Cultivation

Cultivation in this world is broken down into two major domains, the 3 great mortal realms and the immortal realms. The world is defined by spiritual energy, a mysterious source of power that is present within the world, all things living and non-living. The goal of mortal cultivation is the refine the body and mind so that one can harness spiritual energy. The goal of immortal cultivation is to gain a small insight into the arcane mysteries of the world of spiritual energy and be rewarded with a breakthrough from their mortal shackles and additional lifespan.

## Mortal Realms

The three mortal realms are:

* Body Refinement Realm
* Mind Focusing Realm
* Spirit Initiate Realm

Mortal realms are straightforward and almost all beings in the world, humans, beasts, devils, and other races are capable of cultivating to the peak of the mortal realms given enough time and resources.(Ch 1)

These three realms also corresponds to the three dantian that humans can have; lower dantian for the Body Refinement Realm, upper dantian for the Mind Focusing Realm, and middle dantian for the Spirit Initiate Realm.(Ch 35)

## Immortal Realms

Only the strongest few beings are able to cross a mysterious threshold and enter immortal cultivation. Nobody knows why the immortal realms exist, only that it gives beings additional lifespan. All living things desire to live and deny death, and thus becoming an 'immortal' is the goal of all. The immortal realms provide additional lifespan to different beings at different rates but for humans, it is the following.

* Spirit Lord Realm - 100 years
* Spirit King Realm - 500 years
* Spirit Emperor Realm - 1000 years
* Spirit Overlord Realm - 3000 years
* Spirit Master Realm - 10000 years
* Spirit Saint Realm - 30000 years
* Spirit Demigod Realm - 100000 years

In these realms, there is also the concept of strengthening their spiritual sea. There are seven stages of spiritual strengthening in each realm before one can attempt to breakthrough to the next realm.(Ch 168) One without any spiritual strengthening is considered to be at the first stage.

## Nirvana

All living things follow the cycle of life, death, and rebirth; samsara. It was a never-ending cycle, one that was tied to the laws of the entire world. It was impossible to resist, impossible to stop. The pursuit of immortality and higher realms is trying to escape from cycle and achieve nirvana.

Nirvana is liberation, ascension, true immortality, and divinity. It is what is beyond the Spirit Demigod Realm.(Ch 199)

## Dao

The Dao, or path, is a simple concept within cultivation. It is the what style of cultivation you choose to focus on and pursue in order to breakthrough to immortality. Almost all focus on a single Dao or a limited number. The Dao one follows also allows them to cultivation a specific secret art or even create their own.

* Sword Art - Dao and secret arts dealing with the sword. It is very popular.
* Dual Cultivation - Cultivation through yin and yang, with a partner.
* Beast Art - Dao to emulate beasts
* Supportive Art - Dao that benefits others as well as themselves.

## Specializations

Cultivation is not only about a person's cultivation level but it also includes many different fields of specialization. These include:

* Inscription