In the Myriad Immortal World, power is the ultimate goal. However, the journey to attain that power is arduous and filled with many paths, each representing a different method of mastery over the forces of the universe. Cultivation and magic are the two primary avenues of gaining power, and they are both deeply intertwined with the world's natural laws. But to walk both paths is not only difficult—it is also a taboo.
Cultivation Levels: The Path of the Dao
In the Dao cultivation system, the practitioner aims to achieve spiritual enlightenment and harmony with the natural order of the universe. The Dao path is not one of forceful action, but one of balance, purity, and patience. The goal is to align oneself with the natural flow of Qi, the life force that connects all living things, and to transcend the mortal plane in pursuit of immortality.
The Dao path is not a simple one—it requires years of meditation, discipline, and spiritual refinement. There are different levels a practitioner must progress through, each representing a deeper connection to the Dao and the universal forces. Alongside this path, there are also sub-paths that a cultivator may choose to focus on, known as Body Cultivation and Soul Cultivation.
Cultivation Levels (Dao Path):
Qi Condensation:
The first stage where practitioners begin to sense and cultivate their Qi, refining their body and mind. The foundation of all Dao cultivation begins here, as the cultivator strengthens their physical body and prepares it to hold more Qi.
Requirement:
Strong physical health and mental clarity.
The ability to sense the flow of Qi within the body.
Foundation Establishment:
Cultivators begin to form a Dao Core within their bodies, representing their spiritual foundation. At this stage, they are able to manipulate their Qi more efficiently, enhancing their strength, speed, and resilience. They can also begin to influence the natural elements, but at a small scale.
Requirement:
Ability to form a Dao Core.
Strong connection to the Dao and a disciplined mind.
Core Formation:
The cultivator forms a Dao Core within themselves, allowing them to absorb spiritual energy and manipulate larger forces in the natural world. This is the stage where cultivators become able to influence time and space on a small scale.
Requirement:
Mastery over Qi flow and Dao manipulation.
Ability to create a stable Dao Core.
Nascent Soul:
This is a crucial stage in Dao cultivation. The practitioner forms their Nascent Soul, a representation of their true spiritual essence. With this, they become capable of altering the spiritual and physical realms. They can also interact with the spiritual realms and manipulate higher-level energies.
Requirement:
Formation of the Nascent Soul.
Mastery of cosmic forces and deep understanding of the Dao.
Soul Transformation:
The cultivator transcends their mortal form, achieving immortality through the Dao. At this stage, the practitioner becomes one with the Dao, able to influence the fabric of reality itself and transcend the limitations of time and space.
Requirement:
Absolute mastery over Dao forces and spiritual energy.
The ability to reshape reality on a cosmic scale.
Sub-paths of Dao Cultivation:
While the primary path of Dao cultivation focuses on spiritual growth and balance, there are two sub-paths that a practitioner may choose to focus on: Body Cultivation and Soul Cultivation. These sub-paths are arduous, but can be practiced by those who are willing to put in the effort and sacrifice. Each path emphasizes a different aspect of cultivation.
Body Cultivation:
Body Cultivation focuses on strengthening the physical body to achieve immortality and divine power. The practitioner seeks to refine their flesh, bones, and blood, turning their body into a vessel of power. By following this path, cultivators can enhance their physical attributes, becoming stronger, faster, and more resistant to injury. However, the process is painful and exhausting, often requiring years of constant training and self-purification.
Requirement:
Willpower and the desire to push the limits of the physical body.
A high tolerance for pain and sacrifice.
Soul Cultivation:
This path focuses on strengthening the soul, allowing the practitioner to transcend their mortal existence and reach the realms of true immortality. The cultivator seeks to purify their soul, making it more resilient against the forces of corruption and decay. Soul cultivation is a path of mental discipline and spiritual enlightenment, where the practitioner refines their consciousness to become more attuned to the heavenly and spiritual realms.
Requirement:
Deep mental discipline and spiritual strength.
A strong desire to attain spiritual enlightenment and harmony.
Arcane Magic Levels: The Path of Power
Unlike Dao cultivation, arcane magic revolves around the manipulation of raw power through will, rituals, and knowledge. Magic users shape reality by drawing on the elements and other arcane forces, manipulating the world around them. Unlike Dao cultivators, magic users typically have an affinity for one of the elements and pursue mastery over it.
Magic Levels (Arcane Path):
Magician:
The basic stage where a practitioner learns to control elemental forces such as fire, water, earth, and wind. They can cast simple spells and perform minor magical feats. At this level, magicians are still relatively weak, relying on rituals and incantations to control their magic.
Requirement:
Natural affinity with an element.
Basic knowledge of magical incantations.
Sorcerer:
A sorcerer has mastered the basics of their elemental magic and can cast more powerful spells. They can summon creatures, control larger areas of the elements, and even manipulate time and space to some degree. Sorcerers are proficient in casting complex spells and manipulating their chosen element at will.
Requirement:
Mastery of elemental magic.
Ability to weave complex spells and perform advanced rituals.
Mage:
Mages have unlocked the true power of their element, gaining the ability to manipulate reality itself. At this stage, they can perform world-altering spells and even bend time and space. Mages command immense magical power, and their influence extends across vast areas of reality.
Requirement:
Mastery of multiple magical constructs.
Ability to manipulate space, time, and elemental magic.
Archmage:
Archmages are god-like figures who can reshape the world at will. Their power is unparalleled in the magical world, and they can control the forces of nature, time, and reality itself. At this stage, they are able to alter the very fabric of the universe with a thought.
Requirement:
Mastery over all aspects of magic.
The ability to manipulate reality and the elements on a cosmic scale.
Sorcerer King:
Sorcerer Kings are the ultimate practitioners of magic, capable of altering the universe itself. They are able to reshape entire worlds, create magical realms, and manipulate the laws of existence. Their power is infinite, and they hold dominion over the arcane forces of the world.
Requirement:
Complete control over all magical forces.
Mastery of life, death, time, and space.
The Taboo of Dual Mastery
In the Myriad Immortal World, walking both the Dao path and the arcane path is considered taboo—an incredibly difficult and dangerous endeavor. Few have ever succeeded in balancing both Dao cultivation and arcane magic.
The reason it is taboo is simple: the two forces are incompatible. The Dao seeks balance and purity, while arcane magic demands control, often bending the very laws of nature to the practitioner's will. To practice both is to risk corrupting one's body and soul, as the forces pull in opposite directions.
Further, cultivating both Dao and magic requires immense resources—the Qi required for Dao cultivation is exhausting to maintain, while arcane magic demands constant magical energy, which is volatile and difficult to sustain. Few sects have the resources to support a practitioner who seeks to master both.
Archē Telous: An Exception and Anomaly
Archē Telous was the rare exception to this rule. He was both a master of Dao cultivation and arcane magic, an anomaly in the world's history. Born long before the current generation, Archē Telous was a figure of immense power and wisdom, both feared and revered.
Archē Telous had achieved the pinnacle of both cultivation and magic. He had perfected the Dao and mastered all the elements of magic, a feat that had never been accomplished by any other practitioner. But his existence was shrouded in myth. Many believed his story to be nothing more than a legend, a tale passed down from the elders of the Cosmic Dao Sect to inspire future generations.
Archē Telous was not just a master of the Dao but also possessed an affinity for all the elements of magic: fire, water, earth, wind, light, and darkness. His power transcended both paths, and his name became synonymous with unimaginable power. Yet, due to the taboo surrounding his dual mastery, no one truly knew who he was anymore.
For the world, Archē Telous was a myth—an anomaly whose legacy was recorded in the ancient texts, but whose true form remained a mystery.