Glossary of terms

This shall be updated with the progress of the novel.

The Realms of Cultivation

The seven states of Mortal Cultivation are

Refining Qi

Immortal Foundation

Clasping Core

Nascent Condensation

Natal Refining

Inner Transformation

Mortal Immortal

Each is divided into the Early,Middle and Late periods.

For the Refining Qi state every 3 'stages' signifies a new period.

For the case of 'Demonic Beasts' they are divided into Ranks with the 1st rank corresponding to the Refining Qi state and so on. Each rank is further divided into Initial , Middle and Late Periods .Unlike Humans growth is extremely slow and difficult this is however compensated by their 'Innate talents' that allow them to face higher rank cultivators equally . These talents apart from including their abnormally strong bodies also include certain spells that are innate to each species.

The Great Way:-

A mystical 'concept' alluded to throughout the novel.It is the goal of all cultivators and signifies their pursuit of immortality . The Great Way comprises of everything there was , is and shall be and is also referred to as the 'Heavens' as an existence that hold suzerainty over everything including fate . Although the path of immortality is an act of rebellion against the Heavens all cultivators hold nothing but respect and veneration for the Great Way including the greatest of Devils and Demons.

True Enlightenment

It is a mystical state acheived when the Will of a Cultivator temporarily resonates with the [ Will of Heaven ] and is a consequence able to experience a transcendental experience that is otherwise forbidden to all mortals . True Enlightenment has innumerable benefits and is a necessary barrier that has to be crossed if a Cultivator wishes to walk further on the [ Path to Immortality ] . Before True Enlightenment can take place one must successfully pass the test of the [ Gate of Good Fortune ].

The Gate Of Good Fortune

After a Cultivator experiences a particularly stimulating event which allows him to observe the world in a new light , [ The Gate Of Good Fortune ] descends . He is then subjected to a test known as the [ Heart Demon Pass ] which on being successfully completed heralds True Enlightenment . Failure can have multiple consequences depending on the severity and the nature of the test-taker himself . In lucky cases no harm is gained and the cultivator might even gain some insights , a condition which is termed as [False Enlightenment ] on the other hand in some severe cases the test-taker might be trapped in a never- ending nightmare that would eventually consume him entirely .

It is said that some formidable Cultivators can cause the [Gate Of Good Fortune ] to descend at will however even for those existences there is no surety in passing the test

Way Stages:-

Unlike the Cultivation Base these stages represent the comprehension of the practioner regarding a certain way . Though separate they are inextricably linked as well with the various Cultivation Bases as well with some level of Cultivation required for the progress along one stage and sometimes the Way stage itself augmenting the strength of the Cultivator of a particular Cultivation Base.

These stages highly differ for various paths though there is some sense of commonality underneath.

Spiritual Roots

They are divided into four classes Mortal , Earth , Sky and Heaven each successive one being more rarer than the previous and having having one attribute 'less' than the previous. The order of 'talent' is the same as well.

Apart from these there were also the so called 'mutant' spiritual roots which allowed an affinity to many other aspects of the universe the possibilities being as endless as the starry skies however the occurrence of such roots was extremely rare as well.

WuLin /JiangHu (' Martial Forest ' /'Rivers and Lakes' ) :-

These are both terms used interchangeably to refer to the stormy world of martial practitioners where most of the people are predominantly Masters of Martial Arts compared to the Cultivation Realm where cultivators dwell .

Martial Arts are generally renowned for their development of the innate potential of the body through speed , strength etc. Some practitioners might take it further through the use of 'Inner Energy' which is a representation of the vitality of the body which can be supplemented through external resources such as Food , Herbs etc.

