Here, humans absorb Qi Energy—also known as Heaven and Earth energy—through special cultivation manuals. By using these techniques, they draw energy into their bodies and refined into thier elemental qi energy to cultivate.
Cultivation in Mandola begins with the body and energy. At the early stages, cultivators focus on building a strong physical foundation and creating stable energy channels. Only after reaching the Soul Transformation Stage can a person begin cultivating their soul, which is considered the most powerful and mysterious aspect of cultivation.
The entire cultivation system is divided into 10 major stages, and each major stage is further split into 9 minor stages, making progression extremely challenging. Every step forward requires intense training, patience, and sometimes dangerous opportunities.
In this world, cultivation usually begins at the age of nine. It is believed that by the ninth year, a child's body and mind become stable enough to handle Qi Energy safely. Some talented children start as early as seven or eight, but this is rare and can be risky.
The cultivation stages progress from lowest to highest as follows: Body Refining > Qi Gathering > Foundation Building > Core Formation > Nascent Soul > Soul Transformation > Saint Realm > Supreme Saint > Heavenly Saint > Divine Realm. Each stage represents a massive leap in power, bringing a cultivator closer to true mastery and immortality.
In this world, cultivation manuals, battle techniques, skills, and treasures are divided into five grades, ranked from low to high as: Black > Yellow > Earth > Heaven > Legendary.
Each grade also has four minor levels: Low > Medium > High > Peak.
The higher the grade of a cultivation manual, the faster one can cultivate. Similarly, stronger battle techniques give far greater power.
So far, the highest publicly known grade is Heaven-grade, but powerful and mysterious clans or sects are believed to possess Low or Medium level Legendary-grade manuals and techniques.
Here, there are also different professions such as Alchemist, Array Master, Rune Master (Talisman Maker), and Artifact Master (Smith). These are considered the main professional classes of the world.
Both Rune Masters and Array Masters are ranked from Tier 1 to Tier 10, with each tier showing their mastery and skill level.
Alchemists also advance from Tier 1 to Tier 10, and each tier is divided into four minor levels: Low, Medium, High, and Perfect.
If a pill has 1–3 circles engraved around it, it is considered Low Grade.
If it has 4–6 circles, it becomes Medium Grade.
Pills with 7–9 circles are classified as High Grade, and only those with 10 circles are recognized as Perfect Grade pills.
Creating a Perfect Grade pill is extremely difficult. Even among skilled alchemists, only a handful can produce one, and usually only at the lowest tiers. Higher-tier alchemists rarely achieve a Perfect Grade because the requirements for purity, control, and energy balance increase tremendously with each tier.
Because of this, Perfect Grade pills are incredibly rare and highly valued, often seen as treasures that can change a cultivator's fate.
Beasts in this world are also classified by tiers, starting from the lowest Tier –1 up to Tier-10. Each tier has four minor levels: Low, Mid, High, and Peak, which show the beast's strength and growth stage.
However, some beasts are far more powerful because they possess special or ancient bloodlines. These bloodline beasts often have unique abilities, unusual physiques, and far greater strength than normal beasts of the same tier.
A Peak grade Tier-1 bloodline beast may even rival a normal Tier-2 or Tier-3 beast, making them extremely dangerous and highly valued. Their abilities can include elemental control, regeneration, awakened senses, or even rare mythical powers.
The higher your cultivation stage becomes, the harder it is to advance to the next step. At advanced realms, a cultivator needs an enormous amount of Qi Energy, far more than in the early stages. Breakthroughs also require deeper comprehension, a stronger foundation, and rare, costly resources that are not easy to obtain.
Because of these requirements, progress slows dramatically as one climbs higher. A single breakthrough can take years or even decades. Without proper resources or understanding, a cultivator may become stuck at the same stage for life.
Advancing in the higher realms is a true test of talent, determination, and luck. Only those with exceptional strength and perseverance can keep rising.
Large clans, powerful sects, and lucky cultivators have access to many resources, including cultivation manuals, battle techniques, pills, and treasures. Because of this, they can progress through the early stages of cultivation much faster than ordinary people. With enough support, their foundation becomes strong, and their cultivation speed in the beginning is almost guaranteed.
However, reaching the higher stages is a completely different challenge. At advanced levels, a cultivator needs high comprehension, exceptional talent, and an enormous amount of rare resources. They also need higher-grade cultivation manuals and powerful pills to stabilize breakthroughs. Even with all that, progress can still be extremely slow.
Most importantly, cultivators require lucky encounters—special opportunities like ancient ruins, inheritance sites, or rare treasures that can greatly boost their cultivation.
Without such chances, even a talented person may stay stuck at one stage for years or even their entire life.
Only those who possess a combination of talent, resources, high-grade manuals, rare pills, and fortunate encounters are able to step into the higher realms. This is why truly powerful cultivators are so rare and respected throughout the world.