Creating a Runic Physique Technique, develop a Runic Circuit inside the body, and use Aether Energy to strengthen the body injunction with runes.
These were the basic steps of how someone from the Barbarian Race cultivates.
In some cases, someone would choose to carve several different Elemental Runes inside their body instead of just one type, so they could perform Martial Arts of different elements.
It was risky and could lead to an imbalance, so usually one would stick to Elemental Runes that match the Aether Energy they were suited with.
As for those from Jianghu and the Land of Shadows, they cultivated Aether Energy using their Innate Dharmas as well as refined their fleshly bodies.
Due to this one would assume that Aether Energy Cultivation is linked with how strong someone's fleshly body would be. After all, as one opened their acupoints and widened their meridians, they would refine their bones one by one.