Discussion Question About Qi In Novels

Whenever I read Wuxia novels I always notice that some people manage to use Internal Energy (Qi) my question is is Qi in Wuxia novels different than the Qi used in Xianxia novels? seeing as how cultivators from any Xianxia novel can fly and do all types of things yet those in Wuxia novels at most can just leave afterimages..

 

It is, since it comes from the same roots. It's just that Xianxia means Immortal Hero while Wuxia is Martial Hero. See the difference? One has immortal one does not. I think that Xianxia is just the more intense version of Wuxia.

 

difference between qi in wuxia and xanxia?

i think it just the exaggeration of it.
in wuxia qi deadliness is around a dynamite level, while in xianxia qi is deadly enough to compare to a nuke or even more powerful.

 

So it's kind of like high fantasy novels and low fantasy novels?

 

There is not much of a difference when it comes to internal energy. Though in Xianxia they utilize the energy from the world around them to supplement their abilities. Although they make some of it their own, and thats how they grow in rank, most phase out actual internal energy quite early. They begin utilizing heaven/earth energy in the various naming forms.

 

In a sense yes.

 

a tooth pick and a needle.

 

Supposedly different.. like a watered beer vs a wisky...

 

Xianxia Qi's bs meter is higher

 

It's technically the same - the difference is in how the authors use the concept.

The low fantasy (Wuxia) vs high fantasy (Xianxia/Xuanhuan) comparison is a good one. You won't often see martial artists in Wuxia stories casting spells with Qi, for example. They'll mostly just use it to enhance their strength and perform powerful martial arts techniques. Read something like Romance of Dragons and Snakes to see what I mean.

The "Internal Energy" (aka "Inner Strength") you were wondering about is just another synonym (commonly used in Wuxia) for Qi. It's a term derived from Internal Martial Arts.