Sword God in a World of Magic

Shang released a long sigh.

Going through the trial was always filled with stress. Even though his life wasn't technically on the line here, the continuous fights against stronger and stronger opponents sapped his strength by a lot.

"You got thirteen points in the beast category and ten points in the Mage category," the jester said. "That's a total of 23 points without a warrior category."

"It was definitely the right decision to promote you."

Shang didn't answer.

He knew that his power had grown tremendously, but that didn't just occur naturally.

Shang was 85 years old, and he had spent over 50 years in complete isolation.

About 70% of his life had been nothing but training day in and day out in isolation.

Was it easy to do something like that?

Of course not!

Shang also wanted to take breaks.

He also wanted to do something else.

However, he couldn't allow himself to relax.

His goal was too important to him, and any moment that wasn't spent on getting him to his goal was a waste of time.

"What are the rewards?" Shang asked.

The jester smirked.

SHING!

Three small things appeared above his right hand, and Shang looked at them.

One was a small set of armor.

One was a small book.

One was a big question mark.

"I have three things to choose from. You may only take one," the jester said.

At that moment, the little armor floated forward and grew to its normal size.

It looked just like Shang's previous armor.

"The first option: An armor just like your weapon."

Shang took a deep breath as he heard that.

An armor just like Sword?

"So, it regenerates, adapts to my needs, and it grows stronger by giving it ore?" Shang asked.

The jester nodded. "Exactly."

will never have issues with your armor again, just

closed his right eye

was more

fact, it

that getting better armor was basically impossible in this world,

like that required decades of research, and Shang couldn't spare any time for

he would never

that hit Shang would severely injure

would get at least two additional lives per battle. Maybe

get further in future trials, assuming

Shang was definitely tempted.

next

to listen to all

he wanted to know if the other two rewards were just

jester's hand as the book grew

"You can use it as a baseline for all your future techniques. You don't need

take another

knew how terrifying something like that

blueprint. It had certain principles inside it that could

style again and elevate it to

might even give Shang the inspiration he needed to

save him decades

to create a path forward without

very possible that Shang wouldn't even reach the Fifth Realm in his life,

find a way, but he had already taken several

more, the technique might even be useful in

survival several-fold in the future, the second reward would increase Shang's chances of actually

the armor was useful forever, while the technique might lose

enough inspiration to create something even better, which he wouldn't have been able

terrifyingly

up either of them since both were

the third?" Shang

to the jester's hand,

what it is," the jester

decision?" Shang asked. "Why are you even offering it? You know me. I would much rather take something that will

jester only grinned. "I'm

an

"Long ago, someone created this thing. Then, they sacrificed a lot

so that, one day, this thing would find its way to its

that this thing would eventually find its

glanced at the jester.

chuckled. "In a way, it does," he said as he looked at Shang. "Fate is

they influence your will?"

my will. This thing

remained silent for a while. "Am I

the jester said with a

know me?" Shang

"No."

it be useful

the jester said. "I may enjoy joking around, but I still believe in fair rewards.

is it more useful

floated back

to tempt fate,