# Chapter 3016: Sword Dao Turmoil
Hundred Clans Royal City was located at the edge of Hell Realm, south of the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain. It was jointly established by one hundred and thirty-seven small clans, stretching for thousands of miles across the starry sky.
In terms of defense and grandeur, it was not much inferior to the ten great divine cities of Hell Realm.
This star domain contained hundreds of great worlds and tens of thousands of life-bearing planets.
Eight white-feathered peacocks pulled an ornately decorated sacred chariot into the city. The carriage frame shimmered with sacred light, adorned with various exquisite ornaments—green-patterned gourds, snow grass, sacred jade marrow... all showcasing the chariot owner's pursuit of beauty and refined living.
Driving the chariot was a man in a black robe with a bamboo hat, not particularly refined, completely mismatched with the chariot's temperament.
Unfortunately, the man kept his bamboo hat pressed low, and no one could clearly see what he looked like.
"Stop!"
Outside a gambling city operated by the Yecha Clan, the sacred chariot halted. The black-robed man lifted his head slightly, gazing toward the copper-cast gates of the gambling city. Outside stood rows of Saint realm experts in black armor, their aura heavy and imposing.
From within the sacred chariot, a pleasant voice sounded: "Why have we stopped here?"
"Waiting for a friend," the black-robed man said.
Before long, an old man with disheveled hair and a hunched back walked out of the gambling city in high spirits, constantly stroking the space bracelet on his wrist. Clearly, he had won quite a bit and was in a good mood.
The Yecha Clan Saint realm cultivators guarding the gambling city gates all revealed greedy glints in their eyes.
They knew exactly how many divine stones this old fellow had won from the gambling city, having already driven the chief steward into a furious rage.
The hunched old man glanced at them, deliberately putting on a frightened expression, and said: "Your Yecha Clan is the number one clan among the Hundred Clans Royal City, valuing reputation above all. You wouldn't do something as dishonorable as cheating, would you?"
A Yecha Clan Saint King said: "Of course not."
"Good, good, that's a relief!"
The hunched old man weakly walked down the steps, about to leave, when a voice sounded from not far away: "Seven Hands!"
The hunched old man's joyful smile instantly vanished, his eyes turning deep and piercing as he looked toward the direction of the voice. He saw the ornate white-feathered peacock sacred chariot and the black-robed man half-reclining by the carriage door.
To be able to see through his true form—what kind of background did this person have?
After all, Seven Hands Old Man had crossed the divine tribulation, reaching the seventieth level of spiritual power.
Seven Hands Old Man was not afraid. He walked over and probed the other party with his spiritual power, but the spiritual power he released sank like a stone into the sea, disappearing without a trace.
"May I ask who you are, Your Excellency?" Seven Hands Old Man asked cautiously.
The black-robed man appeared very lazy, extending a finger to lift his bamboo hat, revealing half of an extremely handsome face.
Seven Hands Old Man was both surprised and delighted, quickly bowing in salute: "So it's Senior Brother! Seven Hands pays respects to Senior Brother!"
Who else could the black-robed man be but Zhang Ruochen?
After the battle at Xinghuantian, Zhang Ruochen's reputation shook the world. Not only was he unmatched at the same cultivation level, but he could be said to have suppressed all the powerhouses of this eon, making them unable to lift their heads. How could Seven Hands Old Man dare to be negligent?
Seven Hands Old Man had formally acknowledged Blood Empress as his master. Although he was only a nominal disciple, the seniority was established. Regardless of his age being greater than Zhang Ruochen's, he directly called out "Senior Brother."
Zhang Ruochen pressed down his bamboo hat and said: "Why aren't you staying in the Blood Heaven Tribe? What are you doing gambling at the Hundred Clans Royal City? Winning divine stones from a group of Saint realm cultivators—aren't you ashamed to be a god?"
Seven Hands Old Man laughed: "Didn't I change my form and appearance?"
"Do you know how I discovered you? Because you used spiritual power while gambling," Zhang Ruochen said.
Seven Hands Old Man flattered: "That's because Senior Brother's spiritual power is supreme. Even I, a spiritual power god, cannot hide from your perception."
Zhang Ruochen said: "Among the many gods in Hundred Clans Royal City, there are those more skilled than me. Can you fool them?"
"People at that level wouldn't focus their attention on a seventieth-level spiritual power god like me. Besides, I came to the gambling city to help Lord Underworld King gather information—handling official business. I'm not like Night Wanderer, idling about."
While elevating himself, Seven Hands Old Man didn't forget to step on Night Wanderer Master.
Zhang Ruochen said: "Sixth Uncle has also come to Hundred Clans Royal City?"
"Doesn't Senior Brother know? I thought Senior Brother came for this matter too," Seven Hands Old Man said with surprise.
Zhang Ruochen said: "It seems something major has happened in Hundred Clans Royal City. After entering the city, I've felt the atmosphere is extremely tense. The patrol cultivators, both in number and cultivation level, far exceed my last visit. Let's go. Take me to see Sixth Uncle."
Seven Hands Old Man curiously glanced into the sacred chariot and asked: "Senior Brother, who is the esteemed presence inside the chariot? Should this junior brother kneel and pay respects?"
"When did your knees become as soft as Night Wanderer's? You are a god," Zhang Ruochen said.
"In front of truly great figures, what am I, a seventieth-level spiritual power god? Being able to kowtow to that majestic supreme senior within the chariot is my honor."
Saying this, Seven Hands Old Man knelt down and bowed to the sacred chariot.
No joke—given Zhang Ruochen's current status as Heavenly Mother's Divine Envoy, Xinghuantian's Realm Venerable, someone who had suppressed a Great God, and such a figure could only sit outside driving the chariot—one could imagine how terrifying the person inside must be.
