The world Ling Fei inhabits is one of profound cultivation, where strength, destiny, and the mysteries of the cosmos intertwine. This chapter delves into the intricate power system known as the Pathways of Ascension, revealing the foundation upon which all cultivation is built.
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Foundations of Cultivation
Cultivation begins with absorbing the natural energies of the world—Qi. This energy is abundant in nature, flowing through the heavens, earth, and even the blood of beasts. Practitioners refine this Qi to strengthen their bodies, minds, and spirits, striving to ascend beyond mortal limitations.
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The Realms of Cultivation
The Pathways of Ascension are divided into realms, each representing a significant leap in power and understanding. These realms are further subdivided into stages, indicating the cultivator's progress. The disparity between tiers increases as one ascends higher. A rough scaling below:
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1. Qi Condensation Realm
Cultivator Tier: Equivalent to Humans.
Description:
The entry point of cultivation. Practitioners refine Qi to create a core. While a person creates his core, there is an extremely rare chance of it shattering, with low chance of ever recreating it due to the damage to the dantian. This is frowned upon as the heavens are not allowing the person to ever cultivate and rise higher, as there are many who don't have the luck to cultivate, but rarely does someone gets a direct refusal.
Stages: First Condensation to Ninth Condensation.
Focus: Body refinement(not externally strengthen) to accommodate the core, Qi absorption, and preparation for advanced techniques.
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2. Foundation Establishment Realm
Cultivator Tier: Equivalent to Mortal Tier Beasts.
Description:
The cultivator stabilizes their foundation, aligning their Qi with their chosen path. This stage is where mortal limits begin to stretch.
Stages: Early Foundation, Intermediate Foundation, Late Foundation.
Strength Scaling: An Early Foundation Establishment Cultivator is equal to 5x an average human. An Intermediate Foundation Establishment Cultivator is 2x times more stronger than an Early Foundation Cultivator. A Late Foundation cultivator is 5x stronger than an Early Foundation cultivator.
Focus: Developing unique techniques, expanding Qi capacity, and achieving early comprehension of laws.
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3. Core Formation Realm
Cultivator Tier: Equivalent to Spirit Tier Beasts (Low to Peak).
Description:
Cultivators break their mortal shell as their Qi condenses into a special Core(not the same as before). This stage marks the true beginning of extraordinary cultivation.
Stages: False Core, True Core, Golden Core.
Strength Scaling:
False Core: 2x stronger than Late Foundation cultivators.
True Core: 5x stronger than Late Foundation Cultivators.
Golden Core: 10x stronger than Late Foundation cultivators.
Focus: Deep understanding of the laws of the world and mastery of powerful techniques.
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4. Nascent Soul Realm
Cultivator Tier: Equivalent to Mystic Tier Beasts (Low to Peak).
Description:
The practitioner forms a Nascent Soul, a miniature spiritual entity that represents their essence. This stage allows mastery over profound techniques and elemental control.
Stages: Infant Nascent Soul, Adolescent Nascent Soul, Mature Nascent Soul.
Strength Scaling:
Infant Nascent Soul: 20x stronger than Golden Core cultivators.
Adolescent Nascent Soul: 50x stronger than Golden Core cultivators.
Mature Nascent Soul: 100x stronger than Golden Core cultivators.
Focus: Uniting mind, body, and soul to wield advanced techniques and laws.
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5. Ascension Realm
Cultivator Tier: Equivalent to Legendary Tier Beasts (Low to Peak).
Description:
Cultivators transcend mortal limits entirely, gaining partial control over the laws of the universe.
Stages: Initial Ascension, Grand Ascension, True Ascension.
Strength Scaling:
Initial Ascension: 100x stronger than Mature Nascent Soul cultivators.
Grand Ascension: 500x stronger than Mature Nascent Soul cultivators.
True Ascension: 1000x stronger than Mature Nascent Soul cultivators.
