Cultivation and Levels of Cultivation
Cultivating is usually performed meditating in a specific way. There are many methods of Cultivation. Those that are suited for some people are not always suitable for others.
A person must have an awakened root in order to cultivate, but a person who does have an awakened root still may not have the ability. If one is not determined, patient and have the time to cultivate, one should not try to step on the path. If one has physical problems such as blocked meridians or a damaged innersea, one will have no ability to cultivate.
A dormant root is not necessarily an obstacle as there are pills that can awaken them. It is not recommended that children over the age of ten attempt to awaken their roots. The older a person is, the more likely they are to fail. Failure will damage the root and shrink the meridians making it nearly impossible to fix. Life expectancy may also be reduced as well as overall physical health.
There is often a bottleneck between stages.
Core Formation Stage
Core formation the time a Cultivator forms his inner core. Peak stage simply means the Cultivator is soon to advance. Some Cultivators do not recognise those that have not formed their core as being Cultivators.
Primary (a cultivator's first level after their roots awakened and they begin cultivating.)
Secondary
Tertiary
Body Tempering Phase
Body tempering is the transformation of the body, making it stronger, sturdier, physical impurities completely removed and ageing lessened considerably. Once this phase is complete, a cultivator can expect a very long life and no need to eat food, diamond like skin in both toughness and clarity. No longer likely to contract illness, plus all five senses greatly improved. Any physical impairment would also be fixed.
Each level has a low, mid and peak sub level. Each sub level is like reaching another initial level.
Quaternary
Quinary
Senary
Mind Tempering Phase
This is tempering of the mind; greater intelligence and reasoning, greater memory, much quicker of thought and greater mental senses; i.e. to danger, to atmospheric changes, to general moods. Any mental impairment, in theory, would also be fixed, but in Ren Zexian's world, this has yet to be proven.
Each level has five sub levels. We'll call them stars as this term is used in at least one of my favourite cultivation novels!
Septenary
Octonary
Nonary
Soul Tempering Phase
Soul Tempering Phase is considered the true path to immortality. In a middle realm, it is as rare as Phoenix teeth to reach this stage, however it is believed that there are those able to complete this path and reach the Heavens.
Each level has seven sub levels, making this the hardest phase to conquer.
Denary
Onodenary (this is made up, because apparently, an equivalent for eleven does not exist)
Duodenary (however, this word does exist!)
Who knows what, if anything, comes next!
Roots and levels of roots
Roots represent peoples abilities, so they are mostly elemental. The more roots a person has, the more difficult to tailor their needs with cultivation methods, plus their ability to advance is much slower, hence those with three roots are considered wastes.
Major Roots
Major roots have the most control over their elements and can 'create' their element from 'thin air'.
There are five major roots being Wood, Fire, Earth, Water and Metal.
Minor Roots
Minor roots are not as powerful as major roots, partially as they only encompass a part of the ability found in Major roots. They also are considered to derive from major roots. For example Water is the major root, Ice is a minor root. Water root owners can create and manipulate water including turning it to steam or ice. Ice root cannot control water, just manipulate it, but they can change existing water to either steam or ice. The name does not mean they can just deal with ice.
Examples of minor roots; Grounding(gravity), lightning, ice, sand, rock, air, plant, spirit, fog, sword, dark, light...
Body roots are often considered waste roots. Few established Cultivators will bother to train someone with either only this type of root or someone with lots of roots. These roots affect only the user. So the water equivalent of 'mist', their owners can perhaps breathe under water and not get wet in rain. Hence considered a bit useless.
Examples of body roots; Blessed, thunder, spark, smoke, diamond, curse, iron, mist, bone, feather, stone, star, lava...
There are naturally exceptions to the rules such as Jin Li's lightning, which is often seen as almost on par with a major root in many people's opinion and Leon's Star root, which actually does more than his own body and abilities.
There are mutated roots, but these are very rare and few and far between and even then it might not necessarily be a good thing to have.
