Cultivation Levels
Major Realms:
Yellow Realm
Earth Realm
Sky Realm - Usually referred to as Immortals.
Divine Realm - Usually referred to as Divines or Gods by any inhabitants of planes below the Divine tier.
Astral Realm - Practically unknown to anyone except Divines. They are referred to as the Pinnacle of Cultivation.
Minor Realms (All realms except the Astral one is comprised of the four of them):
Body Realm - Strengthen and improve one's body.
Spirit Realm - Strengthen and improve one's consciousness and qi control.
Soul Realm - Strengthen and improve one's Soul and overall prowess (a small increase to everything).
Integration Realm - Strengthen and improve one's knowledge, wisdom, and/or understanding of the Dao. Each of the levels grants a significant increase to overall prowess.
Furthermore, each minor realm is divided into levels. These levels are numbered from 1 to 9.
A secret level also called the 10th level or Heaven Secret level is present. Not only it grants the opportunity to jump over a difference in cultivation but also guarantees a safe breakthrough between minor or major realms. Extremely hard to accomplish without having the information relevant to its requirements.
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Yellow Realm
It is important to understand that the yellow realm being the lowest possible one is fairly different from the two following major realms that are considered "cultivation" in the middle and upper tier planes.
The main difference is in the manner in which the levels of its minor realms are completed to increase one's cultivation.
Each level has a more or less clear objective as to how to pass it. For example, the 1st level of the Body realm requires one to be able to sense qi and simply absorb it for the first time.
A table is provided for commodity.
Body Spirit Soul Sage 1st Sensing the Qi (Sense and Absorb for the first time). Reached by simply absorbing qi until saturation. Completed by allowing the qi to leave naturally. Dantian
(Create the spiritual form of a dantian)
Reached by retaining qi inside one's body but outside the circulation system.
Completed by connecting this pseudo-dantian to the circulation system.
Soul
(Connect oneself to your soul).
Reached by connecting to one's innate soul.
Completed by accustoming to the new power.
Allows a cultivator to affect the qi around oneself by releasing an aura formed of Soul-power.
Mind
(Unlock one's Mind-Power)
Requisites depend on cultivation technique/manual. 2nd
Expel the qi
(Allow the body to expel qi)
Reached by saturating oneself and expelling the qi willingly. Completed by allowing the qi to create a membrane around oneself.
Solid Dantian
(Allow the formation of a physical dantian)
Reached as soon as the dantian begins to create a physical form in one's body.
Completed by connecting the physical dantian to the circulation system. Unnamed
(Strengthen one's soul)
Reached and completed by increasing one's control over the Soul-power.
Allows using one's aura to sense the surroundings or suppress a weaker opponent. Unnamed
(Improve one's Mind-Power)
Requisites depend on cultivation technique/manual. 3rd Meridians
(Use qi to awaken the meridians in one's body)
Reached by infusing qi into a meridian and successfully activating it. Completed after all the 12 main meridians are unlocked.
Dantian Final State
(Use qi to create a protective, elemental barrier around the dantian).
Reached naturally on completion of the previous level.
Completed by creating the other 8, elemental, layers around a dantian.
Unnamed
(Strengthen one's soul)
Reached and completed by increasing one's control over the Soul-power. Unnamed
(Control one's mind-power)
Requisites depend on cultivation technique/manual. 4th Circulation
(Circulate qi to create a system).
Reached by using a circulation technique. Completed by clearing at least 80% of one's pathways and allowing qi to circulate naturally.
Senses
(Unlock and train one's 7 senses)
Reached by increasing one's qi storing capacity.
Completed by training all the senses to the initial, 1st, level.
Martial Aura
(Use Soul-power to increase one's power).
Reached by reaching a threshold of Soul power.
Completed by training with Martial Skills.
Allows the Soul to increase one's attack capacity. Mortal Sage
(When one's mind contains wisdom)
Requisites depend on cultivation technique/manual.
Medium increase to one's retention capacity.
Grants perfect memory. 5th
Organs
(Strengthen one's organs with qi).
