Memories of the Fall

PoV Character Glossary (WIP)

click spoilers at your risk, really, i warned you, seriously!

Protagonists

Jun Arai

Description: The elder Jun sister. 18 years old (at the start of the story). Dark hazel-green eyes. Dark brown hair that is a bit straight, but tends to go curly at the ends, kept long and usually plaited or tied back in a bun. Of above medium height with a well proportioned, athletic build befitting her lifestyle. An Outdoors, Mediterranean complexion. Overall her appearance very much takes after her mother for those who knew her parents.

Cultivation Law: Physical Cultivation Mantra, passed on from her mother. (Inheritor)

Mantra: Spirit. Heart. Renewal. Body. Soul

Cultivation Realm: Physical Foundation (peak)

Spirit Root: Good Quality but otherwise unknown - was never formally tested.

Art List (notable, as of story start - not spoilers, just tagged for length)

Hunter Pavilion

Flickering Steps (Basic Movement Art)

Empty Eye Steps (Basic Concealment Art)

Jun Household

Various basic (intent only) martial forms taught by their parents: Sword (1 & 2 Hand), Spear, Staff, Short Blades/Daggers.

Spoilers

Spoiler before Book 1 chapter 35/36

Physique: Myriad Transformations (Mortal) - Chapter 35/36

Mantra: Heart > Blessed, Renewal > Bestow, Soul > Day

Spoiler before Book 2 chapter 56

Breakthrough: Golden Core. - Ch 56

Golden Core: Boundless Transformations Sovereign Core - Black gold with black/white corona, symbol and 10 flames of yin yang elements cycle and 2 other hard to sense flames

Spoiler before Book 2 chapter 58

Red-Gold Thread

Various comprehensions on Elaria's Martial Sword Form.

Spoiler before Book 2 chapter 63

Breakthrough: Soul Foundation > Nascent Soul

Soul type – Overcoming Extermination Tribulation refinement – Silver with black/gold corona

Spoiler before Book 2 chapter 74

Breakthrough: Nascent Soul to Dao Seeking.

Principle: Myriad Transformation

Jun Sana

Description: The younger Jun sister. 18 years old (at the start of the story). Dark hazel-green eyes. Dark brown hair, a bit wavier and lighter than her sisters but otherwise the same, kept long and either plaited or tied back in a bun. Of above medium height with a well proportioned, athletic build befitting her lifestyle. An Outdoors, Mediterranean complexion. Takes a bit more after their father for those who knew her parents.

Cultivation Law: Physical Cultivation Mantra, passed on from her mother. (Inheritor)

Mantra: Spirit. Heart. Renewal. Body. Soul

Cultivation Realm: Physical Foundation (peak)

Spirit Root: Good Quality but otherwise unknown - was never formally tested.

Art List (as of story start - not spoilers, just tagged for length)

Hunter Pavilion

Flickering Steps (Basic Movement Art)

Empty Eye Steps (Basic Concealment Art)

Jun Household

Various basic (intent only) martial forms taught by their parents: Sword (1 & 2 Hand), Spear, Staff, Short Blades/Daggers.

Spoilers

Spoiler before Book 1 Chapter 35/36

Physique: Formless Permutations (Mortal) - Chapter 35/36

Mantra: Heart > Blessed, Renewal > Bestow, Soul > Day

Spoiler before Book 2 chapter 56

Breakthrough: Golden Core Breakthrough. - Ch 56

Golden Core: Myriad Permutation's Sovereign Core - Black gold with black/purple corona, symbol and 10 flames of yin yang elements cycle and 2 other hard to sense flames

Spoiler before Book 2 chapter 58

Maelstrom Heavens Scripture

Heavenly Maelstrom Spear: Martial Spear Form

Maelstrom Shifting Steps: Movement Art

Harmonious Maelstrom Manual: Cultivation Art (Harmonious Maelstrom Cycle), Combat Art (Way of the Harmonious Maelstrom)

Myriad Maelstrom Primordial Cauldron: Refinement Art

Spoiler before Book 2 chapter 63

Breakthrough: Soul Foundation > Nascent Soul

Soul type – Overcoming Extermination Tribulation refinement – Silver with black/gold corona

Spoiler before Book 2 chapter 74

Breakthrough: Nascent Soul to Dao Seeking.

Principle: Formless Permutations

Kun Juni

Description: Youngest of several siblings. 34 years old (at the start of the story). Light blue eyes with a hint of green. Dark brown, nearly black hair, kept long and usually plaited and tied back. Considered something of a beauty, considered tall for a woman, with a proportioned, athletic body befitting her cultivation and lifestyle. Naturally pale, she has a tanned Mediterranean complexion from lots of outdoor living.

Cultivation Law: Spiritual Law, from the Kun Clan (First chapter). Physical Cultivation Mantra, from the Hunter Pavilion. (Acquired)

Mantra: Scion, Path, Lotus, Body, Gift

Cultivation Realm: Qi Refinement / Physical Foundation (high)

Spirit Root: Poor quality with mixed elements

Art List (as of story start - not spoilers, just tagged for length)

Hunter Pavilion

Flickering Steps (Basic Movement Art)

Empty Eye Steps (Basic Concealment Art)

Kun Household

Nine Kun Hearts Manual (Full Version)

Chapter 1 - Foundation to Golden Core

Kun Family Sword Art

Kun Divides the Waters (I)

Kun Skips on the Pond (IV) - Evasion

Kun Rises to Heaven (VIII) - Capstone Art

Kun Family Spear Art

Kun Overturns the Waves (I)

Kun Splits the Waves (II)

Kun within the Maelstrom (IV)

Kun Family Sword-Staff/Military Sword-Staff

Kun Overturns the Waters (I)

Double Dragon, Sundering Surge (VI) - Capstone Art

Kun Family Archery Art

(unnamed for now)

Kun Jumps for Heaven (II)

(unnamed for now)

Spoilers

Spoiler before end of Book One!

Acquired: Duraminium Sword Staff (unenchanted) - Chapter 32

Mantra: Scion > Devoted, Gift > Bestowal

Spoiler for Book 2 Chapter 57

Bright Lotus Earthly Scripture

Cultivation Art

Spoiler for Book 3, Chapter 75/76

Bright Lotus Earthly Scripture

Nine Earthly Stones, Cast from the Heart: a divination method using nine stones.

Heart shifting steps: A movement art that also works as a divination art.

Eighteen Earthly Lotus Palms.

Blazing Lotus Phantasm: Fire, Area attack, ranged.

Echoes of the Mountain Lotus: Earth, Area attack, shockwave.

Misty Lotus River: Water, Movement Art, evasive.

Blossoming Lotus Seizes All: Life, Palm strike, steals and returns strength.

Returning Lotus Gate: Metal, Qi-defence technique.

Spoiler for Book 3 Chapter 91

Bright Lotus Earthly Scripture

Bright Lotus Eye: An Ocular art that is supplementary to the cultivation scripture in various ways, helping with the visualisation of qi.

Spoiler for Book 3 Chapter 94

Bright Lotus Earthly Scripture

Bright Heart Shifting Steps: Second stage of 'Heart Shifting Steps', works in conjunction with 'Bright Lotus Eye'. Acts as a geomancy compass centred on the wielder.

Lin Ling

Description: Youngest of four siblings. 15 years old (at the start of the story). Bright azure blue eyes. Sandy blonde hair that is slightly curly, kept long and usually held in a bun and tail. Athletic build for her age, some people claim she is a bit thin, but she doesn't acknowledge that at all. Naturally pale, she has something of an outdoors complexion but is not as tanned as Juni, Arai or Sana.

