There was five Cultivation realms accessible for the people of Qing Empire. Starting with the Body Strengthening Realm, Qi Refining Realm, Foundation Realm, Core Formation Realm and finally the Nascent Soul Realm.
There were more realms but because of the unique environment and geography of Qing Empire, one had to cross the Hollow Mountains if they wanted to gain access to higher realms.
Xiao Lan had attained great divine realms, but she had still started from the bottom once. After all, no matter the place, a Cultivator had to start from the bottom and rise through the realms. Granted that mortal realms could be attained very easily in the Divine Realm, one still has to go through them.
That's why Xiao Lan already had experience in awakening as a Cultivator. It was actually very simple but time consuming for the people with less talent.