Reached by infusing enough qi into any inner organ. Completed by tempering all of the organs. Allows a cultivator to use qi to defend one's organs in case of an attack. Allows healing of one's organs with qi.
Consciousness
(Connect to your inner self)
Reached by awakening one's innate consciousness.
Completed by mastering the newly awakened powers.
Allows one senses to be trained up to the maximum major realm level (3).
Allows one's consciousness to be used to scare weaker opponents.
Allows a cultivator to fully control one's qi.
Allows seeing inside oneself.
Unnamed
(Strengthen one's soul)
Reached and completed by increasing one's Soul-power. Unnamed
(Learn and Practice)
Requisites depend on cultivation technique/manual. 6th Bones
(Strengthen one's bones with qi).
Reached by infusing enough qi into any inner bone. Completed by tempering all of the bones. Allows a cultivator to use qi to reinforce one's bones. Allows healing of one's bones with qi.
Acupoints
(Connect one's acupoints to circulation)
Reached by connecting the first acupoint.
Completed by connecting all of the 361 acupoints.
Greatly increases one's natural qi absorption. Unnamed
(Strengthen one's soul)
Reached and completed by increasing one's Soul-power. Unnamed
(Learn and Practice)
Requisites depend on cultivation technique/manual. 7th Muscles
(Strengthen one's muscles with qi).
Reached by infusing qi while training physically. Completed by tempering 80-85% of the muscles. Allows a cultivator to use qi to reinforce one's muscles and explosively increase speed/strength. Allows healing of one's muscles with qi. Void Space
(Create a separate space in one's spirit body).
Reached by separating a part of the dantian.
Completed by stabilizing this void space and increasing one's overall qi capacity.
Grants the ability to store a few small, qi-related, objects into the Void Space.
Allows surpassing one's level qi capacity if training correctly and enough resources are provided.
Full Soul
(Obtain full control over one's soul)
Reached by reaching a certain threshold of Soul-power.
Completed by successfully manifesting one aura physically.
Allows a cultivator to use his aura to affect the physical world, be it moving things or using it to control weapons and items.
Real Sage
(Become a Sage amongst cultivators)
Requisites depend on cultivation technique/manual.
Allows one to glimpse into the future.
Increases senses limit to the 4th level.
A great increase in every innate mental skill as learning, retention, etc. 8th Skin
(Strengthen one's skin).
Reached by starting to temper one's skin. Completed by tempering to a level comparable to leather armor. Allows a cultivator to use qi to reinforce one's skin to improve the defense. Allows healing of one's skin with qi.
If correct resources are used, the cultivator can ignore some elemental damage. Void Space II
(Increase one's void space)
Reached by increasing the size of one's void space and qi pool.
Completed by further increasing both spaces.
Allows surpassing one's level qi capacity if training correctly and enough resources are provided. Unnamed
(Strengthen one's soul)
Reached and completed by increasing one's Soul-power. Unnamed
(Unknown)
Requisites depend on cultivation technique/manual. 9th Qi Coat
(Form a qi protective coat)
Reached by having one's body fully attuned to qi.
Completed by allowing qi to form a barrier or coat around oneself.
Also grants better conductivity and qi absorption capacity. Initial World as a Dantian
(One's qi pool and void space are finished)
Reached by increasing the size of one's void space and qi pool.
Completed by further increasing both spaces.
Allows surpassing one's level qi capacity if training correctly and enough resources are provided.
Peak Soul
(Reach full control over aura and soul)
Reaching and completing it depends on a cultivator.
Greatly increases one's Soul power on completion.
Integration
(Integrate every ability and skill into oneself)
Requisites depend on cultivation technique/manual.
Completion is only possible after fully mastering every power and change from cultivation.
No significant increase in anything, but mastery will allow one to greatly increase overall prowess.
Note: Healing with qi is almost ineffective before the Sage realm.
As for the heaven secret level, lost level, or 10th level, the requisite is to connect and fully obtain an ability from the next level:
- Body Realm requires to open the secondary meridians (naturally opened at the 1st level of the Earth Realm minor Body Realm).
- Spirit Realm requires creating a secondary (or elemental) qi pool (naturally granted at the 4th level of the Earth Realm minor Spirit Realm).
