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Now, we will discuss the cultivation realms in greater detail. Not all realms will be covered, but I will include every realm I am aware of.
First Phase: Mortal Phase
Cultivation begins with the Mortal Phase, a stage dedicated to strengthening the body in preparation for true cultivation. This phase is called the Mortal Phase because cultivators at this level remain entirely mortal. They still experience hunger, thirst, exhaustion, and other human needs—they have not yet transcended their condition.
1: Body Forging Realm (20 Layers)
Details:
This realm is unique in that it follows two distinct paths depending on whether one is a native of the Akashic Records Universe or an outsider.
For natives, this realm is divided into 20 layers, each focused on reinforcing the body through rigorous training, dicinal baths, consumption of natural treasures, and similar thods. Progression in this realm is linear, aning the effort required to advance from the 3rd layer to the 4th is the sa as the jump from the 12th to the 13th.
For non-natives, my knowledge is less precise, but I do know that their progress is asured through ‘stats.’ They must reach specific thresholds in all of their attributes to advance.
If all their stats reach 100, they are at the 1st layer.If they reach 800, they are at the 8th layer, and so on.This progression continues until they reach 2,000 in all stats, which corresponds to the 20th layer—the Peak of the Body Forging Realm.
Once a cultivator reaches the peak of the Body Forging Realm, they must survive the Body Tempering Tribulation to advance to the next realm.
(More details on tribulations will be covered later in the book.)
Second Phase: Foundation Phase
The Foundation Phase serves as the cornerstone of all future cultivation. A solid foundation in this stage can significantly impact one’s potential for advancent.
2: Spiritual Foundation Realm (9 Layers)
Details:
At this stage, a cultivator’s Cultivation Aptitude is revealed.
For natives of the Akashic Records Universe, aptitude is determined at birth based on various factors and cannot be changed—except through the use of extrely rare treasures.
For non-natives, however, their Cultivation Aptitude is influenced by several factors that will be discussed later. Unlike natives, their aptitude can be positively or negatively affected depending on their choices and efforts.
This is also the realm where cultivators shed their mortality:
They no longer need food, water, or sleep.They gain the ability to understand and speak any normal language without prior knowledge.They unlock divine sense, allowing for enhanced perception.They gain the ability to fly and perform various supernatural feats.
To progress in this realm, a cultivator must absorb and refine qi from the environnt, strengthening their dantian while increasing their qi reserves, density, and quality.
At the sa ti, divine sense develops alongside qi, further enhancing perception and ntal resilience.
Once a cultivator reaches the Peak of the Spiritual Foundation Realm, they must survive the Qi Baptism Tribulation to ascend to the next major realm.
3: Core Formation Realm (9 Layers)
Details:
This realm consists of…
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The Cultivation Aptitude of non-natives of the Akashic Records Universe can be influenced, as ntioned earlier. This influence occurs during their breakthrough to the Spiritual Foundation Realm.
At that mont, they must head to an evolution center controlled by the Akashic Order. There, they will have two choices regarding how their Cultivation Aptitude is determined.
The first choice is known as the "passive path." It is calculated based on their "accumulation" before reaching the Spiritual Foundation Realm, which directly determines their Cultivation Aptitude. The criteria are as follows:
Cultivation Aptitude Level 1: No requirent, as it is the minimum possible result.Cultivation Aptitude Level 2: Requires 125 in all stats for non-natives of the Akashic Records Universe.Cultivation Aptitude Level 3: Requires 500 in all stats for non-natives of the Akashic Records Universe.Cultivation Aptitude Level 4: Requires 2K in all stats—also referred to as reaching the Absolute Limits in all stats.Cultivation Aptitude Level 5: To obtain this level, a non-native must not only reach the Absolute Limits in all stats but also continue growing stronger through other ans. Only then can one achieve Cultivation Aptitude Level 5.
This first path allows non-natives to reach up to Cultivation Aptitude Level 5. Frankly, this possibility makes many natives of the Akashic Records Universe—including —extrely envious, as it provides a clear thod to attain an exceptionally high Cultivation Aptitude with enough effort.
Especially considering that, for us natives, Cultivation Aptitude is generally decided at birth and is rarely anywhere near Level 5!
The second option for non-natives to gain a Cultivation Aptitude is called the "active path." Unlike the passive path, which is based on prior accumulation, this thod requires one to undergo a trial issued by the Akashic Order.
The trial takes place within a "virtual space," where participants can choose from multiple trial types. The better their performance, the higher their final Cultivation Aptitude.
Through this thod, it is even possible to surpass Level 5 Cultivation Aptitude—an outco that is EXTRELY ENVIOUS!
Mikael continued reading, absorbing the vast amount of new information. By the ti he reached the end of the 120-page book, he let out a deep sigh and closed it.
"That was informative... but damn, what an info dump!"
Running a hand through his hair, he closed his eyes, sinking into deep thought.
