Hello!
For this story, these are the realms of cultivation: Body-refining, Qi-refining, Foundation Establishment, Core formation, Golden core, Nascent soul, Primordial soul, Eternal Soul, and Immortal.
.
.
.
In the vast expanse of the Guixu Upper World, not all who walk beneath the sky are destined for greatness. The people of this shattered realm fall into two paths—mortals and cultivators.
The line that separates them is as thin as breath, yet as vast as the sea. That line is spiritual roots.
To become a cultivator, one must possess spiritual roots within their body—hidden veins of resonance that connect them to the elemental forces of the world. Without them, one cannot sense Qi, let alone absorb it. A mortal, no matter how strong or intelligent, would remain forever shackled to the mundane.
But among those gifted with roots, talent varies as spiritual roots are divided into four tiers of talent. Inferior Spiritual Roots, the bare minimum. Cultivation was slow, difficult, and often unrewarding. Yet with perseverance, even these could reach greatness. Then we have Medium Spiritual Roots, a step above the common. These cultivators absorbed Qi five times faster than those with Inferior roots and formed the backbone of many sects and families. After that, we have Superior Spiritual Roots, A mark of true genius. Qi flowed to these individuals like rivers to the sea. They progressed rapidly, and their potential was respected wherever they went. Finally, Heavenly Spiritual Roots who are rarer than gold and more precious than life. They were born prodigies, capable of absorbing Qi 125 times faster than those with Inferior roots. Every era only has a handful of those.
Although talent separates cultivators into different categories, this world is never final, as even the weakest roots can rise to the surface. Heavenly treasures, alchemical pills, and ancient artifacts can bridge the gap between talents. In the hands of a rich clan or lucky youth, even an Inferior root cultivator can rise like a storm. But such opportunities are rare and far more often, those without natural talent are left behind.
One more thing that separates cultivators from each other: every spiritual root is aligned to one element, a law that governs the very soul of cultivation. There are twelve known elements: Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Thunder, Ice, Wood, Metal, Light, Darkness, Time, and Space.
Each cultivator is born with a single element, and it defines the rhythm of their cultivation for life. Elemental affinity determines not only the techniques a cultivator can learn, but the kind of Qi they attract, the nature of their spells, and even their temperament in some cases.
These affinities are hereditary—passed down from parent to child, like bloodlines. Thus, many families have long histories bound to a single element. For example, the Li Family, modest though they are, has five cultivators. Four of the five possess Water spiritual roots, a sign of strong hereditary affinity. The remaining one possesses something rare...
...
Li Tianlei stepped out of his villa, the wooden door sliding shut behind him with a soft click.
He was dressed in a light-blue changshan—the color of his Li Family. The robe hung loosely over his frame, comfortable and airy, with wide sleeves and a tied waist. Beneath it, he wore matching loose-fitting pants that tucked slightly into soft cloth shoes. The outfit was simple but clean, clearly well-made, and perfect for morning strolls or light practice.
The stone path outside was warm underfoot, still holding the sun's early heat. Tianlei followed it quietly, his steps light and unhurried. The compound was calm and peaceful. The scent of the nearby pond mixed with the faint fragrance of spiritual flowers blooming along the walkway.
As he rounded a bend in the path, a familiar figure came into view.
A tall man stood near the edge of the pond, holding a large wooden bucket in his hands. He tipped it slowly over the water, and whatever he was pouring immediately caused a reaction—small fish surged upward, splashing and jostling as they ate. Dozens turned into hundreds. Then maybe a thousand tiny silver shapes shimmered just below the surface.
The man smiled, clearly enjoying the scene. He set the first bucket down and picked up a second one nearby, throwing its contents a bit farther into the water. Again, the fish swarmed instantly, creating new ripples across the surface.
Tianlei's eyes lit up.
"Father! Father!" he shouted, grinning as he broke into a run.
The tall man turned around, his expression softening as he spotted the boy running toward him. He was Li Qianhu, Tianlei's father—broad-shouldered and straight-backed, with a calm, steady presence. A short beard traced his chin, and his long black hair was tied back in a loose knot.
As soon as Qianhu saw his son, his gaze sharpened slightly. Floating around Tianlei were several faint bluish particles of spiritual light, trailing behind him like glowing dust. They shimmered for just a moment before fading into the air.
Qianhu understood right away.
'He broke through... He has officially started cultivating.'
But he didn't say anything. He simply put the bucket down and waited, letting Tianlei speak first.
Tianlei stopped just in front of him, slightly out of breath but full of excitement.
"Father!" he said, practically bouncing on his feet. "I did it! I followed the breathing method, and now I can feel the Qi in my body—I even moved it through my arms and legs! It feels amazing!"
Qianhu raised his eyebrows and smiled like he'd just heard something completely unexpected.
"Really? Already?" he said, his voice warm and lightly teasing. "That's fast." He clapped his hands, the sound echoing lightly over the pond. "Well done, Tianlei. That's a big step. Congratulations." He added before he reached out and ruffled the boy's hair, laughing a little as Tianlei squirmed but didn't pull away.
"You've got talent," he said. "Your grandfather will be happy to hear this." He said, nodding toward the main villa at the heart of the compound. "Go let him know. It's tradition to report your first step to the head of the family."
Tianlei beamed and gave a quick nod. "Okay!"
He turned and dashed off down the stone path again, his light-blue robe trailing behind like a banner. But after just a few steps, his expression shifted. The childish joy on his face dimmed, not with sorrow, but with a kind of quiet nostalgia. A flicker of memory danced across his eyes—something far older than his ten-year-old frame should carry.
"He's a good father..." Tianlei murmured to himself. "Unlike the one from my last life," he finished, the smile that lingered on his lips turning bittersweet.
...
After about 5 minutes of running, the main villa came into view.
It was larger than the other pavilions, sitting in the very center of the Li Family compound. The building had a wide, octagonal shape, with tall wooden pillars holding up an elegant green-tiled roof. Decorative patterns of flowing water and lotuses were carved into the stone base and along the doorframes. The front walkway crossed a small arched bridge that curved over a narrow stream branching from the main pond.
Tianlei paused at the bottom of the steps and looked up at the villa for a moment, admiring it.
This was where his grandfather, the family's patriarch, lived and managed their affairs. He walked up the steps and knocked twice on the door.
For a second, there was only silence.
Then a calm voice came from within: "Come in."