- Soul Realm requires to manifest one's soul image (naturally possible after reaching the 7th level of the Earth Realm minor Soul Realm).
- Integration Realm requires to sense any dao laws (one's first laws are naturally obtained at the 9th level of the Earth Realm minor Integration Realm).
Each of the levels and minor realms grants the cultivator new abilities and an increase in power.
Resumed:
- Each Body Realm level will make one's body stronger or more resilient and for some grant an increase in life-force (between 45 and 60 years depending on the cultivator). It also will allow a cultivator to increase one's strength or speed by infusing qi (for a short amount of time) up to 10 times from the original.
- The Spirit Realm will allow a cultivator to create a dantian and store qi. Each level will either improve the dantian or grant an increase to the overall capacity and speed of use. Qi absorption can be increased by special methods, granting a cultivator the ability to always be in a peak state (strenght+speed+defense capacities of the body being increased by a practically natural qi infusion).
One's consciousness will be also unlocked, allowing a cultivator to increase his intelligence, retention capacity, and memory. One's senses will also unlock and can be trained up to the 3rd level.
- The Soul Realm will allow a cultivator to connect to one's soul. Albeit the main increase from each level will go towards the soul and aura of a cultivator, the overall prowess will get a slight natural increase (law of compensation, a strong soul needs a strong vessel).
- The Integration Realm will allow a cultivator to unlock his mind power and begin training it. Each level will also significatively increase one's prowess as normally each level requires to increase one's three qualities (body, spirit, and soul).
Peak normal "Sage" Yellow realm cultivator:
- Live up to 200 years
- Ignore mortal diseases and poisons
- Can physically affect up to a mile with their mind or soul powers
- Slight capacity of glimpsing into the future
- Strength comparable to 50-100 mortals (depending on cultivation technique)
- Speed (with no movement technique or skill) above 100 mph
- Fully trained senses allow to see, hear, smell, sense qi in an area up to 2 miles
- Fully trained senses allow to discern any herb, medicine, poison, etc. of the Spirit level and below
- Perfect memory
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Earth Realm
The Earth Realm, as well as the following Sky realm, are considered the "normal" realms of a cultivator in Middle and Upper tier planes respectively.
The most significant difference can be resumed in the manner each level is broken through.
No level or minor realm has any objectives and will be broken through when reaching a threshold of qi and soul power. The only real requisite is to find, get, obtain, or be injected with enough martial insight.
This "Martial Insight" is an accumulation of experience and inspiration coming from cultivation, meditation, battles, mastery of skills, etc.
Each of the levels is also separated into three states. Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.
So a cultivator would make two natural half breakthroughs (reaching a threshold) and only then be able to prepare for a full breakthrough into the next level.
And the other, important, difference between the Earth realm and the Yellow realm was the breakthrough process itself. If in the case of the latter one would finish obtaining new powers and be spent of qi, but in the former the situation was different. The amount of qi that an Earth realm cultivator required was enormous (and so practically always supplied externally), but because of the use of "Martial Insight", in the end, some of this qi would be absorbed into one's dantian. So after each level or minor realm breakthrough, an Earth Realm cultivator would be fully replenished.
Each of the levels will bring an enormous increase in combat strength and so jumping even over a single level is considered something possible only for geniuses.
Minor realms also bring their benefits, which are:
- Each Body Realm level will increase one's physical capacities. Including a severe increase in speed, strength, and lifespan. Reaching even the first level will allow a cultivator to "skywalk" (walking on air / mistakenly considered flying).
- The Spirit Realm increases will center on one's qi and consciousness. Albeit the physique will be also improved, the main beneficiary will be the qi pool, qi control, and fighting prowess. Eventually, it will allow a cultivator to control one's qi enough to fly amongst other things.
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- The Soul Realm will allow a cultivator to merge with one's soul. Not only one's aura will be able to cover several miles, but it will also be capable of affecting both physical and void spaces. Eventually, it will allow one to manifest the soul (Martial Soul) to increase one's strength or weaken the opponent for a brief time.
