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."

issues with your armor again,

closed his right eye

reward was more than

fact, it was

better armor was basically impossible in this

of research, and Shang couldn't spare any

he would never have to worry about such

any attack that hit Shang would severely injure

at least two

future trials, assuming he managed to advance

Shang was definitely tempted.

the next reward?" Shang

listen

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

and returned to the jester's hand as the book grew and floated

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

had to take

how terrifying something

blueprint. It had certain principles inside it that could be filled with all kinds

completely transform Shang's fighting style again and elevate

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

him decades of time in his

Shang had to

the Fifth Realm

he had already taken several incorrect steps before that moment, forever making it impossible

might even be

the future, the second reward would

while the technique might lose its

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

terrifyingly useful for Shang's

to give up either of them since both were so incredibly

third?" Shang

the jester's hand, and the

you what it

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

"I'm offering

an

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

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

were certain that they have succeeded and that this thing would eventually find

jester. "Does fate

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

they influence your will?"

influence my will.

silent for a while. "Am

the jester said with a

that person know me?"

"No."

be useful

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

question is, is it more useful than

mark floated back to the jester's

only offering it because I like to tempt