Focus: Harnessing higher laws, manipulating reality, and ascending toward divinity.
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Immortal Realms
Cultivator Tier: Equivalent to Supreme Tier Beasts.
Description:
Beings at this stage are no longer bound by the mortal plane. They fully command the laws of existence, representing a pinnacle of cultivation.
Strength Scaling: Varies based on law comprehension and the depth of immortality achieved. Immortal cultivators are beyond mortal comprehension.
Focus: Complete mastery over existence and influencing fate itself
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Paths of Cultivation
The Pathways of Ascension are further divided into three primary paths, each shaped by a cultivator's nature and affinity.
1. Sky Path
Represents purity, freedom, and the pursuit of enlightenment.
Practitioners: Focus on harmony with natural laws, using techniques that emphasize balance and defense.
Example Abilities: Heavenly Light Barrier, Calamity's Wrath.
2. Earthly Path
Represents vitality, resilience, and connection to the physical world.
Practitioners: Enhance their bodies and control the environment around them.
Example Abilities: Earthshaker Fist, Vital Bloom.
3. Beast Path
Represents primal instincts and the bond between humans and beasts.
Practitioners: Fuse their souls with beast spirits or transform into powerful hybrid forms.
Example Abilities: Bloodclaw Strike, Primal Roar.
Cultivators are not bound to a single path; however, mastery requires focus. A balance between paths often results in versatility, while specialization leads to unparalleled power in a specific domain.
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Energy Attributes
Cultivators align their Qi with elemental or conceptual attributes to refine their abilities. Some of the common attributes include:
Fire: Destructive and intense. Techniques emphasize explosive power.
Water: Adaptable and enduring. Techniques focus on defense and healing.
Wind: Agile and swift. Techniques favor speed and evasion.
Earth: Stable and strong. Techniques excel in defense and overwhelming force.
Yin and Yang: Represent balance, duality, and the interplay of oppositesRare and highly sought after.
Etc.....
Certain attributes, such as Space, Time, and Fate, are considered supreme and difficult to master.
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Here's a detailed system for pills, categorized into Basic (Human), Earth, and Heavenly Grades, along with their uses and significance.
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1. Human Grade Pills
Basic pills are the foundation of cultivation and are widely used by beginners and lower-level cultivators.
Common Uses:
Healing minor injuries.
Slightly enhancing physical strength or energy.
Temporary boosts to speed, stamina, or focus.
Examples:
1. Qi recovery Pill
Restores a small amount of spiritual energy during training or battle.
Common among new cultivators.
2. Minor Vitality Pill
Improves recovery speed for wounds and exhaustion.
Primarily for Beast Path practitioners, often fed to beasts.
3. Blood Coagulation Pill
Stops bleeding and prevents infections.
Used in both human and beast cultivation.
4. Essence Stabilizing Pill
Prevents energy loss during failed breakthroughs or injuries.
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2. Earth Grade Pills
Earth-grade pills are rare and sought-after by intermediate to advanced cultivators. They are crafted from rare ingredients and imbued with purer spiritual energy.
Common Uses:
Permanent boosts to cultivation.
Enhancing bloodlines or unlocking minor abilities.
Recovery from severe injuries or stabilizing cores.
Examples:
1. Core Fortification Pill
Strengthens the foundation of a cultivator's core, reducing risks of future instability.
Common among Earth-grade cultivators and their beasts.
2. Beast Soul Pill
Deepens the bond between master and beast while strengthening the beast's soul.
Used in Beast Path cultivation to ensure harmony in contracts.
3. Elemental Affinity Pill
Temporarily boosts affinity with a specific element (e.g., fire, wind).
Sky Path users employ it for combat or breakthroughs.
4. Vital Surge Pill
Stimulates the body's latent potential, enhancing recovery from grievous injuries.
Frequently used by warriors during life-and-death battles.
5. Bloodline Awaken Pill
Affects beasts and cultivators with latent bloodlines, slightly awakening ancestral power.
