Alex woke up early in the morning, stretching his body as the first rays of sunlight peeked through the trees. He stepped out of his tent and took a deep breath of the fresh morning air. As part of his routine, he immediately began his morning exercises—push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and running laps around their small campsite. His muscles ached, sweat dripped from his forehead, but he pushed through.
After completing his exercises, he wiped his face and noticed Harvy meditating beneath a large tree, his expression calm and serene. Alex approached him, curiosity stirring in his mind.
"Harvy," Alex called out. "Tell me about cultivation. I exercise daily to improve my physique and strength, but I don't see the point in doing these basic exercises over and over. I can't even defeat a real cultivator."
Harvy slowly opened his eyes, letting out a small sigh before looking at Alex. "Tell me, what do you know about cultivation?"
Alex thought for a moment before answering, "It's the path to growing stronger and becoming unrivaled."
Harvy sighed again and shook his head. "You're not wrong, but that answer is too simplistic. Let's gather everyone. Liz and Lily should hear this as well."
A few moments later, Liz and Lily joined them, sitting in a small circle under the tree. Liz folded her arms and nodded as if she already knew what Harvy was about to explain. Lily sat cross-legged, her big eyes filled with curiosity.
Harvy looked at them and began, "Liz already knows this, but I will explain again for everyone's sake."
He took a deep breath before continuing.
"Cultivation is divided into ten major stages, each containing nine layers of progression. Additionally, when advancing to a new stage, cultivators must undergo Layer 0, a stabilization phase necessary to secure their breakthrough."
He raised a finger. "The first stage is Essence Sensing."
"This is where a cultivator begins their journey. They meditate to perceive the essence energy around them and unlock the energy pathways within their bodies. Without this, further cultivation is impossible."
Lily tilted her head. "So, it's like feeling the wind but with energy?"
Harvy nodded. "Exactly. Once a cultivator can sense essence, they move to the second stage: Essence Gathering."
"This is the process of actively drawing essence into the body. Energy starts circulating through the pathways, strengthening the cultivator's foundation. The stronger the foundation, the greater the potential."
Alex listened intently, his brows furrowed in concentration.
"The third stage is Foundation Building," Harvy continued. "This is where the energy is refined and concentrated within the body, forming the base for future breakthroughs. A weak foundation will make future advancements difficult or even impossible."
Liz added, "If you rush through this stage, you might end up with flaws in your cultivation that can never be corrected."
Harvy nodded. "Exactly. Now, once a cultivator has built a strong foundation, they reach the Core Formation stage."
"Here, the accumulated energy is condensed into a Core, a reservoir of power that fuels all future cultivation. The quality of this Core determines how far a cultivator can go."
Lily clapped her hands. "Oh! Like forming a little sun inside your body!"
Harvy chuckled. "That's a good way to think about it. After Core Formation comes Soul Sensing."
"At this stage, the cultivator becomes aware of their soul and its connection to their existence. This is necessary for advancing to the higher spiritual realms."
Alex leaned forward. "Then what comes next?"
Harvy continued, "After Soul Sensing comes Soul Nurturing. Here, the soul is strengthened and refined, increasing spiritual awareness and control. A well-nurtured soul enhances energy manipulation and resilience."
"Then, we have the Soul Avatar Formation stage, where a cultivator manifests a Soul Avatar, a projection of their spiritual essence. This Avatar acts independently and is a reflection of the cultivator's true self."
Lily's eyes sparkled. "Does that mean you get a clone?"
Harvy smiled. "In a way, yes. But it is more than just a copy. It is a part of you."
"The next stage is Void Sensing. Here, a cultivator begins to perceive the fundamental laws governing reality itself."
Liz spoke up, "This is where a cultivator starts understanding the true nature of existence, right?"
Harvy nodded. "Yes. And once they fully integrate those laws into their being, they reach Void Transformation."
"At this stage, cultivators gain abilities beyond mortal limits, shaping reality itself."
Alex felt a shiver run down his spine. "That sounds... unreal."
Harvy smiled. "It is. But the final stage is even more incredible. The Unity Realm."
"This is where soul and body become one, achieving ultimate transcendence. Those who reach this level stand at the threshold of godhood."
A heavy silence fell over them as they absorbed the information.
Alex broke the silence. "So... every stage has nine layers?"
Harvy nodded. "Yes. And after every breakthrough, there's a Layer 0 stabilization phase. Skipping this step can lead to severe consequences."
Alex frowned. "So what cultivation stage are you at, Harvy?"
Harvy smirked. "Everything I just told you is the common knowledge of cultivation. But it is also a general understanding of one particular path: the Essence Path."
Liz's eyes flickered with understanding. "You're saying there are other paths?"
Harvy nodded. "Correct".