by MtAlternity

Do you dream of living forever? Are you tired of the humdrum real world? Perhaps you are looking for an escape? Come here to the world of ancient China and experience Xianxia then. Combining mythical elements of mortal martial artists with Chinese mythology and Buddhism, expect to meet many friends, unspeakably powerful enemies, and sometimes a truly unexpected cliffhanger.

In our worlds, the ultimate goal is to become immortal. In doing so however, you will need a reason, your Dao. This is the "path" you follow. To protect, to grow strong, to be free, there is no one right path and even the way of evil may be permitted. The setting is a rural land in the time of Emperors. You will follow a young main character that can be of noble birth or common blood. He will encounter a treasure or special "cultivation manual" that will be incomplete. However, it will start him down the path to immortality. From a mentor he will learn what the levels of cultivation are, and what it takes to become a Celestial Immortal who can ascend to the Heavens, or the Divine Realm.

There are no set levels of cultivation, each author creates his or her own, but they all generally start with the idea of martial artists who are more powerful than ordinary people. Gradually as they rank up they will grow more powerful and live longer until they gain the title of True God or its equivalent. Most main characters are naturally benevolent but also willing to kill to survive. They are not necessarily virtuous paragons as implied in western cultures, but instead just heroes of circumstance, people who were in the right place at the right time.

Along the way, a common theme is to find that an enemy race is invading from outside of their dimension. Many times, this race is referred to as the Demon Race, and it is the struggle between the two races which motivates the main character to grow strong and repel the invaders. Oftentimes there is a romantic encounter and the main character will be forced to fight for his love in the face of overwhelming odds and rivals. Several famous novels hinge on the concept of bringing a dead loved one back to life as their primary theme.

Of most novels, there is a concept of Heavenly Tribulation. This is the idea that cultivators seeking immortality are going against the "way of the Heavens". What this means is that when the cultivator grows to a new level of power and gains a longer lifespan, the Heavens will retaliate with a brutal tribulation. This tribulation is often a lightning bolt which gradually expands to multiple lightning bolts totaling to a multiple of nine. However, as the character grows ever stronger, the Tribulations also grow more powerful. They will have multiple parts, the original lightning which they must resist and then oftentimes there will be a so-called "Heart Demon". The Heart Demon refers to the demon within oneself. This can be a trauma or setback suffered which lingers on one's mind. Only by letting go of this Heart Demon, can one achieve Nirvana and an empty state of mind and pass the tribulation. This relates to the common Buddhist theme of letting go of mortal attachments to reach immortality. 

Pioneered in China, Xianxia is wildly popular with millions of readers voting every day for their favorite authors, and for those who have reached the top, the likes of I Eat Tomatoes, Er Gen, and Tang Jia Shan Shao the chances to adapt their work are endless with Chinese Dramas, Manwhas (Chinese Manga) and even feature length movies being created every year. In recent years, the website wuxiaworld combined several large English translators so that foreign readers can enjoy this cultural phenomenon. With well over a billion views, and a steady flow of donations, and even a new international offshoot of online literature host Qidian coming to America, the genre is growing at breakneck pace.

Longtime fans of manga, fantasy, and video games will naturally bond with the endless entertainment to be had here. Especially for those of us whose lives are chained down with reality, Xianxia is a chance to escape if only for a single chapter on our 10 minute lunch break. The wonderful thing is, with such long stories (2000+chapters), you can grow with your characters. Watch them turn from youths full of fear and hesitation into immortal characters whose legends will span eternity!
There are literally millions of chapters to read, and whole communities of translators trying to bring them to you, but if you find yourself even still looking for more Xianxia to read, you can journey to the world of original Xianxia written by aspiring writers outside of China.

My own story Nine Path's of Asura features all the tropes of a typical Xianxia a young main character, mythical monsters, martial arts, and immortals of unbelievable power. It is a story where a mortal boy encounters a mysterious sword in a city of Undead and is possessed by a spirit of a long fallen expert who will guide him as he journeys to discover who he is and who his true enemies are.

Example of Xianxia Fantasy on Wattpad:
Nine Path's of Asura by MtAlternity

Synopsis:

Excerpt:

"Lineir didn't feel any particular pull towards the sword, but it was the only thing in the pit, and there was no way he was getting out of the sloping cavernous walls. He knew that whatever had drawn him here had only one purpose in mind. Steeling himself, he rose slowly and placed his hand on the handle and drew it out of the ground. Inch by inch the beautiful blade rose out of the ground, and as it did the invisible barrier around the edges of the pit ceased to function and the black substance came in. As it did Lineir heard an immense grumble in his mind, 'Could you be any slower?'"

More on Cultivation:

Cultivation in Chinese Fantasy novel

https://youtu.be/ub1cpd2Qg90

Legends of Ancient China Episode 12: The Eight Immortals of Heaven and Earth 八仙

https://youtu.be/AIFP519UovA

Master Shi Heng Yi – 5 hindrances to self-mastery | TEDxVitosha

https://youtu.be/4-079YIasck