World-Ending Demon Emperor-Chapter 2090 - 981: Hair White as Snow! Skeleton Legion
In fact, Lanling had pondered one question countless times.
Why would both Emperor E Tian and Emperor E Yun want to destroy the world?
When these two Demon Emperors marched north, they inflicted devastating blows on the civilization of the Human Kingdom. It likely wasn’t due to hatred, as neither of the emperors experienced Lanling’s personal betrayals or murders by human spouses.
Now it is completely understood!
This is a contest of planes, a war of dimensions.
Once a piece of land is occupied, it means completely transforming the energy attributes of that land from Dragon Attribute to Demon Attribute.
Under the energy aura of the Demon Attribute, the Dragon Bloodline’s human citizens cannot survive.
So this really is a zero-sum game!
Only one side can remain standing, while the other must fall.
The construction in the Northern Barbaric Lands was proceeding with great fervor, with one Tower of Heavenly Fiends and Deities after another rising from the ground. Meanwhile, Lanling’s energy recovery speed was also becoming increasingly faster.
At the same time, north of the thirteen great mountains, the Shenmo Skyscraper was also under continuous construction.
One must know, the Dragon Giant Towers of the Human Kingdom were already very dense, yet construction still continued relentlessly.
Moreover, the secret manufacturing plant of the Dragon Temple Laboratory was working around the clock, producing countless energy weapons. Building large-scale airborne fortresses, creating Stellar Magic Reaction Cores.
The Dragon Temple successively opened various mysterious planes, beginning to tame energy beings within, forming diverse energy creature legions.
Both sides were preparing for the great final showdown.
However, the strength on Demon Emperor Lanling’s side was already very transparent, while the power on the side of the Dragon Temple was indeed mysterious and unknown.
Lanling himself did not even know how many aerial fortresses the Dragon Temple possessed, how many troops it had, how many Sub-Kings, how many king-level strongmen, or how many Stellar Magic Reaction Cores it maintained.
"Know yourself and your enemy, you will never be defeated in a hundred battles."
But now Lanling knew nothing about the strength of the Dragon Temple, nor did he know how much power it had acquired from the Dragon Emperor and from the Lunar Holy Palace.
...
Jiang Xue (the ancient witch General Xixi) returned to the East Li Kingdom to secretly meet with King Dongli Jiang Shang.
"Father, His Majesty has succeeded the Demon Emperor, where do you intend to go from here?" Jiang Xue asked.
The greatest impact of Lanling succeeding the Demon Emperor was on Jiang Shang. Even though he was already in his sixties, he had always maintained black hair, but now it had turned snowy white, causing Jiang Xue to feel deep sorrow.
King Dongli Jiang Shang raised his head, asking, "Are you Jiang Xue?"
Not waiting for an answer, King Dongli nodded and said, "Yes, you are now Jiang Xue, no longer that witch. So, tell me, Jiang Xue, what do you plan to do?"
Jiang Xue replied, "Of course, I stand on the side of Emperor Lanling."
"Why?" Jiang Shang asked.
"Because the Dragon Temple is the root of evil and darkness in the world," Jiang Xue said.
"So, standing with the Demon Emperor, are you aiding him in leading the Demon Clan Army to slaughter the Human Kingdom entirely, to annihilate all of human civilization?" Jiang Shang said.
Jiang Xue replied, "His Majesty’s enemy is the Dragon Temple, not the human subjects."
"Then ask yourself, why did Emperor E Tian and Emperor E Yun aim to destroy the entire Human Kingdom?" Jiang Shang said. "It’s a zero-sum game, and the Human Kingdom is inseparable from the Dragon Temple. When the Demon Emperor enters the Human Kingdom, the whole energy attribute will change, and countless humans will completely perish. Thus, I have always wanted Emperor Lanling to succeed the Dragon Emperor, as inheriting the Dragon Emperor’s lineage would naturally allow him to reform the Dragon Temple and avoid southern campaigns against the Demon Race. Whether it’s humans or demons, both could coexist in peace. Even, Emperor Lanling could assume dual roles as the Emperor of the Flame Demon Empire and the Human Empire, only handing over the Demon Empire to Empress Dienie for governance. This was originally a win-win solution, but Emperor Lanling rejected me, insisting on becoming the Demon Emperor, which puts him at complete odds with the Human Kingdom. To destroy the Dragon Temple, he must first destroy the Human Kingdom."
