Building a clan turned out to be… surprisingly easy.
Power simplified many things.
Even without a spirit ally — something most shamans considered essential — my Reishi manipulation alone allowed me to overwhelm nearly anyone I encountered. Spiritual pressure, talismans, barriers… even veteran practitioners struggled to keep up.
Ordinary humans?
They never stood a chance.
But strength wasn't the only advantage I possessed.
Apparently, I was charismatic.
And — judging by the reactions I received everywhere I went — unusually handsome.
Or cute.
Being trapped in the body of an eleven-year-old made that slightly awkward.
Still, intelligence and confidence mattered more than age.
Which was why I now stood inside an imperial palace.
The emperor watched me carefully from his elevated seat.
Silk banners hung from towering pillars, and incense drifted through the air in slow spirals. Courtiers lined the hall, whispering quietly as they observed the child negotiating with a ruler.
Their thoughts were loud enough without words.
He's too calm.
Is this boy truly a shaman?
Dangerous…
I ignored them.
"I require land," I said evenly. "Remote territory is acceptable. I will protect it from spiritual threats and ensure stability in the region."
The emperor tapped his fingers thoughtfully.
He wasn't foolish.
He had already witnessed my abilities — talismans activating without chants, spirits obeying without resistance, barriers forming instantly at my command.
He knew investing in me meant securing supernatural protection centuries ahead of rivals.
Finally, he smiled.
"I will grant your request," he said.
Of course there was a condition.
There was always a condition.
"My youngest daughter will marry you."
I blinked.
"…That's unexpected."
The advisor beside him nodded calmly, as if political marriages involving children were perfectly normal.
Which, historically speaking, they were.
I considered refusing.
Then curiosity won.
"May I meet her first?" I asked.
She entered moments later.
And for the first time since reincarnating, I found myself momentarily distracted.
She was… surprisingly beautiful.
Soft features, calm eyes, and a presence far steadier than most children her age. She walked without fear despite the entire court watching.
Interesting.
Instinctively, I extended my spiritual perception.
Not intrusive.
Just observation.
Her soul appeared before my senses — bright, structured, unusually stable.
My eyes widened slightly.
"…Oh."
This wasn't normal talent.
Her spiritual pathways were naturally aligned with shamanic energy. Not extraordinary yet, but full of potential.
And one particular realization struck me immediately.
A child born from both of us would possess exceptional spiritual compatibility.
I felt heat rise faintly to my face and quickly looked away.
Focus.
The emperor watched closely.
"Well?" he asked.
I exhaled slowly.
Political alliance.
Territory.
Future clan stability.
Genetic compatibility for powerful descendants.
Logically, the decision was obvious.
"I accept," I said.
Her name was Anna.
She was one year younger than me and far more perceptive than she initially appeared.
Our first private conversation was… unexpectedly normal.
"You're strange," she said bluntly.
"That's fair," I replied.
She studied me for a moment before smiling slightly.
"You're not scary though."
That surprised me more than anything.
Most spirits feared me instinctively.
Many adults felt uneasy around me.
Yet she spoke casually, without hesitation.
Over the following weeks, we talked often.
There was no romance.
No dramatic affection.
Just understanding.
She was intelligent, practical, and far kinder than royal upbringing might suggest.
Friends.
At least for now.
And honestly… that was enough.
Soon after, we traveled to my newly granted territory.
The estate was already under construction when we arrived — workers moving quickly under imperial orders.
Wide land.
Untouched forests.
Dense spiritual energy flowing beneath the soil.
Perfect.
I stood beside Anna overlooking the developing grounds.
"This will become the Asakura Clan's foundation," I said quietly.
Future generations would train here.
Spirits would gather here.
History would begin here.
Anna crossed her arms, examining the land thoughtfully.
"It feels warm," she said.
I glanced at her.
"You can sense it?"
She nodded.
"…A little."
My smile deepened.
Her potential was even greater than I thought.
That night, standing alone beneath the stars, I felt the system activate again.
[Major Life Event Recognized]Political Alliance EstablishedClan Stability Increased
Rewards:
Synchronization +2%
Territory Bond Established
New Feature Unlocked: Domain Influence (Minor)
[Template Synchronization: 13%]
Power flowed through the land and back into me, forming a faint connection between my soul and the territory itself.
This wasn't just a home.
It was becoming a domain.
And somewhere deep inside, a familiar certainty emerged — calm, patient, inevitable.
I wasn't just building a clan.
I was laying the foundation for something that would outlive empires.
Something that would still exist when future sorcerers like Doctor Fate or Doctor Strange walked the Earth.
I looked toward the horizon.
Thirteen percent synchronization.
Still far from my peak.
But time…
Time belonged to me.