So I am planing on writting a CN novel/ Cultivation novel.
But I been having a difficult time thinking of ways to build my world.
I plan on building multiple world, lower realm/upper realm and etc.
So I want to know what’s a good way to write cultivation novel, with multiple world, and still have good worldbuilding.
I also want to know, what could I add to my character to give them more depth.
Hmm...honestly, it's difficult to reply to your question, but I am gonna try my best. It's been ages since I read CN novels though, so I may be a bit outdated.
About the world building, I think you should write whatever you have in mind. Just don't divert too much from the standard CN worlds if you want it to be the typical cultivation story.
You know, martial art schools, sects, clans, spirit beasts, and some magical herbs.
Generally, countries although ruled by kings and emperors, they are actually ruled by the powerful sects either in a visible manner or secretly in the background, or at least that's what I read before. You can try and divert from the norm here.
Also, I always read about MC who start from the bottom. Lower world, weak clan, no cultivation to be mentioned. It's too cliché, so just a suggestion, but you can try and break out of the norm in this case.
Anyway, I realized that I actually didn't have any useful idea and just blabbering here…sorry, I guess.
About making your MC have more depth, that will depend on what kind of depth you are talking about. Personality? Talent? Bloodline? That honestly will depend on your plot and character creation, but I am happy to help if you could specify more…not that I can offer much anyway.
Thank for your suggestion!
Drunk_Cultivator For the mc first world, the mortal realm, I plan on making Empire the ruling power in that world, and instead of sect controlling them, the Empire is the one that keep the sect/clan power under control. As for why it would be like that, I already planned some history and background information for my novel. I also plan on adding some myth and story(self created) to create the background/setting, the world is gonna be divided into five or so continent and four sea north,east,west,south. I got some inspiration from real life, like how the continent used to be one, so I wanted to say that many years ago after the death of the old demon king, his body fell into the earth below, separating the land into many continent.
As for the main character (don’t mind me if he’s edgy) he is born as a genius and handsome(because why not, people alway make the mc trash or cripple), he also have a pretty strong cultivation from the start, and family is killed and he is a wanted criminal as of the first couple of arc. I want to use his back story to explained why the mc is untrusting of other and how he mature much faster than other his age. I also wanted to use vengeance as a motive for the mc to grow stronger, because I think the motivation of simply cultivating for immortality is kinda lame. The mc motive do kinda change in the future. Other than wanting vengeance the mc wanted a happy life away from the way and battlefield because of all the cruelty that he have come to face. Later I plan to do something to challenge the mc ideal and wish and to further change his way of thinking. To be honest I for some reason is trying to make the mc story as tragic as possible.
Btw no offense if my grammar is bad, I wrote this in a rush.
Awesome man! Can’t wait to read it!
As for world building you can look at Sage Monarch for example, the MC crosses planets and it has unique world building. It all depends on how you want to do this.
HolyDragon17 I see thank you.
As for my novel. I don’t even know if I am gonna post it or not, I don’t want to give up half way but I don’t know if I can keep writting till the end. I know how it feel to have the author drop a novel you liked. So I plan on writting the first 50 chapter of so before posting. The novel will probably be a couple thousand chapter long till, since I want to add so many world in it.
HolyDragon17 Also
Am I weird for liking to torture my MC and people around him?
LordOfGreen110508 not. but don't exaggerate it, it will turn out cringe and cliche. There are too many works out there with "miserable" mcs.
MasterPizza by don’t exaggerate it do you mean like killing everybody that the mc meet.
LordOfGreen110508 doesn't make the mc exaggeratedly unlucky and miserable. Like, making villains pop out without reason just to be stepping stones and make the MC path more thorny just for more chaps. Focus on writing things the readers can relate to, though it's not easy to explain it since everyone has slightly different common sense.
MasterPizza Oh I see, so like the arrogant young master trope you mean? Where are they hit them or kill them their father, grandfather, grandfather uncle, and great great great uncle master come out to try to kill the master. Don’t worry I won’t do that.
To be honest I don’t understand how those author make so many useless characters who purpose is only to make the mc look good and make a good excuse for the mc to kill someone whole clan and family.
I plan on sticking to my main plot, about finding the murder behind his parent and not much to probably none of the arrogant young master thing. Maybe once in a while I will make some chapters to make the reader relax or something.
First of all, sorry for the late reply and thank you for your explanation.
I think I like your story already. What matters to world building though is that it needs a bit of time to iron the details.
I personally hate it when authors start bringing things from their arses just because they didn't plan enough for either a world lore or MC powers.
My advice is to take your time. Rushing is never good, that is if you enjoy the process.
If it seemed tedious then just make it as simple as possible so it won't come to bite you back later.
About the MC, I honestly won't mind someone with tragic life as long as he could have some happy moments in between.
Just keeping the pace from a tragic incident to another would most likely repulse readers.
You should try to control the pace in between so you won't fall into the cliché of the always miserable, unlucky MC.
One last thing is that you said you would write 50 chapters before posting...
That I honestly wouldn't recommend unless you were a fast writer.
Posting your chapters after writing 20 or so would help a lot by motivating you from the feedback you would get and also your readers may notice some mistakes or plot holes.
Well, unless you have someone besides you that would read your book and provide opinion.
That's just my opinion though so take it with a grain of salt, no grains of salt.
Anyway, keep writing. Looking forward to seeing your novel 
LordOfGreen110508 there are too many ways for you to build the world. And considering that you want to have multiple worlds with lower realms and upper realms. Perhaps you can start from the heaven itself. Does every world have its own heaven? or is it all connected under one supreme heaven? Is the heaven sentient? What's your MC cheat that will allow him to become the strongest? Is it pure talent? If so, then it will be pretty slow unless you make him really talented. But if you choose let's say an inheritance. Then why is there an inheritance there? is it a very powerful inheritance even in the upper realm? What's the difference between the upper and lower realm? maybe the upper realm is made out of large islands? or perhaps the upper realm is the gathering of everyone that ascended from the lower realm? is the upper realm just one massive faction vs faction or is it proper kingdoms and sects alike? is the upper realm chaotic or is it orderly? can the people from the upper realm descend into the lower realm? is it hard, easy, or impossible? why would people descend into the lower realm? because there's an inheritance? why would there be such a strong inheritance in the lower realm? then is it some hidden demon or immortal that hid themselves from the masses? why are they hiding? because they are old? or because they have some big plans? let's go back to the heaven part. does every world has a son of heaven? how OP is the son of heaven? can he do anything that he wants and survive regardless? if the heaven is sentient, should the heaven have a vessel of some sort to interact with the people? or is it just something that upholds the laws of nature?
now let's go a bit deeper this time. Will there be demons in this world? what is the relationship between demons and humans? are they enemies? or is it only in some lower/upper worlds? what is a demon? is it a beast that can use Qi energies? or is it a humanoid being? if it's humanoid then there's a need for a spirit beast. Does a spirit beast have a different power system compared to humans? can it one day transform into a human? if so, what's the difference between a demon and a spirit beast? or perhaps a demon is a spirit beast that transformed into a human? and don't forget about the plants. can a plant achieve sentience? what are their rank? is there such a thing as top 10 heavenly fire in your story? And also occupation, there is alchemist, formation, etc. is there a guild/organization for every occupation? if so, is it connected to the upper realm? should the MC be an expert in every occupation or just a few of them?
let's stop here. Although i wrote a lot. you can figure it out while writing. I am just telling you that there's truly too many ways for you to build the world. you dont need to have everything solved in one go. its too demanding. just go with your own pace and slowly add more details.
i am cheering you alright
