Sword God in a World of Magic

Yet, even though the Lightning Emperor understood Shang better now, the problem still hadn't been resolved.

Naturally, the metaphor the Lightning Emperor had given couldn't completely cover all the aspects of the problem.

For example, while the beast in the metaphor could help the person become more powerful, Shang couldn't possibly help the Lightning Emperor become more powerful.

The Lightning Emperor was already at the peak of what he could achieve. Even if Shang became a Warrior Emperor and even if he decided to help the Lightning Emperor with everything, what would that accomplish?

At most, the Lightning Emperor would become the strongest Emperor after Shang, but that didn't make much difference to him.

Not everyone was like Shang, and the Lightning Emperor was fine with the power he had.

He could do what he wanted, talk with whomever he wanted, and go wherever he wanted.

Becoming the strongest Emperor wouldn't change that.

As for reaching Lucius' power, that was impossible. The Lightning Emperor knew that much.

Sure, Shang could become an incredibly powerful Warrior King, which would boost the Lightning Manor's prestige and soft power.

But then what?

They would have a bit more power for 100,000 years, and then Shang would die, and everything would return to normal.

And if he hadn't died by then, it meant that he had become an Emperor, in which case every other Emperor needed to fear for their lives.

There was nothing positive about supporting Shang.

"Your goal is to become powerful?" the Lightning Emperor asked.

Shang nodded.

"Powerful in what sense?" the Lightning Emperor asked. "Do you want to rule over others?"

"No," Shang answered.

"Do you want the freedom to do whatever you want?"

"No."

"Do you want to use your power on others?"

"No."

"Then what do you want with that power?" the Lightning Emperor asked with furrowed brows.

Everything Shang had said up to now was in tune with the world, which meant that he wasn't lying.

Yet, exactly that confused the Lightning Emperor so much.

was not a goal, but

It was a tool.

most powerful, one could do whatever one wanted without having to

it seemed like Shang only wanted to have the power without actually having a

like he was trying to hoard the most powerful weapons in the world

Look at them?

Have them?

want to have power?"

be the strongest,"

the

didn't immediately

Shang answered after

blinked a

assuming there were no people or beasts in the entire world, would you still chase

"Yes," Shang answered.

don't care about the

"No."

at the Fifth Realm, and it is completely impossible for anyone else to even

"Yes," Shang answered.

"Why?"

you to understand. I don't know why

like this is

is what I am supposed to do, and if

point since he was too enraptured by this enigma

an ambition," the Lightning Emperor said. "It sounds like

"Mind control?" Shang asked.

control. Humans do things because they have reasons to do these things. You can question every conscious action of a human with a why, and you would always get an answer, assuming the other party

"You want power, right?"

Shang nodded.

you

"Because I want power."

action is self-referential. The reason for your action is your action, and your action is your

exists because it

have this reason for existing, a human's action definitely isn't one of

always a reason, and even if you don't know the reason, you can be assured that it is

you don't know that something exists

Shang said. "Then, what's my reason for wanting

seen

the Lightning Emperor sighed. "I think we have strayed too far

Shang nodded.

reached the top of your Realm,

a way to become an Emperor,"

you are an Emperor, what

to become a God," Shang

a specific reason why you want