Cultivation Reference

By reader request, here's a quick cultivation reference. Note that only Mortal cultivation ranks are included right now, Immortal Cultivation grades are a LONG way off and are unlikely to be relevant for quite a while, but I'll update as we get closer to that point in the story. For the curious, yes, the cultivation system is the same as the one in my other works, this book is set in the same world but at a VERY different point in time (the protagonists will never meet... technically.) 

Four Cultivation Paths

Cultivators follow one or more paths. As a rule of thumb, a person has to become a Second-Stage cultivator before awakening a second cultivation path, a third-stage cultivator before awakening a third path, and a fifth-stage cultivator (no, not a typo) before they can follow all four paths. All cultivation paths at the mortal grade have nine levels, and each of those levels is further divided into the Early, Middle, and Late stages. 

The Martial Path - Trains the Body. 

Note - Some martial traditions will use a preface other than 'Martial' in common address. I.e. some Sword cultivators will use the term 'Sword Champion' rather than 'Martial Champion', though this is uncommon (and seen by some as pretentious.)

Martial Brawler > Martial Soldier > Martial Warrior > Martial Champion > Martial Hero > Martial Saint > Martial General > Martial Lord > Martial Emperor

The Scholar's Path - Trains the Mind. 

Note - These titles show up in professional addresses for some specific professions, i.e. Third-Stage Alchemist is addressed as an Independent Alchemist rather than Independent Scholar. 

Initiate Scholar > Novice Scholar > Independent Scholar > Master Scholar > Grand Master Scholar > Blessed Scholar > Sage > Lord Sage > Imperial Sage

The Artisan's Path - Trains the Heart. 

Note - Some professions eschew referencing their cultivation rank at all but this is most common in professions that rarely progress beyond the first stage. I.e. Chef is commonly used for someone who cultivates Culinary Arts but Chefs rarely manage to break through to the second stage without following some additional path or profession. 

Aesthete > Understudy > Trusted Artist > Exceptional Artist > True Artist > Diva / Divo > Maestro > Virtuoso > Artium

The Spiritual Path - Trains the Soul

Note - Generally referred to as Mystics but also includes Sorcerers and Seers, titles and forms of address may vary wildly as Soul cultivators are generally rare (outnumbered by Martial cultivators 1,000 to 1) 

Drifting Mystic > Wandering Mystic > Awakened Mystic > Worldly Mystic > Esoteric Mystic > Holy Mystic > Veiled Mystic > Otherworldly Mystic > Unfathomable Mystic