"Are you... the great god Zhiming?" Zhenwu was stunned for a moment, then asked the enormous figure.
Though he had only recently been born, as a Saint's disciple, he had heard of the most powerful beings in the Primordial World. Naturally, Zhiming, the supreme deity of the north, was among them.
"Yes, I am Zhiming, but... so are you!"
"Hm?" Zhenwu made a questioning sound, puzzled. How did I become you?
"Zhenwu, do you know what it means to be martial?"
"Great God, to be martial is to be brave and fierce!" Zhenwu replied, bowing with his hands clasped.
"Then have you lived up to your name? Have you truly been brave?" The enormous figure emerged from the darkness and approached Zhenwu step by step, revealing his immense true form: a Turtle-Snake bearing a thick, heavy shell. Simply standing there, he seemed to hold up all of heaven and earth.
Zhenwu looked up at Zhiming and instinctively swallowed. "This humble immortal... fought the demon... that Magic Beast with all his strength. I never shrank from battle. I believe..."
"Rushing to your death is not bravery, but recklessness! True bravery means advancing with all your strength when you should advance, and retreating decisively when you should retreat-not blindly letting hatred veil your eyes and anger cloud your mind until you act without reason. Do you understand?" Zhiming interrupted, lowering his head to look at him.
Zhenwu remained silent for a long time after hearing this. Only after a good while did he say quietly, "Your rebuke is just, Great God."
"You understand, but if you were allowed to choose again, you would still lose control and make the same choice as before. Am I right?" Zhiming asked slowly.
"I..."
"Very well. Walk through the long river of the Human Race's history