Apparently these are very popular in China and give insight into the Chinese character. They tend to be about 4000 chapters long and are posted on the web like webcomics.
Quote:Cultivation stories basically discuss the idea (often using the cultural idea of ‘cultivating’ to gain immortality) via progressing one’s soul / body / state of being. This can happen via martial arts training, grasping the Dao, magical potions or spirit stones, etc. I know there are aspects of cultivation (gaining immortality) from other cultures (see Harmon Cooper’s Way of the Immortals that draws from Buddhism), but my base of knowledge comes from Taoism. Even within traditional Taoist stories, you see the threads of what many of the Chinese webnovels draw from, like the peaches of immortality, alchemical potions, qigong exercises, martial arts, etc.
This is the synopsis of Reverend Insanity which according to /lit/ is the best one:
Quote: Humans are the spirit of all living beings; Gu is the essence of heaven and earth.
With his three views, a demon is reborn.
Former days are but an old dream, an identical name is made anew.
The story of a time traveler who keeps on being reborn.
A unique world that nurtures, refines, and uses Gu.
Spring Autumn Cicada, Moonlight Gu, Liquor Worm, Great Qi Golden Light Worm, Slender Black Hair Gu, Hope Gu…
And a great demon of the world that acts as his heart pleases!
The story of a villain, Fang Yuan, who was reborn 500 years into the past with the Spring Autumn Cicada he painstakingly refined. With his profound wisdom, battle and life experiences, he seeks to overcome his foes with skill and wit! Ruthless and amoral, he has no need to hold back as he pursues his ultimate goals. In a world of cruelty where one cultivates using Gu – magical creatures of the world – Fang Yuan must rise up above all with his own power.
Notes:
The Gu is a mythical venomous insect, often used in black magic. It can take on the form of several insects, usually snakes, crickets, worms etc.
The three views are one’s world view, value of worth, and philosophy on life.
And here is an excerpt from the same:
Quote: Back then, Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable had expended his own theft path dao marks to refine this gamble Gu!
Gamble Gu gave random results that could not be influenced by anyone.
Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable was special, he was an otherworldly demon who possessed otherworldly dao marks. Thieving Heaven’s space was founded on the basis of his otherworldly dao marks. Meanwhile, gamble Gu was refined with his otherworldly theft path dao marks.
Gamble Gu did not have any offensive power by itself, it was powerless no matter what the result was. But the luck gamble killer move that used it as the core was extremely dangerous.
Whether it succeeded or failed, there was no way to predict it.
But it was because of this characteristic, even Immortal Zombie Giant Sun’s luck could not interfere with it.
The probability of winning the luck gamble was equal for both Immortal Zombie Giant Sun and Qin Ding Ling.
Qin Ding Ling won the previous time, now, it was Immortal Zombie Giant Sun’s win.
However, Immortal Zombie Giant Sun did not feel any joy.
Because whether she lost or won, Qin Ding Ling would only profit.
The reason?
It was due to the profundity of luck path.
Luck was essentially categorized into two types: good luck and bad luck. The size of luck varied from person to person; in general, the higher the cultivation, the larger the luck.
Comparing Immortal Zombie Giant Sun’s and Qin Ding Ling’s luck.
Immortal Zombie Giant Sun’s luck was extremely vast, it was at Dao Lord level. There was little bad luck, while good luck occupied the majority of it.
And Qin Ding Ling?
Qin Ding Ling’s luck was far smaller than Immortal Zombie Giant Sun’s. Bad luck occupied most of it, while good luck was little.
Qin Ding Ling was only a rank eight expert, her luck would naturally be smaller than Immortal Zombie Giant Sun’s.
Luck was a variable! She was against a powerful enemy like Immortal Zombie Giant Sun, with the luck of all living beings influencing each other, even if she had good luck, it would be affected and turned into bad luck.
Thus, firstly, Qin Ding Ling’s luck was far smaller than her opponent’s. She was basically gambling with a smaller chip, this was a huge advantage in itself.
Secondly, Qin Ding Ling had a lot of bad luck, when it was transferred to Immortal Zombie Giant Sun, it would contaminate his luck as well.
The basis of Giant Sun Immortal Venerable’s combat system was positive and powerful luck. This had two crucial points, one was he needed to have vast luck, the other was that his luck needed to be positive, which meant the more good luck he had, the better.
If Qin Ding Ling won more and lost less in the luck gamble, Immortal Zombie Giant Sun’s luck would greatly decrease.
That’s cool. I heard people praise it a few times on anime boards as one of the best of that year but I didn’t know it was a puppet show.
