GLOSSARY (for terms you may not be familiar with)

This is a glossary for readers who are unfamiliar with cultivation novels. Please comment if there are any terms you're confused about and want me to clarify! I'll just update as needed.

Most of the definitions from this website work for my story:

https://immortalmountain.wordpress.com/glossary/wuxia-xianxia-xuanhuan-terms/#misc

Honestly, I would just recommend checking out this website, cause they have everything well organized into different categories. For the most part, the definitions on this site all work, except for the category "Beings and Creatures" which might be different, depending on how the story develops.

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Jianghu - Normally refers to the martial arts world, but I choose to use it as a term that encompasses the cultivation world as a whole (Memories Blossoming in the Cultivation World doesn't sound quite as nice as Memories Blossoming in the Jianghu)

Cultivation - Cultivators are people who have the ability to absorb/use spiritual energy and use it to strengthen themselves. As they cultivate and level up (not unlike a pokemon), they gain longer and longer lifespans. Normally, the younger their real age is, the higher their potential, and once they pass a certain age it becomes harder to advance. The ultimate goal for most cultivators is to eventually ascend to a higher realm and gain immortality. Basically, they want to become a god.

Spiritual energy/qi/power (sorry I'm unable to commit to just one phrasing) - This is the energy of heaven and earth that exists in the natural world and can be richer or thinner depending on the area. Most sects settle in areas with the thickest spiritual energy, so they can increase the quality and quantity of their disciples.

Pills/Elixirs - Pills are created by alchemists and contain compressed forms of spiritual qi. Can also be infused with a certain attribute/element. Elixirs are stronger versions of pills. The downside to using pills is that it can leave behind impurities in the cultivator's spiritual energy. However, most cultivators use pills, since their talent is insufficient. There are ways to purify spiritual energy after using pills.

Spirit roots - Spirit roots are a representation of talent. All cultivators have spirit roots and if a mortal is born with spirit roots, they can become a cultivator. The purer it is, the faster a person cultivates. Therefore, single element spirit roots represent higher talent and potential than tri element spirit roots. However, the element connected with spirit roots also represents the cultivator's affinity with whichever element. For example, though a cultivator with a single element fire spirit root can use water spells, they will be significantly weaker than a cultivator of the same level with dual wood and water spirit roots. Basically, cultivators with single element spirit roots advance faster, but cultivators with more elements have a more diverse range of spells to choose from.

Tribulation - Clouds carrying tribulation lightning from the heavens that strike (specifically in my cultivation system) when a cultivator attempts to ascend from nascent soul to spirit transformation stage (there may be different types of tribulation for later stages, not necessarily lightning). Since spirit transformation indicates a true transcendence from mortality and is a step towards one's own dao (spiritual path etc), the tribulation lightning is a test from the heavens to see if one is worthy. If one fails, they are forever blocked from the path to immortality.

Heart devil/demon - A psychological thorn in one's heart. Can be one's greatest fear, trauma, weakness, etc. If a cultivator is affected by this, they may have a mental barrier blocking their cultivation. During tribulation, the tribulation lightning not only physically attacks, but also mentally attacks by attempting to bring up any kind of heart devil/demon that may reside with the cultivator's conscious or subconscious mind.

Sect - Cultivation organization typically occupying an area of land that's rich in spiritual qi. There is a sect leader, ancestors, elders, seniors, etc. They normally recruit from cultivation clans and families, as well as from roaming individual cultivators. Smaller sects with less to choose from may look for mortals with spirit roots. Cultivators who have joined a sect are called disciples.

Inner/Outer Sect - Outer sect disciples are those who are less talented and have lower cultivation. Inner sect disciples have higher talent and higher cultivation. The resources are distributed unevenly, with the best going to the inner sect, and the leftovers to the outer sect. Inner sect disciples also may have a personal master. Outer sect disciples are left to fend for themselves and occasionally go to group lectures.