Cultivation Law: Spiritual Law, from the Lin Clan (Non-inheritance chapter). Physical Cultivation Mantra, from the Hunter Pavilion. (Acquired)

Mantra: Scion, Path, Lotus, Body, Gift

Cultivation Realm: Qi Condensation / Physical Foundation

Spirit Root: Poor Quality - Water attribute with mixed elements.

Art List (as of story start - not spoilers, just tagged for length)

Hunter Pavilion

Physical Cultivation Art (Non-Inheritance version)

Flickering Steps (Basic Movement Art)

Empty Eye Steps (Basic Concealment Art)

Lin Household

Seven Spirits Thunder Light Manual (Non-Inheritance)

First Chapter, Non-Inheritance Chapter)

Spoilers

Spoiler before end of Book One!

Acquired: Yang Blood - Chapter 17

Occurrence: Yang Blood Mutation to Cultivation - Chapter 37

Breakthrough: Mantra Seed & Qi Refinement - Chapter 37

Spoiler before Book 2 Chapter 57

Physique: Shieldbearer True Physique

Spoiler Before Book 3 Chapter 89

Breakthrough: Golden Core to Dao Seeking. - Chapter 89/90

Golden Core: Yang Eternal Soverigns Core - Reddish black, flickering with gold, surrounded by a red-purple corona that sparked gold.ephemera of 33 rotations and the strength of 5 yang elements.

Occurrence: Shield Bearer True Physique mutates to Yang Bearing Shield Mortal Physique - Chapter 89/90

Principle Founded: Yang as a Shield.

Han Shu

Description: 28 years old (at the start of the story). Brown eyes, Dark Brown Hair, kept long and held in a military-style knot. Tall, muscular physique befitting outdoors lifestyle. Weather-beaten complexion.

Cultivation Law: Physical Cultivation Mantra, from the Han Clan, (Inheritor).

Mantra: 'Bright, Iron, Beginning, Worldly, Gift’

Cultivation Realm: Physical Foundation

Spirit Root: Good quality. Water (Yang Affinity)

Art List (as of story start - not spoilers, just tagged for length)

Hunter Pavilion

Flickering Steps (Basic Movement Art)

Fleeting Steps (Movement Art)

Empty Eye Steps (Basic concealment art)

Han Clan

Han Family Physical Cultivation Art (Inheritance)

Various martial forms from the Han Clan and the Military Bureau.

Spoilers

Spoiler before end of Book One!

Occurrence: Adopted by the Sword - Chapter 20

Occurrence: Fight with Eldritch Abominations, loss of cultivation progress - Chapter 23

Occurrence: Recovery to late-stage Containment Realm - by chapter 37

Spoiler before Book 2 Chapter 57

Nine-fold origins lotus manual

Nine Origins Sword (Martial Weapon Art)

Nine Origins Manual (Cultivation Art, Body Art, Soul Art)

Martial Lotus Momentum (Movement Art)

Physique: Nine Origins Lotus Physique (True Physique)

Spoiler before Book 3 Chapter 82/83

Cultivation sealed by Din Ouyeng

Nine-fold origins lotus manual - 'Stolen' by Jade Gate Court?

Sword Key for the Throne of Extinction - Stolen by Hao Tai

Through Karmic entanglement with Origin and Divide ends up in their Throne Realm.

SPOILERS FOR BOOK 3

Teng Chunhua

Description: 37 years old (at the start of the story). Tall, athletic, grey eyes, black hair, a little Asian in appearance, but not obviously.

Spiritual Cultivation Law: Treejade Red Manual.

Physical Cultivation: Inheritor, acquired from her family.

Mantra: Sweet, Bloom, Red, Blossom, Jade

Cultivation Realm: Golden Core/Mantra Seed

Spirit Root: Good Quality - Fire and Life elements.

Art List (as of story start - not spoilers, just tagged for length)

Hunter Pavilion

Physical Cultivation Art (Non-Inheritance version)

Flickering Steps (Basic Movement Art)

Empty Eye Steps (Basic Concealment Art)

Teng Family

Teng Family Physical Cultivation Art (Inheritance)

Various martial forms.

Spiritual Cultivation Law

Spoilers

Spoiler before Book 3 chapter 90

Breakthrough: Nascent Soul (Chapter 90)

Spoiler before Book 2 Chapter 94

Spirit Root Upgrade

Spoiler Before Book 3 Chapter 99

Core upgrade: mid grade 22+1 > Mutated Yin Fire/Yang Wood Parasol Core.

Mantra Mutation

Physique Formation: Parasol Luan True Physique

Spoiler Book 3 Chapter 100-102

Breakthrough: to Dao Seeking. - Chapter 100

Golden Core: Western Luan Parasol Core -

Principle Founded:

Secondary Characters (Point of View Characters - preliminary)

Dun Lian Jing - Imperial Princess of the Dun Imperial Household (ranked 17th out of 100), a promising and favoured student of Dun Jian.

Dun Jian - The youngest sibling of the current Dun Emperor, styled 'Imperial Uncle' or 'Imperial Teacher' to some of the current generations Princes and Princesses. Also an 'Imperial Advisor'

Ha Leng - Childhood friend and cousin of Ha Yun.

Ha Kai - Son of Ha Tai, An Old Ancestor of the Ha Family and sometime 'Imperial Advisor'

Ha Tai - Second Old Ancestor of the Ha Family, father of Ha Kai, frequently styled 'Old Freak' Ha

Ha Yun - Heir of the Ha Family in the current generation.

Huang Leng - Head of the Wuli Branch of the Huang Clan on Eastern Azure.

Huang JiLao - Nephew of Huang Leng,

Lan Huang - An important elder in the Ha Clan, has been in reclusive training up until the start of the story.

Lu Ji - Headmaster of the Blue Gate School, Grand nephew of the Blue Water Sage. (Also a 'descendant nephew' of Lady Lu Xiao)

Lu Xiao - Lady Xiao, a reclusive expert and sometime 'Imperial Advisor', 'Aunt' of the Blue Water Sage 30,000 years ago (and now 'Aunt' to Lu Ji)

Meng Fu - Lady Meng, Ancestral Founder of the Seven Sovereigns School. Also a Princess of Vast Obscurity Grove, one of the great powers of the Martial Axial Starfields.

Ruo Han - Outer Disciple of the Argent Justice Hall,

Shu Tian - Current Sect Master of the Shu Pavilion, an 'Imperial Advisor' and member of the Shu Heavenly Clan.

Teng Chunhua - A Seven Star Herb Hunter from South Grove,

Sword Spirit - An ancient spirit within a mysterious ancient sword.

??? x 2- Two mysterious entities who have some connection to Thunder Crest Pinnacle

Elaria Everkind - Archmagister of Almaltharia, a powerful Sorceress who has seen many things.

Scholar of Calamity - An unknowable creature who aspires, through scholarly endeavour, to understand why it is that lesser species are so fascinated with 'suicide'.

Hong & Fen - ???

Glossary of Characters by Faction - focused on Book 1 mainly.

So, currently, this will be ordered by faction to make it easier for me to amend. Eventually, it may transition to a list either by book or by alphabetical order, but as it stands this is what I have settled upon.

There are no plot details in the descriptions currently but you may encounter mild spoilers just by skimming it despite my best efforts.

Imperial Court of Eastern Azure

Dun Imperial Clan

Emperor (Current)

Dun Jiang: - 'Blue Morality Emperor', 9th Emperor of the 2nd Dun Dynasty. World Venerate Cultivator.

Empress (Current)

Dun Mei: Current Empress of Eastern Azure - 'Blue Morality Empress', 11th Empress of the 2nd Dun Dynasty. Current Empress of Eastern Azure, formerly of the Huang Heavenly Clan. Dao Eternal Cultivator

Previous Emperors

Dun Fang: 'Azure Tyrant Emperor', Founder of the 2nd Dun Dynasty. Believed by scholars to also be 'Dun Fang' who was the last Emperor of the 1st Dun Dynasty, who was deposed from his throne, while still a 'youth'.

