Single-character names had become very rare in recent times. Among the younger generation, there were practically none.
Those with single-character names were generally people from earlier eras.
When there had been fewer people, single-character names had been enough to tell them apart. As the number of cultivators grew, more and more shared the same names, making it troublesome to distinguish them. Along with the desire to reflect bloodlines and inheritances, this had gradually led to the emergence of surnames.
The single-character names still in use now also mostly belonged to the older generation, such as the Prison Master of the Land of Exile whom Shi Chun knew of.
Even among the older generation, single-character names had become relatively scarce. They no longer suited the times.
So Shi Chun was a little startled and hurriedly asked, "There are other people in this Forbidden Ground?"
Zhen'er understood what he meant. Still holding him, she explained, "'Su' is dead. She died a very, very long time ago. Everyone with her died too. They couldn't go back. When the Divine Fire Domain entered a purple star region, human bodies couldn't survive.
"I was very sad when Su died. After a long time, I wasn't sad anymore. She taught me to read and speak, told me what the human world was like, and taught me how to cultivate. When I'm alone, I often think of her."
Shi Chun was shocked. Putting this together with what he knew, he couldn't help wondering whether Su had been among the first group to enter the Divine Fire Domain. He immediately asked, "Among the people with Su, was there someone called the Fire God?"
Zhen'er said, "Do you mean Chen? Some of them called him the Fire God. Situ Gu asked me that too."
Shi Chun paused, then asked,