Preface: On Earth, the path of cultivation is a brutal, almost forgotten science. With ambient Qi virtually nonexistent, advancement depends on three pillars:
1. Brute-Force Body Refinement: Using agony and rare resources to force the mortal vessel to evolve.
2. Alchemical Substitution: Using symbolic and energetic properties of rare materials to simulate the effects of Qi.
3. Soul-First Heresy: The unprecedented and dangerous path of forging the soul before accumulating Qi, as per the Soul Grinding Scripture.
Below are the Nine Mortal Realms as they manifest on pre-Convergence Earth. Each realm refines a different aspect of being, preparing the cultivator to one day withstand Heavenly Tribulation and ascend.
---
The Nine Mortal Realms of Earth
1. Body Tempering Realm
The Great Mortal Forge. The cultivator treats their body as raw ore, purifying and strengthening every component before any "magic" is possible.
· Focus: Purging modern biological impurities and reconstructing the physical vessel into a perfect foundation.
· Resources Needed: Herbs with trace earthly energy, rare minerals, animal essences, symbolic catalysts (e.g., Peacock Feather for balance).
· Key Limitation: No Qi manipulation. Pure physical and willpower-based cultivation.
Layer Name Earthly Manifestation & Effect
1 Skin Purification Expels surface toxins through foul sweat. Skin becomes resilient to minor cuts and temperature extremes.
2 Muscle Forging Muscles gain density and fine control. Strength doubles, movements lose wasted motion.
3 Tendon Strengthening Tendons become like steel cables. Jumping height and running speed increase dramatically. Flexibility and joint integrity are perfected.
4 Bone Cleansing (ASUTA'S CURRENT STAGE) Bones are scoured of marrow impurities, becoming denser and lighter. Skeleton can withstand massive impacts. Foundation for future strength.
5 Organ Purification Heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, and spleen are cleansed and harmonized. Stamina becomes immense, toxins are processed instantly, vitality soars.
6 Blood Meridian Cleansing Blood is purified, becoming richer and more efficient. Circulation optimizes, carrying nutrients and energy flawlessly. Wounds clot near-instantly.
7 Nerve Forging Nervous system is overhauled. Reaction time becomes superhuman (<5ms). Sensory perception is magnified. Pain tolerance is extreme.
8 Marrow Rebirthing Bone marrow is completely replaced with vibrant, potent marrow that produces "spirit-rich" blood. This is the body's first internal production of a Qi-adjacent vitality.
9 Unified Flesh All systems integrate perfectly. The body operates as a single, flawless organism. This is the Peak Mortal Form. The cultivator is now a perfect vessel, ready to sense and attract the first wisp of external Qi.
Earthly Breakthrough Insight: On Earth, reaching Layer 9 is a near-mythical feat requiring consuming treasures like the Frozen Lightning. Most would-be cultivators stall at Layer 3 or 4 due to lack of resources.
---
2. Qi Condensation Realm
Drawing the First Breath. The cultivator, with a perfect body, can now sense and draw the faint, dormant Qi of Earth into themselves, condensing it within their meridians.
· Focus: Opening Meridians, forming a "Qi Sea" in the dantian, and learning basic Qi circulation.
· Resources Needed: Locations with slightly higher natural energy (ley line nodes, ancient forests), Qi-absorbing herbs, basic Qi-gathering formations.
· Key Change: Can now perform basic Qi-empowered actions: enhanced leaps, strikes that shatter stone, minimal elemental affinity (a spark, a breeze).
Layer Name Earthly Manifestation & Effect
1-3 Meridian Opening The 12 primary meridians are painstakingly opened, allowing Qi to flow. Process is agonizingly slow on Earth.
4-6 Qi Sea Formation Opened meridians funnel gathered Qi to the lower dantian, forming a swirling pool of energy—the Qi Sea. Its size and density define potential.
7-9 Cyclic Circulation The cultivator learns to move Qi through meridians in specific cycles, strengthening them and beginning to nourish the soul. Can project Qi a few inches from the body.
