Zheng Ling proposed compensating with Immortal Essence Stones, but Tai Bai Yun Sheng rejected the offer. Fang Yuan, however, pretended to think it over. "My side wants Feathered Men slaves, but your side only wants to compensate with Immortal Essence Stones. This is an irreconcilable conflict. How about this — everyone takes a step back, and we settle this with a contest of strength."
Tai Bai Yun Sheng had been maintaining an aggressive attitude the entire time, putting on the act of a battle maniac. Between exchanges, he had already shouted "I'll deal with you lot in minutes" more times than anyone could count.
If people who truly knew Tai Bai Yun Sheng's personality — like Sha Mo and the others — had been present, they would have thought this Tai Bai Yun Sheng had to be an impostor.
Zheng Ling and Zhou Zhong exchanged a glance.
The battle maniac Tai Bai Yun Sheng was impossible to negotiate with, but it seemed like Fang Yuan, the one with the Immortal Zombie identity, was actually the one in control.
The two Feathered Men Gu Immortals found this unsurprising, since Fang Yuan had already demonstrated Seventh Transformation combat power before.
The two secretly transmitted voice messages to each other, discussing the matter. They both agreed: Fang Yuan was far easier to talk to than Tai Bai Yun Sheng, and much more rational.
"The opponent is an Immortal Zombie. His immortal aperture can no longer produce Immortal Essence on its own, so he'll be even more cautious. We need to exploit this mentality. But it seems this blessed land belongs to that damn old man."
"That old man is no spring chicken, and his temper is fierce. His combat strength shouldn't be underestimated either. We need to be careful!"
"Oh well. The current situation favors them. Let's hear what this Immortal Zombie has to suggest."
The two Feathered Men Gu Immortals analyzed the situation with great seriousness, appearing quite thorough in their reasoning.
What they didn't realize was that they had already walked straight into the trap Fang Yuan had carefully laid.
"Please, go ahead." After finishing their discussion, Zhou Zhong addressed Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan continued: "In the world of Gu Immortals, everything revolves around benefits. Strength dictates the terms. Let's settle this with ten rounds of gambling contests. If my side wins, please hand over one-tenth of the Feathered Men below to us. If my side loses, then we'll simply have to accept compensation in the form of Immortal Essence Stones."
Zhou Zhong immediately objected, raising his voice: "Win or lose, you end up with the advantage either way!"
Fang Yuan merely smiled faintly without responding.
Tai Bai Yun Sheng immediately roared: "What are you yapping about? Don't want to? Then let's just fight! My fists are itching, and I'll deal with you in minutes! If you dare threaten my immortal aperture, I'll slaughter these mortal Feathered Men first. At worst, we'll both go down together. Who's afraid of whom?"
He looked every bit the reckless, battle-crazed fool.
Zhou Zhong and Zheng Ling tuned him out, wearing expressions that said they didn't want to lower themselves to arguing with an old man.
They began secretly transmitting messages to each other once more.
Fang Yuan applied pressure at just the right moment: "If this condition is still not accepted, then we'll have no choice but to go to war."
This made both Feathered Men Gu Immortals' hearts clench.
The current situation was something they had long understood — sacrifices were unavoidable. The wisest course of action now was to minimize the damage as much as possible.
In the end, Zheng Ling nodded and agreed to the gambling contests. However, there was a condition: they would use the Information Path Immortal Killer Move they possessed, equivalent to the effect of the Mountain Alliance Gu. They would establish a binding agreement to serve as a constraint on both sides.
Regardless of the outcome, after the ten rounds of gambling contests, Fang Yuan's side could no longer cause any trouble for the Feathered Men side. They had to open the passageway and allow all remaining people to leave safely, without any form of obstruction.
The fact that the Feathered Men side actually possessed such an Information Path Killer Move — their foundations ran surprisingly deep, somewhat exceeding Fang Yuan's expectations.
First, Gu Immortal Zhou Zhong stepped forward to take part in the first round.
On Fang Yuan's side, he sent Tai Bai Yun Sheng to fight. The latter was brimming with battle intent, his face flushed with excitement and bloodlust. He opened his mouth and bellowed: "Come at me! I'll deal with you in minutes!"
