Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100

Chapter 1383  Forces of the Verdant Sky Realm

Soon after passing through the inner corridors of the palace, Max and Lucia arrived before Lady Virelia's residence. The path leading to her room was quiet and solemn, lined with black stone walls etched with draconic patterns that seemed to breathe faintly with restrained power.

Only Max and Lucia were permitted to proceed beyond this point, and so Carl remained outside, standing guard as the massive doors slowly closed behind them.

Inside, the room was spacious yet austere, dominated by black crystal pillars and a faint glow of dark flames that hovered calmly in the air. Lady Virelia was already seated within, her presence alone making the space feel heavy with authority. The moment Max saw her, he stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Master," Max greeted.

"I like what you did three months ago," Lady Virelia said immediately, wasting no time on pleasantries. Her gaze was sharp yet calm as it rested on him. "I do not care what others may say. You were able to take that sword not because of luck or coincidence but because you possessed the ability to do so."

She continued without pause. "That sword has remained in the Treasure Hall for more than a millennium. Not a single disciple managed to even touch it, let alone claim it. You succeeded, and that means the sword rightfully belongs to you. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master," Max replied firmly. He had never once considered giving up the sword. It had chosen him, and from the moment he grasped it, it had become a part of his path.

Lady Virelia nodded in approval. "Do not concern yourself with the Seven Main Families of the Black Dragon Palace. Even though they rule this place and possess immense authority, they are not so shameless as to seize something a disciple has lawfully obtained from the Treasure Hall."

She added calmly, "When you face them, you only need to answer a few questions. Nothing more."

"I will keep that in mind," Max said, feeling some of the tension ease.

Lady Virelia's expression then turned more serious. "The real issue does not lie with our Black Dragon clan. It lies with the other two clans within the Verdant Sky Realm."

"The other two clans?" Max asked, genuinely confused. "Who are they?"

Lucia spoke up at that moment. "Have you not read the book about the Verdant Sky Realm? It lists all the major forces ruling our star realm."

Max let out a wry laugh. "I was too absorbed in training and neglected to read it," he admitted. He vaguely recalled Carl giving him such a book, but at the time, cultivation and preparation had consumed all his focus.

Lady Virelia studied Max in silence for a brief moment, as if weighing not only his strength but also his capacity to shoulder the consequences that followed it. When she finally spoke again, her voice was calm and controlled, yet every word carried unmistakable gravity. "Then it is time you learn. The sword you carry has placed you in the sight of forces far beyond the Black Dragon Palace alone. From this point onward, ignorance will only invite danger."

She rose slowly from her seat and began to explain, her gaze drifting as if recalling long chapters of history written in blood and flame. "The Verdant Sky Realm is ruled by two great factions. The first is known as the Divine Four Clans, which consist of the Azure Dragon Clan, the White Tiger Clan, the Black Tortoise Clan, and the Golden Phoenix Clan. These clans uphold ancient orthodox doctrines and present themselves as the guardians of balance within the star realm."

Her eyes then sharpened slightly. "Opposing them are the Dark Trinity Clans. These include our own Black Dragon Clan, the Dark Phoenix Clan, and the Heavenly Kirin Clan. Though we are labeled as dark by the Divine Four, that title is born from ideology rather than morality. Our methods differ, our paths diverge, and because of that, conflict between the two sides has been inevitable."

Lady Virelia paused, allowing Max to absorb the weight of what she was saying. "Throughout history, the Divine Four Clans and the Dark Trinity Clans have clashed countless times. Entire star regions have been scarred by their wars, and generations have grown up beneath the shadow of these battles. Despite this, there exists a delicate equilibrium that prevents open war from erupting at all times."

She continued more slowly, her tone turning contemplative. "Within the Dark Trinity Clans, however, there has always been a mutual understanding. The Black Dragon Clan, the Dark Phoenix Clan, and the Heavenly Kirin Clan do not merely coexist. They function as allies bound by shared interests and survival. This understanding has kept our side unified even when facing pressure from the Divine Four."

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she reached the heart of the matter. "Your actions have disturbed that balance. By taking the sword of the Sword Sovereign, you have unsettled the other two clans of the Dark Trinity. They are uneasy, not because the sword was taken, but because it was taken by a disciple of the Black Dragon Clan."

Her gaze returned to Max, sharp and probing. "To them, this symbolizes a shift. The Sword Sovereign was a figure respected and feared across the Divine Realm, and his blade carries authority beyond mere power. The Dark Phoenix Clan and the Heavenly Kirin Clan now fear that the Black Dragon Clan may gain an overwhelming advantage, and that fear has pushed the fragile mutual understanding to the brink of fracture."

She concluded in a low, steady voice, "Whether you intended it or not, your rise has already begun to reshape the political currents of the Verdant Sky Realm. From this moment onward, every step you take will be watched, weighed, and judged by forces that do not tolerate uncertainty."

Max frowned deeply as Lady Virelia's explanation settled in his mind. None of this had ever been his intention. He had not sought influence, nor had he wished to disturb the fragile balance of the Verdant Sky Realm.

All he had wanted was a sword that resonated with his path, a blade that would not shatter beneath his strength or betray him in battle. Yet that single choice had already pulled him into a web of power struggles far greater than himself. He let out a slow breath, steadying his thoughts, before finally voicing the doubt that had been forming in his heart.

"So this is why I was summoned," Max said, his tone calm but edged with unease. "Not only to be judged for taking the sword, but also because the palace intends to use me as a piece against the other two forces of the Dark Trinity. Is that correct?"