- The Integration Realm will allow one to sense the initial Dao laws. By using one's understanding of the latter, such a realm cultivator can affect the world itself. This includes the creation of artificial void spaces amongst other things.
Average peak "Saint" Earth realm cultivator:
- Live up to 500 years (relevant treasures and techniques can be used to prolong it up to 1000 years)
- Have perfect health (except for afflictions and poisons comparable to the Sky realm)
- Affect an area between 10 and 15 miles around themselves
- Strength comparable to 1000-10000 mortals (depending on cultivation technique and learned Dao laws)
- Speed above the sound (affected by several factors)
- Fully trained senses allow to see, hear, smell, sense qi in an area between 10 and 15 miles
- Flight
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Miscellaneous Information
Some of the realms have local names, otherwise, the cultivators are always referred by their stage/level/realm.
Even so, a few terms are considered universal:
- Earth Realm cultivators are usually referred to as Warriors. The word Lord, King, Emperor is added depending on the minor realm (respectively Body, Spirit, Soul).
- Sky Realm cultivators are usually referred to as Immortals. The word Mortal, Earth, Heavenly (Sky can be also used) is added depending on the minor realm (respectively Body, Spirit, Soul).
- Integration (4th Minor) Realm cultivators are always referred to as Sages, Saints, True Immortals, Divine Sovereigns (respectively for the Yellow, Earth, Sky, Divine major realms).
- People below the common Major realm in the plane are called mortals. This term can be used both normally and in a derogatory way. Common Major realms are Yellow, Earth, and Sky respectively for Lower, Medium, and Higher tier planes.
Techniques, Skills, Spells
The types (and a short description) are:
Common / Mortal Techniques and Manuals Do not require cultivation and can be trained by mortals and cultivators alike. Include things like weapon manuals, martial arts, etc. Spirit Techniques The most common of cultivator's movements. Used only during the Yellow realm. Are pretty similar in overall strength, so their effect and final power mainly depend on the user. Include things like the Flaming set, Rock Spikes, etc. Martial Skills Have four rarity/effect tiers (Low, Medium, High, Special / Unique). Main combat techniques of the Soul and Sage realms. Low-level Earth realm cultivators also tend to use them. Spells Require mind-power. Used by most of the cultivators that center their cultivation in the latter. They are sorted by rarity and training requirements. Strenght is dependant on the amount of mind-power infused. Have the biggest amount of support types like concealment, healing, barrier, search, etc. Evolving Techniques / Skills Extremely rare because they grow along with their user and mastery. Referred as Skills if requiring Soul-power, or techniques if only pure qi is used. Secret Skills Unique skills that can be learned only a single individual at a time. Usually have sentience and can select their new master if separated from the previous (usually because of the death of him/her).
Power grows along with the cultivation of the owner. Usually, a few notches above a normal skill, or have unique effects. Royal Martial Technique Usable only by Warrior Kings and above. Have four tiers of rarity (Common, Uncommon, Rare, Very Rare). Power far above any martial skill. Imperial Martial Technique Usable only by Warrior Emperors and above. Have four tiers of rarity (Common, Uncommon, Rare, Very Rare). Power above Royal Martial Techniques. Sovereign Martial Technique Usable only by Immortals. Have four tiers of rarity (Common, Uncommon, Rare, Very Rare). Power far above any skill or technique. A single technique can rupture the space. Only used in duels in the void. God Martial Technique Divine Realm Exclusive Techniques. Unknown details. Supposed to be able to destroy entire planes if used without restraint. Forbidden Skill / Technique / Spell Refer to any technique, skill, or spell that has been considered too dangerous or evil to be used. Usually are destroyed on sight, but a few exemplars remain under guard or are sealed in different locations.
There also exist both techniques and skills for weapons. Usually, they are considered stronger than their bare-handed equivalent. Mostly because of the weapon itself being added to one's initial strength.
Categorized by rarity (Common, Uncommon, Rare, Very Rare).
Standing out are the extremely rare single-weapon techniques and skills. They are unique and can only be used with the weapon they were created for. Their power not only surpasses equivalent techniques and skills but also has reduced expenditure. As they are traded along with the weapon, their value can easily double in comparison to a similar weapon and technique/skill.
