World-Ending Demon Emperor-Chapter 1962 - 890: Lanling’s Showdown with Crown Prince Motuo (Important)

Lanling was truly astonished that the Crown Prince Motuo would come to visit him.

So he had to halt his schedule in the Witch Kingdom Imperial City, taking Zhi Ning and her son, as well as Fang Qingzhuo and her daughter, away from the Witch Kingdom Imperial City.

Although the Grand Priestess of the Holy Demon Palace said nothing, her eyes were truly filled with reluctance.

Honestly, Lanling had never seen such an expression, so devout, so fervent.

This gaze was like that of the most passionate woman looking at her lover about to leave on a long journey, full of reluctance yet unable to hold back. It was also akin to children left behind in rural areas looking at their parents going away to work, full of reluctance and unable to hold them back.

This is the power of faith!

Previously, Lanling felt that the loyalty of the Witch Kingdom to him was similar to that of the Centaur Tribe.

But now he knew that the people of the Witch Kingdom, especially those in the Holy Demon Palace, had a much deeper faith and loyalty to Lanling.

The Centaur Tribe only knelt and pledged allegiance after Lanling exhibited some divine power, whereas the Witch Kingdom’s faith and loyalty were entirely without reason.

They viewed themselves as both the Demon Emperor’s women and daughters.

In summary, it was an extremely deep and complex emotion, already deeply rooted in their bloodline and genes, never to change.

So when Lanling walked in the city of the Witch Kingdom, he deeply felt like a deity, especially under the gaze of the priestesses of the Holy Demon Palace and the elder women of the Witch Kingdom.

The young samurai of the Witch Kingdom would still gaze at Lanling with curiosity and teasing eyes, full of youthful excitement and boldness.

However, the elder citizens of the Witch Kingdom looked at Lanling with eyes that could not be described with words.

"I will visit you often." Lanling involuntarily reached out to touch the head of the Grand Priestess with affection.

"Yes!" This seventy-year-old, with white hair and a youthful face, showed a drunken yet blissful sparkle in her eyes, then deeply bowed.

...

Back in Flame Demon City, Lanling met the Crown Prince Motuo!

He was a graceful person!

Indeed, he was an extremely graceful person!

"Crown Prince Xiaobai of the Motuo Empire, paying respects to Emperor Lanling of the Flame Demon Empire!" Crown Prince Motuo greeted Lanling meticulously.

Xiaobai, that was his name.

In fact, names of prominent figures in the Demon Race are usually quite down-to-earth.

For example, the Little Rakshasa King was originally named Sugar Man, later changed to Tang Ren. Crown Prince Tiancha was named Dao, while the Crown Prince of the Motuo Empire was named Xiaobai.

Conversely, an illegitimate child like Prince You Ming needed a name that seemed grand and impressive.

"Give your father my regards," Lanling said. "Please, sit down!"

After they sat down, Gou Li served tea on the side.

Crown Prince Motuo said, "I came unannounced to visit Your Majesty Lanling, because there are some questions I wish to seek your guidance on!"

Lanling said, "Please speak, but I might disappoint you."

Crown Prince Motuo said, "The first question: What do you think is the ultimate goal of a civilization?"

Lanling said, "I believe it should be survival and freedom!"

Crown Prince Motuo’s eyes lit up, shining with brilliance, "Your Majesty’s words resonate deeply with me, capturing the essence in one sentence. All acts, all wars, all productions of a civilization ultimately boil down to two goals: survival and freedom. So-called freedom is liberating various constraints. For example, people in the early Human Kingdoms used manual labor to till the land, and they wanted to free their hands and avoid so much toil, so they used oxen for plowing; this is a form of freedom. For instance, when we walk on the ground every day, observing from just over a meter high, our view is very limited. So we climb mountains, but even after that it wasn’t high enough, so we wanted to fly; thus we tamed various flying beasts, aiming to free our vision, to see farther and higher. The early Human Kingdoms realized that gathering couldn’t sustain everyone anymore and survival was no longer possible, so they learned to farm."

Lanling said, "When one world can no longer survive, they need the ability to move to another world."

Crown Prince Motuo said, "So all civilizations aim for survival and freedom. Yet, some say the ultimate goal of any civilization is just one thing, eternity. What do you think?"

Lanling said, "In a certain sense, this perspective is correct. But it’s very pessimistic, as if saying that an individual’s focus is death, and death alone is eternal."

Crown Prince Motuo said, "Death is eternal, it is the endpoint. Be it for a person or a civilization, it is the same. This statement is flawless. What do you think?"

Lanling shook his head and said, "Reincarnation is what’s eternal, death is just one phase of the cycle. It’s like a person who must die, but his offspring continue his life. Even if a world is destroyed, it’s nurturing the power for rebirth. Even if the whole universe is utterly destroyed, it will erupt again after countless years."

"Clap clap clap..." Crown Prince Motuo applauded and said, "I often debate with Na Xue, her viewpoint is that eternity is the ultimate goal of life or a civilization. I disagree, but can’t win against her in an argument. Your theory gives me great inspiration."

"Unfortunately, our viewpoints cannot be proven, because there are no absolute truths in this world," Lanling said.