(Spoilers!) Cultivation Major and Minor Realms Explained
Split into the following 18 minor realms and their respective sub realms - - >
Barely More Than Human Realm
Beyond Human Realm
Vampire Spawn Realm
Fledgling Vampire Realm
Nascent Vampire Realm
Emerging Vampire Realm
Vampire Minion Realm
a. Lesser Vampire Minion Sub-Realm
b. Greater Vampire Minion Sub-Realm
Vampire Underling Realm
a. Novice Underling Sub-Realm
b. Seasoned Underling Sub-Realm
Aspiring Vampire Realm
Vampire Initiate Realm
a. Junior Initiate Sub-Realm
b. Senior Initiate Sub-Realm
Vampire Apprentice Realm
a. Neophyte Apprentice Sub-Realm
b. Adept Apprentice Sub-Realm
Vampire Adept Realm
a. Minor Adept Sub-Realm
b. Major Adept Sub-Realm
Proficient Vampire Realm
Vampire Journeyman Realm
a. Novice Journeyman Sub-Realm
b. Experienced Journeyman Sub-Realm
c. Seasoned Journeyman Sub-Realm
Vampire Expert Realm
a. Budding Expert Sub-Realm
b. Specialist Expert Sub-Realm
c. Versatile Expert Sub-Realm
Accomplished Vampire Realm
Vampire Elite Realm
a. Junior Elite Sub-Realm
b. Senior Elite Sub-Realm
Vampire Master Realm
a. Lesser Master Sub-Realm
b. Greater Master Sub-Realm
What is physically being strengthened with each minor realm and sub realm is never revealed to Dylan, since he surpasses the Body Fortification Stage before coming under the direct tutelage of any teacher.
The naming scheme of the minor realms with ranking names rather than traditional cultivation names is for the purpose of creating a social hierarchy within the vampire community. Only the Elder cultivators like Aldous Ravenkin, and Elder Alfred Bader know what each minor realm corresponds to in terms of actual cultivation concepts.
2nd Major Realm: Vi Condensation Stage -
The Vi Condensation Stage is broken up into fifteen levels of mastery and control.
The Vi Condensation Stage marks a divergence between the cultivation terms and levels and the vampire social hierarchy ranking names. Something different about vampire cultivation versus human cultivation is that human cultivation corresponds with a building accumulation of Qi within the body that they can achieve purely through meditation and breathing techniques.
That is not to say that each level, stage, or realm of human cultivation doesn't have unique cultivation techniques, because they do. I'm merely pointing out that humans can accumulate Qi by themselves, whereas vampires have to take life essence from other life forms and turn that into Vi to progress through their cultivation stages.
Vi is the vampiric equivalent of Qi. It functions in the vampire's body very similarly to how Qi functions in the human body, but Vi is derived from stolen life essence while Qi is derived from a combination of different sources, none of which have to do with stealing the life force of another organism.
Qi can be derived from nature, it can be generated within oneself using breathing techniques, and it can be generated through food, elixirs, and pills. In some systems, Qi can be derived from the energy of heaven and earth, as well as the energy of the cosmos.
In contrast with this, Vi is derived from life essence and life essence only. That can be taken from a life form directly in a number of ways, or it can be taken from the air. The life essence in the air is minimal since it is the shedding of excess life essence created by nearby life forms.
Vampires cannot generate their own life essence as they are undead and not alive. So they have to steal life essence from other life forms to maintain their immortal undead existence.
I will not detail the levels of the vampire social hierarchy any further, because they largely become irrelevant after the Vi Condensation Stage, and then hierarchy is determined by seniority and nepotism.
The second major realm, called the Vi Condensation Stage, is made up of stages that integrate Vi into a vampire's body along with minor internal and external Vi control.
The 15 levels of the Vi Condensation Stage are:
Nexus Awakening: Meditation to sense and awaken the first nexus point
Essence Conversion: Converting life essence into Vi within the first nexus point
Nexus Expansion: Awakening and filling additional nexus points
Vi Pathways: Creating Vi pathways between nexus points
Sensory Nexus Infusion: Infusing Vi into nexus points connected to sensory organs
Blood-Vi Resonance: Harmonizing Vi circulation with blood flow
Nexus Network Expansion: Expanding Vi pathways to connect all awakened nexus points
Ambient Essence Perception: Using nexus points to sense life essence in the surrounding environment
External Vi Absorption: Using outer nexus points to absorb ambient life essence and convert it to Vi
Vi Compression: Compressing Vi within nexus points to increase its potency
Blood-Vi Fusion: Infusing blood with compressed Vi from nexus points
External Vi Manipulation: Projecting Vi outside the body through nexus points
Basic Blood Control: Using Vi to manipulate small amounts of one's own blood
Vi Surge: Rapidly circulating Vi through the entire nexus network
Perfect Vi Condensation: Achieving complete mastery over the nexus network and Vi manipulation
The next major realm is called the Blood Foundation Establishment Realm. It consists of 9 levels or stages and its primary purpose is to prepare the vampire's body for the next stage, the Crimson Core Formation.
The Blood Foundation Establishment Realm is made up of the following 9 stages:
1. Lifeblood Crystal Formation: Concentrating life essence and Vi into a small, dense crystal in the heart
2. Crystal Expansion: Gradually increasing the size and density of the lifeblood crystal
3. Vein Reinforcement: Using the lifeblood crystal to strengthen blood vessels with Vi
4. Marrow Transformation: Infusing bone marrow with Vi from the lifeblood crystal
5. Fang Empowerment: Channeling Vi from the lifeblood crystal into fangs
6. Shadow Affinity: Harmonizing the lifeblood crystal's energy with darkness
7. Blood Memory Crystallization: Storing and accessing blood memories within the crystal structure
8. Vital Organ Synchronization: Aligning vital organs with the lifeblood crystal's energy
9. Perfect Blood Foundation: Achieving complete harmony between the lifeblood crystal, blood, and Vi throughout the body
This is where I'm going to stop for today. Please let me know if you want me to explain the minor benefits of each stage and level of the Vi Condensation Stage, and the Blood Foundation Establishment Major Realm.
I only detailed the practice of the stages and didn't detail the minor benefits of each stage, because I figured readers wouldn't want me to go into too much detail.
If that is not the case, and you want me to go into more detail, please let me know in the chapter comments on this chapter.
I personally don't understand the desire for a detailed explanation of each realm and power level, but I respect those who do want it, and this is my attempt to satisfy that need. I will write more tomorrow and the next day. I've just already spent 2 hours on this and I need a break.