XiuZhen ('True Repair'/ 'True Virtue')

Is a term used to refer to the world of Cultivation where cultivators who embark on the Great Way dwell. The 'True' here refers to the fact that those who have embarked on the Great Way have shed away their ties to the 'false' , 'illusory' , material world and have begun their journey towards the 'ultimate truth ' . While Virtue or Repair can be used interchangeably to refer to the act of cultivation .In Taoist philosophy Cultivation is synonymous with the accumulation of merit /virtue this can be interpreted differently as 'repairing ' the 'faults' of the self so that one is eventually pure enough to achieve unity with the Heavens

Sword Cultivator(s):-

A category of cultivators who adhere to the Way of the Sword. Following the principle of the 'Way lies in the Sword , the Unsheathed Sword illuminates the Way', true sword cultivators are fanatics obsessed with the Sword to the point that it is the only reason for their existence. In the world of XiuZhen , Sword Cultivators are regarded as one of the strongest categories in battle and few would ever dare to challenge one to a fight.Thanks to their close proximity to their swords they have evolved a special form of Qi known as [Sword Qi]

Artificer:-

It is a special category of cultivators who pursue the Way of Refinement. What this means is that through the creation of tools and treasures they seek to further their own understanding on the nature of such tools eventually culminating in an understanding of the World based on the knowledge gained from their study of tools. Although not considered as formidable by virtue of strength , an artificer's services are in demand throughout the vast XiuZhen Realm because of their practicality,this has led to them building a network of connections over the years with some in really formidable places . As the saying goes 'Never offend a master artificer if you wish to survive the night .'

Places

Realm Of Grand Xia :-

One of several of the mortal cultivation realms where experts and factions are like clouds dotting the sky far too numerous to count.

The Grand Xia empire is the strongest 'faction' being identical to a mortal empire in all respects except the fact that all functionaries are cultivators.

The empire has set up a watch tower in each state of the entire realm so that all that happens in any part of the vast realm can be revealed to the Imperial Court at once .During times of peace there is not much to report , During stranger days however the news that flows through may not be welcome at all.

Other factions such as the Devilish, righteous and the Buddhists hold considerable influence.

State Of Yan :-

The city of Zilin belongs to a remote region known as the State Of Yan which is governed by the five Sects , the Azure Cloud Sect , the Spirit Beast Pavilion , the Clear Wind Sect , the Sky Sword sect and the Nine Cauldrons Sect.

The Emerald Forest is a large forest in the State Of Yan adjoining the city of Zilin it is famous for its large population of Demonic Beasts.

State Of Yue:

A region neighbouring the State Of Yan which is governed by sects which are hostile to those of State Yue. Yet hostilities never ensued between the two regions since they are roughly equal in strength and any victory on either part would only be pyrrhic. However suddenly a Nascent Condensation expert of the State of Yue releases his mystical arts on the city of Zilin which leads to the question that whether the State Of Yue is ready to go to war with the State Of Yan and if so what gives them the confidence to do so ?

Apart from these places there are also rumours of lands where 'Non-Human' beings dwell , the meaning of the term 'Non-Human' being unclear so far.

The Zhao Kingdom is a small mortal kingdom here which is also the homeland of the protagonist , Ling Yun

Realm Of ShenDu:-

The 'Divine Capital' it is a legendary realm to the west of Grand Xia .

Far greater than any of the other realms it is the 'Holy Land' of cultivation where the greatest experts and the most mythical of treasures are to be found.

The Void

A mysterious place that Ling Yun finds himself in after 'using ' the Soul Awakening Gem. True to its name the void is emptiness personified and holds nothing at all including the passage of time. Ling Yun however manages to find some mystical writing that he uses to 'meditate'. Eventually he manages to escape from the void completing his 'first theft' .

People

Ling Yun

The Protagonist , an ambitious warlord who is at his deathbed. Once dreaming of bringing the entire Kingdom of Zhao at his feet he now lies dying watching all his efforts vanish into thin air. Obsessed with the prospect of immortality since he believes that only true immortality is a sign of recognition of his existence by the Heavens. He would stop at nothing to achieve his goal including using dubious and immoral means and holds no affection of any sort including to his family. He is extremely intelligent being able to trick cultivators who are vastly more powerful existences than himself and is able to 'see' through the schemes of the Imperial Family against him though this elicits no response from him other than a cynical prediction regarding the misfortune that his family would go through after his death. Although arrogant he is cautious and crafty and would only make calculated moves with each move having profound consequences.