Some techniques or skills form a set. In some cases, this set can increase the individual powers of the techniques or skills, while in other cases it can be fused into a single one. A thing to note is that a complete set is considered to be a tier higher when being valued.
Mastery
All of the paths, skills, techniques, weapons, laws, etc. have a relevant system to track one's progress and/or level.
Weapon Mastery
- Mortal/Common training (Beginner to Advanced). Fully mastered is equivalent to a mortal (no cultivation) weapon expert.
- Path of the Weapon (1st to 9th Steps. Can be also referred to as levels 1-9). Requires training in techniques and skills relevant to the weapon as well as combat experience. A common way to gauge one's skills with a weapon.
- Body as a Weapon (Beginner to Peak). Full understanding of a weapon, to the point of not need to use the actual weapon for any skills. Not only it allows the body to become a weapon but increases one's physique by a great amount. Peak also grants the possibility of jumping over a level of cultivation during a fight (if the opponent has not reached a similar level of mastery). Weapon intent and Weapon breath can be conjured.
- Weapon in Heart (Beginner to Peak). Similar to Body as Weapon. Adds the ability to conjure a weapon from surrounding qi (without the usage of techniques or qi). Peak also grants the possibility of jumping over a level of cultivation during a fight (if the opponent has not reached a similar level of mastery). Weapon intent and Weapon breath can be controlled.
- Weapon in Soul (Beginner to Peak). Ability to conjure and control an unlimited amount of weapons from Soul power (comparable to a treasured Earth-level weapon). One's aura will be naturally imbued with weapon intent and weapon breath, equivalent in strength to the cultivator strength.
- Realm of the Weapon (Beginner to Peak). Absolute mastery and understanding of a weapon. The weapon breath is also permanently infused into any movement of the cultivator. If one was to will it, a single thought can contain enough weapon intent to kill a similar strength cultivator (with lesser mastery).
Techniques, Martial Skills, Spells
Any cultivator manual, skill, technique, or even spell mastery is divided into 9 (with 8 being commonly known) levels or steps. Each one grants an increase in strength and control while also decreasing the needed seals, skills, thoughts, qi, soul power, and/or mind power.
Novice The initial level allows the usage of the skill/technique. Beginner Basic understanding allows some amount of control. Apprentice Basic familiarity, speed of activation improved. Intermediate Control, speed, and qi usage stabilize according to the ones in the description. Proficient Cost decreased allows simplification. Advanced No need for seals or other special requirements. Master Cost decreased, requires only a slight amount of preparation to activate. Allows over infusion of qi, soul, or mind power. Full Mastery Requires nothing except a thought to activate. Half the original cost. Maximum allowed speed. Full Integration / Absolute Mastery Total control. Activated by simply willing it. Power surpasses the limits.
Non-Martial Paths
Even though most of them can be used by cultivators for/in battle, such a term is used to describe runes, formations, refining, medicine, etc.
Most of the paths require cultivation or are aided by cultivation.
Basic
- Apprentice
- Master
- Grandmaster
Intermediate
Path of the Saint, which is divided into 9 levels depending on one's skills and proficiency.
Advanced
- Astral Master
- Astral Grandmaster
- ???
Beasts, Herbs, Pills, Weapons, Treasures
Beasts
A beast that can both sense and absorb qi is called a Spirit beast.
They are divided into 9 levels, assigned because of the danger or their cultivation equivalent. The following chart provides a comparison between the 9 levels and their respective Yellow Realm equivalent:
1st 1st-3rd level of the Spirit realm 2nd 4th-6th level of the Spirit realm 3rd 7th-9th level of the Spirit realm 4th 1st-3rd level of the Soul realm 5th 4th-6th level of the Soul realm 6th 7th-9th level of the Soul realm 7th 1st-3rd level of the Sage realm 8th 4th-6th level of the Sage realm 9th 7th-8th level of the Sage realm
Peak level Sage realm cultivators are incomparable to 9th level Spirit beasts, being able to easily win over them.