Dun Teng: 'Azure Spiritsky Emperor', 3rd Emperor of the 2nd Dun Dynasty.

Imperial Heirs (Children of Emperor and Empress)

Dun Tian: Inheriting Crown Prince. Ancient Immortal, Azure Chrysanthemum Imperial Law.

Dun Sheng: Second Crown Prince. Ancient Immortal.

Dun Fanshu: Third Crown Prince. Ancient Immortal.

Dun Rui: First Crown Princess. Ancient Immortal.

Dun Xiao: Second Crown Princess. Golden Immortal.

Dun Miao: Third Crown Princess. Golden Immortal.

Imperial Children (by concubines)

Dun Lian Jing: 17th ranked Imperial Princess - Golden Immortal, 64 years old

Other members of the Imperial Household

Dun Jian: Imperial Teacher to various non-inheriting princes and princesses. Dao Eternal, ~40,000 years old. The younger brother of the current emperor

Imperial Advisors

Kong Di: Grand Imperial Astrologer, 3rd generation Sect Master of the 'Heavenly Fortune School' - Dao Eternal.

Din Bao: Supreme Elder of the Imperial Court, 2nd generation Sect master of 'Jade Gate Court' - Dao Ascendant.

Kong Sang: Envoy Ambassador from the Kong Clan - World Venerate.

Huang Leng: Envoy Ambassador from the Huang Clan, 3rd generation head of Huang Clan branch on Eastern Azure - Dao Eternal.

Shu Tian: Envoy Ambassador from the Shu Clan, 3rd generation Sect Master of the Shu Pavilion - Dao Ascendant.

Lu Xiao: Imperial Advisor - Dao Ascendant.

Dun Jian (see above)

Imperial Bureaucracy.

Iron Peaks Province

Iron Crown Duke: Duke of Iron Peaks province

various heirs, who are not well thought of?

Blue Water Province

Astrology Bureau

Qiao Tao Feng, Bureau Chief of Astrology Bureau. Dao Sovereign

Azure Astral Authority

Fei Daiyu: Dao Mother Black Jade - Worldly Venerate

Ancestor Astral Song:

Sheng Dian: Inheriting Disciple of Ancestor Astral Song

Eastern Azure Military Authority Bureau

Cao Honjun: Leader of Eastern Azure Military Authority - Worldly Venerate. Has a history with Yin Eclipse and its ruins.

Cao Feng: Adjunct Elder of the Military Bureau, Cao Clan - Dao Eternal.

Kun Mao: Adjunct Elder of the Military Bureau, Kun Clan - Dao Eternal.

Eastern Azure Hunter Bureau

Han Ouyeng: Leader of the Eastern Azure Hunter Bureau - Peak Dao Ascendant.

Fang Hai: Bureau Chief of the Blue Water Province Hunter Bureau

Eastern Azure Civil Authority (controlled by Azure Astral)

Blue Water province

Cao Leyang: Duke of Blue Water province - Peak Dao Lord. Description: He kept his long, dark hair tied up in a dragon crown, and had grown a beard that he kept trimmed in a military-style.

Ling Jiang: Ling Clan

Great Sects and Schools

Seven Sovereigns Imperial School

School Founder

Meng Fu: 'Dao Mother Heaven-Pyre', True Flame Sovereign, Founder of the Several Sovereigns School (and several others before it). World Venerate (Dao Ascendant), Member of Meng Heavenly Clan & Vast Obscurity Grove.

Sect Leader

Meng Yang: 'Lady Yang', 5th generation Sect Master. Peak Dao Eternal, Member of the Meng Heavenly Clan

Old Ancestors

Meng Ren: '6th Old Ancestor of the Seven Sovereigns School'. Dao Ascendant. A disciple of Meng Fu

Meng Tan: '9th Old Ancestor...'. Dao Ascendant. A disciple of Meng Fu

Cao Liang: '12th Old Ancestor...'. Dao Ascendant. A disciple of Meng Fu, competed with Meng Yang to be School headmaster but lost out, became the youngest 'Old Ancestor' thereafter.

Sect Elders

Yun Quan: Supreme Guardian Elder. A disciple of Meng Fu

Ji Ming: Sect Elder. Dao Sovereign, Youngest disciple of Meng Fu, her only direct disciple in the current generation.

Meng Fei: An external 'Guardian Elder'. Dao Eternal.

Tuo Kankai: Sect Enforcement Great Elder.

Fan Ji: Guest Elder. Member of censure suppression force.

Rantai Mao: Guest Elder. Member of censure suppression force.

Erlang Wen: Guest Elder. Member of censure suppression force.

Notable Disciples

Ji Tantai: Golden Immortal Inheritance Disciple.

Shu Pavilion

Sect Leader

Shu Tian: 3rd generation Sect Master - Dao Ascendant, Member of Shu Heavenly Clan

Old Ancestors

Ancestor Bronze: 3rd Old Ancestor of the Shu Pavilion

Ancestor Iron: 4th Old Ancestor...

Other Elders

Shu Shen: 'Old Gateway' Ancestor. An Elder of the Shu Pavilion focusing on divinations.

Notable Disciples

Cang Di:'Tian', Inheriting Disciple of Old Ancestor Bronze. Ancient Immortal. Considered to be the 'first disciple' of the current 'younger' generation.

Jade Gate Court

Sect Leader

???

Old Ancestors

Din Bao: 3rd Old Ancestor of Jade Gate Court, 2nd Generation Sect Master. Quasi World Venerate (Peak Dao Ascendant)

Notable Disciples

Din Ouyeng: Golden Immortal Disciple who was missing for some time after a Dragon Pillar trial only to re-emerge in recent times.

Di Ji: Infamous adopted son of Kong Di, enrolled with the Jade Gate Court and viewed as a possible 'Young Sovereign' candidate by some within the Kong Heavenly Clan within Eastern Azure.

Kong Bo: Ancient Immortal

Jiong Jiaying: Ancient Immortal

Red Sovereign Sect

Sect Leader

???

Old Ancestors

??

Sect Elders

Gan Tai Fei: Dao Immortal. Outer Court Elder

Gan Bao: Dao Immortal, Outer Court Elder

Notable Disciples

Gan Renshu: Ancient Immortal

Gan Jiao: Golden Immortal

Gan Deng: 'Dao Immortal'

Gan Sheng Su: Golden Immortal

Gan Ge Men: Golden Immortal

Qin Den: Golden Immortal

Qin Cao: Ancient Immortal

Argent Hall

Sect Leader

???

Old Ancestors

???

Notable Disciples

Hao Tai: Ancient Immortal

Hao Fang: Ancient Immortal

Argent Hall: Argent Justice Branch

Sect Leader

???

Old Ancestors

???

Notable Disciples

Ruo Han: Nascent Soul (Outer Sect Junior Elder)

Liao Ying; Soul Foundation

Hao Jun: Soul Foundation

Jin Chen: Golden Core

Dewdrop Sage Sect

Sect Leader

Hua Xiaomei: Dewdrop Sage. Founder of Dewdrop Sage Sect and also its current Leader. Peak Dao Ascendant. A talent who ascended from a mortal world and made their mark on Eastern Azure.

Notable Disciples

Fairy Liling: Golden Immortal

Minor Sects and Schools

Blue Gate School

School Founder

Lu Quan: Founder of Blue Gate School, brother of Blue Water Sage, Grandfather of Lu Ji.

Sect Leader

Lu Ji: 3rd Generation Headmaster.

Sect Elders

Ling Tao: 'Vice Headmistress'. A disciple of Lu Ji

Disciples

Valley Master of West Flower Picking Town.

