In this world Cultivation is not rooted the same way others are. I wanted to really change up the power/magic system to still be at its core about many of the things we want to see which is the pursuit of energy to attain high levels of power and skill. Additionally, I wanted to have a BALANCED system in place. No one has broken OP ability or power that makes the OP unstoppable. While I want this to be a power fantasy to a degree keeping in line with its roots. I don’t want there to be no adversary or skill involved.

So I decided that all powers and skills are rooted or connected to stones, gemstones, metals. Cultivators are able to form ONE and only one. Once they make that decision it is set in STONE (pun intended). Below is a pretty exhaustive list of the various ones and their associated powers. Some of the powers might have some minor additions over time, but I’m pretty sure I hit every major grouping of skills, powers, elements, etc that I could think of. If you have any others you think would be cool to see or a gemstone/stone/metal you think would be awesome feel free to comment below and tell me what you think.

- **Iron**: Strength, endurance, resilience, and manipulation of metal-based energies (Metal)

- **Copper**: Vitality, energy manipulation, conductivity, and control over electrical energies (Electricity)

- **Agate**: Balance, harmony, mental clarity, and attunement to energies (Balance). Think Ying yang energy

- **Jade**: Channeling aetheric energy, spirit binding, astral projection, and connection to other worldly energies (Aether)

- **Topaz**: Energy transmutation, transformation, amplification, and control over storm-based energies (Storm)

- **Sapphire**: Wisdom, mental fortitude, insight, and energy synthesis (Water)

- **Emerald**: Growth, renewal, rejuvenation, and spiritual ascension (Wood)

- **Ruby**: Fiery power, vitality, passion, and intense energy (Fire)

- **Diamond**: Purity, clarity, illumination, and the harnessing of light-based energies (Light)

- **Amethyst**: Spiritual elevation, enlightenment, psychic abilities (Spirit)

- **Opal**: Versatility, adaptability, illusion manipulation, and mirages (Illusion)

- **Silver**: Lunar energies, intuition, reflection, (Moon)

- **Gold**: Authority, purity, solar energies, enlightenment, leadership (Sun)

- **Obsidian**: Mastery over darkness, shadow manipulation, concealment, and control over dark energies (Darkness)\

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- **Lapis**: Connection to spirits, soul communication, and control over soul-based energies (Soul)

- **Garnet**: Control over blood, life essence manipulation, vitality absorption, and connection to life forces (Blood)

- **Adamantite**: Strengthening bones, muscle fortification, tissue regeneration, and physical enhancement (Physical)

- **Quartz**: Grounding, stability, solidity, and connection to the Earth (Earth)

- **Spectrolite**: unpredictability and chaos with its disorded energies (Chaos)

- **Carnelian**: Resonating with sound waves, symbolizing the power of vibrations and sonic energies (Sound)

- **Pink Tourmaline**: the ability to mesmerize, charm, and create hypnotic auras (Enthrallment)

- **Tiger's Eye**: Connection to animal spirits, communication with creatures, and the ability to adopt animal abilities or insights (Animal Kinship)

- **Amber**: Control over insects, the ability to raise and command them, and utilizing their abilities in combat (Insect Mastery)

- **Malachite**: Manipulation and creation of venom, poison, or toxins for various purposes (Toxin Manipulation)

- **Onyx**: Mastery over decay, manipulation of negative energies, and control over forces related to decay and deterioration. (Corruption)

- **Hematite**: Mastery over crafting combat puppets or constructs, manipulation of another’s vitality for own purposes, manipulation of energies for puppetry, and control over animated constructs. (Puppet manipulation)

- **Sardonyx**: Control over curses and hexes, warding off negative energies, and manipulating them for protection and stability (Curse/Hex)

-**Zephryrite**: manipulation of air currents, and control over winds, can make body as light as a feather, create shield of air (Air)

As you can see the list is pretty exhaustive. Now for the next part. The different “levels” or “realms” of cultivators here. I want levels to determine energy and skill. NOT invulnerability.

Example: A Core foundation cultivator may alone not be a match for a person two realms higher than them. BUT if that higher level cultivator was caught unaware or ambushed by say 20 Core foundations the person two realms higher might take out a few, but he will lose eventually if he can’t escape. Furthermore a peak level existence in theory (not practical at all) could be taken out by thousands of core foundation cultivators all spamming basic abilities at him (using video game language for giggles). Sure I supposed if he stood there taking the hits head on and wasn’t prepared and was a literal braindead monkey. He could die, but that is unlikely.

That all being said, keep in mind there is balance in this world. A high tier person isn’t invulnerable and even low level cultivators can if directed and supported by higher tier ones can *potentially* harm top level existences.

See the list below for the first few realms that are relevant to this story. MORE will be revealed as needed.

Basic cultivator: Your basic trash tier person who thinks if they keep trying they might make something of themselves some day. They harness the natural world's energies and collect it around their soul. Your average city Guard is this level.

Core Formation: This is when those natural world energies begin to harden around the soul. Forming a sort of hard shell.

Core Attunement: at this point your core completely hardens and takes on a very rough case based on gemstone or metal etc. Manifesting your energy in ways it is attuned

Core Shaping: through training and using specific techniques to harness energy (depends on Attunement). You start carving your core into a shape.

Core polishing: bring greater clarity and smoothness to your core allowing the cultivator to more quickly access the energy and manipulate it to greater degree.

Xian Realm: a cultivator who has finished all the above processes. This is when a cultivator truly becomes an extremely powerful force.