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 a means to achieve

It was a tool.

most powerful, one could do whatever one wanted

wanted to have the power without actually having a reason

was trying to hoard the

Look at them?

Have them?

you want to have power?" the Lightning Emperor

be the strongest,"

the status?" the

Shang didn't

answered after two

Emperor blinked a

so, assuming there were no people or beasts in the entire world, would you still chase after power like this?" the Lightning Emperor

"Yes," Shang answered.

don't care about

"No."

for anyone else to even reach

"Yes," Shang answered.

"Why?"

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

feel like this is why

supposed to do, and if I can't

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

the Lightning

"Mind control?" Shang asked.

conscious action of a human with a why, and you would always get

"You want power, right?"

Shang nodded.

do you

"Because I want power."

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

because it

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

a reason, and even if you don't know the

don't know that something

said. "Then, what's my reason for

I haven't seen your life," the Lightning

Emperor sighed. "I think we have strayed too far from the actual topic. Let me ask

Shang nodded.

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

way to become an Emperor,"

assuming you are an Emperor, what

a way to become a God," Shang answered

want to become a God?"