Progression in cultivation requires time, effort, and mastery of skills. Each stage has sub-stages to slow down advancement and offer variety.
1. Qi Gathering (Entry-Level)
Sub-stages: Early, Middle, Late, Peak.
Purpose: Absorbing spiritual energy (Qi) from the surroundings and refining it into one's body.
Challenges:
Requires a natural affinity for Qi.
Scarcity of high-quality Qi-rich areas.
Meditation, breathing techniques, and Qi deviation risks (if rushed).
2. Foundation Establishment (Stabilizing the Path)
Sub-stages: Minor Foundation, Major Foundation, Perfect Foundation.
Purpose: Strengthening the body, meridians, and Qi pathways to sustain higher energy flows.
Challenges:
Balancing physical health and Qi refinement.
Internal struggles, including backlash from unstable foundations.
Requires foundational pills, spiritual herbs, or a teacher's guidance.
3. Core Formation (Solidifying the Essence)
Sub-stages: Early Core, Golden Core, True Core.
Purpose: Condensing Qi into a physical core that resides in the dantian. This core becomes the cultivator's energy source.
Challenges:
Requires rare materials or artifacts for successful condensation.
Risk of shattering the core during failure.
Encounters with rivals seeking the same resources.
4. Violet Palace (Opening the Divine Mind)
Sub-stages: Fragmented Palace, Solid Palace, Violet Palace.
Purpose: Building a spiritual palace within the mind to store divine energy and connect with the laws of the world.
Challenges:
Requires advanced techniques or manuals to comprehend the laws.
Mental resilience to avoid succumbing to illusions or inner demons.
5. Nascent Soul (Birth of the Soul)
Sub-stages: Infant Soul, Mature Soul, Complete Soul.
Purpose: Creating a soul avatar that acts independently to assist in cultivation and battle.
Challenges:
Requires harmony between body, mind, and soul.
Tribulation appears to test the strength of the Nascent Soul.
If the soul avatar is damaged, cultivation may regress or stagnate.
6. Law Establishment (Mastering the World's Principles)
Sub-stages: Early, Partial, Complete.
Purpose: Comprehending one or more laws of reality (e.g., Time, Space, Fire, Water) to strengthen abilities.
Challenges:
Understanding laws requires significant enlightenment and encounters with rare phenomena.
Defending against rival cultivators attempting to interrupt enlightenment.
7. The Foundation (Laying the Path to Divinity)
Sub-stages: Weak Foundation, Strong Foundation, Perfect Foundation.
Purpose: Rebuilding the body, soul, and essence to prepare for godhood.
Challenges:
Expensive resources like heavenly treasures or divine artifacts are required.
Extremely slow cultivation pace.
8. Divine Transformation (Ascending to a Higher Plane)
Sub-stages: Lesser Transformation, Greater Transformation, Divine Manifestation.
Purpose: Gaining divine qualities and unlocking extraordinary powers.
Challenges:
Tribulations become life-threatening, involving fire, lightning, or soul destruction.
Requires immense spiritual energy to fuel the transformation.
9. Divine Step / Divine Stepping (Walking the Path of Godhood)
Sub-stages: First Step through Ninth Step.
Purpose: Achieving mastery over divinity and preparing for Immortality. Each step is a monumental leap in strength.
Challenges:
Tribulations intensify, with each step testing the cultivator's worthiness.
Enemies from higher realms may interfere during breakthroughs.
10. Immortality (Crossing Realms)
Purpose: True godhood, enabling access to alternate worlds.
Challenges:
Requires the ultimate tribulation: Heaven's Judgment. Failure results in death or being bound eternally to the mortal world.
Adjusting to the rules of higher worlds (e.g., stronger enemies, restricted resources).