‘So, if I take the cultivation system into account, that would an that, power-wise, I should be sowhere between the 6th and 9th layer of the Body Forging Realm, right?’
‘Hmm… not exactly. Sure, technically I can be considered at that stage, but in terms of raw strength, I should be far beyond that. At the very least, I’m at the peak of the Body Forging Realm, probably even approaching the Spiritual Foundation Realm—maybe even capable of rivaling those in its lower layers.’
He wasn’t entirely certain of his exact combat prowess, but considering that his Aura Cloak already placed him far above an ordinary peak Body Forging cultivator, he estimated that with his skills, he could at least escape from soone in the early stages of the Spiritual Foundation Realm—perhaps even rival them. However, he wasn’t sure, as he lacked a proper point of comparison, especially given the gap between phases.
His fingers tapped against his chin. "Accumulation, huh?" he murmured to himself, his thoughts lingering on the section detailing how a trial could determine one's Cultivation Aptitude.
‘In that case, the smartest move would be to wait until I reach my absolute peak—until any further progress becos practically impossible. That way, I’ll have the best chance of obtaining the highest Cultivation Aptitude possible.’
‘Sure, I’ll be delaying my cultivation and starting later than others, but in the grand sche of things, a slight delay doesn’t matter if it ans faster progress in the future. Let’s say I waste one or two years… but in exchange, I can cultivate twice as fast as if I took the trial now.’
‘In the long run, there’s no question which option saves more ti.’
‘So, maximizing my accumulation is a given. But what else? Should I stay on Diron to grow stronger? Head to the Hub, then explore other worlds? Or maybe I should start by doing so reconnaissance—after all, while the information in this book is useful, nothing beats firsthand experience.’
His thoughts swirled as he carefully considered all possibilities before finally coming to a decision.
‘I’ll do so more reconnaissance first. Once I leave this world, I won’t be coming back until it’s ti for my breakthrough to the Spiritual Foundation Realm. As interesting as this cultivation universe seems, it’s still incredibly dangerous, and there’s no need to expose myself unnecessarily—especially when I’m still this weak.’
With his plan set, Mikael exited the chamber he had rented for the night. The room had cost him a low-rank spirit stone, slightly above the price of the other inn he saw when he was walking around, but considering the inn’s upscale atmosphere and the fact that he lacked mortal currencies like gold or silver, it was a fair trade. The innkeeper had even been thankful for the generous tip.
Upon reaching the lower floor, he took a seat at a single-person table, which featured a plush chair clearly designed for solitary patrons. Once seated, he gestured to a waitress, signaling her to bring him so food.
“Did you hear about it? Yesterday, I heard there was so chaos at the brothel. A young master made a ss…”
Mikael listened to the various conversations around him, but he didn’t learn much beyond local rumors and idle chatter.
Before long, his food arrived, and he began eating. The al was unorthodox compared to what he was used to, but it was surprisingly good. As he ate, he continued eavesdropping on the surrounding patrons.
He remained in the inn for the next two hours, nursing a few drinks offered by the establishnt. He wasn’t particularly thirsty, but he figured it would be less conspicuous to sip on sothing rather than just sit there for hours, silently listening to conversations.
And it seed his reasoning was sound—throughout those two hours, no one bothered him. A small victory in his book.
By the ti he was ready to leave, he had gained a much clearer understanding of at least the city he was in—Watermoon City. As for the broader geographical surroundings, he already had a decent grasp of them thanks to Diron’s Landscape, so in that regard, the information wasn’t particularly useful.
However, what did help was his newfound understanding of Diron’s culture. While the books he had read provided valuable knowledge, nothing quite compared to hearing rumors firsthand in a bustling inn. It gave him insight into daily life, the attitudes of the people, and the general atmosphere of the city.
With that in mind, he decided to head to a shop to buy so Taoist robes. While there were a few people wearing different attire, the vast majority dressed in cultivator robes, making them the standard. If he wanted to blend in better, adjusting his clothing would be a smart move.
Thirty minutes and fifty low-rank spirit stones later, Mikael stepped out of the store, now clad in pristine white Taoist robes. The flowing fabric draped over his fra with an understated elegance, giving him an almost ethereal presence.
Earlier, when he had caught sight of himself in the store’s mirror, he had found it a bit disorienting. The robes completely changed his usual appearance. After all, he wasn’t used to wearing this kind of clothing.
He shrugged. ‘When in Ro, do as the Romans do.’ With that thought, he exited the store.
From there, he wandered the city, drawing little attention. His short hair was slightly uncommon compared to the longer styles preferred by most n, but it wasn’t rare enough to make him stand out. As a result, he was able to move through the streets unnoticed.
He continued his reconnaissance of the city for a while until he noticed night beginning to fall. At that point, he returned to his inn chamber and settled in for the night.
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— End of Chapter —
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