Here is a possible cultivation ranking system, progressing from the initial stages to the ultimate heights:
I. Foundation Building Realm:
* Qi Gathering Stage: The initial stage where cultivators learn to sense and gather spiritual energy (Qi) from their surroundings.
* Early Qi Gathering
* Mid Qi Gathering
* Late Qi Gathering
* Peak Qi Gathering
* Body Tempering Stage: Focuses on strengthening the physical body to withstand greater amounts of Qi and prepare for more advanced cultivation.
* Early Body Tempering
* Mid Body Tempering
* Late Body Tempering
* Peak Body Tempering
* Foundation Establishment Stage: Marks the true beginning of a cultivator's journey, where they solidify their foundation and gain more control over their spiritual energy.
* Early Foundation Establishment
* Mid Foundation Establishment
* Late Foundation Establishment
* Peak Foundation Establishment
II. Core Formation Realm:
* Core Formation Stage: Cultivators condense their refined Qi into a spiritual core, a source of immense power.
* Early Core Formation
* Mid Core Formation
* Late Core Formation
* Peak Core Formation
* Nascent Soul Stage: The spiritual core evolves into a nascent soul, a more independent and powerful form of spiritual energy.
* Early Nascent Soul
* Mid Nascent Soul
* Late Nascent Soul
* Peak Nascent Soul
* Soul Transformation Stage: The nascent soul undergoes further transformations, gaining greater sentience and power, allowing for more profound manipulation of spiritual energy.
* Early Soul Transformation
* Mid Soul Transformation
* Late Soul Transformation
* Peak Soul Transformation
III. Ascendant Realm (Transcending Mortality):
* Spirit Severing Stage: Cultivators begin to sever their connection to the mortal coil, moving towards a more spiritual existence and gaining insights into the laws of the universe.
* First Severance
* Second Severance
* Third Severance
* Void Refinement Stage: Cultivators refine their spiritual energy to a point where they can interact with the void and gain a deeper understanding of space and time.
* Early Void Refinement
* Mid Void Refinement
* Late Void Refinement
* Peak Void Refinement
* Tribulation Transcendence Stage: Cultivators face heavenly tribulations, tests of their strength and will, to further purify their souls and ascend to higher realms of existence.
* First Heavenly Tribulation
* Second Heavenly Tribulation
* Third Heavenly Tribulation (and so on, the number of tribulations can vary)
IV. God-like Realm:
* Divine Transformation Stage: Cultivators who successfully transcend numerous tribulations begin to take on divine attributes, wielding power comparable to lesser gods.
* Early Divine Transformation
* Mid Divine Transformation
* Late Divine Transformation
* Peak Divine Transformation
* True God Stage: Cultivators in this realm possess immense power and authority, capable of influencing vast regions and commanding respect from lower-level cultivators.
* Lower True God
* Middle True God
* Upper True God
* Peak True God
* God King Stage: Those who stand at the apex of the True God realm, often ruling over domains or pantheons, possessing power that can shake the very foundations of the world.
* Early God King
* Mid God King
* Late God King
* Peak God King
V. Beyond God-like Realm:
* Primordial God Stage: Beings who existed since the beginning of creation, possessing power on a cosmic scale, often embodying fundamental aspects of the universe.
* Absolute God Stage: A realm beyond even the Primordial Gods, representing a level of power that transcends conventional understanding.
* Absolute Demon God Stage: The pinnacle of power, the realm Ackah Emile reached after 10,000 years of cultivation, possibly representing mastery over the fundamental forces of creation and destruction in a way that even Absolute Gods might not fully comprehend.
This is not all, other realms will be included as the story progress.
The biting wind whipped through the narrow alleyways of Awiebo, carrying with it the stench of stale refuse and the distant, unsettling rhythm of a city on edge. For Ackah Emile, this grim symphony was a familiar backdrop. He leaned against a graffiti-scarred brick wall, the worn denim of his jacket pulled tight against the chill, his gaze sharp and unwavering as he scanned the bustling street. He was just passing through this part of the city, heading towards the quieter district where he lived in a small rented room.
