Influence
‘Their method of cultivation is interesting, and since they function as a cult, the loyalty of the disciples to the sect is through the roof…’
Anoteros thought back on what he had witnessed. He had come here in part to get a better idea of how things operated here. He had done the same with his previous visits, but since this was more of a religious cult than a typical cultivation sect, he had been rather curious about the differences he would observe.
First of all, the way they cultivated was much different from normal. Rather than talent, they relied on their faith and the strength of their belief in the Horned One. Those who progressed the quickest were those who had a deeper faith in their secretive leader, but it was apparently also about how much the Horned One himself liked his cult members.
If one was in his good graces, they might just be able to cultivate faster, but it mostly went hand-in-hand with the faith of the cultivator. One with little belief in the Horned One was highly unlikely to receive favour. They might even have received less than they were supposed to.
With how things were structured in this sect, however, it was pretty much impossible for anyone to have a low amount of faith in their grand leader. Disciples were all hand-picked and conditioned before even being allowed into the sect properly.
This meant that the Sect Of The Horned One was a solid group of loyalists for the Elt clan. The Elt clan sponsored their activities, and in exchange, just like the rest, they would answer orders given to them and naturally give preferential treatment when it came to any products they might offer.
Nonetheless, the main point of the vassal sects seemed to be as small armies for the Elt clan. Anoteros found this to be a bit of a waste, though. It seemed like a waste of money and potential to sponsor and back them up solely for the potential utility of having a bunch of soldiers if necessary.
It might come in handy with the looming threats of Journomanp and Heldeorlt, but otherwise? Conflicts were extremely rare, and often solved without much intervention from the great clans.
One usage the Sect Of The Horned One could have that would benefit both the Elt clan and themselves would be to help them expand their influence beyond the borders of Leynlornd. It would allow them to gather more cultists, which would certainly please the Horned One, and also allow the Elt clan to extend its own influence in the process.
Edrick felt like his Valdre–And the elders of the clan in general–Were a bit too conservative in how they operated... A bit too comfortable with the influence they already had… Anoteros realised that they indeed had a massive influence already, being incredibly wealthy and powerful.
The Elt clan had the largest territory amongst all great clans as well, but to him, there was always room for more. Perhaps he was a bit too greedy and gluttonous, but he believed that there was no such thing as a limit.
There was economic influence, political influence, intellectual influence, cultural influence, and, of course, military influence. This certainly wasn’t all that could be done, however… The scion was certain he could expand his control and, at the same time, expand the control of his family.
All that he needed to be careful about was to include the crown and other great clans as well. He wouldn’t want to make it seem like he was stepping on their shoes or trying to usurp them. He needed to make it clear that they were allies–Which went by binding himself to them through marriage, and perhaps also by having additional offspring with some of them… Such as with older women from the clans and royal family.
There were surely plenty of them who would like to get pregnant again, or perhaps for the first time.
As Edrick was busy plotting in his mind, he was sitting inside the dimly lit guest room he had been provided. The only source of illumination was an odd candle that emitted no smoke. He supposed that this was necessary considering that the sect was completely underground, thus possessing no means of evacuating smoke.
‘I definitely should avoid married women for now when it comes to great clans and nobles. It was nice to mess with Milerva Oie and play with Ting Zhenniao, but I don’t really have the means to deal with the repercussions if it were to become known’
As ‘inadequate’ as Ting’s husband might be, he was still an older cultivator with many years of experience over Anoteros. He definitely wouldn’t want to get on this guy’s radar for bedding his wife–And if he learned that their Allina was actually his… It would be pandemonium.
As for Milerva… He was technically above her in status, but it would still be a bad look. Perhaps even worse, as he had pretty clearly Viotted her. It had been a light, coerced Viot rather than a brutal one, but it still remained that it had been a Viot performed via Blackmail.
It would definitely harm his reputation quite severely if it were known that he wasn’t just willing to go for the wives of others, but that he was willing to go about it in such a manner as well.
Thankfully, the mature redhead considered that it would also be a bad look on her end, so he was safe in this regard.
He definitely shouldn’t try to replicate the action again–Not until he has a much more solid reputation, at least. Once he had great influence, such things would basically mean nothing to him.
‘A shame she wasn’t enthralled by what happened, though. She definitely has a stronger will than most…’
Just as he was about to extinguish the candle by snuffing the flame between his thumb and index, he heard a knock upon his door. He extended Bestial Senses to check who was at the door, and raised an eyebrow.
The young noble stood up from the bed and went to open the door.
“Is something the matter?”
Several disciples were gathered in front of him, their hoods making them all look the same. Judging their strength via using Regal Challengee, he could tell that they hovered from outer disciple to core disciple.
…And also…
“Young Master, my juniors and I believed it would only be proper that we provide you with something since you’ve had the kindness to pay our sect a visit”
Whilst saying this, the disciples who seemed to be the strongest pulled open her robes, revealing a nice, pale, and skinny body underneath–All laid bare.
…They were all female disciples…