Corrupt Creations

'Full inheritance test? That's odd.' 

Seth heard her explanation, but he was a bit confused about that. Darya had told him that the source of their bloodline was the Illusive Ethereal Goddess, so what was that full inheritance test for? Maybe there were inheritance requirements for that bloodline, that he wasn't able to figure out yet. 

"A that time, she fell into a deep end of sadness, blaming herself not only for her husband's death, but for the terrifying injuries I suffered. During one of the times the situation got uncontrollable and the poison started to spread through my body, I had to seclude myself to treat my own condition. Unfortunately, she selfishly took her own life to accompany her husband to the next life. I still regret the fact that I failed to notice her mental sanity was not good. Sigh..." 

All the Palace Master and even Seth, felt bad for the Lake Mother and for Lan Xue. Lan Xue was still a baby at that time, failing to get some real memories of her parents before they departed. At least, she didn't suffer for their passing. The person who raised her was her grandmother, the Lake Mother. But unfortunately, some two decades ago, her health deteriorated to a critical degree making Lan Xue experience a lonesome time and develop a distant personality. 

At that time, the Lake Goddess helped her by creating the formation that supported her body and soul, allowing her to support until yesterday, when Seth finally purified the poison lodged inside her energy veins. 

"I guess you now understand why we're not expelling that girl from here. I hope you all can maintain this as a top-secret information." 

Everyone silently agreed with those words, inwardly swearing they would never tell anything to anyone. Some of the Palace Masters were amazed by the fact that the Lake Mother didn't try to hide it from Seth, but they all ended up realizing he was on the same boat as them all. Meiyi was pretty much a bloodline leak and the fact he brought her here was the solid proof of that. Else, he could have brought her to the Illusive Ethereal Sanctuary. 

The Lake Mother suddenly turned towards Seth and thanked him. 

"Young man, I have to thank you for saving my life. I didn't know how much more time I could support on that condition, but now, I can already feel my health improving on each passing second. Maybe this old body can last for another decade without perishing now." 

"Don't worry, that wasn't much of my part." 

"No. I feel restless if we can't properly repay you. Is there something you really need? Your requests were so easy that they are not even worth mentioning as a repayment." 

Seth realized the grandmother and granddaughter were alike. He wasn't able to understand how they had that hard feeling of gratitude, even though he had already told them what they did was already enough. If it were him, he would not insist that much, not bothering to ask more than once. Since they were like that, he noticed they wouldn't rest until he decided on something. 

The last night, he had already thought of something, but it would be rather indelicate to ask for that, since it would be something personal. But now, he decided to ask for it. 

"Alright, I won't be humble then. I am in a desperate need to get stronger; however, normal resources won't be enough to raise my strength to the point I want, so I planned to go on an adventure to the Desolate Scorching Wasteland." 

"Oh? You're planning to go to that dangerous place?" 

Seth nodded and continued: "For me, our previous deal was already enough, but since you want to repay me with something else, I would like for a partner to go on a mission there with me. I will probably be staying some months on that area and having someone to rely on is really good, at dangerous moments." 

Seth was being pretty bold on what he was asking for. He planned to go on a mission to one of the most dangerous places outside the Forbidden Zone. Talking about the Forbidden Zone, the Desolate Scorching Wasteland was located just at the perimeters of that area. 

Actually, it would be better to call it as an abyss. The Forbidden Zone was a deep and bottomless abyss that no one was ever able to come back from. A place marked as highly dangerous and infamous enough to cause fear on whoever that heard its name. 

"Hm... Very well. Since the Lake Goddess is not present, I as the Lake Mother, have the authority to decide on how to deal with these matters. Little Xue, you're going to accompany him on that mission." 

"Eh?!!!" Hua Jing wasn't able to control her voice, loudly expressing the feeling everyone had at that moment. 

Lan Xue looked at her grandmother and saw she seemed to be talking seriously. She opened her mouth to say something, but she ultimately gave up and accepted her decision. 

"Is that good enough for you?" The Lake Mother asked while staring at Seth. 

"That's good. We will be leaving tomorrow morning then. Is there anything you want to know?" He asked while looking at his future partner. 

Lan Xue shook her head. 

"Perfect... Little Xue, please accompany me back to the bamboo house, I'm feeling a bit tired." 

Lan Xue and the Lake Mother left the meeting hall, going back to the bamboo house. They had come here to thank Seth and see if everything was going alright. That decision was really fortunate for Seth, since if not for them, he would have been in a troublesome situation right now. 

"Palace Master Yushui, is there anything else for me to do here? I will be leaving tomorrow and would like to spend a bit more of time with the people I brought here." 

Palace Master Yushui looked at the other Palace Masters, specially towards Shanhu. After seeing they didn't have anything to say, she replied back. 

"I guess everything is done here. You can go back earlier. I and the others will discuss the other less important matters first, before returning." 

"Thanks then." Seth bowed in respect and left. 

The tense situation he had with Palace Master Shanhu and her friends turned into dust particles, since there was nothing they could use against him now. 

Outside, while Lan Xue accompanied her grandmother back home, she suddenly asked: "Why did you agree sending me as his partner, grandma?" 

The Lake Mother already expected she would ask that and quickly replied: "The Lake Goddess asked me through a sound transmission." 

"The Lake Goddess? Why would she?" 

"I don't know." 

Actually, the Lake Mother was lying about it. She used this tactic to convince her granddaughter to go without complaining. The real motive she sent her there, was because she realized Seth was a hidden gem and there would only be good things coming from their relationship, if Lan Xue and Seth were able to become good friends at least, and to actually repay for what he did too. 

Lan Xue returned to her silent state, thinking about the possible subliminal reasons. 

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. 

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Seth arrived at the Eleventh Palace, but just as he entered the main hall, he noticed Jiayi caressing Ruolan's back while asking her if she was alright. 

"Ruolan, what happened to you? Are you feeling sick?" 

"No... I'm alright, really." 

"Then why is your complexion so pale?" 

Seth happened to hear them as he entered and a smile formed on his lips. Ruolan was probably still traumatized after seeing the state Jiang Yi was in. He had smashed her the entire night, making sure to satisfy all her deepest desires. 

"Hello there, girls." Seth greeted them. 

"Seth! Where is master at? I thought you were with her." Jiayi asked him normally, but Ruolan acted in a strange way. 

She gave half a step back while at the same time, her complexion got a bit paler. She was lucky Jiayi had turned her attention towards Seth and didn't notice her actions. 

"Palace Master Yushui is still resolving some minor matters and will probably only come back later." 

"Ah... I see." 

While they were having that conversation, everyone heard some steps coming from the second floor. A female form approached the stairs, showing them her beauty. 

It was naturally Jiang Yi. Her skin was practically shining and there was a very beautiful smile on her face, just like as if her deepest desires were just recently achieved. 

When Ruolan saw her, she got thoroughly speechless. Judging by the state she was in at that time, Ruolan could swear Jiang Yi would be forever paralyzed; however, it turns out that she is even more beautiful and healthy than before, the complete opposite of what she thought. 

'What the heck?' 

Ruolan was making a funny expression and Seth was really enjoying to see her like that, but he wanted to pass a bit more of time together with Rina, so he quickly invented a reason to leave and went to meet with her. But before knocking at her door, he went up to Chun Meihui's room and explained her everything she needed to know, clearing all her doubts.