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.

goal, but

It was a tool.

could do whatever one wanted without having to

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

trying to hoard the most powerful weapons in the world and

Look at them?

Have them?

do you want to have power?" the

to be the strongest,"

status?" the

didn't immediately

answered after two

Lightning Emperor blinked a

in the entire world, would you

"Yes," Shang answered.

don't care

"No."

it is completely impossible for anyone else

"Yes," Shang answered.

"Why?"

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

like this

I am supposed to do, and if I can't achieve it, nothing else matters," Shang

this point since he was too enraptured by this

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

"Mind control?" Shang asked.

these things. You can question every conscious action of a human

"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

because it

in this world that might actually have this

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

don't know that something exists doesn't mean that it doesn't

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

know since I haven't seen your life," the

think we have strayed too far from the

Shang nodded.

became a Warrior King and you reached the top of your

way to become

Emperor, what would you do then?"

to become a God," Shang

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