The three upper plains of supremacy have been talked about since the "first" seven cultivators dared to journey to the peak of the observable edges of creation. They wrote many poems and sang many songs about the great sea of power that makes all six realms combined, look like a puddle. They would take a second trip to the Supreme Realms, but only four would return. Those four brought many treasures and built four palaces in the 6th realm. They spent 1000 hundred years locked up in their palaces, cultivating further and keeping strict records of it. At the end of the thousand-year training, they emerged with a body of gold and eyes as blue as the sea. They traveled once more, to the Supreme Realms. This time, one would return, carrying even more treasure. He spent sixty years building 6 tombs to lay his fallen brethren to rest and another 10, building one for himself.
Around those tombs, he built a mighty fortress and filled them with many treasures and secret techniques. Infact, for one thousand years, he trained and created many more techniques to place in the fortress. One day, he traveled to the 1st realm, standing outside the house of a farmer and his wife, as they welcomed their first-born son. After being made aware of the presence of the Ancestor, the husband runs out to welcome him inside. Soon, their house became surrounded by onlookers as they all try to get a glimpse of what is happening in this house, that can make the Ancestor so interested. Upon laying eyes on the baby boy he says, "Your son's path is not one of a farmer, but one of a ruler, a protector. He is born with power and access to a path parallel to mine. On his 18th birthday, send him to me and I shall teach him."
Before leaving, he gives them 1000 gold coins and a letter of admittance to his palace. No one but those sharing blood with the boy heard the words of The Ancestor, leaving everyone in dark about what was said. Following The Ancestor's wisdom, the farmer and his family did not speak a word of it to anyone. There are no countries, no governments and no solid laws that govern the people, only a handful of men and women from the 6th realm descended and shared the stories of the Seven Ancestors, implementing some guidelines for reaching them. However, no one really enforced them as laws and power was decided by access to resources and land. This meant that landlords made rules for their own land and those varied from property to property.
For two hundred years, the farmer and his family has owned their land and held it well. All together, they owned 12 units of land, with one branch of the family managing a unit. After the Ancestor's visit, Kin Son became the head of the family, being able to manage all branches. Kin was just a regular member of the 12th unit, but now he has become the head of the entire family after the visit of The Ancestor. Many of the major houses sent envoys to ask around, which unsettled the Son Family greatly. History has shown that invasions always followed the visits of envoys. As a precaution, Kin offers the Lilac Clan a 20-year lease of one of their units in exchange for their army, as well as paying them 10 gold coins a year. The Lilac Chief had planned to refuse the offer to accept a greater one, but The Ancestor appeared in his dream, making him change his mind.
One year later, the Son Family received an invitation to the Min Banquet for the first time. The Min family has held this banquet every year for the last 30 years and has only ever invited the other great families. Traveling with them, is their now one year old son, Mateo Son. Also happening for the first time, Patriarch Anthony Min stood at the door, to usher a guest in personally. After a bloody 300-year war against the Valdy Family, the Mins finally won, toppling the triplet tyrant brothers, who's actions were worse than their predecessors. After that victory, the Mins became the largest family and the most respected. When Anthony became the Patriarch, he started the banquet in attempts to reconnect with the other great families and keep the peace they shed blood for in the past.
With the Ancestor's visit to the Sons, Anthony saw it fit to show a little bit of special treatment to them. Kin now experiences what the last 29 banquets were like. Every family made offers to marry off their sons and daughters to the Mins to get a greater leg up in the world. Over the last 29 years, only 3 marriages were granted, the last being the year prior. Though the chances are slim, they all still tried their luck anyway. This year however, that would not be the only thing mentioned at the banquet. Lian Gills, Matriarch of the Gills Family, made a toast to Kin, his wife and son. "Tonight, we welcome the 17th great family, The Son Family. Not only recognized by the Min Patriarch, but by The Ancestor in person. A visit not even the great Mins have ever received. Cheers, to the Son Patriarch, Kin Son and his heir, Mateo Son. Greetings, Lady Gio Son."
All eyes turned to them as Kin stood to receive the toast and return the respect. Unlike the Kin, Gio recognized the viciousness behind the eyes of Lian. Lian was also from the lower branch of her family and were good friends with Gio until Kin fell for Gio instead of her. This joined the Sons and the Hyns, leaving no way for the Gills. It was later discovered that Lian was being used as a means to slowly infiltrate the Son Family to one day take their units of land. Had Kin been of a higher branch of the family, then Patriarch Kilian would've forced him to marry Lian and make a union with the Gills. Kin and Gio remained in their humble positions while Lian grew ambitious, gaining power within her family. The Gills wanted the very fertile land the Sons controlled, but they could never get them to sell. Lian later married and gave birth to the first son of her entire family, making her the next in line for the mantle of Head of Family.
After taking over the family, she was pressured by her elders to keep trying to acquire The Son land. She sabotaged their trades and bought off most of the merchants they did business with. This slowed The Sons' growth, but that was not enough to destroy their business dealings. The Gills are the lowest of the great families, but they are a great family, nonetheless. Now, The Sons have caught up to them, making it almost impossible, to make any move against their land. It is no secret to the other families that The Gills are after Son's land and that is why Anthony had extended the invitation. To avoid another war and possibly the wrath of The Ancestor, he has chosen to recognize The Sons as a great family. This move will force the others to do the same, giving Kin some amount of ease.
Gio stood, picked up a cup of tea and says, "we can hardly accept the praise of the Gills Matriarch and are too small to carry the mantle of a great family. Still, this is a night sanctioned by The Mins, and I will not disrespect them by ignoring their public recognition. So, this sip of tea, I take for the Min Patriarch and his family." "Tea? Not wine?", Lian mocked. However, Gio smiles and responds, "a pregnant woman must not drink wine old friend."