Earthly Hardship: On a dormant world, forming a Qi Sea could take decades. Asuta's advantage is his perfect foundation, which will act like a high-powered pump, drawing in Qi more efficiently once it becomes available post-Convergence.
---
3. Foundation Establishment Realm
The Unshakable Base. The Qi Sea is compressed and solidified into a permanent, unbreakable foundation. This realm determines the cultivator's ultimate ceiling.
· Focus: Solidifying the foundation of the cultivation path. A critical, irreversible bottleneck.
· Resources Needed: Immense spiritual pressure (from tribulation or powerful environments), rare stabilizing treasures (e.g., Earth-Heart Crystal), profound insight.
· Earthly Method: On Earth, this will likely require using a major spiritual event (like the Immortal's crash) as the "pressure," and a hidden earthly treasure as the stabilizing agent.
Significance: The quality of the Foundation (Mortar, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Jade, Perfect) dictates the speed, power, and stability of all future advancement. Asuta's Divine God Body Sutra is designed to build nothing less than a "Chaos Foundation," capable of supporting any Dao in the future.
---
4. Core Formation Realm
The Crystallized Self. The solidified foundation is nourished by Qi and soul until it condenses into a crystalline Core—the source of the cultivator's power and their nascent soul's home.
· Effect: Qi capacity increases exponentially. Can fly for short distances, use Divine Sense to scan surroundings, and live for centuries.
---
5. Nascent Soul Realm
A Second Life. The Core hatches, giving birth to a miniature version of the cultivator's soul that can exist outside the body.
· Effect: Gains a powerful "second body" for exploration and combat. If the physical body dies, the Nascent Soul can flee to seek rebirth. True longevity begins.
---
6. Soul Projection Realm
The Soul Unbound. The soul gains immense strength, able to project over vast distances, possess weaker beings, and manipulate the material world with thought.
· Effect: Can scout continents with Divine Sense, craft intricate soul-bound artifacts, and attack enemies directly on a spiritual plane.
---
7. Void Creation Realm
Master of Space. The cultivator comprehends the fabric of space, learning to fold it, create personal dimensional pockets, and teleport.
· Effect: Can store items in spatial rings, create secret realms, and traverse thousands of miles in a step.
---
8. Law Comprehension Realm
Weaving Reality's Threads. The cultivator begins to perceive and manipulate the fundamental Laws of the universe (Law of Fire, Sword, Gravity, etc.).
· Effect: Attacks carry the weight of natural law. Can create localized alterations to reality (e.g., making an area have ten times gravity).
---
9. Tribulation Transcendence Realm
Facing Heaven's Wrath. The cultivator prepares for and survives the Heavenly Tribulation—cataclysmic lightning and soul trials—to shed their mortal coil and ascend to immortality.
· The Final Trial: Each of the 9 layers involves surviving a progressively worse tribulation. Success at the 9th Layer means Ascension to the Immortal Realms.
· Earth's Curse & Boon: Tribulation on Earth will be uniquely ferocious because the planet's own dormant celestial laws will be "waking up" and reacting violently. However, surviving it will forge an immortal of exceptional resilience.
---
The Asuta Difference: Why His Path is Absurd
1. Soul First: While others wait until Nascent Soul Realm to seriously nurture their spirit, Asuta is using the Soul Grinding Scripture in the Body Tempering Realm. This means when he does form his Nascent Soul, it will be monstrously powerful from day one.
2. Perfect Foundation: The Divine God Body Sutra aims for the Layer 9: Unified Flesh not as a goal, but as a starting requirement. His Body Tempering is what others would consider a legendary Foundation Establishment supplement.
3. Conceptual Combat: The Unbroken Horizon Sword Art teaches him to "cut concepts" without Qi. Once he has Qi and later comprehends Laws, these techniques will evolve into world-severing abilities that defy normal categorization.
In short: Asuta is building a cosmic-tier skyscraper on Earth, while everyone else (including the coming immortals) is playing with wooden blocks. He is using Earth's hidden, highest-grade manuals to prepare for a war that will start on Earth but end in the heavens. His realms are the same names, but the substance within them is fundamentally, terrifyingly different.