Ty for this, I've always thought these things seemed interesting. I'm a big fan the idea of a shonen style power buildup in an overly long novel, but it isn't easy to read more than a couple sentences of poorly translated fanfic writing (which is the only thing I saw whenever I looked into these)
It's a very autistic genre imo, it's like 90% descriptions and stupid names of silly powers. I read those excerpts and feel like I'm reading actuarial tables or an inventory list, at best a very drab description of some fight. It's as if it's all footnotes.
Cultivation Novels are Great but Reverend Insanity ruined them all for me. I had to stop reading them because RI was a Masterpiece, Chinese culture peaked with it.
Cultivation novels are Taoist but also Influenced by Chinese Meritocracy. Most novels are about the MC Getting Cheats so he can become Peerless Genius. The Idea of one man becoming Pinnacle of Existence and stand at top of world is the whole appeal. The Cultivation world is one without concept of Mercy but Abundant with Justice. Besides RI The Chosen Villain is also good but explains all the common Tropes so I wouldn’t recommend it being your first.
Quote:Quote:
“To be a demon is to be merciless and cruel, a murderer and destroyer. There is no place in heaven or earth for such a thing – turning into an enemy to the world, still having to face the consequences.”
Quote:Quote:
“In this life I hope to become the real moon, rising above the mountains and heavens, toying with the clouds and seas, following the ancient times and walk in the darkness above the various heavens”
Quote:Quote:
“White snow blankets the land as I travel alone through heaven and earth. Alone without any attachments, my solitary shadow travels freely.”
Reverend Insanity stands Above Other Cultivation Novels for Two Reasons:
1. Reverend Insanity’s Main Character Fang Yuan
2. The Gu World which the WebNovel is set
Without Spoiling any Major Plot Points I will describe the unique character of Fang Yuan and the Relation he Develops with the Gu World.
Fang Yuan is a Static Character who is Unperturbed by the world and can be described as other worldly, and he is an Other Worldly Demon(Transmigrator, which is pretty popular in cultivation novels).
Quote:Quote:
“I had once rejoiced, gradually, I became unmoved by the world. And now! All I have left is an expressionless face, my gaze is as tough as a monolith, only perseverance remains in my heart. This is my own, an insignificant character, Fang Yuan's — Perseverance!”
With Fang Yuans in difference to the world he has an unending Perseverance Instilled by his Unique Attitude.
Quote:Quote:
“This was not overconfidence nor pride, and certainly not arrogance, but an attitude.
Demonic heart!
Cannot lose, cannot fall, must win, must win at all cost!
Even with less than ten percent chance of winning, even without any chance of winning, he had to have an attitude of absolute victory.
For a demonic Gu Master, once they fail, it leads to disaster. Thus, he has to succeed, winning every time, there is no ‘if’, there is no ‘what if’.
His five hundred years of experience allowed Fang Yuan to develop such a mindset.
Winner takes all, stepping on others’ corpses and climb higher, rising to the apex! Only I can let the world down, whatever justice and integrity, fame, fortune and beauty, hatred and kindness, they will not be an obstacle but merely tools to use...Nothing can stop me, not even demise will subdue my demonic heart.”
Fang Yuans Demonic Heart is Connected to the Demonic Path. The Gu world by its Nature(as most cultivation worlds) is split into two Philosophy's when embarking towards the Great Tao, the Righteous Path and Demonic Path.
The Righteous Path is associated with the Clan and Sect System in which Groups of Cultivator gather in Hierarchies where the Junior is Subservient to the Senior and the Senior Protects and Guides the Junior. Although Righteous path members don’t always have to belong to a Clan or Sect they must Still Follow The Morality with a Righteous and Wicked side, with themselves following the Righteous. Righteous is harmonious.
The Demonic Path on the other hand is the one where they Become an Enemy of the world and so are usually lone Cultivators. On the First Chapter Fang Yuan a Demonic Overlord Does Possess his own Demonic Sect, The Blood Wing Sect, but these are rare and for good reason(read chapter one). Demonic is Chaotic and Free.
By nature of Cultivation one man can rule over A Hundred through Virtue of Strength. Cultivation Advances at Exponential rate Leading to the Creation of Huge Disparities in strength Making the weak at the service of the strong. “Mortal lives are cheap like grass” This sentiment is recognized by all Cultivators Although counter to what you might think Slavery is restricted to Beasts and Variant-Humans and not Humans as “Humans are the Spirit of all things” and this is also why only humans can Cultivate to Rank Nine(Highest God Tier).
Unique to the Gu World are Gu Worms Which Hold the Essence of Heaven and Earth. The Nature of the Gu Worms Power and the Different Cultivation paths is Connected to D** M**** which are almost if not the Platonic Forms, or at least a Close Equivalent.
The Term “Man Proposes and God Disposes” is one that could be used a lot in Reverend Insanity and is Related to the Nature of the world which I Won’t Spoil.
