When should we explain Xianxia cultivation levels in Xianxia novels

[TLCsDestiny]

at least a basic understanding of it at the beginning is nice. there's more then one way to 'cultivate'. Even if it's just one or two sentences...

 

[BearlyAlive]

Just infordump your power scale formulas in chapter one or two to ignore it and contradict it in chapter two or three. Just let them take some drugs or or meditate while watching soaps to "explain" while only they are broken AF and then "coincidentally" drop some items outside of the power scale to them, so it can be explained by "but they found this gamebreaking lategame item, of course they're OP"

 

[ACertainPassingUser]

how come some nomenclature is taking you out the immersion when the idea that species across not just planets, but literal universes (i.e. hoomans) stay consistently the same?

I'm still searching and waiting for Story with species identification inconsistency, where human are not identified as human.

But I'm too lazy too search.

Could anyone give me recommendation ?

 

[ThrillingHuman]

I'm still searching and waiting for Story with species identification inconsistency, where human are not identified as human.

But I'm too lazy too search.

Could anyone give me recommendation ?

There was a book that was fairly popular on yt, something like "all tommorows"?

 

[BigBadBoi]

There was a book that was fairly popular on yt, something like "all tommorows"?

This is my only exposure to all tommorows and it's all I need

Edit: huh it's age restricted. Didn't really notice honestly.

 

[immortal1daoist]

" Btw, the question makes me believe that an author might be one of those who like generic cultivation novels.

Yes I like generic cultivation novels but while finishing it , I was frustrated
I do not want my readers to be frustrated

And lastly, it's not a question of "Should I explain or not," it's "when should I explain it?" Btw

Should I explain the cultivation levels or not?

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Yes I like generic cultivation novels but while finishing it , I was frustrated
I do not want my readers to be frustrated


Should I explain the cultivation levels or not?

If you like generic cultivation stories and want to write something similar, you need to explain the levels. But don't explain everything in one go. You can slowly explain everything as you progress in the story.

An example of what I mean. In the beginning of a story, MC enters a sect, but the sect is third-rate. The sect only knows about 4 levels out of 10, so you give names of 4 levels and, at most, one more. Because MC has bad spirit roots, aptitude, or whatever else, and actually is an outer disciple, you only explain how to achieve the first level, characteristics of a first level, and a bit of the second. Once MC reaches that first level of cultivation you explain everything about the second level. Then MC becomes an inner disciple by reaching level two, and an elder explains to him the remaining two and tells 'legends' about the fifth level. Once MC reaches level four, you expand the story and let him meet the teacher who knows 3-6 more levels of cultivation, or a sect that can do the same. Rinse and repeat.

 

[TheEldritchGod]

I have determined the exact effects of my 'magic system' on DNA and how it would appear to the reader. For example, Information (memes) is magic. DNA is just the physical manifestation of it. So the number of genes, and more importantly the TYPE of nucleotides. As you gain 'experience' it would manifest with the appearance of new nucleotides that do not appear until you start gaining 'levels' The four new Nucleotides correspond to 'alignment'.

I worked this out along with the terminology for how mememetic physics works. I have an insane amount of detail. I only, slowly, barely, occasionally leak a sliver of the bigger picture. YOU need to know how it works and the reader only needs to have it spelled out when you make an exception to your own rules.

 

[SilvoidVorstellung]

While writing Xianxia novels, should I explain to the readers about cultivation levels at the start of the novel or can I include them in between the novel?

Basically, how to do exposition. I believe there's a lot of articles and videos explain how to introduce exposition to a story, just search for it on google or youtube, if you want recommendations i suggest watching Hello Future Me when he discussed the topic in one of his On Writing video on YouTube.