Alchemist Glossary
Healing Pills & Potions
One Heart Pill Helps heal external wounds
Blood Pill Helps heal internal wounds
Vital Essence Pill Helps regenerate blood
Soft Ice Pill reduces fevers and swellings
Bone Regrowth Pill Helps heal broken and fractured bones
False Recovery Pill Temporarily removes all pain
Still Mind Pill Calms inner sea after advancement during Core Formation Phase
Tranquil Mind Pill Calms inner sea after advancement during Body Tempering Phase
Enlightened Mine Pill Calms inner sea after advancement during Mind Tempering Phase
One Pulse Pill General regeneration Pill
Basic Purifying Potion removes low levels of impurities within the body
White Warming Potion promotes recovery during sickness
Fire Water Tonic heals chill effects such as frost bite
Gentle Snowflower Balm heals burns
Cultivation Pills
Root Origin Pill Awakens dormant roots
Clear Spiritual Pill Helps promote cultivation, only effective for Primary stage Cultivators
Cloudy Spiritual Pill Helps promote cultivation, only effective during second and third stages of Core Formation
Misty Spiritual Pill Helps promote cultivation, only effective during Body Tempering Stages
White Spiritual Pill Helps promote cultivation, only effective during Mind Tempering Stages
Light Chi Elixir herbal bath soak to help promote cultivation
Combat Pills & Potions
Burning Energy Pill Increases temporarily level of ability, only effective for primary stage Cultivators
Burning Blood Pill increases temporarily level of ability, only effective for second and third stages of Core Formation
Burning Heart Pill increases temporarily level of ability, only effective during body formation stages
False Root Pill randomly and temporarily gives the cultivator the abilities of another root, considered unreliable
Seven Steps Pill increases temporarily swiftness and agility, also considered an Enhancement Pill
Dark Flame Potion A flammable oil that happens to burst into flames once exposed to air
Root Nullifying Potion Prevents a person splashed with this poison from using their natural root abilities
Beast Pills & Potions
Beast Calming Pill A Pill that Calms the natural temperament of weak beasts, making them easier to tame
Beast Soothing Pill A Pill That Calms the natural temperament of low to average strength beasts, making them easier to tame
Hidden Mist Pill Reduces the scent of low level Cultivators
Dream Blossom Potion a sleeping potion that only works on beasts
Enhancement and Transformation Pills & Potions
Bone Strengthening Pill reduces risk of broken bones in combat
First Fortitude Pill weak defence pill
Vision at Midnight Pill Helps consumer see in the dark
Fasting Pill stops a consumer from feeling hungry and needing food
False Awakening Pill makes a weary body feel energetic temporarily
Seven Steps Pill as mentioned
Feather Fall Pill lightens a body and allows one to fall much slower
Feather Float Pill lightens a body and allows one to float midair
Feather Flight Pill lightens a body and allows one to fly
Elixir of the Sage Memory enhancement potion
Elixir of the Koi Allows one to breath under water
Cosmetic Pills & Potions
White Lotus Pill gives one the appearance of innocence
Mirage Pill prevents others from recalling how you appear
Still Waters Lotion whitens and smoothes skin
Peach Blossom Balm cleanses skin and removes blemishes
False Spring Elixir allows a person to retain a youthful appearance for longer
Leon's Improved/Variant Pills (there may be others I've forgotten or ones I haven't written about yet that he created when he was Leo)
Improved One Heart Pill
Improved Blood Pill
Improved Beast Calming Pill
Smouldering Energy Pill variant burning energy Pill, increases ability less for a longer time with less side effect.
Bursting Energy Pill variant burning energy Pill, increases ability much more for a short period of time, but with an increased side effect.
