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

It was a tool.

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

the power without actually

was trying to hoard the most powerful

Look at them?

Have them?

do you want to have

be the

status?" the Lightning Emperor

didn't immediately

Shang answered after

Lightning Emperor blinked a

the entire world, would you still chase

"Yes," Shang answered.

don't care about

"No."

are at the Third 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 don't know why I want to

like this

am supposed to do, and if

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

ambition," the Lightning Emperor

"Mind control?" Shang asked.

mind control. Humans do things because they have reasons to do these things. You can question every conscious action of

"You want power, right?"

Shang nodded.

you

"Because I want power."

is self-referential. The reason for

because it

might actually have this reason for existing, a human's

know the reason, you can be assured that it is

because you don't know that something

Shang said. "Then, what's

I haven't seen your

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

Shang nodded.

Warrior King and you reached the top of your Realm, what would

way to become an Emperor," Shang

what would you do then?" he

to become a God," Shang answered without any

there a specific reason why you want to become