Races of the World
The world is home to several sentient races that have co-existed, though not always peacefully, for millennia. The major races are:
Humans - The most populous race, humans inhabit every corner of the world. While not blessed with inherent magical abilities, they make up for it through versatility, determination, and innovative spirit.
Elves - Gifted with an innate connection to the natural world, elves are a long-lived race of magical humanoids. They are divided into several subraces based on their elemental affinities - forest elves, sea elves, etc.
Dwarves - Short, stout, and extraordinarily skilled in crafting and metalwork. Dwarves make their homes underground in massive subterranean cities. They are a proud warrior race known for their stubbornness.
Orcs - This warlike race is often misunderstood. While orcs do place great value on strength and conquest, they have a deep reverence for honor and tribal traditions. Their shamanistic culture gives them an intimate bond with the primal spirits.
Cultivation Ranks
In this world, one's power and progression is measured by the cultivation ranks - a series of nine ranks achieved through intensive training and absorbing spiritual energy:
1) Initiate
2) Apprentice
3) Disciple
4) Master
5) Lord
6) Emperor
7) Immortal
8) Celestial
9) Deity
As cultivators advance through the ranks, they gain increased longevity, physical abilities, magic reserves, and access to higher realms of power. Reaching the Immortal ranks and beyond allows transcendence of the mortal plane.
Monster Ranks
The wilderness areas are home to dangerous magical beasts, ranked based on their power levels:
Mortal Ranks
1)Orderly
2) Disorderly
3) Dire
Immortal Ranks
4) Spirit
5) Celestial
6) Astral
7) Void
Monsters become exponentially more powerful with each rank, evolving new abilities and dangers. The Immortal ranks pose a threat even to powerful cultivators.
Elemental Cores
All living beings in this world host an elemental core within their spiritual essence. One's core represents their affinity for a particular elemental force - fire, water, earth, air, lightning, light, darkness, etc. As cultivators progress, their cores condense and evolve through different tiers:
Mortal Tiers
1) Green Core
2) Purple Core
3) Black Core
Immortal Tiers
4) Spirit Core
5) Celestial Core
6) Astral Core
7) Void Core
Higher core tiers unlock new abilities, magic techniques, and transformations related to one's elemental attunement. Reaching the Immortal tiers is a sign of immense power.
Core Ranks
In addition to gaining new tiers, cores themselves have progressive ranks:
1) Acolyte Core
2) Adept Core
3) Master Core
4) Lord Core
5) Emperor Core
6) Immortal Core
7) Celestial Core
These reflect the purity, density, and overall power contained within one's elemental core. Ascending the core ranks requires arduous cultivation along with insight into the deepest mysteries of one's element.
Cultivation Realms
As cultivators ascend through the power ranks, their spiritual essence expands into higher realms of existence:
1) Mortal Realm
2) Spirit Realm
3) Celestial Realm
4) Astral Realm
5) Void Realm
Transcending into a new realm restructures one's fundamental spiritual makeup, granting access to new abilities but also new challenges and cosmic laws to overcome.
Soul Imprints
In rare cases, a cultivator may gain an imprint from a powerful entity or force onto their spiritual soul. These imprints can take many forms:
Celestial Imprints - From primordial astral entities.
Draconic Imprints - From ancient dragon bloodlines.
Demonic Imprints - From fiendish demons and hellish realms.
Divine Imprints - From deific beings and heavenly planes.
Elemental Imprints - Direct imprints from the prime elemental forces.
Imprints reshape a cultivator's path, granting them innate mastery over that power source along with various boons and banes.
Martial Arts
The martial disciplines play a vital role. There are multitudes of martial arts styles, techniques, and secret skills representing different philosophical concepts, elemental forces, and origin lineages. Some examples:
Heaven Shaking Pugilism - Devastatingly powerful strikes channeling pure force.
Celestial Cloud Steps - Lightness skill allowing brief flight/levitation.
Undying Body Technique - Enhances defensive capability and regeneration.
Spirit-Binding Strike - Cripples the spiritual essence of adversaries.
Cultivators spend lifetimes perfecting these secret skills, making martial arts mastery a core part of strength.
This covers some of the core concepts and systems that drive power and progression in our world. The path to immortal apotheosis is perilous but infinitely rewarding for those capable of rising to the challenge.