1. Body Refining Realm

This is the foundational stage of cultivation, where the body is tempered and purified. The practitioner expels impurities, strengthens muscles, bones, and organs, and enhances their physical resilience. The goal is to transform the body into a vessel capable of withstanding and channeling Qi, the life force that will be cultivated in the later stages.

2. Qi Refining Realm

In this realm, the cultivator begins to gather and refine Qi within their body. Qi flows through the meridians (energy channels) in the body, nourishing and strengthening it. The practitioner learns to control and direct this energy, using it to enhance physical abilities and to lay the groundwork for further cultivation. This stage is essential for establishing the foundation of all future cultivation.

3. Foundation Establishment Realm

Here, the cultivator solidifies their connection to the world, establishing a strong foundation for future breakthroughs. The body, mind, and spirit must be in perfect harmony. The dantian (the energy center where Qi is stored and refined) is strengthened to withstand and store increasing amounts of Qi. This realm is crucial for stabilizing the cultivator's progress and ensuring their growth remains steady and controlled.

4. Core Formation Realm

At this stage, the cultivator forms a Golden Core within their dantian. The Golden Core is a condensed, solidified mass of Qi that acts as a powerful source of energy. It amplifies the cultivator's strength and allows for more potent and refined techniques. The formation of the Golden Core is a significant milestone, as it marks the transition from a mere practitioner to a true cultivator.

5. Nascent Soul Realm

In the Nascent Soul Realm, the cultivator's soul begins to take on a physical form, known as the Nascent Soul. This miniature version of the cultivator embodies their spiritual essence, granting them the ability to transcend physical limitations. The Nascent Soul can act independently of the body, allowing the cultivator to project their consciousness and interact with the world in ways that were previously impossible.

6. Soul Transformation Realm

The Soul Transformation Realm is a stage of profound change. Here, the Nascent Soul undergoes a transformation, merging with the physical body to create a unified, elevated form. This process involves refining the soul and body, enhancing the cultivator's power and bringing them closer to divinity. The transformation allows the cultivator to alter their very nature, achieving a level of existence that transcends mortality.

7. Spirit Severing Realm

In this realm, the cultivator begins to sever their ties to the mortal world, both physically and spiritually. This involves cutting off emotions, desires, and attachments that bind them to their humanity. The goal is to achieve a state of true clarity and enlightenment, where the cultivator is no longer hindered by worldly concerns. This severing is necessary to prepare the cultivator for ascension to higher planes of existence.

8. Void Refinement Realm

The Void Refinement Realm is where the cultivator refines their essence, merging with the void... the infinite space beyond the material world. At this stage, the cultivator becomes one with the cosmos, gaining the ability to manipulate space, time, and reality itself. This realm represents the cultivator's complete detachment from the physical world, allowing them to exist in a state of pure energy and consciousness.

9. Dao Integration Realm

In the Dao Integration Realm, the cultivator achieves full integration with the Dao... the fundamental force that governs the universe. The cultivator's understanding of the Dao reaches its pinnacle, allowing them to merge their essence with the very principles that shape reality. Their power becomes limitless, and their will becomes intertwined with the laws of nature. At this stage, the cultivator can bend reality to their will, creating and altering the world around them.

10. Mahayana Realm

The Mahayana Realm is the final stage before the cultivator steps into the domain of the gods. At this level, the cultivator transcends the cycle of life and death, becoming a being of pure power and wisdom. They achieve a state of true immortality, where their soul and body are in perfect harmony with the universe. The Mahayana Realm represents the ultimate goal of cultivation, where the cultivator ascends beyond the mortal plane and attains godhood.

More realms will be added in the future as the story progresses...