At that time, Li Dao's memories had not yet returned. He was not Count Anyuan; it was his father in this life who held that title.
He wasn't as old as he is now, only seven years old.
He also remembered that he wasn't alone back then.
Beside him were two little girls, one was his sister, and the other...
Recalling up to this point, Li Dao was somewhat stunned; the other was actually his fiancée.
But now, none of that mattered.
In his memory, his father had invited an elderly Taoist from outside, dressed in a robe, exuding an aura of immortality.
Because his mental strength was nearly five times that of an ordinary person, he even remembered the conversation between his father and the Taoist elder:
"Taoist Master, I'll trouble you today."
"It's no trouble; aptitude testing is part of my duties."
"Please, go ahead."
After his father and the Taoist exchanged words, in his memory, the Taoist placed his hand on the wrist of Li Dao's little sister.
After a few breaths, the Taoist released his hand.
His father hurriedly asked, "Taoist Master, how is my daughter's aptitude?"
The Taoist smiled and nodded, "Your daughter's aptitude is of good grade, she can cultivate."
Hearing this, his father beamed with joy, "It's good to have aptitude, it's good to have aptitude."
Afterwards, the Taoist placed his hand on the wrist of his fiancée.
This time, the Taoist didn't release his hand for over a dozen breaths, his expression constantly changing, and finally showing a look of astonishment.
"Unexpectedly, I have seen the legendary top-grade aptitude today."
The Taoist glanced at his fiancée, shook his head, and sighed, "What a pity, what a pity, it's a daughter's body."
His father was surprised by his fiancée's aptitude, and after regaining his composure, couldn't help but ask, "Taoist Master, why is Yue'er's aptitude a pity? Could it be that there's something wrong with her body?"
The Taoist shook his head and smiled wryly, "The Count has misunderstood; I said it's a pity for the White Cloud Temple, where I belong. Top-grade aptitude is rarely seen in a hundred years, but it's a pity that our temple cannot accept female disciples. Isn't it a pity to miss such a disciple?"
His father asked, "Then what should we do about Yue'er?"
The Taoist reassured, "Don't worry, Count. Although the White Cloud Temple cannot accept female disciples, I know of a sect that specializes in accepting female disciples."
"It's called 'Jade Pool,' and it should be the most suitable place for her."
After understanding, his father nodded, finally turning his gaze to young Li Dao, "Please trouble the Taoist Master to test my son's aptitude as well."
"Naturally."
The Taoist placed his hand on his wrist again.
After a few breaths, the Taoist's expression changed once more.
But it wasn't the initial astonishment; it was complex.
After releasing his hand, the Taoist shook his head and sighed deeply.
"Taoist Master, my son's aptitude..."
Seeing the Taoist's expression, his father had a foreboding feeling.
The Taoist shook his head and said, "Count, forgive my bluntness, but your son is born with severed meridians and cannot cultivate."
"Born with severed meridians?"
"To cultivate, the human body needs channels for True Qi to flow through, known as meridians by cultivators. According to my tests, your son lacks these meridians, so he naturally cannot cultivate."
"I see..."
His father sighed deeply but soon accepted it calmly.
"If he can't cultivate, so be it. He can inherit my title in the future and live as an ordinary person."
At this point, Li Dao's recollection ended.
He remembered that not long after, his fiancée was taken away by a veiled, ethereal woman.
And his little sister was later taken as a disciple by a woman in martial attire.
Only he, from that time on, was no longer strictly disciplined by his parents, but rather allowed to live freely.
This memory persisted until the accidental death of his parents in this life.
From then on, without anyone to discipline him, he became even more indulgent, becoming a notorious playboy.
In the end, it led to his drunken misconduct at a palace banquet, memory recovery, ruining someone's reputation, and then being thrown into the Death Row Camp.
In other words, Li Dao had encountered cultivation at the age of seven, but due to aptitude issues, he couldn't formally engage in it.
This meant that the so-called Acquired Martial Artist was real.
It turned out that cultivators existed in this world.