Afterward, the beasts able to do so (or born from such parents) become Saint beasts. An interesting fact is that all the Saint beasts are capable of speech and have intelligence comparable to humans.
They are also categorized into 9 levels, the comparison is with Earth Realm cultivators. Because of this, Saint beasts are sometimes referred to as Beast Lords, Kings, or Emperors (depending on their level).
1st Warrior Lord 1st-3rd level 2nd Warrior Lord 4th-6th level 3rd Warrior Lord 7th-9th level 4th Warrior King 1st-3rd level 5th Warrior King 4th-6th level 6th Warrior King 7th-9th level 7th Warrior Emperor 1st-3rd level 8th Warrior Emperor 4th-6th level 9th Warrior Emperor 7th-9th level
Further evolution is possible.
Herbs
Herbs are divided into several categories, with each of the following being more rare, precious, and having increased effects.
- Common (No qi, considered weeds on most planes except the lowest-tiered ones)
- Quasi-Spirit (Absorbs qi, but has not reached the level or effect of a Spirit Herb. Unique to lower-tier planes)
- Spirit (Can only grow when absorbing qi. Grows on all planes)
- Earth (Requires qi and special environment. Very rare in tiers below the medium-tier)
- Sky (Requires qi, environment, land, and other special requirements depending on the kind. Rarely found on planes below Upper-tier ones)
- Divine (Each stalk is unique can only be found by sheer luck even in Upper-tier planes)
Another three types are extremely rare and impossible to find by normal means. Making them even more valuable than Divine Herbs.
- Void (Only grow in the void, normally guarded by Astral Scourges)
- Astral (Only grow in the accessible parts of the Astral Road. Can be harvested only by cultivators at least of the True Immortal or above)
- Heavenly Gift (Only appear in stories. Supposedly are granted by the heavens themselves)
Weapons
Weapons are divided into several tiers as well.
The following table contains their title, maker, and material (minimum).
Common / Mortal Made by mortals Common materials Rune / Runic Requires the collaboration of a Refiner and Rune Apprentice Mixed common and Spirit materials Spirit Master Weapon Refiner Spirit materials Earth Requires the collaboration of a Grandmaster Weapon Refiner and at least a Formation Master Rare Spirit Materials, Heavy Qi Concentration Sky Both Weapon Refiner and Formation masters have to be at least Rune Saints Earth Materials, Spiritual Flame, Natural Energies Divine Astral Master level Weapon Refiner and Formation masters Sky or Divine Materials, Highest-Class Spiritual Flame Supreme Astral Grandmaster Weapon Refiner, Formation Astral Master, the assistance of several Astral Master Refiners ??? Unique / Special ??? ???
Furthermore, each of these categories can be divided into tiers depending on the quality and strength of the weapon. Namely, they can be considered inferior, low, medium, good, supreme, or godly.
All of the weapons from the Earth tier also have a semblance of consciousness. Weapons above the Sky tier are endowed with a soul.
Armor
Armor is categorized in the same way as weapons. Overall requirements are the same.
Pills
Pill quality is heavily dependant on the level of mastery that their refiner has.
Overall, they are divided into four grand categories being Common, Earth, Sky, Divine.
A few unique and special pills do exist, but they are extremely rare and so are simply called as such.
Each pill can be assigned one of the 9 levels of quality depending on the pureness, effect, and lack of side effects (if applicable).
- Common pills can be refined by any refiner.
- Earth pills can be refined by any level Rune Saints and above.
- Sky pills can be refined by 9th level Rune Saints and above.
- Divine pills can be refined only by Astral Master Refiners and above.
Treasures
Because of the enormous amount of different treasures, including single-use or disposable ones as well materials, the categorization is extremely complex. For such a reason, normally the item in question is first assigned one of the main four categories - Common, Earth, Sky, or Divine. Afterward depending on use, rarity, and author (if applicable), the treasure is assigned a level of rarity varying between 0 and 100 (from low to high).
As an example, the Astral Phasing Orb is considered a Sky tier treasure, with a rarity of 70. Bluntly, this means that at least 70 percent of the cultivators will never be able to even see one.