The power scaling feels off in the manhua. In the novel, you have a very clear sense of levels, equipment tiers, and skill ranks. The manhua visuals sometimes make a +10 Bronze sword look as flashy as an Epic sword, blurring the progression. The novel's text-based system inherently forces a clearer hierarchy of power, which is satisfying for progression fantasy fans.
The 'Reincarnated as a Sword' light novel is such a gem! I stumbled upon it while browsing for isekai stories, and it quickly became one of my favorites. You can find the official English translation on platforms like J-Novel Club, which does a fantastic job with licensing and translating light novels. They offer both digital copies and subscription options, so you can binge-read to your heart's content. I personally love their releases because they feel polished and true to the original tone.
If you're into physical copies, Seven Seas Entertainment has picked up the series, and their editions are gorgeous—great paper quality, crisp printing, and sometimes even bonus illustrations. Local bookstores or online retailers like Amazon usually stock them. For those who prefer digital, Kindle or BookWalker are solid choices too. The latter often has exclusive deals or points systems that make buying multiple volumes a bit easier on the wallet. Either way, supporting the official releases helps ensure more gems like this get translated!