Corrupt Creations

After leaving the Hilkhell city, Seth and Rina resumed their journey towards the Blazing Phoenix Country. With their pace it would take more thirteen days until they arrived there. 

The duo wasn't traveling in full speed and at the same time, they made sure to stop for half an hour at least, on some places they passed by, usually cities or villages. Seth didn't know what was happening in the Blazing Phoenix Country, but this morning he woke up sweating and feeling like something wasn't right. 

He didn't need to sleep often, but this last night, after witnessing the things that just happened, he decided to rest for a bit. However, he woke up as if he had a nightmare. It was just like he felt a bad omen, but didn't know where it came from. 

He was up before Rina once again, but he decided to go downstairs and start to drink, trying to take that bad feeling away. He poured a cup of wine and drank it in a single gulp, but the substances inside the alcoholic drink weren't able to take effect on his body. 

He drank an entire bottle before hearing sounds of steps. 

Rina appeared on the stairs and noticed he didn't even turn around to say good morning today. She was sure something was wrong with him, because he never missed it a single day. 

She approached him and saw the frown he had on his face and asked: "Is there anything wrong, Seth?" 

"Hm? Rina? It's nothing, just not feeling good right now." 

"Not feeling good? You look like something clearly happened. Is it because of what happened in that city we passed by?" 

"The Hilkhell city? No, it has nothing to do with it. What happened there was a tragedy, but it wasn't able to affect me that much, because I have not a single strong connection with that city. However, the condition they are in is indeed pitiful." 

"Actually... What happened there? I've never seen such a fierce beast tide like that before." Rina asked, trying to understand it. 

"Do you remember what happened inside the Ereinrith Abandoned Ruins?" 

"Uhum..." 

"Well, it is basically the same. There is a very ominous energy that is able to interact with the beasts and make them lose control. They stop acting by their instincts, advancing with an aggressive stance. Nothing we do is able to stop them, and that's what is causing these things. I call it Corruption." 

"Corruption..." 

"Don't worry. As long as you are with me, I can protect you from that." 

"Really?" 

"For sure." 

Seth explained some things to Rina, but that heavy feeling didn't leave even for a second. 

'Sigh... I got this strange feeling that something is wrong.' 

Suddenly... 

Seth stood up and felt the urge to travel quicker back to the Blazing Phoenix Country. Something was telling him this, but he didn't know what it was. It was a hazy feeling that he wasn't able to express. 

What he didn't know, was that it was one of the subtle effects his Soul Link ability had. It was making him feel that sensation, because something really wasn't right. 

"Rina, we must hurry. I think something is not going according to my plans." While thinking about the Blazing Phoenix Sect, Seth remembered he had some unfinished plans regarding the upcoming war. However, he thought this heaviness he was feeling was because his plans were being spoiled. He needed to talk with Huo Shihong and understand the situation they were in right now. 

"Plans? Which plans?" 

"Let's go. I'll tell you on the way." 

Rina and Seth left the Evergreen Tavern, packing up their things and resuming the travel. 

While they were going, Seth made sure to tell Rina about his connections with the mysterious event that happened inside the Hilkhell city, and his connections with the darkness energy and the Demon Territory. 

Of course, he wasn't able to tell her everything. Be it because he didn't have time, or because that there were things he could still not reveal. So, Rina only knew the basics of everything. 

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. 

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In an abandoned house somewhere inside Red Mountain city, four people were standing before a Sound Transmit Formation. The environment around the entire house was really dark and not even a single soul dared to approach it. 

If one looked from outside, they wouldn't be able to see anything inside. There seemed to be an everlasting darkness covering the environment. 

The four practitioners inside the house, were looking towards the formation while half kneeling on the ground. It was a sign that they respected the person they were talking with, a respect high enough to do the basic customs of their society even though they weren't able to see that person. 

A deep voice left the Sound Transmit Formation and asked: "How are things going?" 

One of the men kneeling on the floor replied: "Everything is going according to the plan. Nothing has gone different of what you told us, Master." 

"Third Shadow, I want you to be the leader of the next operation. Make sure to not expose too much before those humans. Even though I have formed an Alliance with the Lion's Pride Golden Palace, they are not trustworthy people, so this operation got to succeed at all cost without exposing too much. Am I clear?" 

"Clear, My Lord." The one that was called Third Shadow, an old and decrepit Pure Blood from the Vampiric branches, answered with respect. His skin was very pale and his eyes were red, but even though he looked decrepit, he had a very strong life force. Although, it may not necessarily be his life force. 

"My Lord, will we be waiting for the Young Master?" Fifth Shadow asked while maintaining his head bowed. 

"No need. He asked me to take part on this operation, but something is telling me that if we go according to his plans, things may not end up the way I want. We are ignoring his part. Make sure to do everything without counting on him." 

"Understood." 

"Huo Shihong has the information we need and Seth will be unnecessary, so make sure you use him to achieve my wishes. The information he has may be important for us, but what I need is to take control of his territory. What you have to do, is to speed up the conflict between two sides, since that will help us to cleanly acquire the Blazing Phoenix Sect from behind the shadows. That's why you need to control everything on both sides." 

"Understood." 

"Very well. I want to hear the results after two weeks." After saying those words, Velgor disconnected the formation from his side. 

The light covering the formation dissipated and four people stood up from the ground. 

"Nith Shadow. You are going to be responsible for controlling the Wu Martial Kingdom, while I, Fifth Shadow and Seventh Shadow are going to speed up the advances from this side. Make sure to do it in from behind the curtains, not letting anyone know about it. Not even the people from the Lion's Pride Golden Palace, actually, they are the ones that need to know the least." 

"Understood." 

Swoosh! 

Ninth Shadow left the house, vanishing from where they were. His Mana Control Peak-stage aura disappeared without leaving any vestige behind. 

The man called Seventh Shadow had the same strength Nith Shadow had, while Fifth Shadow, was a Profound Mana initial-stage cultivator. Third Shadow, the person leading this operation, was a Profound Mana middle-stage cultivator. That alone showed how strong the Demon Territory was. 

Actually, there were still two Shadows above Third Shadow. They were very powerful individuals, only weaker than Velgor, a Mana Sovereign cultivator. 

The Elven Kingdom was able to birth three Mana Sovereigns on the last Fifty years. One being the Elf Queen, the other being Rina's deceased father and the last one being Allannia. However, right now, there was only one still alive. 

Although the Demon Territory can't be considered the strongest territory, since there are five Mana Sovereigns alive on the Human Territory, they are the strongest individual force right now. 

The subordinates under Velgor's command are really powerful and his schemes are deep. That's why even though he doesn't want the Lion's Pride Golden Palace discovering his real moves and ambitions, in the end, he doesn't fear them. 

Velgor has the secret weapon none of the other powerful entities have. Information. He knows about the Corruption and he knows how to use it, even though he can't control it. 

"Seventh Shadow... Go and meet the one responsible for the Lion's Pride forces. Make him push things forward faster. After that we're going to start making our moves." 

"Understood." 

Swoosh! 

Seventh Shadow disappeared, leaving only Third Shadow and Fifth Shadow behind. Third Shadow waved his hand and the entire house was destroyed by a blast. When the dust settled, there wasn't a single person there anymore. Even their energy signatures had been erased.