Mo Xiao: Core Disciple

Orchid Pavilion

Sect Leader

Fan Mei: Pavilion Leader. A disciple of Hua Xiaomei

Teng School

Sect Leader

Teng Shan: 4th Generation Headmaster.

Golden Promise School

Sect Leader

Hao Gan: 3rd Generation Headmaster.

Eastern Azure Clans & Families

Ha Clan & Ha Family

The Ha clan has its origins in several different places.

Old Ancestors

First Ancient Ancestor: Ha Tai Kai's mentor in the ancient Ha Village, an old recluse who has long since left the world to seek new horizons.

Second Ancient Ancestor: Ha Tai Wen: Old Freak Ha, Old Eccentric Ha etc... Quasi World Venerate. Description: Vibrantly dressed man in later middle age who has the manner of a kindly grandpa... can also look like an imposing old grandpa and a terrible demon if angered. Is also technically the ancestor of the Ha Family, which is slightly distinct from the Clan itself. The Ha Clan main branch is descended from the 1st old ancestor, Ha Tai Wen's compatriot and 'mentor' within the ancient Ha Village.

Third Ancient Ancestor: Ha Shi Tianmei: Ancestral founder of the Shi family of Ha Village.

Fourth Ancient Ancestor: Head of the Cao branch that were located in the region of Ha Village when the Ha clan came together.

Fifth Ancient Ancestor: Ha Erlang Shan: Founder of the Erlang Branch. Dao Eternal. Ancestor of Ha Leng. He is considered to be the fourth (rather than seventh) simply because he retired to become an Old Ancestor before Ha Kai did.

Sixth Ancient Ancestor: Head of the Ji branch that were located in the region of Ha Village when the Ha clan came together.

Seventh Ancient Ancestor: Ha (Tai) Kai. The eldest child, and only son of Ha Tai Wen, technically 7th Ancient Ancestor, but never goes by that title. Quasi World Venerate (publicly believed to be a Peak Dao Eternal). Description: Elderly looking, taller by a head than his father. Thin physique with a beard that made him look like a Confucian scholar and a slightly harried expression. Makes strange games that are always oddly popular.

Elders

(Ha) Lan Huang: Ha Clan Travelling Elder, also Teacher Lan. Dao Sovereign. Tasked to look after Ha Yun and his group on their trip into the Yin Eclipse Mountains. Has a good relationship with Ha Kai who provided him many opportunities when he was younger and a more active Clan Elder.

Notable Senior Members

Ha Deng: Mercenary Herb Hunter, Member of West Flower Picking Town's 'Master's Pavilion'. Nascent Soul Cultivator. Died foolishly trying to gather herbs.

Ha Lian: Step-mother of Ha Gu, ran off to Blue Water City.

Ha Jing: Guardian Elite given the task of guarding Ha Yun. Quasi Immortal Realm.

Ha Huang: Guardian Elite given the task of guarding Ha Yun. Really Elder Lan Huang in disguise.

Ha Cao: Guardian Elite given the task of guarding Ha Yun, Nascent Soul Realm.

Ha Teng: Guardian Elite given the task of guarding Ha Yun. Chosen Immortal.

Notable Junior Members

Ha Yun: Current Heir of the Ha Family, a distant descendant of Ha Tai Wen. Golden Core.

Ha Leng: Childhood Friend of Ha Yun, a distant direct descendant of Ha Erlang Shan. Peak Qi Refinement

Ha Mao: Childhood Friend of Ha Yun.Qi Refinement

Ha Mun: Childhood Friend of Ha Yun.Qi Refinement

Ha Ding: Childhood Friend of Ha Yun.Qi Refinement

Ha Fang: Childhood Friend of Ha Yun.Qi Refinement

Ha Gu: Child of Ha Lian, part of the Master's Pavilion, given up for adoption by her mother. Made a living selling flowers she gathered with her friends Ha Xiao and Ha Ling.

Ha Nen Xiao: Friend of Ha Gu, part of the Master's Pavilion.

Ha Nen Ling: Friend of Ha Gu, part of the Master's Pavilion.

Ling Clan

Blue Water Province

Clan Head

Ling Yusheng: Head of the Ling Family branch in Blue Water city. Azure Astral Envoy – Blue Water Province. Dao Sovereign. Father of Ling Yu, Ling Fan and Ling Mu. The older brother of Ling Fei, Ling Jiang and Ling Tao. Married to Ling (Fei) Zhenzhen

Notable Senior Members

Ling Baisheng - An Old Ancestor of the Ling Clan, returned to Eastern Azure to look after Ling Yu. Referred to by her as 'Grandpa'. Assumed by many to be a Dao Ascendant. Actually a Celestial Venerate.

Ling Fei: Regional Bureau Chief (Blue Water Province). Dao Sovereign. (Author note: May have been merged with Ling Jiang, check ongoing)

Ling Jiang: Civil Administrator for Blue Water Province. Dao Lord. Father of Ling Luo.

Ling Tao: Vice-headmistress of the Blue Gate School. Dao Lord(?). Married to Ling (Shen) Weng, Disciple of Lu Ji, Headmaster of the Blue Gate School.

Ling Shen Weng: Senior Official in Blue Water City. Married to Ling Tao. Teacher of Ling Luo. Former West Flower Picking Town Governor.

Ling Fei Zhenzhen: Lady of the Ling Household, Wife of Ling Yusheng.

Notable Junior Members

Ling Yu: Eldest Daughter of Ling Yusheng. Soul Foundation. Age 17.

Ling Luo: Only daughter of Ling Jiang. Peak Golden Core. early 20's. Deputy Official in the Blue Water City Bureaucracy, her role is to oversee the Hall of Jade Loci Cores associated with the City Bureau's

Ling Fan: Eldest Son of Ling Yusheng. Nascent Soul. Age 17. A spoilt brat with a sense of entitlement, set to enrol in the Blue Gate School as an Inner Disciple during the next testing/admissions period.

Ling Mu: Younger Son of Ling Yusheng. Peak Soul Foundation. Age 14. A spoilt brat with a sense of entitlement, set to enrol in the Blue Gate School as an Inner Disciple during the next testing/admissions period.

Other Members

'Uncle' Kao: Ling Estate Seneschal in Blue Water province

Gardner Tuo: A senior servant and gardener in the Ling Estates.

Lu Clan

Kun Clan

Old Ancestors

Elders

Kun Zheng.

Family Head

Kun Jiao - Head of the Kun Clan's branch in Blue Water Province, father of Kun Juni and Kun Talshin

Notable Senior Members

Kun Ji: An Astrologer in West Flower Picking Town

Kun Seong: Kun Ji's wife

Notable Junior Members

Kun Juni: See PoV Character Glossary

Kun Talshin: Kun Juni's older brother, Manages a Herb Brokerage.

Lin Clan

Old Ancestors

Elders

Notable Senior Members

Notable Junior Members

Lin Ling: See PoV Character Glossary

Han Clan

Old Ancestors

Elders

Notable Senior Members

Notable Junior Members

Han Shu: See PoV Character Glossary

Jun Family

Family Head

Jun Han: Head of the household. (Spoilers below)

Golden Immortal, Ascended from a Mortal World.

Senior Members

Jun Ruliu: Wife of Jun Han, a former member of Ruan Clan

Notable Junior Members

Jun Arai: See PoV Character Glossary

Jun Sana: See PoV Character Glossary

General World Building Stuff (Eastern Azure)

This section basically deals with all the sundry information introduced throughout the story that might be considered general knowledge by the characters. I've tried to go for 'Show' rather than 'Tell', with varying degrees of success admittedly, but some stuff is just to 'common' for anyone to talk about. This has five sections, 'World Bio, Jobs/Organisation', Calendar, Currency and Artefacts for now.

