What is the 'cultivation' genre, and how does it differ from novels with a 'system'?

The cultivation genre, often found in Eastern fantasy novels, centers around characters who train and refine their internal energy (often called 'qi' or 'mana') to achieve immense power and immortality. This process typically involves rigorous physical and spiritual training, mastering martial arts, learning to control elemental forces, and often facing numerous trials and tribulations. Novels like "Nine Yang Alchemy Emperor" exemplify this genre, where the protagonist, Chu Feng, awakens with unprecedented power and embarks on a path of cultivation. A 'system' novel, on the other hand, often involves a protagonist who receives a special interface or set of rules that guides their progression, usually in a more game-like manner. This system might grant them skills, quests, or stat increases. "Reincarnated As a Fox With System" is a good example, where the protagonist gains a mysterious system upon reincarnation. While cultivation focuses on internal growth and mastery of natural energies, system novels often introduce an external, often supernatural or technological, framework for advancement. Sometimes these genres overlap, where a cultivation novel might incorporate a system to guide the protagonist's journey, but the core focus of cultivation is the personal journey of power accumulation through disciplined practice and understanding of fundamental forces.