Taking a deep breath, controlling his emotions, Jiang Shang continued: "True, human Zhi Yan has inflicted significant harm on Emperor Lanling, but seeing him taking the solitary path to become the Demon Emperor grieves me. It implies he has long decided to annihilate the Human Kingdom in his heart. Jiang Xue, even though you’re steeped in Demon Bloodline, your heart should be human. Can you bear to watch the complete extinction of the Human Kingdom? Can you bear to see billions of humans being cut down?"
Jiang Xue’s breathing suddenly became rapid and oppressive, rasping out, "I firmly believe His Majesty is not that kind of person. He is a wise ruler; his soul does not partake in narrow human-demon antagonism."
Jiang Shang shook his head and said, "First of all, Emperor Lanling only wants to destroy the Dragon Temple; he holds little hostility but also little compassion for the Human Kingdom. Strictly speaking, he has little compassion for either the Demon Race or the Human Kingdom because he is already a Plane Overlord, nearing a divine being. Exalted deities harbor no feelings for mortal ants. Secondly, even if he has compassion for humans, it won’t change anything, as it’s determined by blood attributes. Once he enters the Human Kingdom, it means the death of countless humans."
Jiang Xue was silent for a moment, then shook her head and said, "No, I still firmly believe His Majesty would not commit such acts. Perhaps before, he was filled with hatred, even contemplating destroying the world. But having inherited the Demon Emperor’s lineage, drawing his power from heaven and earth, surely he feels a certain fondness for the world. Both the Flame Demon Emperor and the even earlier Emperor E Yun, who didn’t annihilate, but drove humans into the northern territories, were like this. Emperor E Tian further sought to completely solve this conflict, successfully allowing intermarriage and reproduction between demons and humans, resulting in the birth of the Near-Human Tribe."
Jiang Shang said, "Then go ask His Majesty what he intends to do?"
Jiang Xue thought for a while and nodded, "Alright, I’ll go ask now."
Then, she left Dongli Kingdom overnight, returning to the Northern Barbaric Lands to request an audience with Demon Emperor Lanling.
...
The day after Jiang Xue left, a new guest arrived in Dongli Kingdom. Hearing this name, Jiang Shang furrowed his brows deeply, unsure why the Dragon Temple would send this person.
The person sent was Fu Lingxi, Candidate Sky Priest concurrently serving as Candidate Sky Judge.
"Lord Jiang Shang, Lanling did not succeed as you wished the Dragon Emperor, but instead has proclaimed himself the Demon Emperor. At this moment, he has already unified the entire Demon Territory and is about to march north," Fu Lingxi said. "When the time comes, the entirety of human civilization will face complete disaster. Where do you plan to go from here?"
"What do you mean?" Jiang Shang said coldly.
Fu Lingxi said, "The Dragon Temple is constructing the entire human defense line, yet the only gap is your East Li Kingdom. Because East Li Kingdom has always remained outside the faith’s shadow of the Dragon Temple. We are greatly worried that the Kingdom of Dongli will become a breach or a stepping stone for the Demon Emperor’s assault on the Human Kingdom."
King Dongli Jiang Shang said, "You are overthinking, though I have a hostile stance against the Dragon Temple, I remember I am a human, a vassal of the Dragon Emperor. It is impossible for me to betray my race and stand to assist the tyranny."
Fu Lingxi said: "I highly appreciate Your Excellency the King of Dongli’s position, but mere words hold no weight."
The King of Dongli replied: "Do you want me to put it in writing?"
"Of course not, many times a contract is just a piece of paper." Fu Lingxi said, "I hope His Majesty the King of Dongli would join the human kingdom defense line constructed by the Dragon Temple. Agree to the stationing of the Dragon Legion, agree to the Dragon Temple constructing relevant defense measures and energy arrays within Dongli’s borders, open up Dongli’s airspace for the Dragon Temple’s aerial fortress. Activate the Dragon Emperor’s legacy and join the decisive battle against Demon Emperor Lanling."
