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.

than Duma in stature, and Shang's frame was also not nearly

Master felt like

this all you're good for?" Shang asked after a while. "Following orders?

didn't say anything for a

couple of seconds. "Not everyone

Shang didn't answer.

any guidance. That

at

but just thinking about the possible consequences of making a mistake

centuries to refine my power just to find out that my work has been for nothing

Imposes, and your Colossal Sword Path

Isn't that what everyone is essentially doing? After all, we are all learning from our predecessors,"

say anything for several

Path will never be yours, and while you might be able to create a weak Impose with their Path, you will never be above-average in Battle-Strength, and you can forget about reaching

as he slowly raised his eyes to look at Shang, "I'm fine

Silence.

I'm 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

in a castle with my family. I would have enough money to

different towns and cities. How

care about the Sixth Realm. Just

anything

"Fine," Shang said coldly.

SHING!

Shang summoned a thick book and

saw the words

SHING!

summoned five additional thick books and also threw

introductions to a beast's

for your shield, you have to change your Mana Pathways. You created a defensive Path for your shield, and the world has created Mana Pathways that

these books. Learn the Spell.

that, you only have to follow the sounds of the Adamantite

you might need 100

and surprise at all

Master had always taught him in a very roundabout and difficult way, making

some things, and he said that reaching the Impose Stage would

difference between the