Now that we've covered the general concept of 神 (shén), let's dive deeper into its forms within cultivation.
The first thing that usually comes to mind is the Sea of Consciousness (识海, shíhǎi). In most cultivation systems, this is the very first spiritual domain a cultivator awakens once they begin breathing qi into their body and step into the Qi Refining stage.
The Sea of Consciousness is where the cultivator's divine sense and soul reside. Its size and breadth are directly tied to the strength of one's soul. This sea is located within the upper dantian (上丹田, shàng dāntián), which is regarded as the seat of the cultivator's shén (神, spirit/soul) and their divine sense (神识, shénshí).
Some novels also describe that beyond divine sense, the soul residing here is referred to as 神魂 (shénhún) or Primordial Soul. However, in this context, Primordial Soul usually points to the most basic form of the soul itself, applicable only to cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage (元婴期, yuányīng qī).
The upper dantian also enables the use of higher-level techniques, such as mental attacks, illusions, and psychic abilities. These arts depend directly on the strength of the cultivator's soul.
The next form we encounter is the Yuányīng (元婴) [I usually call the infant by Yuányīng and Nascent Soul as stage]. This infant soul is born when the Golden Core shatters, marking the breakthrough into the Nascent Soul stage. Unlike divine sense and basic Soul, the Yuányīng does not reside in the upper dantian but in the middle dantian (中丹田, zhōng dāntián). Despite this, it remains a form of the soul and maintains a strong connection with the original soul in the upper dantian.
Beyond the Yuányīng lies what many consider the "ultimate" form of the soul: the fully realized 神魂 (shénhún), different from the earlier, basic Primordial Soul. This higher Primordial Soul is achieved by evolving the Yuányīng into its advanced form, often through merging with the Purple Palace (紫府, zǐfǔ) or through other transformative steps, depending on the author's cultivation system. The Purple Palace is another name for the upper dantian, often described as a palace-like spiritual domain within.
This advanced Primordial Soul retains the fundamental traits of the Yuányīng, but by merging with the cultivator's original soul, it becomes vastly stronger. This union also refines the connection between body and soul, making control over all soul-related and mental aspects much smoother. The cultivator's spirit and body are fully tuned to one another, as if truly merged into a single, harmonious existence.