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New Story Choice II: Sword & Shield (Eastern Cultivation)
🕑 Added 2021-07-25 08:52:07 +0000 UTCHi guys,
Here is the second choice among the two potential web serials. The winner will start publication right after the Perfect Run finishes. The poll will be updated tomorrow, after you have the time to see the two choices.
Without further ado, I present you: Sword & Shield!
Art by Emiliano Cortes.
Meili practicing.
As long as the world existed, so did the art of cultivation. Through meditation, martial art training, and the use of special elixirs, men and women have gained great powers, mastery over the elements, and extended longevity. By the gods' decree, the greatest of cultivators could try to ascend the Pillar of Heaven, a pillar of light linking the world below with the heavenly realm above, becoming purged of their sins and joining the pantheon. The first Ascended One’s family was entrusted by the heavens with protection of the pillar, becoming the first dynasty of the Heavenly Empire.
Heavenly Empress.
For centuries, the Heavenly Empire was a haven of peace and prosperity, before entering an age of decay. Cultivation has become greatly regulated and reserved to a noble elite; corrupt or unworthy would-be Ascended Ones are cast down to Earth as demons; and foreign martial artists disrupt society by bringing it new cultivation methods, gunpowder weapons, and nefarious drugs.
Now, the Heavenly Empire is in a state of crisis. A child-emperor rules from the capital under the guardianship of a corrupt regent; demons run rampant; and would-be cultivator warlords such as the dreadful Batu Firefist try to carve out their own kingdom by military force.
Batu Firefist.
Among the empire’s citizens are the siblings Ren and Meiling Feng, commoners living in one of the empire’s coastal towns. The firebrand Meiling, infuriated by the local sect’s restrictions in spite of her clear natural talent, illegally practices cultivation using stolen pills; more down-to-earth, Ren has initially no interest in martial arts and instead works to become an herb merchant.
Their life takes a dangerous turn when their town is sacked by a foreign warlord, the exiled demon samurai Shingen Takamoto. With their home destroyed and the local sect cut down to a man, Ren and Meili escape to the east. By accident, they end up rediscovering a lost fortress known as Fusang, left to gather dust after being destroyed over a century ago. The siblings decide to rebuild the old castle to welcome local refugees fleeing the warlords. But little do they know that these old walls sleep on ancient secrets, and that they will have to defend their new home from many threats.
The Fang siblings facing Takamoto.
Sword & Shield is a retool from my previous ‘Death Hand’ proposal from last year, making it a Xianxia / cultivation story. Unlike Death Hand, the story will be mostly about town-building, slice of life, and the occasional adventuring; instead of a quest to get ever stronger, Ren and Meili will focus on building their village/fortress and make it a secure home free from conquering warlords, outlaws, and fiends.
Sword & Shield takes inspiration from various key periods of southeast Asia, such as China’s struggle with the Opium Wars, the Japan-Korean Imjin War, or the warring states era. Unlike most cultivation stories, I intend to introduce elements from Japanese and Korean mythology, alongside unusual archetypes (such as a character based on the black samurai Yasuke).
Ren meditating.
Another major difference from my previous stories would be the major presence of a female viewpoint in Meili, who will have half the story’s focus; I’ve mostly stuck to male protagonists so far, so giving equal spotlight to a female character would be a new experience for me.
So in short, pick Sword & Shield if you would like a Xianxia/cultivation story with a focus on town-building, family moments, and the looming shadow of war.
Comments
Alex Lindsay
Also I say go all in on the female POV and make them siblings sisters!
Alex Lindsay
I think that while many think that this is similar to other cultivation stories, the focus on town building and the foreign influences and drugs will make this unlike any other story. I just have a feeling Void Herald will take this where none of us are expecting and the result will be even more original than the other story. It seems I am in the minority here, but go with this one an surprise us all.!
crownfall
Alright guys, we have to clone Void Herald
crownfall
I want both of them so bad
Ervin Ughy
I trust you enough as an author, that I'm sure if this one was chosen, you could make it into an amazing story. That being said, for the exact same reason, I sooo want to see your take on Underland. Those concepts are rarely explored, and you have a very unique style besides. It would be your next masterpiece, I'm certain of it.
Finn Ryan
Not exactly xianxia, but one I would suggest if you like the opium wars is the Poppy Wars
Nate
I'll vote for this one again but I doubt it'll win.... again. Cultivation but opium wars is such a great premise, damnit!
Xtriver
I like the concept of this better, but the introduction put me off. I do not know but it felt like a jumble of cliches. Like it was done on purpose, something like that.
Kyle J Smith
Honestly, I’m good with both but I really am curious what you can do with a cultivation novel.
Enzo Elacqua
I feel you’re approach to necromancy was super original in Never Die Twice, in that you didn’t make it a black and white thing where it’s misunderstood or a horrible thing. Instead you actually had it be a useful tool, like all magic should be. So I’m gonna have to go with that one. Personally if I’m going to read xianxia it’s gonna have to be a power creep story with exploration as the main component. I feel anything else tends to be done better by more western fantasy since it has less mysticism and a more straightforward approach to town/kingdom building.
Adrian Engel
I just hope that the author will enjoy writing both options equally. I would hate for us to pick the concept he deep down likes less. Can't write a good story if you aren't feeling it imo.
Adrian Engel
I'm torn, I'm really interested to see your take on xianxia. However, I feel that the other concept is more intriguing and inspired. Tough call but I will be voting for #1.
Max Müller
interesting concept but somehow eldtrisch horrors are more intersting, burned too often by xianxia lately
GraySquirrelEatToast
Personally, the niche that this story would fill for me is already taken by Casual Farmer's "Beware of Chicken" so I'll vote for Underland.
Kevin Ramos
I'm all for some kung fu fighting, since we already had a dark fantasy in never die twice
Finn Ryan
Hmm I have got to admit Wuxia/Xianxia feels like a genre that doesn't mix with townbuilding. I have trust in you as an author that you could probably do it, it is just that it feels out of place in the genre. I will go read the other suggestion before making my final decision
Ulbert
Yeah. Really not a Wuxia/Xianxia fan. Sooo…. Yeah. Good concept, still.
Domini
Both? XD whatever you write I will read.
thkiw
Although both are promising, necromancy is barely represented in stories while cultivation without power fantasy kinda ruins the genre/makes it satire. And a city building story has poor prospects in my opinions. The second one is a little more edgy but it develops around forbidden magic, other worlds and souls mages. Just the prospects of other worlds makes it more exciting, If not done badly. I've always wanted a world traveling story. I Think it has good potential.
Deinos
Well I can't say the art and their quality didn't influence my decision, so for me it's 100% Underland.
