Chapter 553

In the Orc Empire, "half-orcs" were a somewhat awkward group.

Unlike the fantasy novels Sui Xiong had read before crossing over, in this world, the divide between "orcs" and "half-orcs" was not based on bloodline, but on faith.

The orc race were all creations or descendants of the Orc Pantheon. Influenced by their bloodlines, they were naturally believers of the Orc Pantheon; their very souls were even controlled by the Orc Pantheon.

This was practically unique in all the world. Though the creator gods of other races also wielded great influence, they absolutely could not control souls to such an extent—for instance, Water Mother, the creator god of humanity, had rather limited control and influence over humans. That was why She had later died at the hands of the Lord of Glory.

Because their souls were influenced and controlled, orcs were extremely devout in their faith toward the Orc Pantheon. Yet this was not absolute. Sometimes, for one reason or another, an orc would awaken and break free of the Orc Pantheon's control over their soul—within the Orc Empire, this was known as "degeneration." There were also mixed-blood children of orcs and other races who, due to insufficient bloodline purity, were born beyond the Orc Pantheon's control.

Whether naturally or later in life, once a soul had escaped the Orc Pantheon's control, its owner was called a half-orc.

Within the Orc Empire, half-orcs lived rather poorly. Even if their faith remained as devout as ever, the Orc Pantheon would not answer them. To the Orc Pantheon, believers beyond Their control were not qualified believers. They regarded such followers as farmers regarded wild grass by the roadside. In times of famine, one might consider eating it, but under ordinary circumstances, no one would ever put it on the menu.

And for