Rin

Hmm, I’m not really sure about a manhua that would explain cultivation in manhuas? But if you’re willing to friend me on discord or something, I have the physical copies of some of those books, which have a glossary in the back that explain cultivation terminology, or I could help explain it :) No pressure tho

I'm sorry for the late reply. I don't have a discord and even if I had I wouldn't know how to use it. I appreciate the offer though! I wouldn't want to bother you in explaining too much information to me. It's gotta be a long typing then. But if it's okay, I want to learn some terms that they use. For example:

1. Cultivation(I still don't fully understand how it works)
2. Qi
3. Something to do with cores? Idk
4. Realms, Heavenly Realms(I don't get the difference of these. Especially when they need to 'ascend' to reach this)
5. Ascension(I feel like there's a lot of levels they need to go through)
6. Meditation

Those are some basic terms I always read. I want to learn terms like these so I don't have to search their meaning everytime to understand the story. If you know any more I'd love to listen!

Alright here we go (sry if it’s long, i got carried away T-T):

1. Cultivation is basically spiritual practices/martial arts where people who practice cultivation are trying to “understand the will of the universe” (be more connected to the universe ig you could say?), obtain personal strength (martial arts), and extend their lifespan (cultivators often live longer). — Just think of it as martial arts that makes you strong and live young for longer.
— There are traditionally 9 stages to (Chinese) cultivation, but some manhuas/books simplify it. The closer the stage to “heavenly tribulation”, the closer to godhood (immortality) the cultivator is. There’s:
- Qi condensation/qi refining
- Foundation establishment
- core formation/golden core
- Nascent Soul
- Deity transformation
- Great ascension
- Heavenly tribulation

2. Qi is the spiritual aura that cultivators have. It’s like, “spiritual energy.” It’s basically the force that gives cultivators their supernatural powers. You channel your qi to different part of your body through natural pathways (I don’t really understand it either, since it’s part of Chinese medicine).
— Oh ok wait I found something to help explain it better: Qi is the energy in all living things. There is both righteous and evil/poisonous qi. Cultivators absorb qi from the natural world + refine it within themselves to improve their cultivation base (how much qi a cultivator can use) — usually you’ll see locations like caves or forests or mountains as good places for cultivators to make cultivation progress bc there’s so much qi.
— Qi can be imbued into objects to make lethal weapons or sent out to do a powerful blast of energy. You might see some books where the cultivator inputs qi into an instrument while playing and it affects the enemy or something. Qi can also be used to make the senses stronger and give cultivators a ~spidey sense~

3. Cores or golden cores are basically formed during the “golden core” stage in cultivation. It forms in the lower dantian (behind the bellybutton) and is the internal source of power for a cultivator. In some books/manhua, you might see a cultivator detonating their golden cores to kill an opponent, but it’ll usually end up with the cultivator dead so… A core’s destruction/removal is basically permanent (and makes the cultivator a regular human who can’t utilize qi anymore), and it can’t be recultivated. Basically, if you lose your golden core, you’re life’s work is down the drain and you can’t ever get it back.

4. I’m not really sure how to explain “realm”? It’s basically like, a section of the world? Like heaven would be a realm (usually in the sky), mortal realm is earth, and so on. For most stories I know, the heavenly realm is where the gods are. As a cultivator (a mortal trying to ascend to godhood), once you get through the last stage of qi cultivation (heavenly tribulation) where you face a huge challenge (usually a bunch of lightning bolts or something big like that), you can ascend to heaven, where the gods are at, and you become a god. Oh and if you fail, apparently you lose ur cultivation (rip)
— Basically, when you ascend, you go from mortal to god, and you now reside in the heavenly realm. In the heavenly realm, you usually aren’t allowed to go back down to the mortal realm without permission from like, the supreme god (or the heavenly emperor). That’s why, in some stories, you might see them mention that some godly cultivator ascended and they never heard from them again.

5. Oh uhhh I accidentally explained that above already 0.0

6. Meditation is usually where a cultivator will go into a deep trance-like state where they either circulate qi to heal themselves (this can also be used between two ppl where one person puts their hands on the other’s back and transfers qi) or for them to close themselves off from the world to practice their qi and become closer to godhood. Sometimes someone who’s meditating has to be protected bc they cant sense anything from the real world.

Lmk if you have any other questions :)

Sorry for the late reply again I had classes! Thank you so much for taking your time to explain this to me. I appreciate is so much! I'll let you know If I have any more questions. I'll try to read a manhua again (≧∀≦)