Sword God in a World of Magic

"Is this truly what you want?" Shang asked as he faced his student.

His student was a black-haired man who seemed to be in his thirties, and he was also over two meters tall, which was quite intimidating.

Surprisingly, he didn't have an Affinity.

However, not having an Affinity also increased someone's physical power by a little bit.

"Is fighting this aggressively truly what you wish for?" Shang asked.

The student looked to the ground as he furrowed his brows in thought.

"Do I have a choice?" the student asked.

"Yes, you always have a choice," Shang said. "You can follow whatever Path you want to follow, Duma."

Duma, Shang's student, wasn't quite sure what he should answer. "But what if my Path doesn't lead to an Impose, Master?"

Shang slowly shook his head. "The principle of Impose is to impose your will upon the world around you. The world is not the one that decides what gets an Impose or not. You are the one."

"Duma, you view yourself as a protector, not a killer," Shang said. "You told me that your goal is to protect your loved ones, correct?"

Duma nodded.

"Then, you should follow a Path that shows that. The Path you have established is a Path of the shield, and you broke into the True Path Stage with that. The gladius you use as an actual weapon hasn't received its own Path."

"Yet, as soon as you became my student, you started to emulate my way of fighting. You are using your shield to throw the enemy to the side, to crush them, and to break their balance, but you are not using it to block an attack or push the enemy away."

"Watching me train and fight has given you the illusion that following my Path is the only way to become powerful."

Duma didn't look at Shang's face.

"Is what I have taught you over the last two years worth just this much?" Shang asked in an even voice. "Are you someone that simply follows what others do? Have I not taught you to think and decide for yourself?"

None of the two of them said anything.

At the moment, Duma's imposing figure stood in front of the corpse of an Early True Path Stage corpse, but in front of Shang, he felt tiny.

a bit smaller than Duma in stature, and Shang's frame was also not nearly as broadly muscles as

Duma, his Master felt like an

asked

anything for a

he said after a couple of seconds. "Not everyone can be

Shang didn't answer.

without any guidance. That requires

said as he looked at the ground,

you are doing, but just thinking about the possible consequences of

spend centuries to refine my power just to find out that my work has been for

your Colossal Sword Path seems very fitting

a bit from someone else? Isn't that what everyone is essentially doing? After all, we are

didn't say anything for

about the consequences of copying someone else's Path?" Shang asked. "Their Path will never be yours, and while you might be able to create a weak Impose with their Path, you will never be

raised his eyes to look

Silence.

okay with that. I don't need to be outstanding on my level. Just reaching the True Path Stage was already like a dream had come true, and with your help, I might even be able to reach the

could earn enough to live in a castle with my family. I

towns and cities. How many

about the Sixth Realm. Just the Fifth Realm is enough

didn't say anything

"Fine," Shang said coldly.

SHING!

Shang summoned a thick

saw

SHING!

five additional thick books and

a

for your shield, you have to change your Mana Pathways. You created a

these books. Learn the Spell. Get more

follow the sounds of the Adamantite Branch Seeds, and you will

you might need 100 to 200

and surprise at all

very roundabout and difficult way, making it

now, his Master had handed him some things, and he said

a glaring difference between