Smouldering Blood Pill
Bursting Blood Pill
Beast Glossary (written direct from notes, so I may need to alter this if I changed the description in the actual book)
Griffin
tiger body, brown fur with yellow or orange stripes. Eagle like head but beak is cut jagged. Four legs, three furred toes on each foot. Eccentric plumage on tail. Very large, the younglings are the size of elephants
Baku
elephant like head with tusks, but also buffalo horns and ears. Thick fur about the neck, thinning out on its more feline body. Powerful feline fore and aft legs, paws and a thick furred tail. About the size of a horse. Travels smoothly over forest and mountainous terrain. Intelligent, only allows riders it trusts upon its back.
Basilisk
long serpentine body with lizard head and numerous sharp teeth, has small legs, six in number and a long tail. An adult will have fans about its neck. The stronger the beast, the more effective its paralysis skill. Will only paralyse to escape or eat. A greater basilisk is large enough to eat (and does eat) humans. An elder basilisk in large enough to consume a griffin cub.
Fox Bear / Snow Fox Bear
a type of bear, but with the markings and colours of a Fox. It's nose is more vulpine than ursus as well. A snow fox bear has the colourings of an artic fox.
Cooshee
long rabbit ears, four eyes, two large and two tiny which are closure to the centre of its canine nose. It has a fluffy wolf like form and as an adult can shift from its adult form back into its cute, puppy form. Has a large wispy tail that fluffs out with long fur.
Faerie Dragon
about the size of a mouse, it's opalescent scales body is long and slender and its nose is also long. It has butterfly like wings and four legs. It's long tongue sucks out honey from beehives, but it also eats meat from fresh corpses and fruits.
Cockatrice
feathered serpent with a bird shaped head, fangs like a snake. Very poisonous. Adults have wings that they can use to fly.
Dream Hare
long colourful ears, large powder puff tail, small rodent body, twitching rabbit nose and large black eyes. Has the ability to cause weak predators to fall asleep. Very popular with female beast tamers.
Dire Beasts
stronger versions of wild animals, such as rats, wolves, tigers and much less tameable.
Sky Koi
fish like spirit creature that swims through mist and fog
Chimera
twin headed lion with goat horns and scales. One half is mostly white with black scales and the other is mostly black with white scales. Only born when Yin and Yang lions come together.
Mesmyr
horse like creature, males have a crown of horns. They have six eyes and are all black. They have thin, whip like tail and a carapace along their backs. Can be ridden, but usually only by one person in their lifetimes that they have shown loyalty to.
Lightning Fox
white or yellow vulpine with a white or blue mane and a squirrel like tail. They are just a little smaller than a regular fox and have lightning abilities, which vary with strength and age.
Garuda
ape like body with feathered wings attached to their arms and a beak upon its face. It's feet have talons rather than toes. It is about the size of a small gorilla
Worgen
a cross between a feline and a canine, it has the facial features of a wolf, but cat like eyes that slit and sharp fangs. It's forebody is broad and often striped like a tabby, but it's tail is prehensile. It has cat like grace, can climb sturdy trees, but in lives in packs and has an affinity to the moon.
Coeurl
feline in shape, but covered in scales (unless it is a cub, which still has fluffy fur). It's whiskers are like long, thin cat tails though it's actual tail is more like that of a lizard. Can be ridden and is a favourite war steed. Has stubby car ears or has large, almost bat like ears. Feline eyes and facial features.
Green Spirit Deer
like sky koi, are spiritual creatures. Jade green in colour with antlers that resemble blossoming tree branches.
Alicorn
not a horse, actually a type of small deer with no antlers, but a single long horn just above it's nose. White in colouring, usually found in cold climates.
Nibblet
hairless gerbil like rodent with sharp teeth, small wings. Loves fruit and is protective of its territory. Lives in large family groups.
Antlion
giant predatory insect, lives in sand dune traps
Zebra Elk
black and white patterned elk like creature with either black ebony or ivory white antlers. Also has a long thick furred tail and it's mane stretches from the top of its head to the base of its spine.
Pixiu
miniature feline creature with a webbed mane, spines and other varying features. Although they are omnivores, they are not savage animals, will happily consume beetles, berries and small fish.
Longnecked Deer
shaped like a deer, but with a long twisting neck and small antlers. Also is long furred.
