Cultivation System
Disclaimer: Other than spoilers, the system gives a rough draft of what to expect through the story, growth-wise. Don't take this information for granted.
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For a mortal to tread onto the path of cultivation, they would need to relinquish their attachments to the tangible and intangible chains of mortality. First and foremost, a mortal is required to phase through the steps of the 'Transcendent Metamorphosis.'
Transcendent Metamorphosis consists of six stages.
∆ Marrow Tempering.
∆ Bone Tempering.
∆ Viscera Tempering.
∆ Blood Cleansing.
∆ Meridians Forming.
∆ Qi Circulation.
Prior to completing the 'Transcendent Metamorphosis', it is inherently impossible to absorb spiritual Qi through the 360 acupoints surfacing the skin. Thus, one needs to orally consume heavenly materials and spiritual medicine to discharge spiritual Qi and circulate it after complete digestion.
Blindly consuming spiritual medicine won't improve a mortal's body towards a path of cultivation. If a mortal doesn't circulate the Qi through their body following a respective cultivation manual, the few benefits a mortal would gain from consuming spiritual herbs are insubstantial. For instance, extending lifespan, rejuvenating the skin, cleansing a few impurities, and whatnot.
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After completing the 'Transcendent Metamorphosis', an individual is still considered a common mortal who is slightly stronger than a human. The following step is 'Dantian Consolidation.'
Dantian Consolidation consists of five stages.
∆ Connecting The Meridians.
∆ Acupoints Opening.
∆ Meridians Expansion.
∆ Elementary Stage Dantian.
∆ Final Stage Dantian.
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After successfully establishing a dantian, a mortal can utilize their meridians and acupoints to magnetize spiritual Qi from the ambient environment directly in order to accumulate their personal reserves of spiritual Qi within the dantian. This is also known as the half-step into becoming a martial artist, whereas venturing into the avenue of Martial Arts is called, 'Martial Divide.'
The Martial Divide is a state of harmonization between man and heaven. This is a phase of discharging the impurities left behind from the previous stages of 'Transcendent Metamorphosis', and 'Dantian Consolidation.'
The Martial Divide consists of three stages.
∆ Small Success.
∆ Medium Success.
∆ Large Success.
The ratio of success in each stage will depend on the accumulative amount of impurities discharged before being replaced by pure spiritual Qi.
∆ Small Success at 33%.
∆ Medium Success at 66%.
∆ Large Success at 99%.
The final step at 100% could be considered as breaking through the shackles of mortality into becoming a genuine martial artist, otherwise known as a cultivator.
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After Martial Divide, a martial artist would step into the large boundary known as the 'Heaven Divide.' This is a large boundary revolving around Three Small Boundaries, each having Three Small Stages.
∆ Assembling Heaven. ( 3 stages.)
∆ Embracing Heaven. ( 3 stages.)
∆ Ascending Heaven. ( 3 stages.)
The Heaven Divide is the realm where a martial artist would focus on studying the laws of heaven and earth, assembling these laws into the dantian through the first three stages. Then, sublimating the respective laws into one's dantain, forming a 'World Seed' center the dantian, officially completing the three stages of embracing heaven. The final step, ascending heaven, the 'World Seed' would sprout into an ethereal small world that emphasizes the accumulated laws built as a foundation.
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After sprouting of the 'World Seed', one can enter the 'Ethereal Sovereign' large boundary that consists of three levels.
∆ Elementary Sovereign.
∆ Intermediate Sovereign.
∆ Senior Sovereign.
The Sovereign boundary is about enhancing the laws and the background of a small world within a martial artist. Depending on the perfection degree of one's inner world, the more power they could exhibit during a display of might and strength. The boundary following is known as the 'Celestial Deity' boundary.
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After completing the Ethereal Sovereign boundary to the limit, one's inner world would naturally evolve into a life-sustaining small world. Living creatures, fauna, flora, and any shape of life can be mortal life. Although spiritual Qi would be abundant due to the nature of how the world was formed, the spiritual Qi within a small world at the 'Celestial Deity' boundary isn't suitable for cultivation as it lacks the 'Essence' of Heaven and Earth.
Only after completing the 'Celestial Deity', and stepping into the 'Deity' boundary, the quality of spiritual Qi bred within a martial artist's inner world can assist mortals with cultivation. Nonetheless, if one wanted to merely grow spiritual herbs within their inner worlds before reaching the 'Diety' boundary, that is possible.
Each of the 'Celestial Deity' and 'Deity' boundaries is divided into small, medium, and large success whereas the density of 'spiritual Qi' in the former determines the success ratio and the density of 'Heaven and Earth Essence' in the latter determines the ratio of success.
∆ Small Success at 33%.
∆ Medium Success at 66%.
∆ Large Success at 99%.
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The 100% success in the Deity Boundary is a step that not many could cross. This is a step of merging the 'Foundation Laws', 'Spiritual Qi', and the 'Heaven and Earth Essence' into one, completely annihilating the former body and reforming the body anew in a death and rebirth experience.
Some people would rather fuse their 'Foundation Laws' and 'Spiritual Qi' and remain content with that step, as they don't have the confidence of stepping into the 'Heavenly Boundary', thus they remain at the 'Half-step Heavenly'.
The boundary of Heavenly is known as a pinnacle existence within the Elysium Plane, the strength between each Heavenly Master solely depends on their foundation of laws and the quality of their spiritual Qi before breaking through. Because's the foundation laws are set in stone early in the path of cultivation, only those with immense backup and resources from large organizations and sects have the chance to establish formidable foundations.
For instance, if a Heavenly Expert had built their inner world through perfecting Three Laws, they naturally can't compare to someone who spent their time perfecting a total of Six Laws. The disparity is too immense.
Thus, there was a system to differentiate between the power levels of Heavenly Experts.
∆ 1 - 3 Laws. ( Heavenly.)
∆ 4 - 6 Laws. ( Heavenly Lord.)
∆ 7 - 9 Laws. ( Heavenly King/Queen.)
∆ 10 + Laws. ( Heavenly Emperor/Empress.)
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Thanks for your patience!
Enjoy the novel!