Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 3693: Proving Their Worth

Lin Mu placed the iron ore onto the anvil.

Then he struck.

CLANG

The sound echoed across the realm.

Under normal circumstances, the iron would have shattered. Its impurities, its unstable structure, all of it should have collapsed under the force.

It did not as Reinforce activated.

The metal held together under the Dao Skill’s effect, its structure stabilized beyond its natural limits.

Lin Mu struck again.

CLANG

Hone activated this time and the surface began to change. Edges formed where none should exist. The structure compressed, sharpened, refined in a way that defied conventional logic.

Strike after strike followed.

CLANG.

CLANG.

CLANG.

The iron transformed.

Slowly, a crude shape emerged.

A sword.

If it could even be called that.

Its form was uneven, its edge inconsistent, its overall appearance closer to a rough rod than a proper blade.

Lin Mu lifted it and for now, it was enough.

Seeing that he was ready, the Dao Embryos moved.

Two of them stepped forward.

The first was the Edge Severance Blade Dao Embryo. Its form elongated, turning into a gleaming weapon that cut through the air itself.

The second was the Fluid Steel Essence Dao Embryo. It shifted constantly, its body flowing like liquid metal, reforming with every movement.

Lin Mu did not hesitate.

He stepped forward.

The crude sword in his hand vibrated slightly as Hone enhanced its cutting potential.

The blade Dao Embryo struck first.

A sharp arc of metallic energy sliced toward him.

Lin Mu raised his weapon as the two forces collided.

CLANGGGG!

The impact rang out, sending vibrations through his arms. His weapon should have broken but it did not. Reinforce held it together.

Lin Mu pushed forward.

His sword cut through the incoming attack, not with elegance, but with sheer enhancement.

The Fluid Steel Dao Embryo attacked next.

It surged forward, its body splitting into multiple streams, each one aiming to wrap around Lin Mu and restrain him.

Lin Mu moved and stepped into the attack rather than away from it. His sword swung as Hone amplified its edge. The flowing metal split apart, unable to maintain cohesion under the sharpened force.

Lin Mu pressed on.

He struck again.

This time, his blade connected with the core of the Fluid Steel Dao Embryo.

The impact caused it to destabilize, its form breaking apart.

The Edge Severance Blade followed up immediately.

Lin Mu met it head on.

Their clash echoed.

His crude weapon cracked.

He did not stop.

He struck again.

The blade Dao Embryo faltered.

Then shattered.

The fight ended.

Lin Mu stood still.

KACHA

The sword in his hand broke apart. Fragments of metal fell away, dissolving into the surrounding light. Silence followed and the remaining Dao Embryos did not attack. Instead, they parted and made space.

An unspoken acknowledgment had been formed.

Lin Mu lowered his hand.

Then, without a word, he created another chunk of metal and another hammer. He placed the material onto the anvil and began to work again.

CLANG.

CLANG.

CLANG.

This time, the strikes were steadier, more controlled. The weapon that formed was still crude, but more refined than the last. Lin Mu lifted it and the very next moment, the next wave of Dao Embryos stepped forward as the trial continued.

This time, the Dao Embryos did not rush him in chaotic waves. They advanced in measured steps, as if acknowledging the shift in his intent. There was structure now, a silent agreement that this was no longer a struggle of interference, but a trial of worth.

Lin Mu exhaled slowly and steadied himself.

The crude blade in his hand felt heavier than before, not in weight but in meaning. It was no longer just a tool forged out of necessity. It had become an extension of his will, shaped through understanding rather than desperation.

The next three Dao Embryos approached together.

The first took the form of a long spear, its surface smooth and gleaming, its tip impossibly sharp. Lin Mu recognized it instantly as the Piercing Star Spear Dao Embryo, one that specialized in penetrating defenses with absolute precision.

The second shifted into a broad, curved blade, thick and heavy, radiating crushing force.

That was the Mountain Cleaver Blade Dao Embryo, known for overwhelming power rather than finesse. The third was more subtle, a set of thin metallic threads that wove through the air like silk. It was the Thousand Filament Steel Dao Embryo, capable of binding, slicing, and controlling the territory through flexible metal strands.

Lin Mu adjusted his stance.

He knew a single weapon would not suffice.

With a thought, the anvil manifested again before him. Another chunk of metal appeared, and his hammer struck without hesitation.

CLANG.

CLANG.

CLANG.

The strikes were faster now, more confident. Reinforce stabilized the material while Hone shaped it with increasing efficiency. Within moments, a second weapon formed in his grasp, this time a short spear, balanced and sharp despite its rough construction.

He did not stop there.

A third strike sequence followed, and a small shield took shape, thick and uneven yet solid.

Lin Mu stepped forward, now armed with three tools.

The spear Dao Embryo moved first.

It thrust forward with blinding speed, the tip of its form distorting space as it advanced. Lin Mu met it with his own spear, the two points colliding midair. The impact reverberated through his arm, but Reinforce held his weapon together.

He twisted the shaft and redirected the force, sliding past the attack and countering with a thrust of his own.

Hone activated.

His spear pierced through the incoming pressure, forcing the Dao Embryo to recoil slightly.

Before he could press further, the Mountain Cleaver Blade descended.

Lin Mu raised his shield.

The impact was immense.

BANG

The force drove him back several steps, cracks spreading across the surface of his defense. Yet the shield did not break. Reinforce held firm, anchoring its structure despite the overwhelming pressure.

Lin Mu shifted his weight and pushed upward, redirecting the blade’s momentum. At the same time, the metallic threads of the Thousand Filament Steel Dao Embryo wrapped around his legs.