Zhou Zhong was actually a bit intimidated by this display. After all, he was still a non-human, and his spiritual awareness was inferior to that of humans.
More critically, Zhou Zhong harbored reservations — he didn't want to sacrifice any of his clansmen.
He refused to let a single Feathered Man lose their freedom and become a slave to humans. So he chose the contest he was most skilled at.
"What? You only want to compare flying speed?" Tai Bai Yun Sheng was surprised.
"According to our agreement, my side gets to specify the first contest. Are you trying to go back on your word?"
"Hmph, fine! I'll play along this time!" Tai Bai Yun Sheng looked thoroughly annoyed.
This first contest was completely one-sided.
Tai Bai Yun Sheng only had mortal killer moves for flight, while his opponent not only had innate wings but also possessed an Immortal Killer Move focused on mobility.
Watching the result unfold before their eyes, the Feathered Men on the ground erupted in enthusiastic cheers.
After all, their fate hung in the balance — freedom or enslavement — so naturally they were extremely tense about the outcome of every contest.
"Here's your Immortal Essence Stones." Zhou Zhong laughed heartily and tossed over a dozen Immortal Essence Stones to Tai Bai Yun Sheng with a triumphant air.
Tai Bai Yun Sheng accepted them with a sullen expression, but inwardly he was full of admiration for Fang Yuan: "Fang Yuan really knows how to scheme. They paid out Immortal Essence Stones, yet they look happier than if they'd gained a fortune. I'm not half as good as him!"
First round: Fang Yuan's side lost.
For the second round, Fang Yuan himself stepped into the ring. Given that Fang Yuan was a Seventh Transformation combatant, the two Feathered Men Gu Immortals didn't dare take any chances. The stronger Gu Immortal, Zheng Ling, immediately came forward to fight.
Fang Yuan proactively suggested: "Let's also compare speed."
Zheng Ling's expression stiffened for a moment, but she quickly nodded in agreement.
Fang Yuan lost this round just as quickly.
Zheng Ling also had an Immortal Killer Move, and her speed was roughly double Zhou Zhong's.
Fang Yuan had three pairs of Real-returning Bat Wings, all from Desolate Beasts. But in this contest, he hadn't activated the Iron Crown Eagle Strength Immortal Gu, so there was absolutely no hope of winning.
Third round, fourth round, fifth round...
One contest after another, Fang Yuan's side lost every single one while the two Feathered Men Gu Immortals won them all. The results were completely lopsided.
Fang Yuan and Tai Bai Yun Sheng's expressions grew darker and darker.
The two Feathered Men Gu Immortals, on the other hand, looked increasingly relaxed and confident. They had gradually come to realize that the two opponents were all thunder and no rain — more bluster than anything.
The Immortal Zombie Fang Yuan only had Seventh Transformation power in offense. His defense relied solely on mortal killer moves and the Immortal Zombie body itself. His healing and recovery methods were limited to the Immortal Zombie's natural regeneration. Movement, scouting — none of them involved Immortal Killer Moves.
And Tai Bai Yun Sheng's mouth was loud, his manner extremely arrogant. In truth, his combat ability was pathetic, relying entirely on mortal killer moves.
The two Feathered Men Gu Immortals felt they had been deceived!
"If these two are this useless, we should have just started fighting from the beginning."
"Sigh. Humans have always been the best at scheming. We've already used the Information Path Immortal Killer Move and bound ourselves — we can only leave, and can no longer attack."
"Come to think of it, we were frightened by that previous wave of human Gu Immortal intruders. Given the foundations of our Feathered Holy City, we're strong enough to surpass most human Gu Immortals. These two in front of us should be considered fairly exceptional, and they still aren't a match for the two of us combined."
And so, the two Feathered Men Gu Immortals won nine consecutive rounds, leaving only the final contest.
Regardless of the outcome of this last round, once it was over, Fang Yuan's side would be bound by the agreement and could no longer obstruct the Feathered Men. They would have to let them all leave safely.
Victory cheers had already begun ringing out on the ground below.
The new generation's Feathered Men king, Yu Fei, looked much better as well. His eyes shone with light as he gazed up at the two Gu Immortals of the Feathered Men race, and another grand ambition began to stir in his heart.