Meng Yun

An eighteen year old 'rogue cultivator ' , an ordinary villager hailing from a remote area in the Zhao Kingdom who accidentally stumbled upon the path of immortality after escaping from the destruction of the declining martial arts faction in the turbulent rivers and lakes that he was a part of. He came to ZiLin city in search of better prospects but was unlucky since his body was stolen and soul swallowed by the soul of Ling Yun that had escaped from the void.

Feng Zichen

One of the greatest geniuses within the Righteous faction and an 'old friend ' of Ling Yun's. They had met ages ago when Ling Yun had been in the prime of his youth and struck up a great friendship.He was even responsible for Ling Yun getting his first 'break'. Their friendship soured over time however , due to various complications .He is critical of Ling Yun's obsession with immortality and feels that he should give up on his pipe dream.He visits Ling Yun many years later as he is ordered to retrieve the mystical 'jade' Ling Yun had showed him years ago at all costs. Initially promising a fair trade he leaves threatening Ling Yun of dire consequences should he renege which leaves Ling Yun scoffing at his 'hypocrisy'.

Tian Yuliang

One of the strongest experts in all of the mortal realms of cultivation hailing from an immensely powerful clan in the realm of ShenDu. He is also the 'black hand' behind the scenes regarding the Righteous Faction's attempt to grasp the 'jade' from Ling Yun. He is left frustrated at being thwarted initially and releases his frustration by creating a tremendously powerful snowstorm with a radius of more than a hundred miles.

Luo Ziyan

One of the most promising seeds of the Devilish faction who has arrived in Grand Xia to retrieve the 'jade' from Ling Yun for her master.She manages to successfully lure Ling Yun with a means to achieve his long standing dream of immortality. A means that involves turning him into a 'ghost' with the help of a Soul Awakening gem. She seems to be emotionless and detached however she shows her true sadistic side later on . She is extremely gifted in the arts of persuasion a fact acknowledged personally by Ling Yun but still ends up being tricked by him.However it is revealed that she left a 'backdoor' behind just in case which shows her cunning nature and ruthless personality .

Luo Zhenhuo

An immensely powerful demon from a long enduring lineage in the Realm of ShenDu who is also the master of Luo Ziyan. His powers are on par with Tian Yuliang with whom it seems he has a rivalry with.He is frustrated at Luo Ziyan's failure since he feels that it reflects on him personally and wishes to have the 'jade' sent to him without fail. He also seems to have an unknown method by which he can communicate with his disciple many millions of miles away.

Jiao 'San' Shun

A Clasping Core expert under the servitude of Luo Zhenhuo , he is an incredibly notorious demon in his own right . He is currently acting as a 'protector' to Luo Ziyan and is supporting her in her endeavours. As a result of cultivating a forbidden technique in his youth he received immense power in exchange for a profound effect on his body and mind which ended up transforming him into a 'monster' with severe cannibalistic tendencies. He is extremely ruthless and loves to indulge in his pursuits of savagery which have made him infamous throughout Grand Xia. It is unclear if he has any loyalty towards his 'master' and 'young lady' or if his actions are motivated by fear or something else entirely.

Fang Guihao

A young scion of the Fang clan , a clan with sizeable influence in Zilin City because of the presence of an Immortal Foundation expert. He is a famous genius in his region possessing a Earth spirit root which is compounded due to him having mastered his clan's Air Step technique. He eventually uses this to sneak away on his own when his clan is out in the Emerald Forest to allow the youngsters to gain some experience for the soon arriving Sect Entrance Examination

Fang Guichen

Fang Guihao's younger brother who is a typical debauchee , who uses the prestige of his family to commit countless evil acts which have as a result given him great notoriety in the city of Zilin. Being a famous skirt-chaser there was no way he could resist when a beautiful 'fairy' straight from his dreams approached him of her own accord . He aims to 'score' once more eventually being forced to realize that perhaps he truly had gained far more than he ha been ready for...