Li Dao felt very conflicted at this moment. He initially thought that with the system, he could quickly become invincible in this ancient era of cold weapons, but now cultivators had entered the picture.
Although he wasn't sure how powerful cultivators were, judging from the Northern Barbarian leader's skills, they were definitely not weak.
At the very least, his physique, nearly five times that of an ordinary person, found it challenging to face this so-called Acquired Martial Artist.
But soon, Li Dao adjusted his mindset.
So what if there are cultivators? With the system, even if he can only enhance his physique, his future will not be inferior to these so-called cultivators.
All he needed to do now was steadily grow stronger.
As for the future, he would deal with it when it came.
It seemed like centuries had passed in Li Dao's mind, but in reality, only a moment had gone by.
Before him, Centurion Liu wielded his saber and clashed directly with the Northern Barbarian leader, engaging in a fierce duel.
"Gale Saber Art!"
The Northern Barbarian leader shouted, his long saber creating afterimages as it slashed towards Centurion Liu's face, the blade accompanied by a fierce wind.
Facing this, Centurion Liu's saber swung just as swiftly, the two clashing in the air, sparks flying everywhere.
Their battle was like a storm sweeping through, making those around them too afraid to approach.
Even with Li Dao's physique, nearly five times that of an ordinary person, he felt a faint stinging sensation on his skin from being too close.
True Qi?
Li Dao thought as he watched the airflow erupting between the two.
Quickly, he snapped back to reality; now was not the time to wait. He needed to grow stronger quickly.
Status Panel!
[Owner: Li Dao]
[Physique: 4.71]
[Available Attribute Points: 2.13]
Looking at the available attribute points on the panel, Li Dao decisively allocated all of them to his physique.
[Owner: Li Dao]
[Physique: 6.84]
[Available Attribute Points: 0]
The next second, a familiar heat surged through his body.
Because he added so many points at once, a red flush appeared on Li Dao's skin from the surging blood and Qi within.
At the same time, a terrifying sense of power emerged from within him.
The sudden surge of power gave him an urge to unleash it fully.
At this moment, a Northern Barbarian cavalryman noticed Li Dao's abnormality, thinking he had found an opportunity, he charged forward with a slash.
However, a blade light reached him even faster.
With a tearing sound!
The blade light flashed, and the armor on the Northern Barbarian cavalryman shattered, a crimson ripple spreading into the air.
[Enemy killed, gained attribute: 0.24]
And this was just the beginning. Li Dao mounted a horse, gripped his saber, and charged back into the fray.
Without the Northern Barbarian leader's obstruction, wherever he went, Northern Barbarian cavalrymen were thrown from their horses, unable to withstand a single blow from him after his further enhancement.
As a result, his rate of attribute collection increased rapidly.
[Enemy killed, gained attribute: 0.21]
[Enemy killed, gained attribute: 0.18]
[Enemy killed, gained attribute: 0.23]
[Enemy killed...]
Li Dao's ferocity caught the attention of many Great Qian soldiers.
They began to follow Li Dao into battle spontaneously.
In a short time, the Northern Barbarian cavalry, who had previously held a slight advantage, were scattered and slaughtered by the Great Qian soldiers.
The commotion quickly drew the attention of the Northern Barbarian leader and Centurion Liu.
Centurion Liu noticed the scene with excitement.
In contrast, the Northern Barbarian leader's face turned dark. He couldn't understand how, despite doing everything right, the battle had turned to this point.
Centurion Liu blocked a strike and laughed, "Hey, barbarian, the situation is settled. Why don't you surrender quickly?"
"Surrender?"
The Northern Barbarian leader gritted his teeth and shouted, "We Northern Barbarian cavalry never surrender."
"Kill!"
With a shout, the Northern Barbarian leader's aura suddenly surged.
This scene startled Centurion Liu, who couldn't help but curse, "Damn you for being dishonorable, breaking through at the last minute."
Hearing this, the Northern Barbarian leader was momentarily stunned. Realizing the change within himself, he burst into laughter, "Hahaha, the Bear God has blessed me, allowing me to break through to the Postnatal 5th Rank."
