Dantian Establishment Stage
This is the "Mortal Shedding" phase. Cultivators begin to sense the world's energy and pull it into their limbs.
The Process: Opening the 108 acupuncture points to allow Qi to flow.The Goal: Tempering the skin and muscles. At the 10th stage, a cultivator can shatter stone with a punch but cannot yet project their energy.
Foundation Stage
Reconstruction Phase. The body is no longer truly human; it is a vessel for heaven and earth.
The Process: Qi is forced into the bones and organs, washing away mortal impurities (black sludge/foul odour).The Goal: Constructing a "Spirit Sea" in the Dantian. Once the foundation is complete, the lifespan extends to 20 more years of human span, and the cultivator can use movement techniques like Lian's "micro-steps."
Essence Stage (Gang Qi)
This is where raw Qi undergoes a qualitative change, becoming Gang Qi—a much denser, sharper, and more destructive form of energy.
The Process: Compressing the gaseous Qi in the Spirit Sea into a liquid state.The Goal: Weaponising the energy. Gang Qi can be projected outside the body to form blades, shields, or elemental attacks (like Lian's Frost and Fire).
Core Formation Stage
After the Essence is refined, the liquid Gang Qi is compressed into a solid Golden Core (or a Lotus Core in Lian's case).
The Process: Using the body as a furnace to "smelt" the Gang Qi into a pill-sized core.The Goal: Internalising power. A cultivator at this stage can fly for short bursts using a weapon, they can survive without food for months, and their internal energy becomes more refined.
Soul Manifestation Stage
The cultivator begins to nourish their soul with the energy of the Core.
The Process: The "Spirit" awakens. A "Divine Sense" is born, allowing the cultivator to perceive everything within several miles with their eyes closed.
The Goal: Creating a Primordial Soul. If the physical body is destroyed, the soul can linger on and, if lucky, reincarnate. During this stage, the cultivator can understand Qi essences rules like. Wood and Water, but only minimally.
Sovereign / Dragon Realm
This is the start of Cultivation as an immortal.
The Process: Harmonising the Primordial Soul with the Laws of the Universe. Begin establishing the internal dantain to form a small universe.
The Goal: Mastery of Domain. A Sovereign can create a space where their word is law—similar to how Wang has a "Universal Pocket" or how the Dragon changed the weather just by speaking, but inside their own bodies though still shallow.
The final goal is to become an immortal, that's what people from the Lower Realms call powerful cultivators like the old master who helped out Lian Xing once.
In order to get there, you must cultivate some other stages which I will share in a future memo.
Thank you so much for your support and for adding this story to your Catalogue.
Shout out to Naitosuta and Daoistwaterdrop for your Continued support.