World Bio (of sorts)

Eastern Azure is ~ 300,000 miles across.

It is split into seven continents. for the full breakdown on the world geography, skip to the bottom of the chapter, because the maps are big and its a pain to have them this far up.

Eastern Azure's total Population is at least 180 billion people.

The majority of the population is focused on the Central and Southern Continent's. The population of Yin Eclipse as a whole is quite sparse, with only 10-15 million people throughout it. most of those focused on the areas around Blue Water City, Lin Teng Town and Yun Shan City. (Check the map at the end to see where those are)

Control of the world is split between two super influences. the Supreme Sovereignty Alliance (Kong Clan, Huang Clan and allies) and Eastern Azures World Emperor and Imperial Court and the Astral Azure Authority (Teng Clan, Shen Clan and allies) and a few other large sects. The Sovereignty alliance controls the central, 'Imperial Continent' and the southern 'Argent Gate Continent' and has influence on the western (Western Shu) continent. The Azure Astral Authority controls the 'Northern Tang' continent and large swathes of the 'Easten Continent'. A third power 'The Shu Pavilion', backed by the Shu Heavenly Clan holds a lot of sway on the Western Shu Continent and has a truce of sorts with both sides. Nobody really controls the Demon (Southern Darklands) Continent in the south-east or the Merciful Skies Continent where this worlds Buddhist temples are largely focused. The Buddhists are affiliated (of course) with the super influence of Mount Erlang. The Easten Continent and the subcontinents off it are the main focus of contested influence between the Imperial Court and the Azure Astral Authority. The other great powers, the Moon Tomb Sect and the Seven Sovereigns School are largely in a cold war with all other powers by and large.

Sects and Strength.

Sects are split into five rough ranks: Worldly Powers, First Rate Powers, Second Rate Power, Minor Powers and Local Influences.

The worldly powers number three: Imperial Court, Azure Astral Authority and the Shu Pavilion.

All of these are huge powers in their own right. the Imperial Court has millions of people supporting it, vast armies, several first-rate sects, a dozen second rate powers and hundreds of minor and local powers at its beck and call. the Azure Astral Authority has partial control and influence over several Bureaus that are in their own right first-rate powers controlling millions of people, their own standing armies and subsidiary minor and local powers.

First Rate Powers

On average a First-rate power might expect to have control over several provinces and administer a region with a population of maybe ~150-200 million people. As an example, the Jade Gate Court, which is an upper-echelon 'First Rate Power', has 99 Guardian Elders who are all Dao Sovereigns, a dozen old ancestors who are Dao Eternals or Dao Ascension experts and several thousand lesser elders of the Dao Lord rank to support them. each of those Elders leads a hall that will have ~10-20 Dao Immortals and maybe ~100 Golden and Ancient Immortals in them with two or three times that in Immortals. anyone below the Immortal threshold in such an influence would be considered some form of outer sect disciple and reside in a branch influence until they cross that.

The branch influences of First-rate powers tend to be Minor or second rate powers in their own right. these influences are usually overseen by a Dao Sovereign (at the very least), with Dao Lord and Dao Immortal Elders and a few trusted inner disciples of Chosen Immortal or Golden Immortal Realm. Any single one might have 5-10,000 outer disciples at any given time.

Minor and Local Powers

On Yin Eclipse, The Blue Gate School, now in its third generation is considered a top tier Minor Power within Blue Water Province. Its Headmaster is at least a Dao Sovereign. The school has five old ancestors at the Dao Sovereign and Eternal realm, half a dozen Elders at the Dao Lord realm and some 20 or so Dao Immortals scattered throughout the province on various tasks. in terms of disciples, the majority of its Core disciples (there are maybe 30), are Chosen Immortals, while the rest of the Inner disciples are Immortals. its normal disciples, of which there are ~ 400 are a mix of Nascent Soul, Dao Seeking and Immortal realm disciples. Its outer sect disciples, which number maybe 3000 are largely Qi refinement, Golden Core and Soul Foundation in a fairly random mix. In another continent, this would be equal to a small branch sect.

Clans and Families

Clan's strengths are much more random, but largely a clan with Regional influence (Like the Ling Clan) would be led by a Dao Sovereign or a Dao Lord. a Clan with local influence (like the Deng or Leng Clans might be led by a Dao Immortal or an Ancient Immortal). this varies somewhat between generations and depending on the regions and Yin Eclipse is somewhat weaker due to having suffered much upheaval and instability as the Imperial Court and the Azure Authority vie for influence. many positions of power there are held by outsiders, leaving fewer possibilities for local advancement.

The Bureau's

Hunter Bureau

Military Bureau

Authority Bureau

Envoy Bureau

The Imperial Court

Astrology Bureau*

The Calender

First up, Eastern Azure is basically drifting in the eye of a huge cosmic hurricane. There are four 'Azure' Great Worlds' within the vicinity of this place, each with their own little cosmic gyre. Shan Lai sits above them, suspended in the eye of the hurricane as the 'fifth' world in this region of the Azure Astral Star Field.

So, why is this important? Well, Eastern Azure is flat, with an accretion disc. its solar cycle of years comes from orbiting the eye of the hurricane its in. Day and night happen because the plane oscillates regularly in the vast tidal forces, shifting the closest thing it has to a 'sun' into the maelstrom far enough that it stops giving light to the world. its moons are weird ruins and fragments suspended in its own accretion disk. This works because of the Heavenly Dao and Qi.

In a technical sense, the Calendar is divided up into fourteen months, based on animals and a few other things. Months are 30 days long, and the year is 420 days. Corrections for celestial weirdness are handled by the Astrology Bureau, doing Astrologer/Divination/Astronomy things.

The Current Dynasty is the Dun Imperial Dynasty (actually its the 2nd dynasty for this Clan but they don't mention that!). The Current Emperor is Dun Jiang and he has been on the Throne for ~19,000 years (or so) and is the 9th Dun Emperor.

Book Two Spoiler of sorts (regarding chapter 41 & 46)

For those eagle-eyed readers, you will note that this coincides rather closely with the purported clashes between the Mo and the Huang Clans 20,000-18,000 years ago according to Ju Shan. The emperor didn't die, he abdicated to his eldest son and went to join the Dun Branch of the Kong Clan. In the aftermath of that, there was a bunch of fighting because there was a new emperor etc. This also broadly coincides with a generation 'being declared' (9x2 = 18 ya see :p). this was a period of notable instability.

Also for those who might have cared why the imperial uncle (Dun Jian) is only ~35,000 years old and a Dao Eternal. He was a younger sibling.

TLDR?: 30 days in a month, 14 months in a year,

60 seconds to a minute, 60 minutes to an hour, 24 hours to a day. 7 days in a week, 60 weeks in a year.

Life and Longevity.

Life and longevity is something I hadn't really put a lot of emphasis on, because people don't go around thinking 'how long will I live' every day. However, it probably helps to visualise how the world works at bigger scales if there are some numbers, however general, available somewhere, so here they are!

Mortals ~ up to 120 years naturally.

Qi condensation and Refinement ~ 100-150 years, very similar to mortals, but much more likely to live over 100.

Golden Core: anywhere from 300-~800 years depending on the quality

Soul Foundation: Basically same as Golden Core.

Nascent Soul: Approximately 3-4x golden core (as a base)

Dao Seeking: 10,000 up to around 30,000 if they really pushed it (very dependant on other factors as well)

Immortals will not die of 'old age' but can eventually succumb to injuries, poison, soul damage, they cant heal etc. Or just plain up get bored of life and go sleep somewhere for thousands and thousands of years.

