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."

with your armor again,

closed his right eye

was

it was

better armor was basically impossible in this world, and Shang couldn't

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

with this set of armor, he would never have to

attack that hit Shang would severely injure or kill

least two additional lives per

would also allow Shang to get further in future

Shang was definitely tempted.

the next

wanted to listen to all

expected, and he wanted to know if

returned to the jester's

Element-Neutral technique that's adaptable to every kind of weapon and Element," the jester said. "You can use it as a baseline for all your future

to take another deep

knew how terrifying something like

adaptive technique was essentially only a blueprint. It had certain principles inside it that could be filled

completely transform Shang's fighting style

might even give Shang the inspiration he needed to theorize a way

would save him decades of time in his

monumental task. Shang had to create a path forward without knowing

was very possible that Shang wouldn't even reach the Fifth Realm in

the future, he would find a way, but he had already taken several incorrect steps before that moment, forever making

even be useful in the

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

the armor was useful forever, while the technique might lose its effects later

Shang enough inspiration to create something even better, which

rewards were terrifyingly

didn't want to give up either of them since both were

the third?" Shang

returned to the jester's hand, and the question mark

what

it? You know me. I would much rather take something that will certainly benefit

grinned. "I'm offering it because

raised an

mark. "Long ago, someone created this thing. Then, they sacrificed a lot of Mana to

one day, this thing would find its way to

they have succeeded and that

at the jester. "Does fate even

chuckled. "In a way, it does," he said

influence

with a laugh. "There is no one that can influence my will. This thing is in my hands, and I may do with it what I

silent for a while. "Am I the

the jester said with

that person know me?"

"No."

it be

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

is it more useful than the

question mark floated back to the

offering it because I like to