This is so dang wholesome I'm melting

hmm, its a chinese manhua, and the “demons” for them I guess is kind of like “Youkai” for Chinese. although there is no direct translation for the actual word in english I think. The term is usually for animals sometimes plants that basically gained supernatural power. The stronger ones can gain human form. Though the term Demon is more for something that was birth from human’s darkness or something...

Yea, translated they're usually just called monsters. But maybe I watched too many dramas, they're typically in an "evil sect" anyhow

Er, I'm no expert but aren't the ones who join evil sects a different type of evil "demonkind", while the ones here are more like the "magical beast" type, only?

I mean, there's this kinda popular Chinese novel encyclopedia called "Immortal mountain" (htt ps: // immortalmountain.wordpress. com / glossary / wuxia-xianxia-xuanhuan-terms/) that says that magical beasts and "yāo" demons are just magical creatures while "mó demons" are the only ones who are always evil.

yesh, i think yao is like magival creatures. while most people think they are evil, they don’t necessarily have to be. Thats like saying all animals are evil or something.... on the other hand, the definition of demons is like usually from humans that went to the dark side kinds
a thing. The whole use of “sect” is like... a school almost.... you learn from ur teachers the skills... and evil sect teaches skills that are deemed evil.... which usually involves killing others to make yourself stronger :/

Ah ok, thanks. That's what I thought, too, but sometimes it gets a bit confusing. For example, I still can't find out what someone being a "heavenly demon" means, even though that phrase appears often in Chinese online novels. BTW, do you know what that phrase "being a heavenly demon" means?

Sry, I should have clarified but was being a lazyass xD

There's a few terms for it but they usually add guai (or whatever the correct pingyin is) to the end which directly translates to monster. And even tho they can have an inherently good natures, these mythical and magical creatures are still classified as beings from an "evil sect or clan" solely because of their powers from birth/clansman are typically seen dangerous to the common ppl i.e. powers to bewitch, disguise, and drain human life force are common ones you might see associated with fox demons in particular (they're like the incubus/sucubus of western folklore) ppl usually group them all together and mark them as evil unless it's a dragon or phoenix ahahaha

That phrase is a little awkward but most likely it's a demon who has already found their own path to godhood. Half there or already an immortal deity

yeah... while here we tends to associate heaven stuff with good things, in chinese side, its more associated with just being closer to god/immortality... usually a measure of strength.

Oh, I see. Thank you! I was completely stumped about that one.