The lake was large, and despite being incredibly clear, the bottom could not be made out. Thus, it was certainly home to a lot of life. Furthermore, Edrick was aware that most of the rivers were actually connected together through flooded tunnels, linking to what had been described to him as ‘underground oceans’.

Indeed, not only was he really told about an ocean beneath the earth, but it was something told in plural. Like, there were truly several distinct areas that all counted as oceans directly beneath the Elt ancestral grounds.

They were apparently home to plenty of beasts and monsters, so much so that the Two-Tailed Serpent Sect–A sect situated on an island within a great inland lake in Leynlornd–Would often make very generous offers to merely be granted access to the natural wonder beneath the clan. Apparently, they viewed it as an excellent training ground for their disciples.

This sect was not under any clan’s direct control. They mostly kept to themselves on their island, only leaving it for trade, disciple hunting, and things like that.

Anoteros thought that it would be a notable achievement if he could make the Two-Tailed Serpent Sect submit to the clan. Those guys were rumoured to have some very nice cultivation techniques stashed away… The sort perfect for one to conquer the waters–An environment unfit for humans, normally.

Also, they naturally had a whole lot of techniques based on the water element. People with that affinity outside of the sect would pay handsomely for some of that…

In general, Anoteros had many ideas regarding what he could do about various sects and clans… Either forge relationships, strengthen them, or perhaps even acquire full control over them… 

‘Ah, another one caught the bait…’ he paused his thoughts for a moment, taking several minutes to pull out a frog similar to the first one, only larger and more aggressive.

Edrick struck that one down into unconsciousness as well. It really seemed like he would be eating some frog meat soon. Linmin would surely be quite happy to get to practice with such meat. It wasn’t something he commonly got his hands on. Even if there was production, most people focused on the basics.

The more exotic remained niche, even if it could be acquired in abundance… 

‘Maybe I should try convincing him to open a restaurant of some kind once he has a good achievement in spirit cuisine? It seems like something he might enjoy…’

The scion shrugged and threw the line again, resuming his previous line of thinking.

There were a few clans considered ‘great’ clans. All of these clans still responded to the royal family, so it could be said that the crown was its own great clan, in a sense.

Regardless, Edrick had informed himself and learned that there were six great clans.

Obviously, there was the Elt clan–Infamous for being considered the least approachable and for being filled with maniacs. As well as its connection to many highly unsavoury cults and sects.

The Xing clan, reputed for its Pain Sutra, and known for its penchant for torture, as well as brutal execution methods performed on criminals and enemies of the nation. The spot of royal torturer and executioner was actually always reserved for a member of this clan.

The Zhenniao clan, famed for its Poison Sutra. Although feared, the clan isn’t well-known for anything in particular to the public. They are silent assassins for the crown, as well as protectors of the royals against toxins. The position of royal food taster is always reserved for a member of this clan.

The Sun clan–Far more well-liked by the public–Known for the Divine Hare Scriptures they practised, which are all about healing. It is said that they are so skilled that one of them once brought back a man from the brink of death, after said man had lost all four of his limbs in a blast and his heart stopped beating… The position of royal physician and surgeon is always held by a member of the Sun clan. Under their care, no royal has died from an illness in hundreds of years.

The Sheng Clan occupies a spot that was once filled by the vanished Chen clan. They are well-known for their righteousness and sense of justice. Their ancestral technique is called ‘Golden Texts’, and they serve as the blade of the crown. A Sheng is always a big part of the education of royal scions, teaching them the ways and the weight of their bloodline.

Lastly, there is a great clan that Edrick had not heard about at all until he looked into it. The Sanpur clan was a bit peculiar, eccentric, and generally very detached from everything. They are not known to have a specific ancestral technique. Instead… They seek to create a perfect, flawless bloodline.

In this endeavour, they rarely allow their members to mate with people outside of the clan–It is only done with great care when the outsider has a bloodline of interest that would mesh well with what they currently have.

Otherwise, everything is done within the clan.

It is also the smallest great clan, which only speaks to the efficiency of their peculiar methods. Although they don’t perform any special role for the crown, their continued presence within Leynlornd is a clear sign that if need be, they would answer a summons.

Forging strong relations with each of the great clans was on Edrick’s bucket list. He already had a good start with the Xing and Zhenniao clans. If he could marry Bai and Jingyao, then he should be able to secure a strong relationship with them both.

As for the rest… He had established a sort of friendship with Cheng Sheng and had made the golden scion promise to eventually introduce Anoteros to his sister. So that was something.

As for the Sun and Sanpur clans… Edrick had had no contact with either in any capacity so far. He might be able to get along with the latter, considering his own perfectly melded bestial lord bloodline, but as far as he was aware, despite their great reputation, the Sun clan was a bit difficult to get along with… 

They were hailed as healers, but all that medical knowledge made them into very efficient killers as well. Most considered them rather scary as they always looked jaded.

Not that this would stop Edrick from trying to add one of them to his roster of noble wives.

‘Going for the great clans directly might be aiming a bit too high… It is best to start slowly and get into the other great clans by befriending some of the scions that are around my age first’

‘I should begin by making good press with the sects under my clan’s control. They already have a reason to like me, and they can’t refuse to see or meet me… So it should be easier to meet with their talents and higher-ups’

As far as these so-called ‘unsavoury’ sects went, Anoteros believed that he could get along with most of them just fine.

After all, some shared in his own interests. They would surely be pumped for an Elt scion to involve himself with them directly… 

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep