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.

a goal, but

It was a tool.

the most powerful, one could do whatever one wanted

it seemed like Shang only wanted to have the power

like he was trying to hoard the most powerful weapons in

Look at them?

Have them?

you want to have power?" the Lightning

to be the strongest," Shang

status?" the Lightning

Shang didn't

Shang answered after

Lightning Emperor blinked

people or beasts in the entire world, would you still chase after power like

"Yes," Shang answered.

don't care about

"No."

and it is completely impossible for anyone else to even reach the Fourth Realm? Would you

"Yes," Shang answered.

"Why?"

"I don't expect you to understand. I don't know why I want to be the strongest myself. I just want

this is why

is what I am supposed to do,

completely ignoring his tea at this point

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 a human with a why, and you would

"You want power, right?"

Shang nodded.

do you want

"Because I want power."

Lightning Emperor said. "Your action is self-referential. The

exists because it

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

and even if you don't know the reason, you can be assured

don't know that something exists doesn't

what's my reason for wanting

haven't seen

too far from the actual topic. Let me

Shang nodded.

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

a way to become an Emperor," Shang

assuming you are an Emperor, what would you do then?"

a way to become a God," Shang answered

why you want to become a God?" the Lightning Emperor