Above that point, they live as long as they live unless something happens. The longer you live, the more likely it is to die after all. Cultivation deviation, war, monster attack, senior attack, failed tribulation, someone coming and robbing their cultivation abode etc. some realms are also more dangerous than others. crossing from Dao Seeking to Immortal for example. Ancient Immortal to Dao Immortal is even harder to cross and kills a lot of people, as does Dao Sovereign to Dao Eternal).

Technically anyone below Dao Immortal (realistically Dao Lord or Sovereign) would only live as long as the world they are in exists as they can't travel out of it.

Culture and Stuff

Swearing and some general thoughts on culture

The swearing and profanity in the story takes much more after the classical mould, where people swore by Zeus, or various other gods and 'Heavenly' forces. In the context of this story, that's the 'Heavens' or occasionally 'Tian', the 'Fates' and so on. So when you see someone going 'By the Nameless Fate!" its themed a bit after this idea; 'By Zeus, By Toutatis' (if you ever read Asterix!).

There are certain gradations although just like swearing, in reality, it's a bit 'swings and roundabouts'. most of it grew up organically through the story, prompted by a few early recommendations (before it ever made it to royal road) about showing cursing, not just going 'and then she cursed, a lot.' Stuff like 'Fates' is akin to 'Damn' or 'Blast', but 'Fate-Thrashed' would be similar to 'God Dammit' or similar but could also be taken as equivalent to someone 'effing and blinding'. Swearing by the 'Nameless', is a bit like cursing someone with the Devil or Discord, names are Important, in this world. They have power and people know it. Maybe that will become another author note in due time. it does get an in-story explanation eventually, but not for a few dozen chapters at least. The Nameless is an aspect of Fate as they see it that deals with making things not have 'Names'. It's a bit like wishing someone be blessed with death/extinction/a horrible fate etc.

They also swear by more mundane things, like shit, bodily functions and even the occasional sex act and such, but our main characters are all well brought up, nice people, who were taught by their mothers that foul words were wrong! :p

This also feeds into a smaller world-building point and a bit of an in-joke about esoteric phrasing of things. It's a common trope in Xianxia that everything is stupidly complicatedly explained and the swearing by fate and a healthy fear of lightning is my way of insinuating that maybe here, we have a world that would make Big Brother go starry-eyed, bow down and demand to be their student. The purported ignorance of many of the younger characters is also deliberate. There is a long-standing view that knowing too much about certain things is dangerous. Akin to thinking too much about walking over a narrow bridge when you're doing it. so people don't start worrying about Fate/Accumulation/Karma and such until AFTER they cross over to Immortal, and its really only a proper concern when they are going for their next big promotion AFTER that.

Within this, there are also a bunch of other colloquial phrases I have adapted from the genre that may not be familiar to readers.

-Cursing your Nine Generations, is akin to wishing misfortune on all of a person's family. This has its rather humorous origins in stuff like Mushu cursing in the animated, Disney version of Mulan.

-Interesting times - See 2020, the movie. I don't think I need to say more than that. ¬_¬'

-Face and Honour - a BIG thing in a lot of Xianxia, some love it, some dislike it. I see it's use, but my main characters are not from a part of their world that's 'bound' by it in quite the same way. Those from the Central Continent in the story, who are pushing the 'Blue Morality' thingy are the hardline face'ists. Achilles would be proud of their resolve in this regard! Or are they Agamemnon, its hard to say at times!

Currency (Eclipse Sub Continent)

The basic currency throughout the continents varies by term, for the stuff below Spirit Stones. on Yin Eclipse and the areas of the eastern and northern continents in proximity to it, is Qi Metal Talismans, issued through the Bureau Authority. Pure Spirit Stones are the standard currency throughout the world, but only for Immortals or higher.

Basic currency: Qi infused metal coins and talismans.

(disclaimer: This is more for guidance, just like here, your mileage and worth may vary)

Qi Copper, Brass and Iron, Silver talisman coins: The most basic currency, used in mortal dealings. Made of qi infused metals that have been specifically cast for this purpose and issued by provincial bureaucracy.

The exchange rate is roughly 100 copper in 1 brass. 10 brass to one iron. 100 brass to 1 silver = 10 iron.

100 silver = 1 gold = 1 Pure Spirit Stone.

Qi copper and brass are largely used for everyday expenses. Iron is the most valuable of the common talismans. Silver is only used for large transactions or storage, iron is generally preferred as it is easier to spend and exchange (as when Arai got spirit stones and Qi iron talismans for her herb). Same with gold, where spirit stones are largely preferred and gold is used as an ‘in-kind’ benchmark to keep parity between metals and spirit stones.

Valuation of items is done by qi density, quality, weight and so on. herbs are... like buying and selling livestock on earth. your mileage will vary a lot, but there are 'market standards' for most common herb types by grade. These are not always adhered to!

In Blue Water Province, Spirit herbs are frequently used in barter rather than spirit stones. Don't ask for this, its barter economy and works by weight and qi quality and is what it is!

Spirit Stones.

Spirit Stones are the common currency used for more expensive items.

Spirit Stones/Pure Spirit Stones: general currency used below immortal. they come in a variety of forms but are largely the same worth. Pure Spirit Stones and Spirit Stones are basically interchangeable.

1 spirit stone = 1 gold = 1/100th of a Spirit Jade.

Spirit Jade: 100 pure spirit stones = 1 Spirit Jade. High-value currency used below immortal.

Earthly Jade: 1000 Pure spirit stones = 10 Spirit Jade = 1 Earthly Jade – highest value currency in general circulation.

Heavenly Jade: 10,000 pure spirit stones = 100 Spirit jade = 10 earthly jade – storage currency akin to gold coins for most folks.

Dao Jade: Generally worth 1,000,000 spirit stones.

A general price list (based off of things seen so far)

Item Price Notes

Fifth Grade Meek Yin Ginseng (Intact) ~30 Pure Spirit Stones

Fifth Grade Meek Yin Ginseng Root (Piece) ~5 Pure Spirit Stones For the piece, Arai recovered in Chapter 1. She took ~1 spirit stone in Iron Talismans

Storage Talisman (Hunter Pavilion Issue)

50 Pure Spirit Stones

(~50 gold talismans)

A basic storage ring (Spiritual Grade)

~1 - 2 Spirit Jade

(1-200 spirit stones)

This would be the typical storage item for someone at the Nascent Soul realm.

A storage ring capable of being bound by a cultivator below Soul Foundation:

~10 - 20 Spirit Jade.

(1-2000 spirit stones)

These are much harder to make, requiring a high level of understanding of both spatial laws and a special means of 'binding' them to the person. This is why their price is basically 100x that of a basic storage ring.

A spirit treasure for a Golden Core Cultivator

10 - 30 Pure Spirit Stones

(similar prices in gold talismans)

A spirit treasure for an Immortal Realm Cultivator 100+ Spirit Jade

A Golden Core 'Three Star Grade' Beast Core 1 - 2 Pure Spirit Stones Grade Three Qi Beast Cores are a pseudo currency linked to Spirit Stones. Good quality ones can actually be refined into Spirit Stones with the right expertise and even poor quality ones can be traded in kind. Exceptional ones or ones with special qualities may reach as high as 20 or 30 Spirit Stones.

A Nascent Soul 'Five Star Grade' Beast Core (damaged soul) 25 - 50 Pure Spirit Stones

An Immortal Realm 'Eight Star Grade' Beast Core (damaged soul) 1 - 5 Spirit Jade

Cores with Intact Souls (Nascent or Immortal) ~5+ Spirit Jade These are widely sought after and quite hard to acquire. Intact Soul basically means they died without knowing they died or close to it. their prices start around 5 Spirit Jade but can go up to tens of Earthly Jade depending on their use, circumstance or quality.

