The relationship between the Demon Race and Demon Cultivators is very similar to that between mortals and cultivators in the Human World.
Ordinary members of the Demon Race are merely "mortals" in different forms, needing to breathe Demonic Energy, unlike Demon Beasts that are born powerful; some races are even more fragile than mortals.
In the Demon Realm, the strength of all living beings originates from Demonic Energy.
The areas rich in Demonic Energy are occupied by formidable Demon Cultivators; clans without the backing of a Great Demon Cultivator can only settle in corners and cultivate barren land to serve the Demon Cultivators ruling them.
This is one of the reasons why Lords in the Demon Realm favor invading and polluting prosperous small worlds—it's costly to maintain the health and rest of common demon race members, whereas invading and occupying territory to accept newly corrupted subjects is much easier and more efficient.