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3. Heavenly Grade Pills
Made from almost extinct ingredients. Their effects are profound and often life-changing.
Common Uses:
Restoring broken or shattered cores.
Fully healing life-threatening injuries.
Unlocking hidden potential or granting abilities.
Examples:
1. Spirit Foundation Pill
Fully restores shattered or broken cores, reigniting a cultivator's path.
Ling Fei used this pill to recover his shattered core.
2. Primordial Ascension Pill
Unlocks hidden potential, granting access to higher levels of comprehension or new abilities.
Can also enhance beasts, allowing for evolutionary transformations.
3. Soul Restoration Pill
Reconstructs a broken or damaged soul, essential for Sky Path or Beast Path practitioners whose soul links have been shattered.
4. Immortal Flame Pill
Grants temporary immunity to elemental attacks while massively boosting energy for breakthroughs.
Used only during critical moments in cultivation.
5. Fate-Altering Pill
Known to defy the natural order, this pill is used to reverse curses, change destiny, or boost luck.
Rare and potentially dangerous.
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Significance in the World
Basic Pills: Common and affordable, often sold in sect markets or traded among mortal cultivators.
Earth Pills: Highly valued, often used as rewards in competitions or sold at exorbitant prices in auctions.
Heavenly Pills: Treasured by sects; ownership alone can provoke war.
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Grading System for Beasts: Mortal to Supreme:-
This grading system categorizes beasts from the basic Mortal Tier to the apocalyptic Supreme Tier, mirroring the human cultivation system. The disparity in power between tiers increases exponentially, with higher-tier beasts capable of overwhelming those below them. Only Spirit Tier beasts and above can merge with Golden Core cultivators. A rough scaling below:
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1. Mortal Tier
Human Equivalent: Foundation Establishment Realm
Power Comparison: Base level (1x strength)
Description: Beasts in the Mortal Tier are the weakest. They possess limited intelligence and minor spiritual energy at higher sub-grades.
Sub-Grades:
Low Mortal: Ordinary animals with no discernible spiritual traits.
Intermediate Mortal: Slightly enhanced strength, speed, or senses due to faint spiritual traits.
High Mortal: Improved physical attributes and minor elemental affinity.
Peak Mortal: At the cusp of spiritual awakening, these beasts are the strongest of this tier.
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2. Spirit Tier
Human Equivalent: Golden Core Realm
Power Comparison: 10x stronger than Peak Mortal Tier beasts
Description: Spirit Tier beasts are the first to possess awakened intelligence and notable spiritual energy. Their powers range from elemental control to advanced physical enhancements. Only these beasts can merge with Golden Core cultivators to form soul bond fusion, significantly amplifying both parties' power.
Sub-Grades:
Low Spirit: Basic mastery over one elemental or spiritual ability.
Intermediate Spirit: Sharper intelligence and improved control over their innate powers.
High Spirit: Significant command over spiritual and physical abilities.
Peak Spirit: Nearly unmatched among their tier, these beasts can dominate Mortal Tier opponents effortlessly.
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3. Mystic Tier
Human Equivalent: Nascent Soul Realm
Power Comparison: 100x stronger than Peak Spirit Tier beasts
Description: Mystic Tier beasts are rare, dominating entire territories and wielding immense power. Their spiritual and elemental mastery surpasses the limits of most cultivators.
Sub-Grades:
Low Mystic: Newly ascended with basic mastery of spiritual and elemental abilities.
Intermediate Mystic: Advanced skills and intelligence capable of rivaling multiple Spirit Tier opponents.
High Mystic: Refined control of their powers, capable of overwhelming early Nascent Soul cultivators.
Peak Mystic: Almost at the Legendary Tier, these beasts exude ancient bloodline traits and immense dominance.
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4. Legendary Tier
Human Equivalent: Ascension Realm
Power Comparison: 1,000x stronger than Peak Mystic Tier beasts
Description: Legendary Tier beasts are mythological entities, often associated with ancient bloodlines. Their powers can devastate entire regions and rewrite the balance of power.
