This system is inspired by the Eastern Cultivation genre but has been reimagined with terminology suited for a Fantasy setting, using the Celestial Hierarchy and Nobles of the Abyss as its ranking criteria.
Renamed Terminology
* Sea of Consciousness → Dreamflow
* Lower Dantian → Coreflux
* Meridian → Sparkline
* Raw Qi → Essence
* Purified Qi → Verve
The above terms serve as a foundational guide. For a deeper understanding of their functions and mechanics, continue reading below.
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Essence - The raw, unrefined sources of magical energy found throughout the universe.
* Cosmic Essence: The fundamental energy of primal concepts (Light, Dark, Time, Space, Life, Death).
* Spiritual Essence: The subdivided properties derived from Cosmic Essence, each representing a facet of its core concept. It is purified by a Crystallized Soul Shard.
- Life → Reproduction, Metabolism, Nature
- Death → Blood, Soul, Corpse
- Light → Illumination, Sun, Hope
- Dark → Blackness, Mystery, Despair
- Space → Three-Dimensionality, Continuum, Curvature
- Time → One-Dimensionality, Irreversibility, Subjectivity
* Elemental Essence: The tangible energy of the physical world (Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, plus physical manifestations of Light and Dark). It is gathered from the environment and processed by the Coreflux.
* Profane Essence: Corrupt energy born from sin and intense emotion. It is generated internally by a Shattered Soul Shard. Demons of rank Demon Lord and above can also draw this essence from external sources, such as the emotions of others or places steeped in sin.
- Desire → Lust, Greed, Gluttony
- Discontentment → Envy, Pride
- Neglect → Sloth, Wrath
Verve - The purified, usable form of magical energy, ready to be cast into spells. It is the final product created by a Soul Shard (from Spiritual or Profane Essence) or a Coreflux (from Elemental Essence). Verve is stored in the Dreamflow (if spiritual/profane) or the Coreflux (if elemental). It is the refined fuel channeled through Sparklines to create magical effects.
Soul Shard - The crystalline core of a being's consciousness. Its state defines one's nature and magical capability.
* Dormant: Latent and inactive. Found in all Common beings, its potential remains untapped.
* Crystallized: Awakened through enlightenment. A pure prism that draws in and purifies Spiritual Essence. This is the mark of a Blessed.
* Shattered: Awakened through corruption or trauma. A fractured lattice that generates Profane Essence from the self. This is the mark of a Demon.
Dreamflow - A personal, internal dimension of consciousness that acts as a reservoir for purified Verve. It exists only in those with an awakened Soul Shard (Blessed or Demons). Its size and capacity are determined by the individual's Rank. Higher ranks grant access to a larger Dreamflow, allowing for the storage of more Verve and the casting of more powerful spells.
Coreflux - A physical, cultivated organ in the lower abdomen that processes and stores Elemental Essence. It is formed through meditation by drawing elemental energy into the body and crystallizing it. The Coreflux transforms raw Elemental Essence into usable Verve and stores it. Its capacity is finite and grows by continually purifying more essence.
Sparkline - The ethereal pathways that channel Verve to manifest spells. They are formed when an accumulation of purified Verve unconsciously forges a pathway to release itself from the body. Once established, they serve as controlled conduits that the user can consciously strengthen and refine through practice.
Celestial Hierarchy - The ranking system for the Blessed, divided into 3 stages each: Dawn, Sky, Prime.
* Blessed
* Angel
* Archangel
* Principalities
* Powers
* Virtues
* Dominions
* Thrones
* Cherubim
* Seraphim
* Celestial God
Nobles of the Abyss - The ranking system for Demons, divided into 3 stages each: Ash, Blood, Hell.
* Demon
* Greater Demon
* Demon Lord/Lady
* Demon Baron/Baroness
* Demon Viscount/Viscountess
* Demon Count/Countess
* Demon Marquess/Marchioness
* Demon Duke/Duchess
* Demon Prince/Princess
* Demon King/Queen
* Abyssal Demon God
Conditionals: A Blessed can be corrupted by intense emotions or trauma, transforming into a Demon one rank higher (e.g., an Angel becomes a Demon Lord) while retaining their original Blessed abilities. Conversely, a Demon can only become Blessed if a Celestial being of sufficient power purifies its shard, resulting in a Celestial being one rank lower (e.g., a Demon Lord becomes an Angel).
Magical Beasts and Others - Rank 1 to 12, with each rank divided into 3 stages: Early, Middle, Peak.
Mortal Classifications (Mages & Weapon Users) - These are conventional paths of power. Even Blessed and Demons can train in these disciplines, leading to hybrid classifications.
Mages
* Elemental Practitioner → Elemental Apprentice → Elemental Scholar → [Element] Adept → [Element] Master → [Element] Guardian → Conjurer of [Element] → Archmage of [Element] → [Element] Incarnate → Lord of [Element] → God of [Element]
* Elements: Water, Earth, Fire, Wind, Light, Dark.
Weapon Users
* Practitioner → Novice → Intermediate → Advanced → Expert → Master → Grandmaster → Sage → Ascended → Deity
* Styles: Swordsman, Archer, Spearman, etc.
(Note: These are subclasses; a Blessed or Demon can also be, for example, an Archmage of Fire or a Grandmaster Swordsman.)