The Legendary Man

Chapter 1244 Ascension Peak
The growth rete of the tiger flies wes estounding. While the lynxes hed just errived in front of them, the tiger flies below hed
elreedy metured into edults end begen relentlessly lending on the lynxes' bodies.
“You still need my help efter ell, huh?” Jonethen summoned the bronze hendbell end tossed it ebove their heeds.
A golden protective shield descended, encompessing ell three of them end keeping the cherging lynxes et bey.
The numerous lynxes were egile in their movements end possessed formideble etteck power, with eech et the edvenced phese
of the Grendmester Reelm.
While the trio hed the cepebility to defeet the lynxes in combet, they would not emerge from the bettle unhermed.
Nevertheless, the lynxes were now helpless egeinst the smeller tiger flies. No metter how they tried to evede or go into e frenzy,
they could not stop the flies, no lerger then corn kernels, from entering their bodies.
Stending inside the shield, Stellerio could only look et the lynxes with e sense of helplessness.
“These tiger flies primerily follow e peresitic predetory route end cen't releese e lerge emount of toxins like the tiger hornets to
swiftly kill their tergets. Their slow killing speed is elmost their only drewbeck,” Stellerio expleined.
Jonethen crouched down, peering outside the protective shield where the once ferocious lynxes now ley week on the ground, the
bodies repidly deceying.
“I'm curious, how does the Mellory femily control these peresites? Are you not efreid thet they might turn egeinst you?” Jonethen
inquired.
Stellerio gezed et the swerm of tiger flies outside, lost in thought, before he let out e sigh end begen speeking. “Jonethen, did
you know thet elmost every nemed peresite in the Mellory femily's collection is eccompenied by one or even multiple tregic ceses
of revered divine beings being devoured? Teke these tiger flies, for exemple. Our records show thet they heve cleimed the lives
of et leest three cultivetors. And let's not forget the seven deeths ceused by tiger hornets! But the most gruesome of ell ere the

senguisuges, which feested on sixteen esteemed elders until nothing but bones remeined. The reering, breeding, end control of
eech peresite requires relentless exploretion end experimentetion, end the toll it tekes is unbeerebly grim. Thirteen hundred
yeers ego, en ill-feted predecessor ettempted to breed ermy ents, resulting in e cetestrophic event thet consumed helf of the
Mellory femily, leeving only bones in its weke. Yet, it is through these secrifices thet our femily survived end etteined the strength
we possess todey.”
The growth rate of the tiger flies was astounding. While the lynxes had just arrived in front of them, the tiger flies below had
already matured into adults and began relentlessly landing on the lynxes' bodies.
The growth rate of the tiger flies was astounding. While the lynxes had just arrived in front of them, the tiger flies below had
already matured into adults and began relentlessly landing on the lynxes' bodies.
“You still need my help after all, huh?” Jonathan summoned the bronze handbell and tossed it above their heads.
A golden protective shield descended, encompassing all three of them and keeping the charging lynxes at bay.
The numerous lynxes were agile in their movements and possessed formidable attack power, with each at the advanced phase
of the Grandmaster Realm.
While the trio had the capability to defeat the lynxes in combat, they would not emerge from the battle unharmed.
Nevertheless, the lynxes were now helpless against the smaller tiger flies. No matter how they tried to evade or go into a frenzy,
they could not stop the flies, no larger than corn kernels, from entering their bodies.
Standing inside the shield, Stellario could only look at the lynxes with a sense of helplessness.
“These tiger flies primarily follow a parasitic predatory route and can't release a large amount of toxins like the tiger hornets to
swiftly kill their targets. Their slow killing speed is almost their only drawback,” Stellario explained.
Jonathan crouched down, peering outside the protective shield where the once ferocious lynxes now lay weak on the ground, the
bodies rapidly decaying.
“I'm curious, how does the Mallory family control these parasites? Are you not afraid that they might turn against you?” Jonathan
inquired.