Upon hearing these conditions that so greatly compromised the nation’s sovereignty, Jiang Shang scoffed: "Do you think it’s possible?"
Fu Lingxi said: "Are you cutting yourself off from the camp of justice?"
Jiang Shang did not respond, he only said one word: "Leave!"
Fu Lingxi displayed a charming smile, then departed.
...
Jiang Xue returned to the Northern Barbaric Wilderness to seek an audience with Demon Emperor Lanling!
"Minister Jiang Xue, pays respects to Your Majesty, long live, long live, long live forever." Jiang Xue knelt and bowed, three kowtows and nine bows.
"Jiang Xue?" Lanling expressed surprise, because almost always, it was Witch General Xixi dominating this body.
"It’s me." Jiang Xue said, "I have a question that confounds me, may Your Majesty enlighten me."
Lanling said: "Speak."
Jiang Xue said: "In Your Majesty’s eyes, what status do all humans hold?"
Lanling was silent for a moment and then said: "My wife, sister, daughter, disciple, they have all been captured by the Dragon Temple, they too are humans."
Jiang Xue said: "Queen Zhi Yan acted to kill you; it was a shameful betrayal, will you vent your anger on the entire human kingdom because of this?"
Lanling shook his head: "No."
Jiang Xue said: "If destroying the Dragon Temple required the destruction of the human kingdom as a cost, what would Your Majesty choose?"
This question was difficult to answer, Lanling thought for a while and said: "I would probably choose to annihilate the Dragon Temple, whatever the cost."
Suddenly, Jiang Xue’s tears flowed uncontrollably, she then pounded her head heavily on the ground, motionless.
After obtaining this answer, she was incredibly pained.
Demon Emperor Lanling held no hostility towards her, but also not much compassion.
Though Jiang Xue’s bloodline had been altered, turning into a Demon Bloodline, she still regarded herself as human. She was a person of true great love, so at the time in the Bloody Shore Lost City, even if she didn’t know Suo Lun, she intervened for the greater good of humanity.
She wasn’t like Zhi Ning, who only cared about her own family, whether they were demons or humans. Her husband and son were humans, so she sided with humans; if they were demons, she’d side with demons.
Lanling said nothing, nor offered any consolation.
If Jiang Xue couldn’t bear it and wanted to leave, then let her leave. As the exalted Demon Emperor, he certainly wasn’t willing to compromise and change his stance for just one Jiang Xue.
"Thank you for your candor, Your Majesty." Jiang Xue bowed her head, "But, I beg Your Majesty to retain a shred of compassion for humanity at critical moments, even if it’s just a little. Just like Emperor EYun, who drove humans to the north marking borders instead of complete extermination, just like Emperor E Tian who transformed a new tribe, the Near-Human Tribe."
Lanling said: "I will consider it."
"I take my leave, Your Majesty. Long live, long live, long live forever!" Na Xue bowed, then retreated and left.
...
Jiang Xue left the Northern Barbaric Wilderness, returned to Flame Demon City, and resigned from all her positions to Empress Dienie and Prime Minister Tang Ren.
Empress Dienie didn’t ask why, she agreed directly. Tang Ren asked why? 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
"Because I have more important matters to attend to." Jiang Xue said.
Tang Ren asked: "Will it conflict with His Majesty’s interests?"
Jiang Xue shook her head: "No."
Tang Ren nodded: "Very well, I approve as well."
Jiang Xue (Witch General Xixi resigned from all her positions) and left the Southern Barbaric Lands.
...
Northern Barbaric Wilderness!
Jiang Xue didn’t stir up any waves in Lanling, but her words did cause some ripples.
Yet, ultimately, Lanling did not engage in any deep contemplation over this matter.
"Your Majesty, the leader of the Skeleton Legion from the Ghost King Empire, Rakshasa Ghost Mother requests an audience."
...
Note: The first update is here, asking for support, requesting votes, thank you everyone!
