Chapter 2: Sword Art Collection

【Name: Li Hao】

【Age: 0 years】

【Cultivation Base: Commoner】

【Mastery Arts: None】

【Art Skill Points: 0】

The clearly rendered text was a character panel Li Hao knew well.

He called it familiar because he had seen it before—in his past life.

Not in reality, but in a game.

At the moment of his transmigration, Li Hao had been bored and casually downloaded a casual mobile game from the distant store; this panel was the game’s character interface.

Only now, a new attribute had appeared: 【Cultivation Base】.

The age and name fields had also switched to his current true state, not the unchanged online alias: Past Winds Gone.

As for the final 【Art Skill Points】, he felt even more at home with it.

Unlike mainstream adventure or card-based grind games, this one focused purely on relaxed entertainment.

There were no combat systems, no battle gear—only flashy, flamboyant outfits and various artistic leisure activities.

Such as chess, fishing, painting, carving, and more.

You could even watch movies or play cards.

The real kind.

But there were no wild monsters, and no combat at all.

Improving different arts accumulated 【Art Skill Points】; each point directly raised your art level and unlocked more activities.

He never expected that upon transmigration, he’d bring this thing along too.

Wait.

Could this thing be forcing him to become a full-time life master, just like in the game?!

Li Hao was stunned and speechless.

This was the Ephemeral Realm—what use was art here?! I need combat!

…

…

“Report—”

As Li Hao was lost in shock over the panel, a sharp military report pierced the courtyard.

A Li family personal guard rushed in, instantly shattering the courtyard’s peaceful joy. He knelt before the Xing Wu Hou and reported swiftly: “My Lord, Yanbei has erupted in rebellion. Prince Pingcheng has allied with demons and slaughtered the border town of Mo Feng and eight surrounding villages. The Yu Emperor has issued an edict ordering you to depart immediately and quell the rebellion!”

The eyes of all nobles and ladies in the courtyard immediately fixed on the Xing Wu Hou, expressions varying.

Li Hao snapped back to reality, startled.

Only a few months have passed, and there’s already another war?

The Xing Wu Hou’s smile vanished, replaced by a chilling aura. His eyes glowed like cold lightning as he fixed them on the guard, then slowly rose to his feet.

As if sensing something, he looked up toward Li Hao, meeting his wife’s gaze.

The killing intent in his eyes instantly faded, replaced by remorse: “Qingqing, you stay and attend Hao’s hundred-day feast. I’ll go and return swiftly.”

Ji Qingqing’s face darkened slightly. She turned and handed Li Hao to the maid beside her, gazing at the infant in her arms. She had a strange feeling—as if the child was watching her intently, his eyes filled with reluctance.

She blinked, dismissing it as imagination; after all, the child was only months old—how could he understand separation? “Mother will be back soon. Be good.” She gently stroked Li Hao’s forehead, her own eyes filled with reluctance.

But then she firmly walked toward the Xing Wu Hou: “This mission is dangerous—I’m coming with you.”

The Xing Wu Hou immediately shook his head: “You stay with Hao. He’s still young—he needs you.”

“I am a general of the army. If the commander is going, how can I stay behind?”

Ji Qingqing’s gaze grew grave: “Prince Pingcheng is cunning and patient. He’s hidden for years—why strike now? I fear there’s more to this. Let me go with you.”

The Xing Wu Hou stared at her, knowing his wife’s stubborn nature. He sighed, ceasing further persuasion: “Fine. Then I entrust Hao to all you sisters and sisters-in-law. We’ll return as soon as we can.”

“You must be careful.”

The First Lady stepped forward, her face lined with worry: “Leave Hao to us. Don’t worry.”

“Thank you, Elder Sister.”

The Xing Wu Hou smiled faintly, then turned and barked: “Saddle the horses! Fa Division personal guards—form up and ride with me!”

A military family, they acted with swift precision—accustomed to campaigns. Soon, the couple led a detachment of personal guards out of the mansion, racing toward Yanbei’s northern frontier camp under starlight.

That was the Li family’s longtime battleground; they knew its terrain, demons, and enemies better than anyone—it was their stronghold.

Precisely because of this, Ji Qingqing had resolved to follow.

The courtyard was crowded with eyes. There was one thing she hadn’t spoken aloud: Why had the Yu Emperor received news of Yanbei’s rebellion before the Li family did?

…

…

Early winter brought the first snow to Qingzhou City.

More than a year had passed since the hundred-day feast; Li Hao was now one and a half years old.

His parents still hadn’t returned from the Yanbei battlefield. Secret reports from the Li army indicated the fighting had stalled, showing signs of becoming a prolonged war.

At this moment,

Li Hao, now one and a half, stood alone in the Shanhe Courtyard, hands clasped behind his back like a miniature adult, gazing at the heavy snowflakes drifting down.

He wondered how the girl who had become his mother was faring in Yanbei.

The retainers and maids around him had long grown used to the young master’s peculiar behavior.

Though Li Hao had only just turned one, the title of child prodigy had spread rapidly through the Li household.

Since he began babbling at six months, he had never wet the bed again.

While other infants cried and screamed, young master Li Hao could already use simple words like “eat” and “shit” to signal his wet nurse.

At one year old, while other children were just learning to wobble-walk, young master Li Hao was already running around, pointing at characters in books and ordering servants to read to him—teaching himself to read.

Quiet, composed, intelligent, and sensible—that was the servants’ impression of the young master.

“Second Lady, the young master is over here.”