An 'Immortal Treasure' (non-sapient) 10+ Heavenly Jade Prices may vary, but an Immortal Treasure is something a bit different than a 'Treasure for an Immortal to Wield'

A 'Dao Treasure' (non-sapient) ~ 100+ Dao Jade up to thousands These are highly sought after.

A 'Dao Treasure' (with innate spirit) ~ 1000+ Dao Jade up to unlimited. Price on request pretty much, but never less than hundreds of Dao Jade if sold 'legitimately'. It is far more common for these to just be robbed from the weak by force than it is for them to be purchased.

Dao Bone Hundreds of Dao Jade at a bare minimum These contain natural understandings of the Dao and are highly sought after for all sorts of purposes.

Artefact Quality (A general guide for Eastern Azure Great World only.)

Note: grade is more related to stuff like material quality and properties, combat strength isn't the main qualifier, this isn't a Rock/Paper/Scissors tier list!

Quality Examples

Normal Qi infused metal weapons, stuff commonly used by those under Golden Core.

Spiritual Stuff like the pavilion storage talismans, basic forged artefacts with enchantments, and items capable of being soul-bound at the most basic level.

Earthly Basic Storage Rings (due to the spatial enchantments), Enchanted Jade Scrips (in terms of durability as they are made with Earthly Quality Jade). General-purpose Hunter Bureau identity talismans.

Heavenly/Immortal Weapons formed using immortal comprehensions. These are the lowest grade of object that can generally attain sapience and its own agency, although this is rare.

Dao Artefacts capable of manifesting some kind of artefact spirit as a common occurrence. Eventually, they may attain sapience.

Worldly Largely fantastical treasures like a Luan Feather or Dragon Blood and artefacts and items born from them. May have some kind of genuine sapience.

Venerate The refined artefacts of those who have exceeded the world. Very rare, highly sought after and invariably very powerful. most of them have some kind of sapience.

???^ There is stuff above this, but you just have to use your imagination and speculate wildly for now.

Cultivation (Generally)

This corner of the known universe has, broadly speaking five types of cultivator 'archetype'; Spiritual, Body Refinement, Martial, Soul & Dharma. Physical Cultivators are local to Eastern Azure.

Spiritual Cultivators: The most common type of cultivator in the story. Thinking of them as multi-class fighter-mages isn't a bad idea. Sorcerers with attitude also work. they use Qi, form a Dantian, use arts formations and what not and generally seek for immortality and beyond. They usually have weapons but rarely train to actually hit people with them, frequently use weird and impractical variants and largely prefer to let their qi do the talking. The controlling powers of the Eastern Azure Great World are all Spiritual Cultivators or Martial Cultivators for the most part.

Mostly squishy mage types in the younger generation. Older cultivators with a lot of time and experience are nowhere near as pushover-ish as juniors are.

Body Refinement is sometimes considered a separate discipline, but many purists also group it with Spiritual cultivators, as it fundamentally functions in the same way. the main difference is that it tempers the physical body, rather than enhancing its affinity for qi and capacity to refine and contain it.

Martial Cultivators: Martial Cultivators/Sword Immortals, who are -the- gods of Alpha damage. This also (now) includes what I was formally calling Body Cultivators before. they have quite a bit of cross over with spiritual cultivators and follow much of the same advancement in style. (qi, dantian, meridians etc) but their focus is on weapons and intent-based attacks rather than arts and formations and such. Sword Immortals are a specific sub-set of this grouping that focuses on raising a sword as a spiritual weapon which will have its own intent and eventually soul that will fight alongside their owner.

Soul Cultivators: They do things with souls, ghosts and whatnot, do shifty things and have a weird reputation. They also do a lot with divination. less common outside of Hegemonic powers of evil cults of the northern and South-Eastern Continents since the heavens became much more hostile those not on the 'in'. the few that do remain as major powers are all entities with deep roots from previous heavenly dynasties who cannot be dislodged just by the powers that be focusing on them a bit more than usual.

Dharma Cultivators: Primarily folks like Buddhist monks or proper Taoist Priests. they are also frequently specialists in divination and fortune-telling, although this is not exclusive to them by any means. their situation is similar to soul cultivators. they are viewed with much scepticism and have little influence on the central continent. They use Heart Force in conjunction with spiritual qi.

Physical Cultivators: Brawlers with high durability and a lot of staying power, but not a lot of offensive power and a few progression issues! they are largely restricted to a few enclaves on the Northern and Eastern Continents, with the largest numbers around the Yin Eclipse Sub Continent between the North and Eastern ones. In a previous aeonspan, when this method was viewed somewhat differently, the methods by which it was advanced were called 'Physique Laws'. In the current Heaven's this information is largely lost.

Physiques: Not to be confused with 'Physical Cultivation', physiques, god physiques, constitutions (and a few other names besides) are a specific group of cultivation methods common to higher worlds. They are somewhere between Spiritual, Martial and Physical Cultivation in their general natures, usually incorporating aspects of several methods in more holistic ways than might otherwise be possible. Their relation to the similarly named 'Physique Laws' is unclear within Eastern Azure in the current Heavenly Aeon

Others: There are technically two more types, Qi Beasts have their own system of sorts, and 'Treasure' Cultivation, i.e. an inanimate, unliving object like a sword or a vase or a rock becoming attuned enough to qi that it perceives some aspect of a Dao and thus becomes sapient.

Cultivation Realm Progression Charts- (Great World Edition)

This just covers standard spiritual and physical cultivation, mostly as discussed in Book One. There is of course more to it than this... oh so much more! But that will come in an updated version probably after Book Two, but maybe not until Book Four (yikes!)

Some of the terms used in spiritual cultivation owe their spiritual roots to the novels of Er Gen. In part, this is due to how influential Death Blade's translation of many of these terms have become in English Language Xianxia, and partly because I liked how some of them sound! as such. I have striven to use the least weird terms in many cases as the norm in-between ones that are patently my own manufacture as far as I am aware. Some alternate names that will crop up occasionally for realms are in ( ) below them. It's a big table, so I spoiler tabbed it.

Eastern Azure Great World

Spiritual Cultivation

(Bolded terms are most common)

Physical Cultivation

Circles

Rank/

Star Grade

General Role grade

(Warning: applies generally, don't hold me to this! - CURRENTLY UNDERGOING SOME REVISION)

Foundation Establishment Containment realm 1 0 Mortals. Containment realm is a bit of a grey area, as may have been apparent in chapter 35.

Qi Condensation

Physical Refinement

2

1* A common realm for those under the age of 12 if they have started cultivating spiritual laws. If older - common cultivators in rural regions (with v.poor spirit roots or minimal access to cultivation laws), entry level disciples in local, village sects and so on.

Qi Refinement

Physical Foundation

2

2*

common cultivators in rural regions (with poor spirit roots or poor access to cultivation laws), entry level disciples in local village influences, usually outer disciples in small sects. The common realm for those under the age of 14 if they have started cultivating spiritual laws.

Core Formation

(Golden Core)

(Intent Foundation)

Mantra Seed Formation

3

3*

Promising juniors below the age of 15 (or so). The realm most people reach in their 20s so long as they have access to cultivation resources and the spirit root is in any way good.

First main threshold of social advancement - usually considered minor experts in villages if older. minor officials in some places/instances.

The realm at which smaller sects promote outer disciples to full disciple status.

Soul Foundation

Body Tempering

4

4*

Promising juniors with good spirit roots or access to good laws under 15-18.

Heads of small families, experts in village regions. the ream at which the rank of 'official' starts to be awarded in the Bureau. inner disciples in a local sect.

Nascent Soul

(Primordial Soul)

(Opening Realm)

Soul Meridians

4

5*

Promising juniors with good spirit roots/access to good laws under age of 15-18

Heads of small families, Elder level experts in local, village influences if older.

