I Cultivated Too Long and Got Isekai’d Into a Game

Fifty small beings against a gigantic cyclops. No matter how they looked at it, defeating the enemy would be nearly impossible!

And as if to agree with this sentiment, the next monolith appeared, floating mid-air while exuding powerful rays of golden light. Its content was short and simple:

[Reach the next stairs alive.]

It only told them to head for the stairs, while hinting that a dangerous road lay ahead... and that was it.

There wasn't even a clue where the stairs were...

But Xu Tao wasn't in the mood to play mind games.

Using his senses, he had already found the stairs leading to the next floor. They were by the giant cyclops' feet. As such, if they wanted to reach it, someone first had to act as bait and lure the cyclops away—the life or death of that person hanging by a thread.

Well... normally, that is.

Xu Tao drew his sword, eyes tightly shut as he held it casually.

The next instant... the air froze.

"...!"

Everyone took a step back, while some even fell on their butts trying. Their legs shook uncontrollably, reason unknown.

"What intense Sword Intent...!" Only Zetian was able to grasp what was happening.

She tightened her embrace around Pepe, as if trying to protect the little guy from the shockwaves of Xu Tao's concentration.

SHING!

His Sword Intent was so refined that the cliff they stood on became covered with slash marks—even before he swung his blade!

"I have no grudge against you," Xu Tao whispered as he slowly opened his eyes. "But you're standing in my way."

He raised the sword above his head, causing the skies to suddenly turn dark. The cyclops seemingly sensed something, as its single, large eye turned to face Xu Tao. Its expression changed rapidly—from confusion, to anger... to fear.

"None shall remain standing before my blade."

Xu Tao recited a single line—a tenet, a thought that embodied the sword strike he was about to deliver.

His hand moved casually, swinging his sword down in a swift yet gentle motion. From top to bottom, it didn't even take a tenth of a second. Almost as if he were doing a practice swing.

BOOM!

But the world told a different story.

The scenery before Xu Tao was cut vertically, almost as if they were looking at a picture sliced in half with scissors. An "illusion" that lasted for but a split second.

But after a blink...

THUD!

The one-kilometer-tall cyclops fell to its knees, before the two halves of its body collapsed sideways, away from each other. A large dust cloud rose, along with random birds flying away, startled by the loud tremor caused by the cyclops' massive body crashing.

Xu Tao watched this unblinkingly, his expression calm, as he slowly sheathed his sword. It was as if he had expected this result from the very beginning.

"The threat is gone. Let's go," he said casually, before jumping down the cliff.

However, nobody followed him immediately.

Everyone was left flabbergasted. Their mouths hung wide open in shock. Even Jehanne and Zetian were the same, despite all their belief in Xu Tao's skills!

"My Emperor... is this powerful?" Zetian muttered, snapping back to her senses. "Seeing him display such a manly side, brutal and efficient... I almost wet myself in excitement~!"

Jehanne, on the other hand, simply stared at her spear, whispering his name. "Sir Tao..."

The first time they met, Jehanne could tell she was stronger than him. But now, the roles were reversed. Xu Tao was leagues more powerful than she could ever be. Not only that, the gap was ever increasing, leaving her behind in the dust.

"No..." She shook her head. "I can't stay the way I am right now. I need to get even stronger...!"

With renewed resolve, the two women rushed after Xu Tao, chasing his back. It was five minutes later before the rest finally began chasing after the three.

🔷🔷🔷

The 26th floor took a little under a sixth of an hour to clear.

It was short, but given they only had 5 hours for 24 floors, it was still slow. On average, they should spend 12.5 minutes per trial.

For this case, where Xu Tao cleared the threat in one sword swing, they should've been able to save time... Too bad everyone had been daydreaming and wasted ten whole minutes instead.

But...

That was just the beginning.

Starting from the next floor, Xu Tao cleared the succeeding trials without wasting a single second. For trials where they were all gathered together, or ones that required them to destroy enemies, Xu Tao's skills came fully into display.

Even during moments where they were separated into smaller groups again, Xu Tao's clones completed the tasks without difficulty.

"This isn't a group activity anymore, but Master Tao's OP solo play..." Yifa muttered to herself.

Even in places he wasn't present, he was the one contributing the most, after all!

Just like that, the clearing of the tower was proceeding as scheduled. Well... slightly ahead of schedule.

In just three hours, they had already cleared up to the 45th floor!

Since they were there, watching him clear the trials as if they didn't exist, they could fully understand how difficult the ordeals he faced were. But thanks to that, the way everyone looked at Xu Tao changed in a considerable manner.

Now, the gazes pointed at him were mostly filled with awe and admiration. There were a few wary eyes, and some who felt fear towards him too. However, Xu Tao didn't really care how they saw him.

"Just four more trials..." he whispered before walking to the stairs leading to the next floor.

Everything had gone well... too well, in fact, that the next scene felt earned.

They arrived, once again, at a wide green field that extended as far as the horizon. The gentle moon glowed above their heads, and countless stars lit up the entire floor.

"This is..." Xu Tao frowned. "Another rest floor?"

They hadn't encountered one since the 4th floor, so this was a surprise. He had actually thought they wouldn't see another rest floor after the first one, like a false hope meant to lure challengers into complacency.

But no, there it was—on the 4th-to-last floor.

"Wait...!" The next moment, Xu Tao realized the threat. "If this is a rest floor, then...!"

Just then, the last person entered the stairs, causing the path back to close instantly. Then, a golden glow exuded from the middle of the grasslands, as if to point out where the teleporter to the next floor was.

But... the problem was the monolith that floated above it.

Words were written over it in bold:

[You have reached the last haven. Congratulations.]

[As praise for your achievements, one hour of rest is granted before the path to the next trial emerges.]

[Prepare yourselves, for the end is near.]

"...One... hour."

Xu Tao's shoulders dropped.

They were pressed for time, and now, they had no choice but to stay still for one full hour!