"Too immature, too foolish, Houtu."
Great Emperor Gouchen rarely spoke. His voice had the distant, indifferent quality of the stars themselves.
The advantage Houtu had gained through her steady, step-by-step pressure had been clawed back considerably.
Yet in his heart, there was even more of an anger he could not put into words.
His voice was vast and calm:
"Even now, you still harbor such a foolish concern for all living things. From maintaining the earth's ley lines as an Earth Deity to stirring your heart for the sake of one person, you and I are both sovereigns. We ought to keep the realms in balance. No matter who dies, it should not cause the slightest ripple. The Great Dao is merciless; it sets the sun and moon in motion."
"You've lived for so long. Have you still not seen through even this?"
"Ridiculous..."
Great Emperor Gouchen's attacks grew more and more fierce, his voice carrying a Spirit Charm that shook the Dao-heart.
Houtu swung the Sky-Shattering Mace backhanded, smashing arrows like pillars of light and sending countless fragments of starlight scattering. She said coldly:
"Because I am different from you. Different from all of you."
"He rushed into the most dangerous places to heal my wounds. He was hunted by the Demon Realm because he had promised something to the East Mountain. He ventured into peril to treat my injuries, was framed and tortured to death, and now, after finally surviving, he must still use his own life as bait to draw your million-strong Demon Race army."
"If I could still remain unmoved!"
"Wouldn't that mean I had fallen into your way!"
"Absurd!"
"As a sovereign, my body exists to balance the realms and command the Great Dao. All things are but annotations to me. The lives and deaths