Sub-Grades:
Low Legendary: Display minor traits of mythical ancestry and significant elemental mastery.
Intermediate Legendary: Stronger mythical traits and near-perfect control over their immense energy.
High Legendary: Can obliterate Mystic Tier opponents with minimal effort, showcasing apocalyptic dominance.
Peak Legendary: Beasts at the edge of Supreme Tier, their mere presence can alter the natural order.
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5. Supreme Tier
Human Equivalent: Immortal Realm
Power Comparison: Can't be measured in numbers. Each beast has their own power scaling and is different from othes at the same realm.
Description: Supreme Tier beasts are entities of myth and legend, wielding power that surpasses mortal comprehension. They manipulate universal laws, and their strength challenges even the highest realms of human cultivation.
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Examples of Strength Disparity
1. Peak Mortal Beast vs. Low Spirit Beast: The Spirit Beast would require minimal effort to subdue the Mortal Beast, using its superior intelligence and elemental mastery.
2. Peak Spirit Beast vs. Low Mystic Beast: The Mystic Beast can annihilate a group of Spirit Beasts with overwhelming energy and intelligence.
3. Peak Mystic Beast vs. Low Legendary Beast: A single Legendary Beast could destroy an entire region of Mystic Beasts with effortless ease.
4. Peak Legendary Beast vs. Low Supreme Beast: Even the weakest Supreme Beast's dominance is unparalleled, capable of erasing Legendary Beasts and the below ones that sare challenge it with a single.... thought.
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Beasts can only be categorized in Sky and Earth Paths based on their abilities.
Attributes for Synchronization with Human Cultivation
1. Elemental Affinity: Determines compatibility with a cultivator's elemental techniques (e.g., Fire, Ice, Lightning).
2. Bloodline Purity: Influences a beast's strength and abilities (Ordinary, Noble, Ancient, Mythical, or Divine).
3. Soul Grade: Reflects potential for merging with cultivators at the Golden Core Realm and beyond.
4. Evolution Potential: Indicates whether the beast can ascend to higher tiers.
Merging Rules:
Only Spirit Tier or higher beasts can merge with Golden Core cultivators.
Mystic Tier beasts require Nascent Soul cultivators for compatibility.
Legendary and Supreme Tier beasts demand advanced Divine Transformation or Immortal Realm cultivators, as their power is overwhelming.
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The Role of the System
Ling Fei's unique Sign-In System acts as a guide, mentor, and benefactor in his cultivation journey. While ordinary cultivators must struggle to uncover resources and techniques, the system provides Ling Fei with advantages, such as:
1. Sign-In Rewards:
By visiting specific locations or defeating powerful enemies, Ling Fei earns treasures, techniques, or breakthroughs.
2. Combat Assistance:
The system offers real-time guidance, analyzing opponents and suggesting strategies.
3. Resource Management:
Ling Fei can convert system/sign-in points gained from sign ins and quests into cultivation resources, such as Qi-enhancing pills or spirit stones.
The system is not invincible, however. Ling Fei must still rely on his intellect, instincts, and perseverance to thrive in a world where danger lurks at every corner.
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Fate and Luck
Two unique concepts govern the Pathways of Ascension: Fate and Luck.
Fate: Represents the grand design of the universe. A strong fate ensures a cultivator's path is smooth, filled with opportunities for growth.
Luck: Represents the unpredictable. A person with high luck may stumble upon treasures or escape death by a hair's breadth.
Ling Fei's journey is one where both fate and luck play crucial roles, shaping not only his path but the world around him.
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The Pathways of Ascension is a world of endless possibilities and perilous challenges. Only those with courage, wisdom, and unyielding will can carve their names into history. Ling Fei's story has just begun, but the foundation he builds today will determine whether he rises to glory—or falls into obscurity.