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 your armor again, just like with your

closed his right

reward was more than

fact, it was

better armor was basically impossible in this

required decades of research, and Shang couldn't

set of armor, he would never have

any attack that hit Shang would severely injure or kill

least two additional lives per battle.

armor would also allow Shang to get further in future trials, assuming he managed to advance to the Fifth

Shang was definitely tempted.

the next reward?"

listen

far more than Shang had expected, and he wanted to know if the other two rewards were

to the jester's hand as the book grew

of weapon and Element," the jester said. "You can use it as a baseline for all your future techniques. You don't need to study

had to take another

knew how terrifying something

certain principles inside it that could be

fighting style again and elevate it

inspiration he needed to theorize a way to

would save him decades of time

to create a path forward without knowing where he had

the Fifth Realm in his life, and he knew

already taken several incorrect steps before

more, the technique might even be useful

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

useful forever, while the technique

given Shang enough inspiration to create something even better, which he

terrifyingly useful for Shang's

either of them since both were so incredibly

third?" Shang

to the jester's hand, and

what it is," the jester

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

only grinned. "I'm offering it

an

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

day, this thing would

that this thing would eventually find its rightful

the jester.

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

did they influence your will?" Shang

with a laugh. "There is no one that can influence my will. This thing is

a while.

said

know me?"

"No."

be useful for

but I still believe in fair rewards. It will definitely be useful to

it more useful

question mark floated back to the

to tempt