Important part to Point out about Fang Yuan is that through out the story his Appearance is Constantly changing Which is Contradictory to his inner nature which is unchanging and Demonic. The Demonic Path is one of Absolute Freedom, but Impossible in our world by law of Nature.
That’s all I can think to say without adding to many Story Details. Read Book One:The Demons Nature Never Changes. It’s about 200 Chapters long.
(01-07-2023, 08:10 PM)National Kid Wrote: Reverend Insanity stands Above Other Cultivation Novels for Two Reasons:
1. Reverend Insanity’s Main Character Fang Yuan
2. The Gu World which the WebNovel is set
Without Spoiling any Major Plot Points I will describe the unique character of Fang Yuan and the Relation he Develops with the Gu World.
Fang Yuan is a Static Character who is Unperturbed by the world and can be described as other worldly, and he is an Other Worldly Demon(Transmigrator, which is pretty popular in cultivation novels).
Quote:Quote:
“I had once rejoiced, gradually, I became unmoved by the world. And now! All I have left is an expressionless face, my gaze is as tough as a monolith, only perseverance remains in my heart. This is my own, an insignificant character, Fang Yuan's — Perseverance!”
With Fang Yuans in difference to the world he has an unending Perseverance Instilled by his Unique Attitude.
Quote:Quote:
“This was not overconfidence nor pride, and certainly not arrogance, but an attitude.
Demonic heart!
Cannot lose, cannot fall, must win, must win at all cost!
Even with less than ten percent chance of winning, even without any chance of winning, he had to have an attitude of absolute victory.
For a demonic Gu Master, once they fail, it leads to disaster. Thus, he has to succeed, winning every time, there is no ‘if’, there is no ‘what if’.
His five hundred years of experience allowed Fang Yuan to develop such a mindset.
Winner takes all, stepping on others’ corpses and climb higher, rising to the apex! Only I can let the world down, whatever justice and integrity, fame, fortune and beauty, hatred and kindness, they will not be an obstacle but merely tools to use...Nothing can stop me, not even demise will subdue my demonic heart.”
Fang Yuans Demonic Heart is Connected to the Demonic Path. The Gu world by its Nature(as most cultivation worlds) is split into two Philosophy's when embarking towards the Great Tao, the Righteous Path and Demonic Path.
The Righteous Path is associated with the Clan and Sect System in which Groups of Cultivator gather in Hierarchies where the Junior is Subservient to the Senior and the Senior Protects and Guides the Junior. Although Righteous path members don’t always have to belong to a Clan or Sect they must Still Follow The Morality with a Righteous and Wicked side, with themselves following the Righteous. Righteous is harmonious.
The Demonic Path on the other hand is the one where they Become an Enemy of the world and so are usually lone Cultivators. On the First Chapter Fang Yuan a Demonic Overlord Does Possess his own Demonic Sect, The Blood Wing Sect, but these are rare and for good reason(read chapter one). Demonic is Chaotic and Free.
By nature of Cultivation one man can rule over A Hundred through Virtue of Strength. Cultivation Advances at Exponential rate Leading to the Creation of Huge Disparities in strength Making the weak at the service of the strong. “Mortal lives are cheap like grass” This sentiment is recognized by all Cultivators Although counter to what you might think Slavery is restricted to Beasts and Variant-Humans and not Humans as “Humans are the Spirit of all things” and this is also why only humans can Cultivate to Rank Nine(Highest God Tier).
Unique to the Gu World are Gu Worms Which Hold the Essence of Heaven and Earth. The Nature of the Gu Worms Power and the Different Cultivation paths is Connected to D** M**** which are almost if not the Platonic Forms, or at least a Close Equivalent.
The Term “Man Proposes and God Disposes” is one that could be used a lot in Reverend Insanity and is Related to the Nature of the world which I Won’t Spoil.
Important part to Point out about Fang Yuan is that through out the story his Appearance is Constantly changing Which is Contradictory to his inner nature which is unchanging and Demonic. The Demonic Path is one of Absolute Freedom, but Impossible in our world by law of Nature.
That’s all I can think to say without adding to many Story Details. Read Book One:The Demons Nature Never Changes. It’s about 200 Chapters long.
"What does that have to do with little girl harems?"
The lack of harems in Chinese and Korean cultural works is a clear sign of their inferiority in comparison to their Japanese superiors. Korean and Chinese works are so sexless, but it should be noted that Koreans are more sexless then the Chinese.
Comparing Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero(Japanese) and it predecessor FFF-Class Trashhero(Korean) it’s pretty evident.
Successor not predecessor
Looking for good novels about 19th century naval combat, ideally British. Can you help?
(03-10-2023, 05:38 AM)Shroudeater Wrote: Looking for good novels about 19th century naval combat, ideally British. Can you help? The Master and Commander series fits that criteria. I recommend it.
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