Refine the soul using ones own life essence, this will allow one to strengthen the soul and create a soul body. Safest to do when young. The completion creates a personal qi created by the soul.
SOUL REFINEMENT
1st stage: those who have not refined their soul but have doused it in their life essence
2nd stage: can write with qi though it cannot manifest
3rd stage: the body will start to weaken as if one was ill or was showing signs of poison
4th stage: will not be able to practice martial arts properly but will be able to replace a few cells in the body or replace nutrients to a degree
5th stage: must replace cells or risk the body failing and becoming a wraith, will be bedridden
6th stage: will show signs of the change like red eyes or silver hair
7th stage: will be able able to move and might as well learn to read and write
8th stage: it will be obvious that you are practicing something if you don't hide those features, which will mean being weakened for a while longer
9th stage: able to practice martial arts and will be able to take the surrounding life essence as their own to keep the body alive, be careful not to do so too much or risk creating a plane of death
10th stage: has no need of a physical body, this old man still recommends having it so that you don't need to waste your qi
BODY REFINEMENT
BONES
For the generation of blood, needed to sustain the flesh. Also can be used to store life essence.
1: mortal(can sustain a mortal body)
2:qi washing(done with flesh so that you can use qi other than your souls)
3:steel bones(it takes something as hard as steel to dent them little own break them)
4:perfect bones(the perfect human bones, hard and flexible, heal extremely quickly, generates oxygen from co2 making the lungs exhale carbon)
5:crimson bones(called as such due to the blood and bones fusing causing the veins and arteries to be replaced with a sort of flexible glass-like substance. It is far stronger than it sounds though. It also is capable of being stored with life essence without worry of blocking anything as the bones breath on their own without any true help from the lungs.)
6:inscription(the equivalent stage for flesh is malice, this helps in dealing with that. But it wouldn't be separated if it were only for that, in fact, they only make it easier, the true reason for the inscriptions is to be able to form a kind of gate to a small world that I hope you would have created by now. Though it can be inscribed with almost anything, not that you can't do this step later, it's just easier to do it here. But if you do it earlier the bones may not be able to withstand the qi)
7:living blood(this doesn't mean your blood was dead before, this stage is to allow you to control your blood like you would your qi… far easier in the future than right now.)
8:blade eye armor(this is to restrain your body in case of it turning into an abomination, it also allows you to summon them freely and generate them inside your body.
9:bone and flesh unification(your bones and flesh are fused to become an actual body like normal people and not one stronger than the other, this stage is necessary for the next part and is the hardest.)
10:devine body(this body can use qi to regenerate itself and you have the option of using faith to regenerate it and your weapon… could have said that you could use divine qi and your qi but I like making some parts complicated to screw with my kids hahaha!)
Flesh
To limit qi usage and also to indulge in the pleasures of the flesh. Uses life essence to keep it alive.
1:mortal(can train up to peak mortal)
2:qi washing(allows cultivation)
3:living weapon(hands, knees, heal, chin, and even hair can be used as a lethal weapon)
4: perfect body(the perfect human body. Amazing regeneration could lift 1000 pounds, compact enough to be able to withstand an explosion and live, immunity to disease and common poisons, and no risk of cancer or common parasites. Also does not age beyond mid-20s)
5:perfect homunculi(the body is no longer human, but has 8 gems and a weapon that as long as even one is around they will rebuild the others, starts with the body as that is the only way to get them to work properly, basically 10 gems, allows a 'Demonic' transformation without the use of souls)
6:malice formation(an aura of killing intent basically)
7:malice armament formation(basically instead of changing the body you form a weapon and armor around you)
8:flesh and malice unification(a dangerous step, though it won't kill you as you have no need of a body to survive there is a chance of the body turning into an abomination. I hope you won't know what that is until you reach "immortality")
9:bone and flesh unification(your bones and flesh are fused to become an actual body like normal people and not one stronger than the other, this stage is necessary for the next part and is the hardest.)
10:devine body(this body can use qi to regenerate itself and you have the option of using faith to regenerate it and your weapon… could have said that you could use divine qi and your qi but I like making some parts complicated to screw with my kids hahaha!)
Soul gatherer
Even after refining your soul, there is the key point of this cultivation method. Most skills you can use require refined souls, you don't need to worry though. A soul is a vessel for memories, and also the consciousness. The consciousness is you, the soul holds the memories you made. A refined soul is a soul without memories, you control it using a false consciousness. These souls once refined by your qi will also generate your qi. If you put it in a mortal you get an above-average mortal, however, if you put it into a cultivator who is either unwilling or simply doesn't use the added technique you get a cripple. This is another reason to create a body, it will keep you from being crippled by Qi other than your own.
1:10
2:100
3:1,000
4:10,000
5:100,000
6:1,000,000
7:10,000,000
8:100,000,000
9:1,000,000,000
10:10,000,000,000
spirit stones
Your soul on its own can create a rank 1 mana stone, though with cultivation it's called a spirit stone. It has very little use for you other than currency, though you can use it to replenish your qi or use it in arrays. Every 10 souls can only create one though, and it takes the equivalent of a spirit stone to refine 1 soul… so have fun with that. You can use a corpse to do it without any cost but it would be best to use a criminal. Though you wouldn't have your memories if you were the type to massacre innocent children to quicken the pace. Though impressive you thought of a better way than killing in your first life.
On the topic of your first life, you caught the eye of an acquaintance of mine, she can be whimsical at times, if not for you being my son she would have been the one to reincarnate you. She most likely would need my help in you keeping your memories but that's why I said what I said. You may have a little friend to come with you. This friend will also give you a reason to use those spirit stones. She may come a year or two after you're born but you'll be fairly close in age.
Warning
Beware of the undead and the golden feathers. An angle is one thing, but the golden feathers are a race of angels who refuse to learn the way of souls and even war against the king of the angles for befriending me. The undead will be your best ally against them. Just be careful when refining souls. The undead can sometimes be protective of their own. Only target the ones that are as smart as a fish. You can also retaliate if you are threatened. If they do not recognize self-defense then they are better to be picked off. I just hope you remember that not all is black and white if you retaliate. Also, some undead are good as pets. I also recommend using your collected souls to create some pet wolves. They are a personnel favorite. And you may want to start refining your soul when you can. Your memory will fade over time since you are probably a toddler when you awaken.