Ackah was a young man, barely out of his teens, with a lean and agile build. His face, though still holding the softness of youth, was often set with a serious expression, a reflection of the harsh realities of life in Awiebo. His eyes, a deep, thoughtful brown, seemed to hold a wisdom beyond his years. He worked odd jobs, anything he could find, to make ends meet – loading crates at the docks, assisting at the local market, sometimes even helping out at a small repair shop. Life wasn't easy, but Ackah was resilient and possessed a quiet determination.
He adjusted the strap of a simple backpack slung across his shoulder, containing a few meager belongings and a book he'd borrowed from the community library. He wasn't looking for trouble, just trying to get home after a long day of work at the docks.
As he walked along the crowded sidewalk, the familiar sounds of Awiebo were abruptly shattered by a new, more ominous rhythm – the staccato bursts of automatic gunfire and the panicked shouts of civilians. The sounds were coming from the direction of Elm Street, just a few blocks away, where the local elementary school and the community center for the elderly were located.
A cold dread clenched in Ackah's gut. Gang violence was a grim reality in certain parts of Awiebo, often erupting without warning, spilling fear onto the streets. His heart pounded in his chest as he thought of the children at the school, the vulnerable elderly at the center.
Without a second thought, Ackah's steps quickened, his earlier weariness forgotten. He began to move swiftly towards the chaos, driven by an innate sense of responsibility and a deep-seated aversion to injustice. The thought of innocent people caught in the crossfire spurred him forward.
As he rounded the corner onto Elm Street, the scene that unfolded was horrifying. Two rival gangs, their faces contorted in fury and adrenaline, were engaged in a brutal firefight. Bullets ripped through the air, shattering windows and tearing into parked cars. Civilians screamed and scattered, desperately seeking cover. Right in the middle of the crossfire were terrified children, some huddled together, others frozen in fear, and several elderly individuals struggling to move out of the line of fire.
Ackah didn't hesitate. He plunged into the chaos, his focus solely on getting the innocent bystanders to safety. He wasn't a fighter, not really, but he was quick and agile. He moved with a speed born of urgency, his voice cutting through the din of gunfire as he directed children towards doorways and urged the elderly to move faster. He pulled a small boy who had stumbled back onto his feet and guided him towards a shop entrance. He helped an elderly woman with a cane find refuge behind a large potted plant.
The gang members, caught up in their brutal conflict, barely registered the young man moving amongst the innocent, his actions a stark contrast to their senseless violence. But as Ackah became more insistent, more of a hindrance to their deadly game, some of them began to take notice.
A hulking figure with a bandana covering his face turned his weapon towards Ackah, a snarl twisting his lips. "Get out of here, kid! You'll get yourself killed!"
Ackah met his gaze, his own eyes filled with a fierce determination that belied his young age and lack of fighting experience. "Not while these people are in danger."
The gang member scoffed and raised his weapon. Ackah knew he was outmatched. He had no weapon himself, no training in combat. He was just a young man, driven by a strong sense of right and wrong. But in that moment, that was all that mattered.
As the gang member squeezed the trigger, Ackah saw a small group of children still huddled near a bus stop, directly in the line of fire. Without a second thought, he surged forward, placing himself between them and the gunman.
The world seemed to slow down. He saw the flash of the muzzle, heard the sharp crack of the gunshot, and felt a searing pain erupt in his chest. The force of the impact knocked him back, and he stumbled, his vision blurring.
He could hear the terrified screams of the children, but he knew, with a fading sense of satisfaction, that they were safe. He had shielded them.
His legs felt weak, and he sank to his knees, the gritty asphalt pressing against his skin. The sounds of the gang war seemed to fade into a muffled hum. He could feel the warmth of blood seeping through his thin jacket, staining the ground beneath him.
His thoughts were a jumble of images – the surprised faces of the children he had protected, the fear in the eyes of the elderly. He felt a pang of regret for the life he wouldn't get to live, the experiences he would miss. But overriding it all was a quiet sense of fulfillment. He had done what he believed was right.
Darkness began to creep in at the edges of his vision. He closed his eyes, the sounds of Awiebo fading into silence.
His sacrifice, however, was not the end. It was merely the beginning of a new, extraordinary journey in a world beyond his wildest imaginings, a world where gods once walked, and where he, Ackah Emile, would walk again.