"These seven clans," Sun Fenglin continued, his tone steady yet filled with a subtle hint of reverence, "are considered secondary to the three great families, but their influence is by no means negligible. Each boasts a sizable number of cultivators, with several in the higher stages of the Breath Embryo Realm. While they may not rival the three families in terms of sheer power, their combined presence maintains a delicate balance in our kingdom's cultivation hierarchy."
He sipped his tea, his gaze drifting to the serene lake outside, where the dense mist continued to shroud the world in a dreamlike haze.
"The reason the seven clans cannot rise beyond their current status," Sun Fenglin added, "is not only due to the resources monopolized by the three families but also because the seven often compete against one another. Unlike the triad, which has learned to maintain a loose alliance when necessary, the seven clans are plagued by internal rivalries."
