Chapter 1262 A Good Show
The moment vitality flickered within the eyes of the reanimated corpses behind him, a peculiar force abruptly rent Stellario's
hands, disrupting the seals he was forming.
Among the cultivators of Chanaea, an inherent division existed between those aligned with righteousness and those drawn to
darker paths. The Mallory family stood out as one of the most prominent factions straddling this line between the two.
The Mallory family didn't fall completely into either the realm of goodness or malevolence. While their techniques were
undeniably perilous and ruthless, the Mallories had, over recent generations, adopted a considerably more restrained and
reserved approach.
After all, the entirety of the social structure had evolved over millennia. However, there was a specific cause for why the Mallory
family was driven into seclusion within Centum Mountain in Yorksland by the other respectable families.
Nonetheless, they were far from being malevolent. They never proactively sought to inflict harm upon others.
Countless individuals who unwittingly strayed into the Mallory family's territory found themselves unable to forget the experience
long after departing. Some were so captivated that they even risked their lives to become a part of the family.
Furthermore, whenever someone found themselves embroiled in trouble, the Mallories always stepped in to help resolve the
issue.
Consequently, throughout centuries, the public's opinions of the Mallory family had perpetually remained a blend of praise and
criticism.
In an effort to maintain their standing, the Mallory family had consistently instilled discipline in their descendants, dissuading
them from acting recklessly.
Nevertheless, the decision to refrain from rash actions was always a choice rather than an obligation.
As the major clans of Chanaea underwent changes in power, the boundaries of influence for the remaining prominent clans
became more distinct. The Mallory family's large-scale endeavors also dwindled in frequency over time. Eventually, their
presence became a rarity beyond the confines of Yorksland, but that didn't mean they'd given up on some important traditions
that were passed down in the clan.
And now, Stellario was employing one of the most reviled techniques among the Mallory family's forbidden techniques—the
Corpse Manipulation Technique.
A dozen or so afterimages streaked past Stellario's side. Those who had been previously deceased not only came back to life at
this moment but also exhibited a swiftness that surpassed their prior capabilities.
While alive, humans' physical speed and agility are subject to numerous constraints, including factors like muscle strength,
explosive power, and one's inherent endurance limit.
However, at this moment, these resurrected corpses were free from any pain or discomfort, entirely unburdened by concerns
about whether their limbs could withstand the strain or not.
Although, at this velocity, it was highly probable that the muscles and bones of these reanimated corpses would be entirely torn
asunder within a short duration, their current speed was more than sufficient under such circumstances and distance.
The cultivators surged toward the crowd at breakneck speed. Though their movements appeared disorganized, their velocity was
simply too swift to be easily countered.
Screams of anguish reverberated in the surroundings, and before the aboriginal cultivators could react, they were successively
assailed.
Merilyn arrived at Stellario's side.
“Stellario, these people...”
“They've been infested by corpseworms,” said Stellario, gritting his teeth.
“Corpseworms exist in only two states: one being sealed, the other being awake,” Stellario explained.
“When the seal of these corpseworms is removed, they stimulate their host to seek sustenance, gathering the extensive energy
required for their own reproduction. Those who are active become their new targets for parasitism.”
Countless types of insects and beasts inhabited the small world, but Merilyn had never heard of such terrifying insects.
Upon hearing Stellario's words, she immediately looked around nervously.
“If that's the case, we...”
“We're safe,” Stellario reassured her. “The fragrance emitted by that yellow pill is the very thing that corpseworms detest the
most. It poses a significant threat to them, so they won't target us.”
Stellario stepped forward with Merilyn in tow.
“Corpseworms are highly contagious,” he continued. “When a living individual is parasitized, their vitality is swiftly sapped,
transforming the body into a breeding ground for the worms. If a corpse becomes infected, it results in what you're seeing right
now. The deceased are revived, and they rampage, attacking anything in their path.”
At this juncture, the peak of Ascension Peak was in a state of complete turmoil.
The contagion carried by the corpseworms was exceedingly potent. Even the most minor contact with these reanimated corpses
could lead to the transmission of worm eggs.
Even in the absence of a lethal injury, those insect eggs would swiftly bore into the cultivators' bodies and start absorbing
nutrients.
Exterminating these corpseworms, while not exceptionally challenging, still demanded some degree of effort.
And amidst the distraction, those cultivators driven by the corpseworms would seize the opportunity to attack.
As this cycle persisted, approximately twenty to thirty cultivators found themselves transformed into new corpses in a brief span
of time, causing the number of the undead to swell once more.
Meanwhile, the cultivators in the rear, uncertain about the fate that had befallen their comrades, hesitated to advance. They
opted to expend their spiritual energy by casting spells to combat the reanimated corpses instead.
At that precise moment, on a narrow path from the other side, a stout man, panting heavily, ascended to the summit of
Ascension Peak and entered the arena.
Due to Stellario's tricks and the chaos he had incited among the aborigines, the flustered victims only spared the burly man a
brief glance before they stopped paying him any attention.
Some even shouted at the burly man, asking him for help.
At this moment, the burly man was also vigorously waving his hand in their direction.
As the burly man arrived at the square's center, he heaved a sigh of relief. Then, with a swift leap, he snatched one of the seals
from mid-air.
His action stunned everyone present.
These seals were specifically prepared for eight outlanders and were not something they could touch at all.
Before Stellario and his group arrived, some among them had been unable to resist the temptation to touch the seals. However,
the moment they made contact, they were promptly repelled by the formation, catapulted a considerable distance, and tumbled
down Ascension Peak.
Since that incident, no one had dared to covet those seals. Surprisingly, this burly man managed to effortlessly grasp one in his
hand.
“What in the world?” someone questioned aloud.
“What?” The burly man holding the seal spoke indifferently. “Nothing to see here. I can survive now.”
As the burly man spoke, an astonishing transformation overtook him. The flesh on his face started peeling off relentlessly, with
sizable chunks dropping incessantly.
What was revealed behind the flesh was not the sinews and bones of a burly man, but a face smeared with blood.
The man let out a long sigh of relief. “I thought it would be difficult, but turns out, all it takes is a simple disguise to get the seal,
haha...”
The bloody figure was still continuously shedding pieces of flesh from its body.
Meanwhile, Stellario also recognized the woman who took on the form of the burly man.
It was Kathleen, the only woman among the eight outlanders in this arena.
She was a woman of charm, but her act of killing someone then peeling off their skin and attaching it to herself as a disguise was
rather nauseating.
An aboriginal cultivator lunged at Kathleen with a knife, but before he could reach her, a protective shield materialized, thwarting
the cultivator's weapon.
Kathleen waved the seal in her hand, and surprisingly summoned a large bucket of water to start washing off the blood stains on
her body.
“Go ahead and continue your fight. I'm quite enjoying the spectacle.”
Kathleen, only in her underwear, casually watched the drama unfold, showing no intention of lending a hand.
Stellario merely chuckled.
“All right. Today, I'll give you a good show!”