Feng Huang
there is only one Feng Huang (Phoenix) however there are lesser breeds;
Lava Cranes
shaped like a crane, but their shaggy red fur and feathers seems to cover their bodies like dripping molten lava. Lives in volcanic areas and feeds off molten beetles, which live in pools of lava
Red Sparrows
small versions of Feng Huang about the size of a normal sparrow, but with the stunning red plumage of its ancestor. Has no abilities.
Flame Wisps
looks like a hummingbird, but has flame coloured wings. Can actually spit burning fire embers when frightened.
Qilin
more equine than feline in shape, it has a dragon like face and scales that run down its back. It's main is multicoloured and it's tail short and curled towards its spine. It is highly intelligent and cannot be tamed or ridden. Solitary creature, does not run in herds.
Bifang
Tanuki
Equine
much like a horse, but more intelligent and proud.
Author's note; this is only what I have invented so far and not the be all and end all of information. I will likely introduce new things when I feel like it!
Low, Middle and High Realms
The world in which Leon awoke is called Xulaphrey and is considered a Middle Realm. This means that it is a land with abundant spiritual energy, which is required by all things in small doses, but much more in certain herbs, plants and spiritual beasts. Cultivators gather this energy into themselves in order to seek longevity with the ultimate aim of immortality.
Low realms, which includes the Earth, where Leon lived his first life, are weak in spiritual energy. Whether Cultivators exist there depends on the realm, but they must have enormous potential and ability or they will amount to nothing. Leon does not know whether any Cultivators ever existed on Earth. Low realms are extremely numerous.
The Higher realm may or may not be the only one in existence, but Jin Li only knows about the one he descended from. He is not entirely sure how he came to the middle realm, but it is possible for people to be sucked into spatial tears and transported elsewhere. This is very uncommon. Jin Li would have died had it not been for his cultivation which was a little damaged in transit. No matter what happened to him, he considers this somewhat an act of fate for he would not have his Dao Companion had he not come to Xulaphrey.
Ascending Mountain Institute
Xulaphrey is made up of two continents, simply named the West and the East. The Ascending Mountain Institute is located in the Sky Reaching Mountains to the North East of the Eastern Continent. The Sky Reaching Mountains is a vast range, therefore although the Institute is fairly large, it only owns a small portion of the range.
The Ascending Mountain Institute is made up of five schools, which are then separated into Outer and Inner schools.
The Inner schools accept those with the most talent and potential. They usually gain the better resources, have better living accommodations and access to more interesting tasks.
The Outer Schools accept all the others that can become Cultivators. Often their resources are basic, the boring or unpleasant tasks are assigned them and their standards of living are adequate but not great, living many to a room (with the exception of alchemists, who really need their individual space or others could be caught up in their explosions). Those without the will to learn often drop out.
Should be noted, towards both schools, talent does not always beget hard work. Those who do not strive forward in the inner school often are transferred out to the outer school. Likewise, those who are recognised as exceptional in the outer school are transferred to the inner school.
The Institute does not base acceptance on background, be it class, wealth or connections, but it also doesn't turn away those with the money to gain perhaps otherwise considered unfair entry. However, once in, all students are treated and are expected to treat other students equally. In order to help enforce this, all first years are banned from certain activities where prejudice might affect them, such as in the Standings. Most students stop using class distinction as an excuse to bully others by the second year of school. This is not always guaranteed.
Five Schools
There are five schools within the Ascending Mountain Institute where students can focus and hone their arts. These are:
The Martial Arts School
This is the most popular school at present, with the Beast Taming School and Mage School in close succession. There is a particular undercurrent between the Martial Arts School and Beast Taming School, both looking down on each other and both unaccepting of the others strengths. Neither look down on the Mage school.
Both the inner and outer school look much like the other and there is less of a gap between the two in terms of appearance and comfort. The outer school holds more students in a smaller area, thus there are usually four to a room. The central arena is smaller as well and holds less spectator seating. Otherwise the food is abundant and the students respectful of each other in the most part. There is usually a competitive spirit to be found amongst students.