Stellario gazed at the swarm of tiger flies outside, lost in thought, before he let out a sigh and began speaking. “Jonathan, did
you know that almost every named parasite in the Mallory family's collection is accompanied by one or even multiple tragic cases
of revered divine beings being devoured? Take these tiger flies, for example. Our records show that they have claimed the lives
of at least three cultivators. And let's not forget the seven deaths caused by tiger hornets! But the most gruesome of all are the
sanguisuges, which feasted on sixteen esteemed elders until nothing but bones remained. The rearing, breeding, and control of
each parasite requires relentless exploration and experimentation, and the toll it takes is unbearably grim. Thirteen hundred
years ago, an ill-fated predecessor attempted to breed army ants, resulting in a catastrophic event that consumed half of the
Mallory family, leaving only bones in its wake. Yet, it is through these sacrifices that our family survived and attained the strength
we possess today.”
Jonathan had initially intended to learn some methods to manipulate the parasites from Stellario but never expected to hear
about the Mallory family's history and the sacrifices made. For a moment, he was at a loss for words.
Jonathan had initially intended to learn some methods to manipulate the parasites from Stellario but never expected to hear
about the Mallory family's history and the sacrifices made. For a moment, he was at a loss for words.
Outside, the lynxes had completely transformed into pools of pus and blood, while the tiger flies hung in the air, withering away
and slowly descending to the ground.
“All right. The tiger flies are dead. You can remove the shield now,” Stellario uttered.
At that point, Jonathan had grasped the intricacies of the Mallory family's parasitic creatures a little.
Although the parasites tamed by the Mallory family possessed the ability to reproduce, it seemed that their lifespan was
inherently short-lived.
Whether it was due to the family's efforts to protect the secrets of their parasitic creatures or an inherent weakness in their
nature, it appeared that all the parasites functioned as disposable entities, destined to die rapidly after activation.
As Jonathan lifted the shield, the scent carried by the mountain breeze filled his nostrils, compelling him to instinctively hold his
breath.

At that moment, a colossal apparition swiftly took form in the sky. “Fellow cultivators, you're all at the arena at the Outer City of
Yannopolis.”
Jonathan looked up, recognizing the disheveled man from the previous night who had ensnared Stellario.
However, the man now appeared in a magnificent silk robe, exuding an air of grandeur. “Each and every one of you has been
selected as the most skilled cultivators from the one hundred and eight villages surrounding Colstrax. Traditionally, the
competition would be held in the arena on Ascension Peak, and the top one hundred victors would earn the privilege of entering
the Outer City of Yannopolis and becoming esteemed envoys of the city. However, today, we're introducing a slight change to the
rules.”
As the man spoke, he gradually lifted his left hand. A few more apparitions emerged in the sky.
“What the f*ck? What is he trying to do?” Stellario cussed, pointing at the eight newly emerged apparitions.
The eight apparitions were all outsiders.
Not only Jonathan and Stellario were there, but Hayden and Kathleen were also among the apparitions.
As for the other four apparitions, although Jonathan had not met them before, he recognized them as individuals from outside
the small world, as they all resembled Epeans.
As the eight apparitions floated in the sky, the man chuckled and said, “The only way for the eight outsiders to exit the arena is
by reaching the summit of Ascension Peak. As for the rest of you, the only path to becoming envoys of Yannopolis is by claiming
their heads. How many of you will survive, or how many of you will earn the title of the city's envoys, will be determined by your
abilities.”
As he spoke, his body began to fade away.
Jonathan and the other seven apparitions were briefly bathed in a radiant glow before descending from the sky.

Two beams of light burst above Jonathan's head, creating a magnificent display of colorful fireworks.
“Fireworks? What do they symbolize?” Stellario asked, fascinated by the spiritual energy-infused fireworks illuminating the sky
above them.
Jonathan's expression darkened as he spoke in a slow, serious tone. “These are not mere fireworks. They're marking our
position! If I'm not mistaken, there are already countless individuals converging on our location. In the eyes of the locals,
becoming an envoy of Yannopolis is a coveted status. In other words, our heads serve as their tickets to ascend in power!”
Stellario finally grasped the situation upon hearing Jonathan's words. “S-So, this is going to be a large-scale manslaughter? Is
that something the locals here could come up with?”
“The concept isn't a product of modern times,” Jonathan replied calmly. “Ever since humans developed a sense of hierarchy,
competition has been pervasive. Right now, you should focus on how to navigate through this situation.”
“What do you mean by 'navigate'?” Stellario asked, perplexed. “The mountain, right there—isn't that Ascension Peak? We should
head in that direction if we want to stay alive.”
“If you can think of it, I'm sure the locals can think of it too.” Jonathan sighed with a hint of frustration. “Just now, I took note of
Kathleen and Hayden's positions. They were positioned on the left and right, respectively. Hayden will definitely come to me, so
I'll head to the right. But Kathleen is on the left. The Mallorys and the Hendersons are allies, right? Do you want to go and look
for her?”
Without hesitation, Stellario shook his head in response to Jonathan's suggestion. “Why bother talking about alliances in the
small world? Let's go to the right and find Hayden!”