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What is Cultivation?

Cultivation is ultimately the refinement and usage of qi.

Slowly incorporating more and more of it to achieve a form of “immortality” and

power. There are many ways to integrate it and use it to affect the world

around, so there isn’t just one method. 

Qi - the vital

energy which exists in all things. The cultivation of Qi is a major theme in

Wuxia, Xianxia & Xuanhuan novels.

• Qi is sometimes written as “Ki” or “Chi”.
  
  
  
• Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth - the natural
  
  energy of the world.
  
  
  

Cultivator – a person who trains in martial & mystical

arts, generally in order to become powerful and increase their longevity.

Meditation and the cultivation of Qi are common practices among cultivators.

Rogue Cultivators – literally translates as “Loose

Cultivators”. Independent cultivators unaffiliated with any sect, clan, or

other martial organizations. Cultivators in this category typically have

much less resources and near to no backing from any large groups. 

Demonic Cultivators –

also translated as Devil Cultivators. Wicked cultivators who emulate Devils (魔) and seek power by any means necessary. They are often said

to follow the Devil Path / Devil Dao , in opposition to the orthodox Immortal

Cultivators. In this novel, they are cultivators who practice

sacrificial or evil cultivation methods. 

Righteous Cultivators - Cultivators who are purportedly more righteous and

'good' than the Demonic Cultivators. This is most definitely not always the

case. On the whole, though, you can expect a righteous cultivator to attempt to

maintain the image of doing the right thing.

Sect – an

organization dedicated to the practice of cultivation and/or martial arts.

Typically led by a Sect Leader or Patriarch. With the help of Sect Elders, they instruct Disciples in the proper methods of cultivation or training in the

martial arts styles of the Sect. The Disciples live in the Sect, which provides

for their daily needs. There is practically always a strict hierarchy amongst

members of a Sect, and respect for the elder generations is demanded.

In some novels, the common Disciples are divided into

another hierarchy of Core Disciples, Inner Disciples , and Outer

Disciples  – based on their level of talent and meritorious service to the

Sect. Disciples higher on the hierarchy have greater status and receive more

resources from the Sect.

This Novel's Sect Hierarchy:

1. Sect Founder:

The Founder is not always the Patriarch, if they’ve fallen out of power. 

• Patriarch:
  
  If weaker than or deferential to the Founder, they will come in second
  
  
  

2. Council Sect Elders/Advising Sect Elders

3. Sect Elders/ Spell Formation(Array) &

Talisman Experts/ Alchemy Experts

4. Core Disciples

• Sect Elder Direct Servants: Treated with respect by lower rankings, but less than
  
  from core disciples
  
  
  

5. Inner Court Disciples

a. Core Disciple Direct Servants: Should be

treated as respectfully as Inner Court Disciples

6. Outer Court Disciples

7. Sect Servants

8. Normal People

School –

a school of cultivation or martial arts. Doesn’t differ much from a Sect.

Clan – an

extended family related by blood, sharing a surname. They often pass down

heirlooms from generation to generation along with secret cultivation methods

& martial arts styles which were developed by the clan’s ancestors. They

tend to guard these jealously from outsiders.

Spiritual Roots –

The foundation of one’s body and spirit

• This ties into natural talent
  
  
  

Cultivation Base –

The total amount of qi stored in a user

• Stored in the dantian
  
  
  
• Dantian –
  
  Where a person’s qi is concentrated
  
  
  
• Normal usage is the lower dantian, but true
  
  purification can unlock the middle and upper dantian, allowing for
  
  extraordinary qi storage. 3 Dantians total.
  
  
  
• Meridians - 
  
  act as reservoirs or pathways for the circulation of Qi. 
  
  
• Acupoints -
  
  "acupuncture points", related to pressure points. There are
  
  several hundred of them on the body, mostly located along the meridians.
  
  Knowledge of acupoints can be used in healing (through acupuncture or
  
  similar practices) or in combat by deliberately striking them to achieve
  
  certain effects.
  
  
  

Qi Circulation

• the act of controlling Qi to flow from the dantian,
  
  through the meridians, and back into the dantian in a cycle. The purpose
  
  of this varies between novels, but usually it helps replenish stamina, purify
  
  the Qi, or strengthen the meridians. 
  
  
  

Breathing Exercises -

A special way of breathing which expels the turbid Qi within the body and draws

in the Qi of the natural world. 

• Embryonic Breathing–
  
  also known as Taixi or Fetal Breathing. A form of breathing without using
  
  one’s nose and mouth. Instead, the practitioner might breathe through
  
  their pores or dantian (for example). This is generally considered to be a
  
  highly-advanced Breathing Exercise which grants mystical benefits and
  
  brings the practitioner closer to nature. 
  
  
  

Meditation -

a practice for training or calming the mind and spirit. 

• Cultivators spend a great deal of time in meditation,
  
  as both the cultivation of Qi and contemplation of Insights generally
  
  require it.
  
  
  

Lotus Position -

sitting in a cross-legged meditative position.

Constitution –

Pecularities of the body and soul that either benefit or hurt cultivation or

martial arts

Cultivation Furnace – Using someone’s else’s cultivation base to

fuel your own (unwillingly). 

Normal Human

• Standard human, same as our world. Can have martial artists, skilled experts, and other people that would mirror the same skill levels and strengths of our world.

• A non-required, preparatory step for cultivation, allowing a person to manipulate the qi outside their body briefly to become more attuned to qi. Setting them up for greatness, once formally cultivating. It also allows a person to briefly manipulate the world around them, in various ways, usually for martial arts.
• Street-level abilities

Qi Condensation

• Building-level abilities

Foundation Establishment

• City Block-level abilities

Core Formation

• City-level abilities

Nascent Soul

• Island-level abilities