30 Interlude - On Cultivation (1/2)
System, I am beginning data transmission. To start with, we'll go over cultivation, especially the Immortal Cultivation System.
To start with, cultivation basically means the systematic upgrade of physical 'Essence', spiritual 'Qi' and mental 'Spirit'. Cultivation works by absorbing a type of energy from the outer world and transforming it in the inner world of the self until it reaches a state where the absorbed energy harmonizes with the body. Once one has cultivated to a certain threshold, it is possible to transcend to immortality.
To reach the threshold before immortal transcendence, there are basically four steps:
1) Refining Essence, Transforming Qi
2) Refining Qi, Transforming Spirit
3) Refining Spirit, Returning Void
4) Refining Void, Fusing Dao
First Step – Refining Essence, Transforming Qi! One needs to train their physical body externally and internally until one can sense the innate 'Qi' within the self. After that, the cultivation of qi begins!
Second Step – Refining Qi, Transforming Spirit! The cultivation of qi reaches the limit and so, spiritual strengthening is the next path! At this level, one begins gaining insights into the Heavenly Daos, leading on to the path of casting Dao Domain!
Third Step – Refining Spirit, Returning Void! The realm of Void is far beyond gaining insight into the Dao and casting a Dao Domain. The Void is… hard to define. It could mean the 'Emptiness' that appears in the mind during meditation, the principle of wu wei or inaction, a vacuum in space…
Fourth Step – Refining Void, Fusing Dao! This realm is basically beyond description. Reaching it has the prerequisite of great insight and understanding of both the Void and the Dao. At this realm, one reaches threshold before immortal transcendence!
These four steps do not come together to form the cultivation system. Rather than that, they can be called the underpinning system that govern cultivation as a whole.
Now, we come to cultivation systems. I have knowledge of around a thousand cultivation systems and I am capable of cultivating about a hundred, but we'll begin with the most important of them: Immortal Dao Cultivation System. For the human race, this is the best cultivation system as a whole.
It has nine levels to line the path before immortality – Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Divine Transformation, Void Refining, Heavenly Tribulation, Integration and Great Ascension!
Qi Refining is aligned to the First Step – Refining Essence, Transforming Qi!
Foundation Establishment and Golden Core are aligned to the Second Step – Refining Qi, Transforming Spirit!
Nascent Soul, Divine Transformation and Void Refining are aligned to the Third Step – Refining Spirit, Returning Void!
Finally, Heavenly Tribulation, Integration and Great Ascension are aligned to the Fourth Step – Refining Void, Fusing Dao!
My current cultivation realm is Golden Core. In my past life, the breakthrough to Nascent Soul was impossible. So to enter the Third Step – Refining Spirit, Returning Void… I switched to another cultivation system and began cultivating the Totem.