The Mage School
This school accepts those with one or two major or minor roots and with large inner seas. This seems narrow minded to some, but trying to teach others would really be a waste of resources; without these requirements, the student can never be more than weak in the art of magic. It does not detract from its popularity, in fact it makes it more popular as there are restrictions!
As mages focus on making their abilities into weapons rather than their bodies, they are often physically weaker than other offensive Cultivators, which is why they do not come to blows with the Martial Arts or Beast Taming schools as these physically strong students have to protect them in battle, despite their magics being so much more dangerous than sword or hammer.
Beast Taming School
This school accepts those interesting in working with, breeding and taming various beasts, from wild animals to magical and spirit beasts. They have a long standing rivalry with the Martial Arts School. The students tend to be an earthy lot, not afraid of getting dirty and loyal to their beast partners, though there can be the usual showing off when it comes to rare or valuable pets.
Scholars School
This school is one of the two support schools and generally is dedicated to raising students who wished to pursue paths in careers requiring intelligence and wisdom rather than muscles and power. It covers a vast array of subjects from research, documenting to creation of paper talismans and charms for exorcisms.
Alchemist School
This school teaches the art of Pill and potion making. Usually, it favours students with wood and fire based roots, however due to its lack of popularity in recent centuries, it will take anyone willing to learn to cultivate herbs, sit around a cauldron all day and who are not afraid of explosions. Alchemy tends to be an expensive and underrated career as basic pills and potions are easy to make, numerous on the markets and therefore not very profitable, hence it's unpopularity amongst students of the current generations. However, an excellent and talented Alchemist is hard to find and so often valued much more than a Martial Artist of the same level in Sects and Noble Households.
Julip Town
Julip Town is located at the base of the Ascending Mountain Institute and is spilt into two distinct areas; New and Old town.
The old town is mostly made up of those native to the town and area, whose bloodlines have always lived at the base of the mountain. If it wasn't for the long winding streets of small, squished together houses, it could be likened to a large village where everyone knows everyone else's business. However, due to the fact that it is not wealthy in terms of money and resources, it also attracts a fair few unsavoury folk so there are many beggars and thieves. A red light district has also appeared close to the river which splits Julip town in two.
New Julip town sprung up initially due to the Institute and has continued to grow in affluence. Shops with overpriced merchandise, the Auction House, Griffin Tower and quality restaurants line the heart of the town, ready to sell their goods to the friends and family of existing and aspiring students as well as those seeking audience with the Teachers of the Institute. There are small green spaces to add to its charm with spacious town houses sprawling around about them.
Characters
Leon Our M.C. He thought he had transmigrated here overnight from Earth, but it now appears that he was reborn as a boy called Leo, who was beaten to near death. He suffered a silent cultivation deviation, awakening his memories from his past life while sealing those of his existing in the process. Because he knew nothing of this world and his purpose here, he had to start from scratch, but with the help of Leo's diaries and the shared love he came to have for alchemy, he worked hard and finally became recognised for his strengths. He managed this despite having to raise a bottomless pit of an arrogant and overbearing Martial Artist at the same time. His root is Celestial or Star body.
He tends to be calm and a bit shy as well as quite innocent at times due to his lack of background knowledge. But others find him comfortable to be around and easy to trust as he lacks any scheming and demanding nature common to this world. He is currently nineteen years old, has black and white skunk streak hair that reaches to his thighs. His eyes are large and black, but made larger by his spectacles. He usually wears plain natural or pale blue hemp robes tied with a leather belt and adorned by wooden charms and his interspacial bags as well as a simple oriental crown gifted him by Jin Li.
