Corrupt Creations

After having that conversation, Seth and Lan Xue's interactions seemed to have taken a turn for the better. There were some other things that Seth wanted to ask her, but he still felt it was not time yet. 

They continued to travel for three to four more days, passing by many other cities and places, finally arriving at their destination. 

When the soil changed to a sandy and eroded ground and the weather was a dry and hot, they realized they had arrived. 

It seemed to be impossible, but life always found a way to keep existing, even at the most severe of conditions. There was a city at the entrance borders of the Desolate Scorching Wastelands, a place many people didn't even dare to visit. This city was already inside the Demon Territory, but it was impressive that there were many human beings walking among demons as well. 

This was a very rare kind of interaction. Actually, this whole environment was only possible, because some merchants saw the opportunity of a profitable trade between them and the hunters that ventured inside the Desolate Scorching Wastelands, eb it human or demonic hunters. This, showed how important merchants really were, since they were the real cause of a whole functioning city to exist. 

The materials the hunters were able to get from the Desolate Scorching Wastelands, were highly demanded, selling for a good price. The only problematic thing, is that materials considered as real treasures, could only be found at the deepest parts of this dangerous area, where only a few hunters would be brave enough to go. 

"We've arrived. This city is called Yellowstone Pass, since most buildings here are made of a particular stone called Yellowstone. It is able to resist the high temperatures this place often reaches and it also makes the insides of those buildings stay cooler than the outside. Differently from your Blazing Phoenix Sect, people here don't necessarily train in fire-based techniques, so they dislike the high temperatures." 

"Have you ever come here, Lan Xue? You seem to know some interesting things about this city. I'm impressed." 

"When I went to the depths of the Desolate Scorching Wastelands for an expedition, I've stood two days inside this city. We had to buy some necessary things here, in order to smoothly proceed with the expedition." 

"Interesting. Let's go in, we won't be staying here, so let's just ignore everything." Seth said, since he imagined there would be nothing that could interest him here. 

Lan Xue nodded. She was a person that didn't like to be bothered or to attract too much attention, so not staying in this city, was actually a very good choice in her opinion. However, she was already prepared for the high number of gazes she would attract by just passing by the city. 

The reason for that was not just because she was a very cute and beautiful lady, but because of her doll-like face and clothes. Even before entering, she was already able to notice some people turning their heads towards her. 

"Oh my god! Look at that girl over there!" 

"What?! She is way too cute man!" 

"Holy shit! Those clothes are insane!" 

While everyone looked at Lan Xue, entranced by her beauty or by her clothes, the duo was already making their way into the city, unbothered by those stares. 

Lan Xue made sure to ignore everything and everyone, concentrating on staying over her own world. 

Seth on the other hand, noticed there were no guards or anyone blocking their path as they entered the city. 

"Is there really no one defending this place?" 

"You won't find any guards or protectors at this side. This is not a place anyone would like to attack, due to the defensive underground tunnels constructed around the city. They can pretty much relocate all the important people out, in case of an attack. But I'm pretty sure no one is crazy enough to do that. The weather here is terrible and other than the hunting business, this place does not have another good point. Not even to use as a strategic point for a possible invasion. But... If you're asking if this city really doesn't have a protective force, then you should know that they have." 

"Hm? Where are they?" 

"They are guarding the exit on the other side, since most part of the time, the real danger comes from the Desolate Scorching Wasteland. Other than that, there are so many mercenaries and hunters inside the city, that it makes it a really hard place to attack and conquer." 

"I see..." 

After ten minutes walking through the city and attracting the attention of pretty much everyone, Seth realized that most people living here were not demons, but humans. However, this city was already inside what was considered to be the Demon Territory. 

Although the quantity of humans was greater, Seth was able to see many people that had green or purple skin colors, some people that had horns and even some that were from the Shapeshifter Tribes. But in this particular city, everyone wasn't interested to create trouble, but to mind their own business. 

After walking a bit more, Seth and Lan Xue finally heard a man shouting for a crowd of people that were gathered near a platform. That man was on top of that platform, using his Qi to make his voice reach farther into the distance. 

"We are hiring mercenaries! The Scorching Trade Group is hiring for capable mercenaries!" 

Someone inside the crowd of people asked: "What is the task? What are the requirements for the task?" 

"We want capable men and women to escort our carriages for a delivery inside the Desolate Scorching Wasteland! We are not going to delve too deep inside, but there are probably going to be some Profound Qi Realm beasts in our way. The requirements to join us, is the individual strength being at the Profound Qi initial-stage Realm at least." 

"Oh!" 

"Qi Transformation?" 

The crowd of people started to loudly discuss about the high requirements. 

The man saw that the crowd was going wild and shouted: "We are currently hiring thirty brave warriors and we will pay ten blue Skystones for each individual!" 

"What?!" 

"Ten blue Skystones?!" 

"Why am I not at the Profound Qi Realm yet?!" 

As Lan Xue and Seth were passing by, he noticed something was off with that man's speech. They were actually delivering supplies to someone inside the Desolate Scorching Wastelands? That was a bit off. 

For a person to request for some supplies, there should at least be a base for him or her inside that dangerous area. 

Another curious person loudly asked: "How large is the caravan of supplies? How fast is it going to move?" 

The man announcing the job quickly understood what was the real question that person had and replied: "Don't worry my friend. This job is only going to take two days and our Scorching Trade Group can guarantee you the payment by giving half of it, on the end of the first day!" 

"OH!!!" 

The crowd went crazy and some people quickly left to call for the people they knew, that were apt for the job. 

Seth saw that by the way the crowd was acting, the money offered for the amount of time they had to work, was something that was a bit high and it actually made him feel things were not right. 

He suddenly stopped and decided to investigate the surroundings with his Soul Sense. Lan Xue noticed he stopped, but she didn't understand why he was acting like that when they didn't want to lose time on menial things. 

She was about to ask him what he was doing, but he opened his mouth first. 

"This is too strange. Let me quickly check something. I promise it won't take more than a single minute." 

After that, he activated his Soul Sense, capturing the information around him. The Scorching Trade Group had a peculiar flag with a burning item on it. With his Soul Sense, he was able to recognize a building that had the same flags on it. It seemed to be their headquarters, where most of their operations were currently happening. 

Actually, the Scorching Trade Group was the second or third most renowned trading group present on the whole city. Their operations were very profitable and they didn't seem to do shady business, at least in the open. If someone had to say something strange about them, was the fact that they pretty much sent these caravans towards the Desolate Scorching Wastelands at least each month. However, no one was able to figure out what were the contents of their shipment, nor anyone tried to. 

In this place, people respected merchants as they were their fathers, since it was because of them, that the entire city came to be, some three hundred years ago. 

But what Seth was able to discover with his Soul Sense, incensed his will to participate on this side mission. 

Inside the headquarters of the Scorching Trade Group, there was an underground passage, where there were some normal demons carrying the unconscious "goods" to a large cage carriage, where there seemed to be a formation that didn't let any noise escape. Those "goods" were actually normal people from both human and demon races.