Chapter 868

Cornered, Zhou Zhong shouts that he admits defeat, and Fang Yuan’s attacks stop. The tens of thousands below react in shock at rank seven Gu Immortal Zheng Ling’s death and Zhou Zhong’s submission. Pale, he says the ten duels are over and his people may leave, as agreed. His gaze at Fang Yuan and Tai Bai Yun Sheng burns with hatred for killing Zheng Ling, but he lacks the strength to avenge him. ^{ch. 868}

Zheng Ling and Zhou Zhong had deeper foundations than expected, their immortal killer moves covering attack, defense, movement, healing and investigation. But Fang Yuan and Tai Bai Yun Sheng’s mortal moves would have lost a straight fight, and no blessed land restricts an enemy’s Immortal Gu. Zhou Zhong swallows his anger and his wish for revenge. Finding his clansmen a new home is now the urgent matter. ^{ch. 868}

Fang Yuan and Tai Bai Yun Sheng cannot stop him leaving, both bound by the same oath on pain of death, and Fang Yuan lacking a time path move to break it. Zhou Zhong hopes Fang Yuan will violate it anyway, which would let the feathermen wipe them out and claim the blessed land. Neither side can attack, or summon help, without breaking it. ^{ch. 868}

Fang Yuan confirms the ten duels are over, the doors will open, and they will keep their word. Zhou Zhong sighs in relief. Fang Yuan then qualifies his promise: as winner of the tenth duel, he may still choose slaves from the feathermen on the ground before the rest go free. ^{ch. 868}

Fang Yuan and Tai Bai Yun Sheng descend to pick slaves. Fang Yuan pulls a young featherman girl from the crowd as she pleads not to be taken. Her fiance, a mere rank two Gu Master, charges to stop it, and Fang Yuan’s unseen blood path attack leaves him with blood running wild and his seven orifices bursting. ^{ch. 868}

Zhou Zhong lands to heal the dying youngster and saves him. He accuses Fang Yuan of insulting a Gu Immortal’s status and violating their agreement, but Fang Yuan answers that the agreement permits killing feathermen who try to attack him. Out-argued, Zhou Zhong has no reply. ^{ch. 868}

Fang Yuan then names his next slave: Zhou Zhong himself. Their agreement let him claim slaves from the feathermen on the ground, and landing there to heal the youngster had put Zhou Zhong among them: the instant his feet touched down, he became a slave. ^{ch. 868}

Tai Bai Yun Sheng explains the trap stayed hidden while both remained airborne, and that a guilty conscience had led Zhou Zhong to bargain his people away. Fang Yuan adds that even without that mistake he had another way. He could simply refuse to choose slaves for a year or two. Barred by the agreement from damaging the blessed land, the feathermen would be trapped inside it as prisoners. Even Tai Bai Yun Sheng looks at him with shock, and Zhou Zhong realizes how naive he had been. ^{ch. 868}