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And we have reached second world there, it being Cultivation Online.
***
Blocked again, but the impact pushed the knight back a little more.
Alan stepped in without hesitation, not allowing even a moment for recovery. His blade moved again—one clean strike followed by another, each aimed at a different angle. The knight raised its greatsword and blocked, but its movements were no longer as smooth. Each impact forced it to adjust its footing, step by step giving up ground.
Sparks scattered across the chamber floor as their swords met again and again. The sound of steel echoed continuously, steady and controlled.
The knight tried to break the pressure.
It swung with more force this time, a heavy horizontal cut meant to create distance. Alan read it early. He leaned back just enough to avoid the edge, then stepped forward before the knight could complete its motion.
He struck toward the opening.
Clang.
The knight blocked, but the delay was clear.
Alan didn't stop.
He followed with a quick thrust to the center. The knight pushed it aside, but its guard opened for a brief moment. Alan shifted his angle and struck again, this time lower.
Clang.
Blocked—but the knight's stance faltered again.
It slid back another step.
The knight raised its sword and tried to stabilize, tightening its defense and pulling its blade closer to its body. This time, it didn't attack. It waited.
Alan saw it.
He stepped in anyway.
A diagonal cut—
Blocked.
A follow-up from the opposite side—
Blocked again.
Then a sudden thrust.
The knight reacted, deflecting it at the last moment, but the impact pushed it slightly off balance.
Alan moved in immediately, closing the gap once more.
Now they were too close for wide swings.
The knight tried to adjust its grip.
Alan didn't let it.
He struck again.
Short. Direct. Precise.
Each hit forced a reaction.
Each reaction came a fraction slower than before.
The knight attempted one last heavy swing to push him back.
Alan met it head-on.
CLANG—!
The sound rang louder than before, echoing through the chamber.
This time, Alan didn't give ground.
Instead, he redirected the force and stepped forward.
The knight staggered back half a step.
Alan raised his sword again.
This time, he didn't hesitate.
He stepped forward and struck.
The knight tried to block, but its reaction was late. The impact pushed it back again, its footing no longer stable. Alan followed immediately, maintaining the same steady pressure. One strike flowed into the next, each one clean and controlled.
The knight attempted to recover, raising its greatsword for a counter.
Alan intercepted it early.
Clang.
He redirected the blade and stepped inside.
Another strike—
Blocked, but weak.
Another—
The knight's guard shook.
Now the difference was clear.
Alan's movements were sharper, more precise. His control over distance and timing had surpassed the knight. What was once an even fight had shifted completely.
The knight swung again, trying to force him back.
Alan stepped through it.
He didn't avoid.
He didn't retreat.
He cut through the opening.
A clean, horizontal swing.
Clang—
Then—
A second strike, faster and more direct.
The knight failed to block in time.
The blade passed cleanly across its neck.
For a moment—
Everything went still.
Then the knight's head separated from its body.
Its form froze, cracks of light spreading across the armor.
The body began to break apart, turning into glowing pixels that scattered into the air and vanished.
Silence returned to the chamber.
[ You have cleared the 1st Trial of the All Knowledge Cave ]
[ Advanced Swordsmanship has reached Level 10 ]
[ You are now eligible to learn: Sword Saint's Muller Swordsmanship ]
[ You have obtained the Legendary Skill: Space Sword of the Sword Saint ]
[ Skill Effect: A single strike that can cut through anything, expose weaknesses, and always land a critical hit ]
[ Cooldown: 7 days ]
[ You have surpassed yourself ]
[ You have obtained achievement ' The one who surpassed himself in Swordsmanship' ]
[ Reward One skill Point ]
[ Skill Point : Can instantly increase the level of any skill by one level ]
[ All your sword skills have increased by one level ]
[ You are now eligible to entered the 2nd Trial]
"The rewards are really great." Alan's eyes lit up as he read the notifications.
"I really wonder what will be in the next room," he murmured as he walked toward the second room.
He stepped through the doorway.
The space beyond was completely different.
The smooth stone chamber was replaced by a wide forge hall. The air was hotter, heavy with the scent of metal and fire. In the center stood a massive anvil, surrounded by tools—hammers, tongs, and racks filled with raw ore.
A notification appeared in front of him.
[ 2nd Trial of the All Knowledge Cave ]
[ Defeat the opponent using only Blacksmithing ]
[ Restrictions: All combat skills and abilities are sealed ]
[ Rewards: All Blacksmithing skills increase by one level ]
Alan raised an eyebrow.
"…Blacksmithing?"
Before he could think further—
Thud.
A heavy sound echoed through the hall.
From the far end, something began to move.
An Iron Golem.
Its body was made of solid metal, its surface rough and dark, with faint red lines glowing between the joints like heated iron. Each step it took made the ground tremble slightly.
Alan watched it carefully.
"…So I have to defeat that using blacksmithing?"
Another notification appeared.
[ Materials and tools have been provided ]
[ You may only use forging methods to complete the trial ]
Alan glanced at the anvil, then at the racks of ore beside it.
Then back at the approaching golem.
"…Alright."
He walked toward the forge instead of the enemy.
Picking up a hammer, he weighed it in his hand, adjusting his grip.
The golem continued advancing, slow but steady.
Alan placed a piece of ore onto the anvil.
"But I wonder what I have to make?" Alan asked.
Suddenly, a forging blueprint appeared mid-air in front of him. The same blueprint materialized on the anvil near the Iron Golem.
Alan grabbed it, and another notification appeared.
[ You have learned the production method of Sword: Ancient's Echo ]
[ Rank: Legendary ~ ???? ]
"Another jackpot." Alan's eyes lit up as he saw such a powerful production method being given for free