A few points i want to expand on before i start trying to post consistently.
There are 5 Energy types with their own set of tiers
I really aspire for there to not be plot armour and i want to make something like where something saves someone because of an action that they did previously not some bullshit that was pulled out form God knows where.
their are a multitude of scraped concepts for a single chapter that i create and sometimes i just end up writing in a different direction entirely I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my chapters so when I'm not satisfied with something i dont post it so bare with me if it takes me a while to upload...
As for the app i use, I use an app called Obsidian there is a canvas that i use to spider diagram everything and anything that happens in this world so i can connect events and lore deeply HOWEVER i want a lot of the lore to be a mystery so that i can see what people would think that happened from their perspective i feel when being presented with a book it came from the imagination of the writer and i want that same imagination by the readers to be used to see past what I've created.
The lore I've created i try to connected fluidly so sometimes it takes me a long~ time to develop a connection that seems passible in my eyes hehe~ so it may cause me to take longer to post as well, the next bit is about stages and how they are progressed just a tiny bit.
IF YOU DONT CARE FOR STAGE EXPLANATIONS SKIP THIS PART!!
this part is a bit nerdy and may even be a bit confusing since I'm not good at explaining but i did my best!
welp anyway to explain stages and energy types:
lets start from "Mana".
To advance in stages you must get enlightenment (this doesn't count for the first two circles)
Stage one and two are simple in it self:
Obtain, stabilize, use and control.
these are the main things that will be important,
Stage three to ten are a bit different because you not only need to learn mana applications you also need battle experience and enlightenment. this means that only by actively training in a variety situations can you get stronger. and mana is considered the third strongest energy type.
Qi!!!! everyone loves Qi no? It doesn't work the same way as in Murim i think.
Instead it empowers you physically and allows you to use things like sword Qi in later stages however doesn't make you younger and it focuses on physically enhancing and supporting your body.
unlike mana you do not have to gain enlightenment and have to instead obtain an immense amount of battle experience and train past your limit multiple times, the way Qi is gathered is different too you will learn to breathe it in but it will only gather while doing techniques or while training.. well it might not be so different now that i look at it written like this haha.
There are 10 stages, this will go for every energy type but there are sub stages for when someone goes into the ultimate form or something like that.
lastly about "Qi", it has a branch that comes of it that is Aura the sword thing you sometimes read in other novels or manhwas, yeah if your born "talentless" so a human who cant use any energy you are declared a "pure vessel" this vessel can be used to use Qi as a third party to branch of into Aura through constant training in martial arts.
Now then moving on to "The Impure."
Impure energy isn't like Mana nor is it like Qi.
It doesn't come from meditation, obsession or despair.
It comes from devouring things you really shouldn't
Impure energy is born when a soul starts to corrode. Typically because of the 7 sins, there are no circles or stages there is only consumption id say its more like gluttony where you eat other souls of the dead it doesn't matter what species in return for strength however if your mental state isn't perfect you will be absorbed by it regardless of what you do. Additionally depending on the sin that you have pursued the most it will affect the way your impurity is utilized depending on if its lust or wrath.
Well I'm sure no one is expecting there to be a counter part to evil energy!!!.... right? ahh~ you got me yup Holy energy but wait wait wait! before you turn away it is NOT all sunshine, blessings, angels or whatever generic thing you thought i would make it into! it works on Vows and sacrifices for strength or in other word equivalent exchange! the exchange is "pure" making it considered holy hence the name Holy energy! hehehe.
well then lastly... you will find out later on in the story! i these four needed a bit of an explanation however this one will be explained later on by the story! well then enjoy ;)
please give me feed back so i can get better at writing this story along the way too!