He looked at Centurion Liu with a cold smile, "Let's see how you block me now."
Once again, the Northern Barbarian leader clashed with Centurion Liu.
Compared to before, due to his breakthrough, his strikes were heavier and faster.
With a crack!
Centurion Liu's saber suddenly broke in half, his expression changing instantly.
"Die!"
The Northern Barbarian leader laughed, his saber swinging down with the intent to cut Centurion Liu in two.
Seeing this, Centurion Liu's pupils contracted, showing a look of impending doom.
At that moment, a long saber was thrust between them, blocking the strike, and Centurion Liu was pulled out of the Northern Barbarian leader's attack range.
Seeing his plans foiled again, the Northern Barbarian leader roared in anger.
When he saw who it was, he was even more furious, for the one who saved him was the same person who had thwarted him before.
Li Dao looked at the rescued Centurion Liu and chuckled, "Centurion Liu, you saved me once, I saved you once, we're even."
Centurion Liu, regaining his composure, laughed, "Not quite even, you still had room to dodge before, I was purely waiting for death, so I owe you one."
He glanced at the Northern Barbarian leader, who looked like he wanted to eat someone, "But to repay you, we need to deal with this guy first."
"Leave it to me."
Li Dao said directly.
"Leave it to you?"
Centurion Liu was taken aback. He had intended to suggest they fight together, but he didn't expect 9527 to want to duel alone.
Li Dao nodded, "Just leave it to me. I don't want you stealing my battle credit."
Actually, the battle credit wasn't important; he was mainly worried about someone else taking the kill.
Centurion Liu: "..."
He had seen people fight for battle credit, but never like this, risking life for it.
Seeing Li Dao's decision, Centurion Liu couldn't say much, only advising, "Be careful."
On the other side.
The Northern Barbarian leader knew he had a new opponent, but he wasn't worried at all, thinking the pretty boy before him was weaker than the previous one.
He could handle him before breaking through to the Postnatal 5th Rank, now it would be even easier.
"Kill!"
Without another word, the Northern Barbarian leader charged at Li Dao.
Li Dao gripped his saber and decisively met him head-on.
With a swish!
The two blades quickly clashed.
In that instant, both were stunned, realizing the other's strength was greater than before.
The battlefield distraction lasted only a moment, and soon they were locked in close combat.
Not far away, Centurion Liu was surprised by Li Dao's ferocity.
How was 9527 getting fiercer by the moment?
......
Li Dao and the Northern Barbarian leader fought fiercely, both gaining and losing ground.
Suddenly, after a clash, they separated.
The Northern Barbarian leader held his saber in one hand, leading his horse with the other, sneering, "If this is all you have, you're not far from death."
Li Dao smiled faintly, "Try me."
"Try? I'll try."
With that, the Northern Barbarian leader charged again.
As he neared Li Dao, his movements suddenly changed.
Gale Saber Art!
This time, the Northern Barbarian leader's saber created countless afterimages in the air, becoming faster and heavier.
Seeing this, the Northern Barbarian leader's face showed a smug smile; he had been preparing this move to catch his opponent off guard.
On the other side.
Li Dao noticed the change in the Northern Barbarian leader's strike, but this was the moment he had been waiting for.
Add points!
With a thought, all the attribute points he had collected were added to his physique.
In an instant, an explosive force surged through Li Dao.
Under this force, Li Dao's strike was incredibly fast, flashing in the blink of an eye.
With a clang!
In a clash of weapons, Li Dao and the Northern Barbarian leader's figures crossed.
With a tearing sound!
A gash suddenly opened on Li Dao's right arm, blood flowing from the wound.
With a crack!
The blade broke.
However, it wasn't Li Dao's blade that broke, but the Northern Barbarian leader's.
At this moment, the Northern Barbarian leader's eyes were vacant, muttering, "I actually... lost!"
The next second, his armor split from neck to waist, blood gushing from the cracks.
At the same time.
The system's notification sounded in Li Dao's mind.