Jin Li Male lead. This youth is overbearing, proud, arrogant and has a habit of speaking harshly and without censure, even when he means to compliment rather than critique. His stomach is like a bottomless abyss and he favours eating meat. Although he will not admit it, he prefers eating Leon's homely and often basic meals to restaurant style cuisine, but really, he'll just eat whatever is in front of him. He acknowledges anyone who he thinks worthy of it and dismisses to the point of forgetting anyone he doesn't think worth it. He wasn't slow to fall in love with Leon, but very slow to realise it, making for some clashes between them as one was too unaware of his appeal and the other to boorish to admit it, but he has unleashed a huge possessive side since admitting it. He accidentally descended from the Higher realm. He is seventeen years old. His root is Lightning.
He has long midnight black hair that reaches his lower back, which is always worn in a gold crown with red jade pin, the latter gifted by Leon. He has black, Phoenix feather shaped eyes and slender brows and exudes a noble, but arrogant aura. He is tall and willowy in structure, but not weakly so. He usually wears loose trousers and short robe sets with elaborate, bold embroidery. He prefers silk, but owns clothing made of hemp as silk is currently beyond his budget.
Sun This brown haired youth is no taller than Leon, but has much more presence. He attends the Martial Arts School with Jin Li and considers himself Jin Li's best friend. Jin Li used to avoid him and he blamed Leon for it and hated his commoner status, but Sun's got over himself now and things are more harmonious. He has a sunny, very youthful look about him and is seventeen years old. His root is Wind/air
Maimai With curly hair and pretty twinkling eyes, she is a very popular girl in the alchemist school. However, she would rather hang out with her best friend, Leon and observe his relationship with Jin Li develop. She really is not talented when it comes to alchemy, but her dear, doting daddy refuses to let her get hurt by attending the Martial Arts School, so she has to put up with it.
Merylin Maimai's older sister and born of the legitimate line. She is self-confident to the point of being over confident at times, is very beautiful and aware of it and due to her high status has never considered that there would be something she couldn't obtain. Until she met and fell in love with Jin Li. He can never remember her though, except in her imagination. She attends the Inner alchemist school.
Pike This youth is Jin Li's senior at the Martial Arts School and took a liking to Leon and later to Jin Li and Sun. He has taken on a big brother roll over all.
Bowyer Jin Li's senior and Pike's friend. He often seeks out Jin Li as a fellow sword user and they spar on a frequent basis.
Teacher Sagi A kind and benevolent type of Teacher, he took Leo and then Leon under his wing and finally accepted him as one of his direct students, teaching him much more than other students in his general care.
Teacher Corvus Sun's Master-Teacher, a bit of a carefree and unpredictable sort of man. Sun is his first Student and he takes his role very seriously.. if not too seriously at times.
More Teachers:
Corne Master-Teacher to Pike, elder brother of Corvus
Vane Serious, strict and sour man, Martial Arts Teacher
Volun Teacher of the Beast Taming School, very kind and ethereal like person.
Headmaster mysterious person
More Students
Caprian Bully, responsible for Leon's deviation and memory switch. He has been expelled.
Tor Former Bully, regrets his part in Leon's accident. Has conflicted feelings for Leon now. Transferred to Beast Taming School.
Virgal Bully and 'follower' type. Current status, unknown.
Hue Leon's direct senior, a slow and deep thinking person. Good at making pills requiring patience and effort.
Stygar Leon's direct senior, a sharp, cynical person, lives with Hue. Good at raising rare herbs.
Townspeople
Mr Clawse Pharmacist, purchases Leon's healing pills regularly.
Mr Minos Blacksmith
Ursam Former cultivator, a bit of a pervert, runs a pill shop with his wife.
Wife long suffering wife of Ursam, but not some wilting white lotus.
Minos Works with his mother at the alchemist school, mostly doing odd jobs and deliveries.
Non-humans
Xiao Xiao Tor's Cooshee partner
The Coeurl Cub Leon's pet-partner
The Coeurl Adolescent Jin Li's pet-partner
And lots of others I may not have mentioned usually as they are yet to have names or were only mentioned as background characters!
These glossaries are copied and pasted from another site, so the format may not be as easy to read. I’m too lazy to fix this!
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