[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-sword-god-in-a-world-of-magic":3,"chapter-sword-god-in-a-world-of-magic-sword-god-in-a-world-of-magic-chapter-433":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Sword God in a World of Magic",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1492118,1940,"Chapter 433 – Distance","sword-god-in-a-world-of-magic-chapter-433",433,"\u003Cp>433 Chapter 433 – Distance\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, the teacher in front of Shang was Astor. Right now, he was at the Early Commander Stage, and his Battle-Strength felt about average to Shang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, you're a teacher now, huh?\" Shang asked with a friendly smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astor looked around and saw that everyone was looking at them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Greetings, Count Sword,\" Astor said, taking a step back and bowing politely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang raised an eyebrow. \"Is this really necessary, Astor? We're friends.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Astor heard these words, a surprised expression appeared on his face. But then, his expression transformed into an uncomfortable one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm sorry, Count Sword, but I have to get back to teaching.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Shang heard that, a small tinge of sadness appeared inside his chest, but he quickly got used to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Yes, what have I even been expecting?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand,\" Shang said. Then, he turned to the students of Astor's class. \"Your teacher taught me many things when I was young. He is very knowledgeable and very experienced. You can count yourself lucky for having such a teacher.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eyes with which the students looked at their teacher became more respectful, and there was even a bit of wonder and shock in their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang nodded once more at Astor and turned around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What did I even think when I said that?' Shang thought as he walked towards the main building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Astor has probably heard that I returned 20 years ago. Maybe he even searched for me or waited for me to look for him.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Yet, instead of doing that, I completely vanished. I never looked for him to talk or anything like that.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I've been in the same class as Astor for two years, but 30 years have passed since then.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Friends? At most, we are old acquaintances.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang released a silent sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It feels like not much time has passed for me, but that's due to the long isolation of training. When there is no external stimulus, time passes at a rapid rate.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'But for others, it must feel like I have been gone for their entire life. Obviously, they wouldn't view me as someone close to them.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I doubt that Sarah would react any differently. She would probably just greet me respectfully but with a cold voice, and Elver and I have never been close.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It probably wouldn't be difficult to talk to Mattheo, but that's because Jerald is raising him to become a politician. He should be very good at expanding his social circle.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, when Shang thought about Mattheo, he felt very distant from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mattheo felt more like a youngster than someone of Shang's age, even though Mattheo was even older than Shang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Power, huh?' Shang thought as he looked at the sky. 'Power changes my entire outlook.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The friends I had back then don't feel like my friends anymore, and the colossal giants I've looked up to have transformed into people I can easily talk to.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Shang remembered his last trial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Mervin had killed himself in the trial, Shang realized what his future would turn into, and this future was now real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People he once knew had no connection with him anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang would continue training in isolation as they slowly progressed in life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe Astor was already a father?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe Sarah had already begun learning to smith?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were no longer the same people, and to the same extent, Shang also wasn't the same person anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Right now, there's only George, Jerald, and Mervin left. I can count those three as my friends, but that's because we are all of similar power and follow a similar goal.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'As time progresses, these friendships will probably also deteriorate. After all, I'm planning on reaching further than anyone else.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang stepped into the building and walked into a hallway to his right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'But all of that is necessary. There are so many talented people in this world, and I'm certain that there are many people much more talented than me.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang put his hand on a wall. A moment later, the wall opened, and a staircase that led down appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Yet, all these unimaginable geniuses didn't manage to become the most powerful person in the world.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Is it because they didn't try hard enough?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Is everyone else just lazy?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Of course not.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang walked down the stairs into the basement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'If I want to keep up with them and even surpass them, I have to sacrifice more than anyone else.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I can't waste my time with friendships, outings, family, romance, or similar things.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'If I want to become the most powerful, I must dedicate my entire life to my goal.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, an image appeared in Shang's mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a scene where Shang and George were much older, and they were looking at each other like strangers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a sad and heavy feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'However, this is a pain I have to bear if I want to reach the top.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang slowly walked through the basement and opened one of the doors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the door was a long and high room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang remembered that he had fought the General Stage warriors and Adepts in this very room. Once a month, a secret marketplace appeared here for sensitive wares and even wares for the True Path Stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, the room was empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang slowly walked to one of the walls and leaned on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRK!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang quickly stood up again as a crack appeared on the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I should remember that I'm quite heavy now.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang had to chuckle a bit at the sudden change in mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shang seemed chippier than usual today, but that actually wasn't the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't the biggest fan of his current feelings and his current situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, one shouldn't forget that Shang was 47 years old now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was no longer a young adult, and he had come to terms with his life over the past few decades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Shang waited for Jerald, he thought about his Star Map.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I'm a bit over 33% done thanks to that brutal fight against the centipede, but it's still just 33%.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'My progress will probably accelerate as I learn more, but I still think that it will take another 20 years at least.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I have the Star Map, and I train every day, all day. Yet, it would still take me about 50 years in total to comprehend my Path.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Honestly, without the Star Map, I probably wouldn't be able to finish this Path in my lifetime.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'But it will all be worth it.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Without a solid foundation, I can't reach the top.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, one of the doors opened, and Shang looked over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jerald had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>",1121,"2026-06-06T04:07:02.167Z",1,"novelbin.me","3fb2fb3da8a681d07db1c71be903232b1925ad2a3f0ca7d7a424e6df88147a94","sword-god-in-a-world-of-magic-chapter-434","sword-god-in-a-world-of-magic-chapter-432",1033,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsword-god-in-a-world-of-magic-cover.jpg"]