- “Xianxia novels, movies, and whatnot are fun to watch and laugh about. But, don’t take the contents for real.„
- — White to Song Shuhang[1]
In the beginning, there was no ‘stages’ concept in the Cultivation World. Each level was differentiated according to foundation building, rebirth, inborn, gold core, nascent soul and other notable symbols for each realm. The concept of rank tier was popularised during the Ancient Antiquity Era.[2]
There is a clear structure and difference between each cultivation stages. Each stage has unique and definitive changes to the body and/or special ability.
The stages are divided further into minor realms. Rather than the usual 1 – 9 layers or primary, intermediate, advanced and peak stages, the number of minor realms are different for each stage. In order to breakthrough these minor realms, a cultivator must fulfil the perquisite requirements first.
| Status | Stage | Title | Lifespan | Body Transformation | Special Ability | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disciple | First Stage |
Beyond Mortal |
100 – 120 years | Five Acupoints | A special ability related to at least one of the acupoints | [3][4][5] |
| Second Stage | True Master | 200 – 240 years | Eight Dragon Dantians | True Qi | [6][5] | |
| Third Stage | Battle King | 300 – 400 years | Four Extraordinary Meridians | Battle King Body | [7][5][8] | |
| Expert | Fourth Stage | Inborn | 600 years |
Void Core Nine Immortal Bones |
Controlling Sword Art | [7][9] |
| Fifth Stage | Spirit Sovereign | 1,000 years | Gold Core | Walking on the Sky | [10][11][12] | |
| Senior | Sixth Stage | True Monarch | 10,000 years | Spirit Lake | True Flight | [10] |
| Seventh Stage | Spirit Venerable | 100,000 years | Nascent Soul | True Illusion | [7] | |
| Big Shot | Eighth Stage | 1,000,000 years | Seal | False Reality | [13] | |
| Ninth Stage | Tribulation Immortal | x0,000,000 years | Tribulation Bone | Gate of Space | [14][15] |
