What was the difference between fantasy, xianxia, and cultivation?
Fantasy, Xianxia, and Xiuzhen were three common literary schools. The main difference was the setting of their fictional world and the construction of their worldview. Fantasy novels usually constructed a fantasy and mysterious world with many myths, legends, and traditional Xianxia elements such as magic, immortals, monsters, spirit beasts, and so on. The protagonist usually gradually improved his ability through cultivation, battle, and other methods, and finally became a powerful existence to solve the world's problems or achieve his own goals. The main characteristics of fantasy novels were the emphasis on plot and character creation, as well as the exploration of human nature. Xianxia novels, on the other hand, paid more attention to the martial arts elements in the real world, including kung fu, martial arts, Jianghu, sects, and so on. The fictional world was usually related to ancient Chinese history and myths and legends. The protagonist usually improved his ability through cultivation and combat, and finally became a powerful existence. Xianxia novels emphasized the protagonist's cultivation path and the discussion of justice and evil, morality and ethics. Cultivation novels combined elements of fantasy and xianxia to construct a more low-level and mysterious world view. Cultivation novels usually placed the protagonist in a world of immortals, monsters, spirit beasts, and other supernatural existences. Through continuous cultivation, refining pills, cultivating spells, and other methods, he gradually improved his abilities and finally achieved the goal of becoming a powerful existence. Cultivation novels focused on describing cultivation and the process of cultivation, as well as exploring human nature.