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.

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

to Duma, his Master felt

good for?" Shang asked after a while.

didn't say anything for

a couple of seconds. "Not everyone

Shang didn't answer.

without any guidance.

at the ground,

but just thinking about

just to find out that my work has been

Colossal Sword Path seems very fitting to

else? Isn't that what everyone is

anything for several

be able to create a weak Impose with their Path, you will never be above-average in Battle-Strength, and you

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

Silence.

Path Stage was already like a dream had come true, and with your help, I

as an elite member in any city. I could earn enough to live in a castle with my family. I would have enough

to different towns and cities.

care about the Sixth Realm. Just the Fifth Realm is enough

didn't say anything for several

"Fine," Shang said coldly.

SHING!

a thick book and threw

at the cover and saw

SHING!

additional thick books and also

five books were introductions to a beast's and a warrior's Mana

your shield, you have to change your Mana Pathways. You

these books. Learn the Spell. Get

to follow the sounds of the Adamantite Branch Seeds, and you will eventually create

you might need 100

looked with shock and surprise at all the books

taught him in a very roundabout and difficult

Master had handed him some things, and he said that

a glaring difference between the two ways his Master