The demigod race of today was not yet called the demigods. They were known as the mixed-bloods.
Compared to the humans' desperate plight, the demons and monsters were hardly any better off. They, too, were essentially enslaved by the demigods.
As for the ancient gods, Lingyang Realm's hierarchy was far too rigid. Given the status of the humans, demons, and monsters, they rarely had any chance to come into contact with them in their daily lives.
From what Shi Lan had learned, in the Primordial Era, demons and monsters had roamed the world in their true forms. It was only in the Ancient Era, to evade the humans' military might, that they had all chosen to take human form.
But what she saw now was different. Among the demons and monsters, those who had taken human form were no longer few. They were deeply entangled with many demigods, and their status was equally precarious. Aside from some of the stronger ones, they had little say in anything.
Still, though the demigods were numerous, the pure-blooded ancient gods remained unshakable in status. As Lingyang's true rulers, they stood far above everyone else.
Besides the humans, demons, and monsters, another kind of powerful creature lived in Lingyang Realm: the ancient beasts.
They were an exceedingly strange kind of creature, similar to demons and monsters, yet different. Their combat prowess was astonishing, but they could not communicate normally and were extraordinarily violent. It was as if they had been born without emotion or intelligence—pure killing machines.
Once she had grasped the general state of affairs in Lingyang Realm, Shi Lan stopped exploring. Concealing her tracks, she headed back to the burned-out valley.
When she returned to the scorched earth, the landscape had changed dramatically. The traces left by the burning of the sun's