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.

not a goal, but a means to

It was a tool.

do

the power without actually

to hoard the most powerful weapons in the

Look at them?

Have them?

want to have power?"

I want to be the strongest,"

status?" the Lightning Emperor

Shang didn't

Shang answered

blinked a couple of

or beasts in the entire world, would you still chase after power like this?" the

"Yes," Shang answered.

don't care

"No."

Realm and you are at the Fifth Realm, and it is completely impossible for anyone else to even reach the Fourth Realm? Would you still dedicate your entire life to searching for an

"Yes," Shang answered.

"Why?"

want to be the strongest," Shang said. "I don't expect you to understand. I

like this is

like this is what I am supposed to do, and if

ignoring his tea at this point since he was too enraptured by this

Lightning Emperor said.

"Mind control?" Shang asked.

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.

do you

"Because I want power."

that's the problem," the Lightning Emperor said. "Your action is self-referential. The reason for

exists because

there may be things in this world that might actually 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 still

you don't know that something exists

said. "Then, what's my

know since I haven't seen

"I think we have strayed too far from the actual topic. Let me ask you some more

Shang nodded.

reached the top of your Realm, what would you do next?" the Lightning Emperor

become

Emperor, what

become a God," Shang answered without any

want