I'm using famous cultivation stage like normally cultivation novel in Chinese (maybe)
There are ten stage with three levels in every stage (some of them are original from me and some from reference);
1. Body Tempering or Mortal Realm
Function: The stage when a person is still an ordinary human and begins to open the path of cultivation.
Characteristics:
-The body begins to strengthen (bones, muscles, blood circulation).
-One can begin to sense "Qi" for the first time.
-No supernatural abilities.
-Vulnerable to illness and physical injury.
-Usually requires rigorous training, basic meditation, or breathing techniques.
How to level up?
With practice four things;
Skin Tempering → skin begins to hardena and
Flesh Tempering → muscle strengthening. (Begin in early stage)
Bone Tempering → bone strengthening. (Begin in mid/intermediate stage)
Marrow Cleansing → marrow cleansing, increasing lifespan. (Begin in late stage)
2. Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment
This stage is the most common in xianxia (i decided to use xianxia genre but in wuxia style since my novel have magic system due its one of my story project [its not just one story]), where the cultivator's core begins to form.
A. Qi Refining (Lianqi / Spirit Refining) (Early stage)
Characteristics:
-Can control small amounts of Qi.
-Able to use simple techniques: light qi energy attacks, accelerating the body, healing minor injuries.
-Body resilience increases dramatically.
B. Foundation Establishment (Jizhu / Establishing Foundation)(Mid-late stage)
Characteristics:
-The cultivation core begins to stabilize.
-Intermediate-level techniques can be used.
-Lifespan increases by more tens of years.
-The body is much more impervious than that of an ordinary human.
How to level up?
With practice three things;
Qi Meditation→ more feel natural energy and control it (begin in early stage)
Cultivate core→ deep qi meditation and deep controling qi energy with small amount before getting used to it (begin in mid stage)
Dying→ to get enlightened with qi energy, one need to face the death (begin in late stage)
This stage is considered the gateway to becoming a true cultivator.
3. Core Formation (Jindan / Golden Core)
This is a classic stage in Chinese cultivation (i think?).
Characteristics:
-A Core forms in the dantian. (Qi turn into balls inside dantian for easy understanding)
-Qi becomes denser and purer.
-More capable of short flights, walking on water/leaves.
-Energy attack techniques begin to be very lethal.
Cores are usually graded by color (common → perfect):
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Perfect Gold
Nascent Core
How to level up?
Long cultivation→ dive deep into Qi energy world (begin in early stage)
Eat more core and pills→ eat core with 100% energy absorption (mid and late stage, until core in dantian turning into nascent core)
4. Nascent Soul (Yuanying / Soul Infant)
One of the most iconic stages in xianxia (probably).
Characteristics:
-A mini-soul in the shape of oneself forms within the core. (In my version, I'll make it looks like stand in JoJo for better visual imagination)
-Cultivators can use their mini soul for battle and other. Such curse or bless.
-Soul attack techniques begin to be mastered. (Stand attack!)
-Can fly depends on how much soul power.
How to level up?
Turning Core into soul→ after get much core inside upper dantian (approximately need 10 core) soul will create depends on character reflection. (Begin in early stage)
Soul practice→ controling soul with more precision and power. Getting used to soul. (Mid and late stage)
5. Soul Transformation or Spirit Severing
Beginning to enter the realm of high-level cultivators. From here and then, its my original power system.
Characteristics:
-The soul is strengthened to the point where it can transcend the physical body. (Literally having stand on my back)
-Can condense the soul into avatars, clones, or shadows. (See?)
-Qi attacks can destroy small cities. (Like nen in hunter x hunter)
-The soul is almost invulnerable to ordinary weapons.
How to level up?
Soul Transformation→ soul begin grow up, with some contract or vow every soul have unique ability. (Begin in early stage)
Soul Binding→ after body die, soul can still lingering with some contract or binding vow have been made. (Mid and late stage)
6. Void Refining or Void Shattering
A stage approaching minor divinity. (Nothing special in here, just rock jump)
Characteristics:
-Capable of tearing space on a small scale or divide and create space from nothing with insane Qi power or Soul power.
-Body is almost indestructible except by high-level energy.
-Soul and body begin to merge with natural laws (Dao).
How to level up?
Cultivation enlighten→ can freely through inside spirit realm (or other realm) with cultivate (begin in early stage)
Space create→ with soul power and amount lf Qi, a personal domain can be created from nothing. (Mid and late stage)
7. Integration or Dao Fusion
Cultivators begin to integrate themselves with the Dao, the laws of the universe. (Like binding vow in jujutsu or special nen in hunter x hunter)
Characteristics:
-Master 1 or more Dao elements (Fire, Lightning, Wind, Water, Etc).
-Attacks can destroy mountains or large scale place.
-Consciousness is broader, able to influence the surrounding environment.
-The soul can exist even if the body is temporarily destroyed. (Still alive after dead if soul [stand] didn't get destroyed)
How to level up?
Dead by Dao→ literally dying will made one fusion with nature. (If your dao is fire, u must atleast dead burned to your body fusion with fire and fire become you) (Begin in early stage)
Control Dao→ gain control with element you died for (became avatar Aang)(mid and late stage)
8. Spirit Ascension or Immortal Ascension
The stage of entering the immortal world (hard die character according to the novel).
Characteristics:
-Able to leave the mortal world. (Literally can die as much u wanted)
-The body have unlimited lifespan until getting killed or died by itself.
-Does not require food or sleep.
-Their energy is capable of forming natural phenomena.
How to level up?
Enlighten→ by died several times (begin in early, mid, and late stage)
9. Immortal Realm (Xian)
Can make personal domain expansion with special law inside.
Characteristics:
-Immortal life.
-Master the basic laws of the universe.
-Can create domains, spaces, or small worlds.
-Every attack is a world-level disaster.
How to level up?
One need to die 100 times or take 1000 souls (no stage in here)
10. Celestial / God Realm
The highest tier in vast xianxia novels. And in my power system.
Characteristics:
-Can create new laws.
-Control other worlds.
-Can create living beings.
-Their names are recorded in cosmic history.
How to level up?
Destroy the world.
Reminder
In this novel, the peak that character can achieve is only immortal ascension and immortal realm. God realm only from one character outside this story world.