If someone said Heavenly Mother herself was inside, Seven Hands Old Man would absolutely believe it without question.
And this possibility was not small.
Zhang Ruochen sighed: "You've been too deeply influenced by Night Wanderer."
Zhang Ruochen drove the chariot forward slowly, letting Seven Hands Old Man sit beside him. Seven Hands Old Man glanced at the chariot interior and absolutely dared not, respectfully following beside the chariot to lead the way.
He said: "Senior Brother has obtained the Sword Ancestor's inheritance—surely you know something about the Sword Realm?"
Zhang Ruochen's heart stirred: "The Sword Realm? Naturally, I know of it."
Seven Hands Old Man sighed: "During the battle at Xinghuantian, Senior Brother used the Sword Ancestor's sword soul and the six divine swords passed down from the Sword Realm, shaking the world and driving all sword cultivators wild with frenzy."
"The gods of the Fate Divine Mountain's Startling Cloud Pavilion pointed out that the Sword Ancestor's sword soul and the six divine swords were obtained by Senior Brother from the Sword South Realm, which is part of the ancient Sword Realm—the southern region of the Sword Realm."
Zhang Ruochen sneered inwardly. It was easy for the Fate Divine Temple to know that the sword soul and six divine swords originated from the Origin Divine Temple. The Startling Cloud Pavilion, as the intelligence organization of the Fate Divine Temple, rivaling Star Heaven Cliff, Red Dust Peerless Tower, and Flying Immortal Valley, naturally knew even more.
Seven Hands Old Man continued: "Gradually, sword cultivators from across the world heard the news and gathered in this star domain, all wanting to venture into the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain to find the legendary Sword Realm. It is said that within the Sword Realm lies the ancient lost Sword God Temple, containing not only a vast amount of Sword Dao Essence and countless powerful Sword Dao divine abilities, but also the legendary Sword Origin."
"In recent years, many cultivators have entered the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain, but fewer than one in a hundred came out alive. Those who barely escaped were all deeply wary of what lay inside and dared not venture again."
"Originally, this sword tide gradually subsided, but not long ago, a major event occurred in the Heavenly Beginning Civilization Great World. The Green Lotus Sword of the Kunlun Realm's sword dao powerhouse Shangqing from two hundred thousand years ago had emerged!"
Zhang Ruochen's eyes showed a strange expression: "What connection does the emergence of the Green Lotus Sword have with the situation in Hundred Clans Royal City?"
Seven Hands Old Man said: "Does Senior Brother not know? Shangqing, the previous owner of the Green Lotus Sword, was a sword dao cultivator who had stepped into the Infinite Realm."
"So what?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Seven Hands Old Man said: "All those who have become gods through the sword dao know that the Sword Ancestor's transmitted sword path is incomplete. Relying solely on the sword dao, it is almost impossible to reach the Infinite Realm. Even if there were exceptions in history, they were all astonishingly brilliant existences."
"I don't know which side spread the news, claiming that Shangqing was able to step into the Infinite Realm because he found the Sword Realm in the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain two hundred thousand years ago, using the resources within to succeed in one fell swoop."
"Such baseless rumors—people actually believe them?" Zhang Ruochen said.
"Originally, no one believed them."
Seven Hands Old Man's expression became somewhat tense: "But the Darkness Temple got involved, and with great fanfare. Great God-level sword dao powerhouses descended upon Hundred Clans Royal City, mobilizing large numbers of Saint realm cultivators from some small clans to begin exploring the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain, hoping to find the Sword Realm through sheer massive manpower and resources."
"Thus, those crazed sword cultivators became even more certain of the Sword Realm's existence. Once found, they could soar to the heavens, obtaining endless resources and powerful sword dao inheritances."
"Moreover, everything about the Sword Realm has been exaggerated to mythical proportions. Some even claim it rivals the Heavenly Court Great World. Any clan in Hell Realm that finds it would rapidly increase in strength, becoming a new supreme clan."
"Such allure—no force can resist it. Whether the Sword Realm truly exists or not, whether it is as rich as claimed, major forces all moved upon hearing the news, unwilling to fall behind."
Zhang Ruochen's eyes sharpened. He could see that a powerful force must be driving this from behind—perhaps the Darkness Temple.
But this didn't seem to align with the Darkness Temple's interests.
"So Sixth Uncle also came?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Seven Hands Old Man said: "Lord Underworld King wields a divine sword passed down from the Sword Ancestor, which might have some subtle resonance with the Sword Realm. If the Sword Realm truly exists, how could the Blood Absolute Family miss this feast? This time, the Grand Clan Leader directly dispatched a sacred army for us."
"Not only that, even the Undying Divine Temple sent gods to contact Lord Underworld King, preparing to fully support his exploration of the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain. They'll provide whatever people or resources are needed, meeting all requirements."
Zhang Ruochen smiled slightly, thinking to himself that exploring the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain indeed couldn't rely solely on cultivation level—it required massive manpower and resources.
How many people would die?
"What action has the Fate Divine Temple taken?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Seven Hands Old Man said: "Very strange. Quite a bit of news about the Sword Realm came from the Startling Cloud Pavilion. But the Fate Divine Temple has been very restrained, taking no action at all—unnaturally calm."
"The calmer the water's surface, the deeper and more unfathomable what lies beneath often is."
Zhang Ruochen said: "The tail behind us has caught up. They're all your doing."
"Just a few Saint realm cultivators. I'll deal with them," Seven Hands Old Man said.
Zhang Ruochen said: "Keep them alive. They might be useful."
Seven Hands Old Man's eyes showed a strange expression, truly unable to guess what use a few Yecha Clan Saint realm cultivators could possibly be.