At that moment, a graceful, noble figure entered the courtyard. Seeing Li Hao standing alone in the snow, the beautiful woman’s eyebrows snapped up in anger: “How are you guarding the young master? Do you want him to freeze to death in this snow?!”

The retainers and maids jumped and hurriedly knelt.

The head steward stammered: “Second Lady, it—it was the young master himself who wanted to watch the snow. He told us not to disturb him…”

“He’s still a child—do you do whatever he says? If he told you to die, would you die?!”

The Second Lady’s face flushed with anger. She strode over, snatched Li Hao into her arms, and brushed the snow from his head: “Even if the young master wants to watch snow, couldn’t you hold an umbrella for him? Why is he dressed so thinly? I think you’re all asking for death!”

Everyone froze, drenched in sweat, too terrified to breathe.

“Second Mother, don’t blame them—it was me who told them not to come.” Li Hao said helplessly.

Since his parents left for Yanbei, he had been rotated among the ladies of each courtyard. Each treated him kindly. The Second Lady, Liu Yuerong, was gentle by nature but extremely strict with servants; if he didn’t speak up, his attendants would be beaten bloody.

Liu Yuerong, hearing Li Hao’s clear, orderly words, flickered a glance in his eyes, then sniffed: “Since it’s Hao’s request, I’ll spare you this time. But if I see this again, I’ll make you swim in the frozen lake in midwinter!”

With that, she turned to Li Hao with a soft smile: “Hao, Second Mother will take you for something delicious. You’re such a child—why wear so little? Even with the Dragon Blood Jade the Emperor gave you, what if you catch a cold?”

She chattered on, her words brimming with concern, carrying him out of the courtyard.

Li Hao was used to it, letting her hold him.

Soon, Liu Yuerong brought him to the Shuihua Courtyard.

Inside, a child of four or five swung a wooden sword, spinning it with practiced flair.

He was the Second Lady’s only son, Li Qianfeng.

Though young, his eyes held focus and determination.

Beside him stood a burly middle-aged man, nodding frequently as he instructed.

Li Hao knew this was one of Li Qianfeng’s seven military masters, specializing in sword arts.

Seeing the Second Lady arrive, the burly man bowed quickly, glancing at the infant in her arms—he knew this was the child the Yu Emperor had named the Qilin Heir. After his talent test, he might not be inferior to the boy he taught.

The child training didn’t even glance at his mother’s arrival—he remained utterly focused.

Liu Yuerong didn’t interrupt. She nodded slightly to the master, then carried Li Hao to a nearby pavilion.

On the pavilion table lay precious fresh fruits and delicate pastries.

Liu Yuerong fed Li Hao while watching her son train, her eyes gleaming. Soon, she drifted into thought, forgetting to feed him.

“Is this the Li family’s finest sword art—The Sea Has No Shore?”

Li Hao opened his small eyes, curious.

He’d heard this Second Lady’s son had already been bone-tested—his talent was exceptional.

What would his own bone test reveal when the time came? In the courtyard, five-year-old Li Qianfeng practiced with rigid precision. Though only practicing stances, his posture was flawless, drawing constant nods and praise from the burly master.

Yet the child’s face showed no joy—he remained utterly absorbed.

“Again!”

Though praising, the master’s instruction was harsh.

The child began again from the start—his movements fluid, clearly memorized.

Li Hao watched, entranced—then suddenly, a line of text flashed before his eyes.

“Skill acquired at a rudimentary level. Record it?”

What?!

Li Hao gasped, instinctively selecting “Yes.”

"Successfully recorded!"

At that moment, a panel popped up before his eyes.

【Name: Li Hao】

【Age: 1 year】

【Cultivation Base: Commoner】

【Sword Dao: Not Yet Entered (Points Can Be Added)】

【Skill: Sea Without Cliff Tides (Not Yet Entered) [Locked]】

【Mastered Art: Go Dao】

【Go Dao: First Rank (82/500) (Points Can Be Added)】

【Go Manual Collection: 0】

【Art Points: 1】

For over a year, Li Hao had been trying to explore his panel, but due to his young age and the need to avoid appearing too precocious or monstrous, his experiments were limited—and fortunately, there was a go board in the mansion.

At six months old, he lay atop the go board, playing against himself.

The wet nurse and maids attending him, seeing the young master seemed to enjoy this “go board” as a toy, were happy to have an easy task.

Better than crawling everywhere.

In his trials, Li Hao was astonished to discover that by playing go, he could gain go experience just like in a game, easily advancing in rank!

In reality, improving one’s go rank was extremely difficult.

It required focus, talent, and relentless effort.

Li Hao himself had only amateur-level go skills, unranked.

But now, simply playing simple games on the board granted him experience points.

To advance from 0-rank to 1-rank Go Dao required only 100 experience points.

From 1-rank to 2-rank, it was 500 points.

Had the maids around him not occasionally glanced his way, forcing Li Hao to restrain his displays, he would have far exceeded this level of experience already.

There was no choice—even though these maids knew nothing of Go Dao, they still possessed basic common sense.

If they saw Li Hao, under one year old, placing every stone precisely in its correct position, they might find it strange.

And now.

On the panel, besides Go Dao, two new attributes had appeared: 【Sword Dao】 and 【Skill】—neither had existed before.

Especially the hint after 【Sword Dao】 stirred curiosity and excitement in Li Hao—could Sword Dao be improved like Go Dao, by directly spending Art Points? Without further thought, he chose to allocate points.

(End of Chapter)