Everything under Heaven has two kinds of qi: yin and yang, pure and turbid. After the Great God Pangu separated Heaven and Earth, the pure rose to become the heavens, forming pure spiritual qi, while the turbid sank to become the earth, forming turbid baleful qi.
Immortal cultivators train using pure spiritual qi, following the immortal path. Evil cultivators train using turbid baleful qi, following the path of evil.
Baleful qi is far more violent and dangerous than spiritual qi. Places where it gathers are often accompanied by mountain miasma and poisonous fog, and the beasts and plants that grow there for long periods undergo horrifying mutations.
Evil cultivators, who use baleful qi as the foundation of their cultivation, progress faster and are more aggressive. But as they cultivate, the baleful qi gradually affects them, mutating both their bodies and minds. They become increasingly cold-blooded, bloodthirsty, irritable, and prone to anger, until they lose all humanity. This is why the cultivation world regards them as a scourge.
The wilderness is filled with baleful qi and is a gathering place for evil cultivators. It is home to many mutated beasts and plants, and the water must be purified before it can be drunk. The air is thick with poisonous miasma, so one must take detoxification pills or wear a poison-filtering mask to breathe there. Yet one young man will eventually carve out a place for himself.
