Great sorrow, fear, and confusion enveloped the hearts of all the Feathered Men.
Zhou Zhong was already the only Gu Immortal left among the Feathered Men. If even he became a slave of the human race, how could the remaining Feathered Men survive?
In the current Five Regions, the entire world was basically dominated by humans.
The living space left for other races was very small, and it would only get smaller.
Zhou Zhong's mouth, wide open in shock, gradually closed. He looked up at Fang Yuan, staring at him as if he were a monster, and asked, "That zombie immortal form of yours must be fake, right? How could an immortal zombie be so calculating?"
Fang Yuan was momentarily startled, not expecting Zhou Zhong to suddenly calm down.
Fang Yuan immediately felt a sense of unease.
Beside him, Tai Bai Yun Sheng said mercifully, "Give it up, Zhou Zhong. Even though you have become a slave, I promise I won't mistreat you. I won't restrict your freedom in normal times. Only at critical moments will I ask for your help. The Feathered Men behind you will live in my blessed land from now on. You can rest assured, I will not be harsh or abusive toward them. I will reward them fairly for every job they do. Sigh..."
Tai Bai Yun Sheng finished speaking and sighed deeply, his good-natured temperament getting the better of him.
But Zhou Zhong slowly shook his head three times.
Fang Yuan's smile faded, and his expression turned serious.
Then, he saw the Gu Immortal Zhou Zhong suddenly turn around, facing the large group of Feathered Men behind him. He bowed deeply.
"Everyone," Zhou Zhong said in a very calm tone, but it revealed a sense of determination. His voice was not loud, but it resonated in everyone's ears.
He said, "I'm sorry, everyone. In this world, there is only Gu Immortal Zhou Zhong, only Feathered Man Zhou Zhong. There will never be a slave Zhou Zhong. I am truly ashamed. Even the last one left cannot protect you all. Farewell, everyone!"
With that, he suddenly spread his wings.
The wings of Feathered Men were not as broad as an eagle's or as thick as a vulture's; they were slender and weak.
"Zhou Zhong, why are you doing this? Stop!" Tai Bai Yun Sheng's expression changed drastically, trying to stop him.
But how could he stop a Gu Immortal who was actively seeking death?
Zhou Zhong suddenly flapped his wings and shot into the sky!
He rushed into the sky, shouting, "I, Zhou Zhong!"
"Am a Feathered Man!!"
"I will not become a slave!!!"
At that moment, everyone's eyes were fixed on him.
He had violated the contract.
He had stepped on the ground and been caught in Fang Yuan's trap, becoming Fang Yuan's slave.
But Zhou Zhong was unwilling and actively resisted.
The Immortal Killer Move of the Information Path on his body immediately erupted, causing severe backlash damage that attacked every part of Zhou Zhong's body.
Zhou Zhong flew slower and slower. His wings fluttered with increasing difficulty.
He flew in the air like an old man on the verge of death, stumbling as if climbing a steep mountain.
His entire body rapidly crystallized, and soon he turned into transparent glass crystal.
His wings also turned into a crystal glass-like substance, no longer able to move.
But his eyes still looked up at the sky, not even glancing at Fang Yuan or Tai Bai Yun Sheng, filled with endless courage and determination.
Then he slowly fell toward the ground.
As he fell, his entire body began to disintegrate.
First his head, then his chest, then his wings, followed by his abdomen and limbs.
Before hitting the ground, his entire body turned into a pile of shattered glass, tiny fragments of crystal.
There was no wind in Tai Bai Blessed Land.
But the fragments of crystal glass seemed to float in the air, becoming smaller and more fragmented as they drifted, gradually disappearing into the void.
"Zhou Zhong..." Tai Bai Yun Sheng murmured, his eyes vacant.
"As expected... this guy," Fang Yuan said with a grim expression.
He did not let Tai Bai Yun Sheng revive Zhou Zhong. A slave who was not afraid of death and unwilling to be a slave was completely worthless.
Moreover, Zhou Zhong was a Gu Immortal; reviving him would cost a significant amount of Immortal Essence.
Even if he were revived, his Immortal Gu would be lost, and Tai Bai Yun Sheng could not annex his immortal aperture. It was better to let him die. An immortal aperture that could not absorb vital energy from heaven and earth would only dissipate into a fixed blessed land. After dissipation, the Dao marks on Zhou Zhong's body would all automatically add themselves to Tai Bai Blessed Land.
Zhou Zhong's death plunged all the Feathered Men into silence.