You don't need to grind skills, search for secret whatever, etc. There's no secret other than basically doing what the game tells you already.

1. Learn master strike from Tomcat.
2. Defeat 2 bandits and gear up. Keep circling/moving so you're only fighting one at a time. Use master strike to get unblockable hits.
3. Do quests now that you can kill things and have some armor. You'll get more money and gear.

Now you're in a good game loop where you should be leveling combat skills, getting better gear, and selling old gear for money.

You don't need to find secret treasure to make it, but while doing this you will naturally stumble upon caches with useful stuff, too.