Cultivation in Ashen Vale follows three major Realms, with each Realm divided into multiple stages. Rising through the stages strengthens the body, mind, and soul. Every cultivator begins at the lowest stage and fights their way upward.
◆ Realm 1 — Essence Foundation Realm
This is the starting point for all cultivators.
Stages:
First Step of Essence
Second Step of Essence
Third Step of Essence
Fourth Step of Essence
Fifth Step of Essence
What this Realm Does:
Allows the cultivator to sense spiritual energy for the first time.
Strengthens muscles, bones, and reflexes.
Grants very basic abilities depending on the technique they use.
Most villagers never pass this realm.
Combat Power Example:
Low-tier beasts, small spirit creatures, beginner-level hunters.
◆ Realm 2 — Spirit Vein Realm
This realm opens spirit veins across the cultivator's body.
Stages:
Vein Awakening
Vein Expansion
Vein Stabilization
Vein Cleansing
Vein Perfection
What this Realm Does:
Spirit veins carry energy like rivers.
Techniques become sharper and more destructive.
A cultivator here can defeat multiple Essence Foundation fighters.
Combat Power Example:
Mid-tier beasts, small monster packs, mission-hall elites.
◆ Realm 3 — Astral Core Realm
This is where powerful cultivators awaken their Astral Core.
Stages:
Early Core
Mid Core
Late Core
Core Peak
Half-Step Sovereign
What this Realm Does:
The Astral Core becomes the heart of their power.
Energy attacks can shatter boulders.
Killing an Astral Core cultivator requires skill or multiple opponents.
These cultivators can threaten entire towns.
Combat Power Example:
High-tier beasts, corrupted creatures, minor region threats.
Higher Realms (Not Yet Commonly Known by Readers)
Valerius will eventually learn these, but for now, the towns and villages rarely ever see anyone beyond Astral Core. Above that lies:
Sovereign Realm
Transcendent Realm
Eternal Realm
Godmarked Realm
These levels are legends to common people.
2. Beasts & Creatures in Ashen Vale
Beasts cultivate just like humans do. Their cores contain valuable energy.
Beast Tiers
Low-Tier Beasts: Small, agile, dangerous to new hunters.
Mid-Tier Beasts: Strong, intelligent, pack leaders.
High-Tier Beasts: Rare, deadly, require experienced teams.
Arcane Beasts: Contain special bloodlines, talents, or mutations.
Corrupted Beasts: Twisted by dark residue; far stronger than ordinary creatures.
Arcane and corrupted beasts are the main danger around Ashen Vale.
3. Currencies of the World
Spirit currency matters more than normal money.
◆ Bronze Essence Coins
Most common.
Used for food, cheap lodging, basic herbs.
Used by Essence Foundation cultivators.
◆ Silver Spirit Coins
Medium currency.
Used to buy weapons, basic techniques, and beast cores.
Spirit Vein cultivators use these often.
◆ Gold Astral Coins
Rare.
Used to buy advanced techniques, rare treasures, Spirit Vein breakthroughs.
Only wealthy clans and Astral Core cultivators carry these.
◆ Crimson Core Coins
Legendary currency.
Used for forbidden trades, dark rituals, ancient maps, and rare items.
Ordinary people never see one in their lives.
4. Cultivation Techniques
Techniques define the strength, fighting style, and future potential of a cultivator.
Technique Grades
Mortal-Level Technique
Simple, weak, used by starting cultivators.
Spirit-Level Technique
Powerful, requires stable cultivation.
Valerius just gained one: Abyssal Shadow Devouring Art.
Arcane-Level Technique
Rare and destructive.
Often tied to ancient shrines or bloodlines.
Sovereign-Level Technique
Town leaders and region rulers dream of obtaining even one.
Eternal-Level Technique
Lost to time, spoken of in myths.
Technique Types
Body Techniques — strengthen physique.
Energy Techniques — unleash power, elements, or combat abilities.
Movement Techniques — speed, agility, body-shifting.
Devouring/Absorption Techniques — absorb life energy, cores, or shadows.
Valerius' technique falls under Devouring-type, which is rare, feared, and forbidden in many places.
5. Spirit Cores & Their Importance
Beasts form Spirit Cores as they cultivate.
Humans collect them for:
breakthrough materials,
technique mastery,
selling for Silver or Gold Spirit Coins,
forging special weapons.
Beasts killed through devouring techniques may lose their cores.
6. Mission Hall System
Each town has a public Mission Hall.
Anyone can take a mission, but rewards vary.
Mission Ranks
F-Rank: Herb gathering, cleaning nests, escort jobs.
E-Rank: Kill common beasts.
D-Rank: Hunt mid-tier beasts, protect caravans.
C-Rank: Dangerous beasts or corrupted creatures.
B-Rank: High-tier or multiple targets.
A-Rank: Region-scale threats.
S-Rank: Catastrophic dangers; very few survive these.
Valerius' wolf mission was D-Rank, even though the original posting underreported the danger.
7. The Eternal Sovereign System
What readers should understand clearly:
What the System IS:
A guiding system bound to Valerius' soul.
It syncs with local locations and collects lore.
It selects missions that offer the best growth path.
It rewards Valerius with coins, stats, or techniques for completing missions.
What the System IS NOT:
It does NOT create missions out of nothing.
It does NOT give free power without effort.
It does NOT control Valerius' mind or choices.
Its Purpose:
To push Valerius toward the path of Sovereign ascension—through cold decisions, strength, and survival.
8. Stat System Overview
Valerius' stats increase slightly when he:
kills beasts stronger than his level,
finishes system-selected missions,
uses devouring techniques successfully.
Stats Tracked
Strength: Physical power, striking force.
Constitution: Endurance, vitality, defense.
Agility: Speed, reaction time.
Perception: Awareness, sensing danger.
Spirit: Energy capacity and technique strength.
Humans normally raise stats slowly.
The Eternal Sovereign System accelerates this through structured rewards.
9. Forbidden Techniques & Laws
Ashen Vale is small, but the region still has rules:
Devouring life energy is forbidden without license.
Stealing cores from missions is punishable.
Killing other cultivators in town is illegal.
Beast remains must be reported for fair trade.
Valerius's Abyssal Shadow Devouring Art will draw attention if he uses it openly.
10. The Path Ahead (Reader Hints)
From here on, readers should understand:
Each beast Valerius kills will push him up the cultivation chain.
Devouring will become central to his growth.
Broken Spine Ridge will introduce stronger enemies.
The System will start giving harder recommendations.
Forbidden energy techniques will attract enemies and opportunities.
The cultivation world is vast and deadly—they've only seen a village's worth.