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

It was a tool.

one could do whatever one wanted without having to

Shang only wanted to have the power

hoard the most powerful weapons in the world and

Look at them?

Have them?

have power?" the Lightning Emperor

to be

the Lightning

Shang didn't immediately

answered after two

Lightning Emperor blinked

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

"Yes," Shang answered.

care about the

"No."

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 illustrious Sixth Realm?" the

"Yes," Shang answered.

"Why?"

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

this is why I

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

this point since he was too

sound like an ambition," the Lightning Emperor

"Mind control?" Shang asked.

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

"You want power, right?"

Shang nodded.

do you

"Because I want power."

problem," the Lightning Emperor said. "Your action is self-referential. The reason for your action is your action, and your action is your

because it

have this reason for existing, a human's

you don't know the

that something exists doesn't mean

"Then, what's my reason for

know since I haven't seen

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

Shang nodded.

you became a Warrior King and you reached the top of your Realm, what would you do next?" the

to become an Emperor," Shang

an Emperor, what would

a

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