Dantian Establishment Stage:
This is the Mortal Shedding phase. Cultivators begin to sense the world's energy in their body to establish their core.
The Process: Opening the 108 acupuncture points to allow Qi to flow into the Dantain and the rest of the body.
The Goal: Tempering the skin and muscles and establishing the breakthrough to the human layer.
Foundation Stage:
The Process: Stabilising your foundation by choosing the Afinity most suitable to yourself, fire, ice, earth, etc. Once chosen, you have to master it; you can only practice another Afinty after getting a higher stage of cultivation.
The Goal: Setting up the foundaton to all your future progress in martial arts. A bad foundation will lead to a weak structure in the future.
Reconstruction Phase.
The body is no longer truly human; it is a vessel for heaven and earth.
The Process: Qi is forced into the bones and organs, washing away mortal impurities (black sludge/foul odour).
The Goal: Transforming a spirit river into a Spirit Sea in the Dantian. Once the foundation is complete, the lifespan extends to 20 more years of human span, and the cultivator can use movement techniques for longer periods of time.
Essence Stage (Gang Qi)
This is where raw Qi undergoes a qualitative change, becoming Gang Qi—a much denser, sharper, and more destructive form of energy.
The Process: Compressing the gaseous Qi in the Spirit Sea into a liquid state.
The Goal: Weaponising the energy. Gang Qi can be projected outside the body to form blades, shields, or elemental attacks that manifest fully.
Golden Warrior Stage
After the Essence is refined, the liquid Gang Qi is compressed into a solid Golden Core.
The Process: Using the body as a furnace to smelt the Gang Qi into a pill-sized core.
The Goal: Internalising power. A cultivator at this stage can fly for short bursts using a weapon, they can survive without food for months, and their internal energy becomes more refined.
Soul Manifestation Stage
The cultivator begins to nourish their soul with the energy of the Core.
The Process: A Divine Sense is born, allowing the cultivator to perceive everything within several miles with their eyes closed.
The Goal: Creating a Primordial Soul. If the physical body is destroyed, the soul can linger on and, if lucky, reincarnate. During this stage, the cultivator can understand Qi essence rules, like.
Sovereign / Dragon Realm
This is the start of Cultivation as an immortal.
The Process: Harmonising the Primordial Soul with the Laws of the Universe. Begin establishing the internal dantain to form a small universe.
The Goal: Mastery of Domain. A Sovereign can create a space where their word is law.