Normally, once you reach Initial Accumulation stage you would choose an element or type of energy that you will continue your cultivation with and condense this into a qi pearl. For most ordinary people they would have a certain affinity with one of the 5 primordial elements that are fire, water, wood, metal and earth while geniuses would be able to cultivate multiple elements or even higher tier energies. The Cosmological Art on the other hand follows a unique method of cultivation where the cultivator creates a universe within their qi core, starting of with the islands of the various different elements. To create the islands that would develop into planets and stars and such in the future the cultivator would have to create a primordial rune of the element and then build on it throughout their cultivation career. The Cosmological Art already gave Lucius the first [5 Primordial Runes of Origin] that followed the basic elements. He would have to find the other primordial runes in the future as they were scattered through the universe, some where in the hands of powerful clans, races or sects.
To start with Lucius would condense the [Primordial Rune of Fire] as he had the greatest control over fire through the various activities he had been training in over the years. Runes were the crystallisation of techniques, formations and aura into something that was greater than the sum of each part put in. It was like how in cooking certain ingredients complimented each other and brought out a stronger, richer flavour but instead this was with techniques and formations complimenting each other with the aura of fire as a basis to build on. Lucius used the super dense qi core he had condensed over all these years and circulated it into the shape of a vibrant and powerful flame. Fire was destructive, volatile and powerful. He imbued the rune with all his feelings of anger, power and aggression. Slowly the foundation of the rune was created as a ever revolving flame that burned brightly, even though it was tiny, and was surrounded by a flowing field of red and orange. After a month the flame had reached the size of a campfire and burned brightly with honour and dignity coursing through it, noble and proud the flame was.
Next was the [Primordial Rune of Water]. The water rune was shaped in a ball of liquid that flowed from up to down in a loop, like a ball of water that flowed from one end to the other and back, repeating endlessly. He imbued peace, serenity and a flowing smoothness within this rune. As the opposite of fire, water was calming, healing and protective and so Lucius imaged a divine water god protecting her people with tender care as she nourished their bodies and land with her spiritual rains. The water rune was surrounded by a haze of water vapour that made the rune seem mysterious and enigmatic.
The [Primordial Rune of Earth] was next and it was shaped as a piece of rock that was constantly changing shape as it rotated. From a ball to a spiky ball to a spike to a wall to a chair and so on and so forth. Earth had a sombreness to it. A strict and sturdy aura that was meant for protection and defence, yet also a powerful form of attack if used correctly. Earth was mostly colossal and grand in nature so when it was used to attack it affected great areas and thus could be a threat to allies if used without precision so most earth element users would choose to be defensive and become guardians instead of attackers. The earth rune was surrounded by levitating bits of dirt, sand and stone. It had an ancient and neglected aura.
The [Primordial Rune of Wood] was one of tenderness and was brimming with soft energy. It was used to nurture and help develop delicate and sophisticated plants and trees. The rune was in the shape of a gigantic tree that spread out its roots and vines to all corners of the space. Although it was still within Lucius' qi core it was comparatively bigger. As Lucius' cultivation grew stronger he would create entire galaxies within his body so a gigantic tree was just a drop in the bucket. Lucius imaged an old oak tree in the middle of a forest that was surrounded by wildlife like squirrels, butterflies, deer and elk and so on. Wood was still lethal though as it could be used in various ways offensively, like sapping someone of their energy or nutrients or strangling someone with vines and branches. This underlying danger gave the wood rune a feeling of something you should leave alone and just let it grow at its own pace, unhindered.
Finally the [Primordial Rune of Metal] was one that felt of murder. Metal was sharp, powerful and shrouded in an aura of death and murderousness. The metal rune was aptly shaped like a bundle of various weapons all positioned with their hilts towards each other. Like a sphere of weapons pointing outwards with the blades and inwards with the hilts. Lucius imbued the killing intent he had honed during the Testing Tower and the blades shone with a cold light. The blades became shiny and a feeling of danger filled the rune rapidly.
Over the months Lucius built up the runes and thus built up 5 islands of elements. The fire island was a dry desert with trees that had small flames instead of leaves. The water island was a sea with various sea life and small islands that had trees with leaves that were icicles. The earth island was a giant island with mountains, hills and pits irregularly spread throughout. The wood island was an island with a humungous tree at the centre with a forest spread around it and various forest life scattered through it. The metal island was filled with random weapons scattered around, some buried halfway into the ground while others sticking out of metal trees like branches. By the time his 12th birthday was a month away he had brought the islands to the same size and scale creating a harmony among the 5 runes. He had successfully broken through the Initial Accumulation stage and started the spirit gatherer stage. He was now a tier 1 cultivator.