Inner disciples in a local sect. Outer disciples in a mid rank sect or higher unless very influential.

Severing Origins

(Fate Severing)

(Mortal Reflection)

Mortal Boundary

4

6*

As with Nascent Soul.

This is the realm many people drop into the older generation at, failing to break through before 100 years old.

Dao Seeking

or Quasi-Immortal

(Path Seeking)

(False Immortal)

Unity Physique

5

7*

Exceptional juniors below the age of 16-17.

Otherwise - heads of small families, elders in local influences/pavilions etc, famous local experts,ancestors in many families. occasionally heads of villages or even sect masters in local sects.

Outer sect elders in lower ranked sects.

Immortal

(Spiritual Immortal)

Mantra Immortal

6

8*

Exceptional juniors below the age of 20 - usually people don't break through to Immortal before 18. MUST cross to Immortal before 100 to 'stay' in your current generation.

The standard for admitting full disciples into mid tier or higher influences.

if older - Village Leaders, local pavilion and sect leaders, famous local experts, leaders of local militia forces, elites of local clan forces etc...

This is the realm which is considered the 'standard' for proper social standing within a Great World. Any cultivator at the immortal rank may be addressed as Sir of Fairy.

Chosen Immortal

(Earthly Immortal)

6

9*

Leading Juniors below the age of 40 (but generally over 20)

if older - leaders of small regional influences, elders of regional influences, senior Bureau officials, older veterans. ancestors in many lesser families. leaders of very weak noble branch clans and so on.

Golden Immortal

(Peerless Immortal)

(Great Immortal)

(Elder Immortal)

7

10*

Genius’s within a 'Younger generation'.

if older - leaders of regional influences, elders of regional influences, senior Bureau officials, Military officers etc older veterans. ancestors in many smaller families. leaders of weak noble branch clans and so on.

Ancient Immortal

(True Immortal)

(Peerless G. Immortal)

7

11*

Exceptional genius’s within a current generation.

if older - leaders of small provincial influences, elders of provincial influences, senior Bureau officials, older veterans. ancestors in many lesser families. leaders of noble branch clans and so on.

Dao Immortal

(Heavenly Immortal)

(Dao Aspirant)

8

12*

Generally ancestors of mid-level sects or founders, elders or protectors in bigger sects. Some super genius existences who have exceeded the current generation, Proper Bureau Elders etc.

Dao Lord

(Dao Breath)

(Dao Sage)

(Dao Seed Immortal)

Dao Bones

9

13*

Generally sect leaders of big sects realm/many old ancestors. Some minor elders in hegemonic sects/leaders of branch sects etc. Regional Bureau Leaders, Military Generals with Imperial Authority, Regional Authority leaders like Dukes.

Dao Sovereign

(Dao Cloak)

(Sovereign Immortal)

10

14*

Many old ancestors in large and hegemonic sects. Supreme Regional Military officials/ Continentally Famous recluses.

Dao Eternal

(Dao Flame)

(Soulfire Immortal)

11

15*

Same as Sovereign; some old ancestors/Hegemonic Sect leaders/a few reclusive old monsters etc

Dao Ascendant

(Transcendent Immortal)

12

Great Realm Emperors*, Hegemonic Sect Ancestors and some reclusive old monsters/sacred beasts

Book Two Chapter 56+ Spoilers

This is the broad outline for the cultivation method that Arai and Sana are now following. In broad brush strokes, it combines elements of Spiritual and Physical Cultivation with a few other elements here and there. Its name is currently unknown.

Spoiler for Book 3 chapter 94

'Symbol Cultivation' used to be termed 'Mystic Meridian Foundation' in the very ancient past of the worlds that are held in Yin Eclipse's relict spaces.

Symbol Cultivation

Rank/

Star Grade

Circle

Advancement

Notes. (regarding Physique stages)

(Applies generally, slight differences may be observed between characters)

Foundation Establishment 0 1 1 Qi Attunement, Meridian Alignment, Meridian Establishment

Bodily Refinement 1? 1 1 Bones like Jade, Spiritual Blood, Body like Treasure, Foundation Establishment.

Qi Condensation

1 2 2 Meridian Opening, Qi Like Mist, Meridian Expansion, Bones like Silver.

Qi Refinement

2 2 2 Meridian Reinforcement, Blood like Gold, Qi like Rain, Qi Like River, Qi Sea Establishment.

Core Formation

3 3 3

Core Sea, Wind and Rain, Qi Cycle, Intent Establishment.

Core Refinement

3 3 3 Intent Refinement, Core Cycle, Soul Intent Establishment

Soul Foundation

4 4 4

Soul Awakening, Intent Foundation, Knowledge Sea Establishment - the creation of a sea of knowledge & soul intent.

Nascent Soul

5 - 6 4 4 Three Minor Realms: Manifestation Soul, Soul Refinement, Severing Self

Unity Realm

6 - 7 5 5

Seeking Principle

7 5 5 - 6

Immortal Unification

8 6 6

Beyond Confines of Great Worlds

Sorry, the scaling here will remain a bit vague for now, that's you know... spoiler territory and too much info isn't always helpful! (spoiler tabbed for size and future convenience)

Rank

General Role grade

Warning: Applies generally, don't hold me to this! Details of this section may be prone to change/adjustment as the story requires.

World Venerate

Dao Venerate

Source Venerate*

Luminary Venerate*

Great Vehicle Practitioner**

Two parallel realms that are largely viewed as one and the same

World Venerate is the most common version and involves opening an inner world and attuning it to your truth, creating a true inner 'world' out of your Dao seed that incorporates all your accumulation. This method also leaves behind a trace of your accumulation on the world you break through on. With the right accumulation you can also form a stronger link*.

Dao Venerate is much less common - an inner world is also opened, but rather than your accumulation forming a 'world' it becomes a flame/spark rather than just a swirling sea of primordial power. This is only possible with two main criteria - 1) break through in a supreme world 2) possess a principle that has been proven and a Dao seed that has been acknowledged.

in most cases, the distinction is poorly made and few Dao Venerates openly acknowledge their status.

*Great Realm Emperors are usually World venerates or quasi world venerates who have attuned their truth and accumulation to a Great World directly during their breakthrough to Dao Ascension or World Venerate, however, they can be much higher given time and circumstances, and it is not unheard of for Great World or Throne World Rulers of long-lasting Hegemonic Powers to be within the Celestial or even Heavenly Venerate realm.

World Envoys. Notable figures in Heavenly Clans and Trans-realm powers/ Journeying Elders etc. also some very old Sect Founders and what not tend to be World Venerates or Dao venerates who have not attuned themselves to a great world.

*Additional, more obscure sub-classifications within the Venerate step exist, but there is little widespread or reliable knowledge of what they are or how they have been arrived at.

**Buddhism!

Celestial Venerate

Celestial Star Venerate

Star King Venerate

Breakthrough to Celestial Venerate from world venerate is achieved in a celestial facsimile of Core Formation. the primordial inner world is formed into a 'star' which now anchors the inner world.

This is why they are also sometimes called Celestial Star Venerates.

The number and quality of stars is very variable, commonly the peak of Celestial Venerate is reached with 12 stars, however it is possible to acquire more.

This is the Higher Analogue of the Immortal Realm

Elders of Heavenly clans, trans-realm power supreme authorities etc.

Heavenly Venerate

Heavenly Dao Venerate

Peerless Dao Venerate

True Heavenly Venerate

Sovereign Venerates

Mantled Venerates

Fuse your truths with your stars to truly found your own Dao. Commonly called Heavenly Venerates, some older influences call those at this realm Heavenly Dao Venerates.

This is the Greater Cosmic analogue of Dao Immortal and the Dao Step as a whole.

Important Elders, Senior Officials in Star Field Authorities. Ancient Elders, