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."

have issues with

closed his right

reward was more

it was terrifyingly

better armor was basically impossible in this world,

like that required decades of research, and

with this set of armor, he would never have to worry about such

that hit Shang would

armor, he would get at least two additional lives per battle. Maybe

get further in future trials, assuming he managed to advance to the

Shang was definitely tempted.

the next reward?" Shang

to listen to all the

than Shang had expected, and he wanted to

shrunk and returned to the jester's hand as

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

to take another

how terrifying

adaptive technique was essentially only a blueprint. It had certain principles inside it that could be filled with all kinds of weapons or

style again

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

him decades of time in his

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

Shang wouldn't even reach the Fifth Realm in his life, and he knew

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

might even be useful in the Fifth

several-fold in the future,

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

technique might have given Shang enough inspiration to create something even better, which he wouldn't have been

were terrifyingly useful for

to give up either of them

the third?" Shang

returned to the jester's hand, and the

you what it is," the

offering it? You know

"I'm

an eyebrow.

question mark. "Long ago, someone created this thing. Then,

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

and that this thing would

glanced at the jester. "Does

does," he said

did they influence your will?"

no one that can influence my will. This thing is

while. "Am

jester said with a

person know

"No."

be

said. "I may enjoy joking around, but I still

is, is it more useful than the other

back

to tempt fate, which is essentially my