Fang Xingchen

Another scion from the Fang clan whose cultivation talent easily rivals Fang Guihao's but what makes him stand out is his matchless intelligence. A skilled manipulator of minds and hearts , he relies more on his own wisdom and the abilities of his own subordinates rather than his own in order to further his agenda , even so his own prowess is not to be underestimated. Fang Xingchen has finally decided to set his master plan into action clearing the way ahead so that he can fulfil some of his longstanding goals. To this end he has targeted his cousin Fang Guihao as his first 'stepping stone' and has already set the wheels in motion....

Old 'Lao'

One of the retainers of the Fang clan and an expert in the late stage of Refining Qi . He has long since been Fang Xingchen's henchman and has been completing many a deal for him in total secrecy a fact which is unknown to the rest of the clan. He was also set in charge for the Fang clan's expedition to the Emerald Forest where he fulfils his liege Fang Xingchen's bidding to the letter ..

Jin Wangsun

A Clasping Core stage elder from the Sky Sword Sect who is also one of the mainstays of the Five Sects of the State of Yan . He has accumulated considerable experience after travelling the length and breadth of the Vast Realm of Grand Xia which adds to his already immense strength as a formidable 'sword cultivator' . He bears a grudge against Jiao Shun for being defeated by him in his youth and tortured in a horrendous manner afterwards.

Treasures

The 'Jade'

A mysterious jade unearthed by Ling Yun as a consequence of an unintended excavation of a tomb during one of his campaigns in his youth. He kept it close to him revealing the existence only to his 'good friend' Feng Zichen who vanished soon after as a result of a fallout. Many years later Feng Zichen and Luo Ziyan both come in search of the jade and are willing to trade for it as they feel no threat whatsoever from Ling Yun. Ling Yun however tricks them both and ends up 'using' the jade in some mystical manner though he remains clueless about it only believing that the jade was lost and alludes his entire transformation to the 'Soul Awakening Gem' . He is aware that he would be pursued because of the jade and makes preparations to save himself though he is totally unaware of the magnitude of the pursuit with Tian Yuliang and Luo Zhenhuo both being interested in the 'jade'.

Soul Awakening Gem

A gem which is found only in regions of high concentration of Yin with the effect that it can 'concentrate' the soul of a dying person turning them into a 'living ghost'.Ling Yun describes it as 'lifeless' and 'unnatural' compared to the 'living' gems like rubies or sapphires. It is used by Luo Ziyan to exchange for the 'Jade' an exchange in which she believes she has profited immensely only to realise later that she had instead been had with Ling Yun having run off with both of the treasures

Contract 'Gu'

A 'Gu' or a natural spirit born out of the essence of heaven and earth , the contract Gu is of no use whatsoever apart from causing the creation of a binding contract when ingested. The person who ingests this Gu shall always be at the whim at the 'Refiner' of the Gu and would have to follow each and every of his command if he wishes to survive. The death of the refiner causes the death of the Gu and consequently of the 'Gu Slave ' as well which is part of the reason why few if ever manage to free themselves from this dreaded means of 'slavery' .

Battle Space

A High Grade Space Artifact which is no different from an individual space separate from the Main World ; it is a precious treasure in the Five Sects and is used sparingly if at all. Jin Wangsun uses his clout to procure one of these which he uses to trap Jiao San in as a means of fulfilling his long-standing vengeance whether he succeeds or not is another matter altogether...

Liquid Explosive

An explosive substance that reacts on exposure to a certain amount of qi called the Threshold Value . Has a high utility since can be dyed and treated easily and can be stored easily if the proper precautions are taken.It is generally lethal only to Refining Qi stage masters though there fo exist some [ Explosion Masters] who have made it their business to extend it's lethality far beyond what is expected.