have already come to see, and when Qianfeng turns six, they will take him to Mount Wuliang to cultivate. When his Divine Blood awakens in the future, inheriting the power passed from his father, he will certainly become famous throughout the world!"
"I must pave the way for him!"
Li Hao slightly opened a sliver of his eyes, the drowsy fog in his mind filled with confusion.
Who was Second Mother talking to?
"We still don't know the child's talent; this action is too reckless," the deep-voiced man sighed.
Outside the door, a brief silence ensued.
Then, Liu Yue Rong's voice rose, colder than before, with a hint of mockery, "As parents cherish their child, they plan far ahead for them!"
"I wouldn't have wanted to do this, but the wooden heads of the Li Family are beyond help!"
"Blame the child's father, if you must. How exceptional was that Marquis of Xingwu. Others may not know, but I am well aware that he had stepped into that realm by the age of twenty-three..."
"Which means, there's a not insignificant chance that his child might also awaken the Divine Blood!"
"What?!"
The deep-voiced man responded with shock, "Twenty-three years old, and he stepped into the 'Three Immortal' realms?!"
"That's right, the Li Family ancestor was a founding Divine General of Dayu, with a powerful bloodline. Father succeeded in the ancestor's will, and he was the same," she confirmed.
"In the previous generation, apart from Qianfeng's father, the Marquis of Xingwu was a monster, as were the third, sixth, and ninth brothers! Especially the ninth, who was even more terrifying. Fortunately, he died early and left no descendants..."
"The third brother's wife is always by her side, and being a girl, she will marry off eventually, so it doesn't pose a problem. The sixth brother also entered the Three Immortal realms early, but that was after his marriage..."
Liu Yue Rong said coldly, "The only one who can compete with Qianfeng is this child. Otherwise, why do you think Emperor Yu bestowed his blessing on him? Even if his martial arts talent turns out to be mediocre in the future, with the awakening of the Divine Blood, he can contend with the top geniuses!"
Outside, silence fell again.
The deep-voiced man sighed lightly, "Since the Lady has made such a decision, I shall say no more."
"You needn't worry; this medicine comes from Mount Wuliang. After being taken, it leaves no trace to be tracked, nor does it cause any pain. I've even coated it with sugar; it won't taste odd. Although he is still young, it won't leave any deep memories since children have too many sweets as it is."
"Besides, if it turns out he cannot awaken the Divine Blood in the future, it can't be determined that we were behind any interference. Anyone in the Divine General Mansion could be a suspect!"
"Moreover, the bloodline of that realm isn't guaranteed to awaken one hundred percent of the time. Maybe the child simply didn't have it in him?"
At this, Liu Yue Rong chuckled scornfully, "Thank the Northern Yan wars for this. Ji Qingqing, so deeply loyal to the Marquis of Xingwu, followed him to the battlefield, providing us this opportunity. Otherwise, if we waited till the child grew a few years older and they returned, martial guards would be secretly watching over him, making it difficult to act."
The man did not respond but sighed softly.
Before long, their footsteps gradually faded away.
Inside the room, Li Hao was now fully awake, his mind reeling, disbelieving.
Second Mother was going to harm him?
The seemingly protective and caring attitude of every day—was it all false?
Li Hao was reluctant to believe it, but reality lay stark before him.
Although he didn't understand what Divine Blood was, Second Mother, wishing to clear a path for her own child, perceived him as an obstacle and thus chose to destroy him!
Li Hao's expression was grim, his fists clenched tightly.
The tender smiles had lulled him into a false sense of security. If this was how Second Mother behaved, what about the others?
Who else was sincere?
He had been here for only a year and a half, but being cared for in turn by these ladies, Li Hao had developed some emotional attachment.
Now, however, it all felt like an illusion.
Was this the internal strife of an ancient noble family?
He touched his body with his small hand. Besides a slight warmth in his chest, he felt nothing else, and even this warmth was from the Dragon Blood Jade Pendant.
His mother had said that he had his father's strength within him, but now... it was gone.
Li Hao clenched his small hand tightly in the dark, vowing to exact revenge in the future!
...
...
Spring turned to autumn.
In the blink of an eye, Li Hao turned three.
Nowadays, he spent most of his time in the Mountain and River Courtyard. Being careful with the food delivered by the ladies from various courtyards, he sometimes pretended to be picky and refused it, acting like a capricious child.
Gradually, the house servants in the courtyard came to understand that the young master was extremely fussy about his food and drink.
Three years old.
In the Divine General Mansion, this was a crucial age.
Ordinary families start their martial arts training at seven or eight years old, or even in their teens.
Some, already set in their physical development, could have latent talents yet might not achieve great success due to missed opportunities during the best training period because of their family circumstances.
As a martial arts household, the Divine General Mansion had the most rigorous training methods, with children of the clan laying their foundation from a young age.
Foundation Establishment at three.
Blood Melting at four.
Bone Testing at five!
By six, it was time to formally train, not a moment wasted.
On the path of cultivation, thousands strive to cross, and an early lead often means leading at every step!
Cultivation aptitude was to be tested at the age of five.
If the bones were well-developed and the marrow rich and solid, one could begin training after Bone Testing at five.
But with the profound depth of the Divine General Mansion and their belief in not rushing, they prescribed formal training to begin at six, allowing the body another year to grow and solidify for smoother future cultivation.
Even someone with exceptional talents like Li Qianfeng followed this, able to train after Bone Testing but still only ascending Mount Wuliang at six.
Even if practicing swordsmanship daily, it was still just the basics to develop a sense of martial arts, not considered real cultivation.
And for those with average talent or delayed development, they couldn't start training, even at six, needing more years of growth, which could be at seven, eight, or nine.
However, with countless precious medicines in the Divine General Mansion to enhance martial arts qualifications, the mansion's worst case still began cultivation at eight.
I heard that this case was due to premature birth and prenatal injury, leading to such a result.
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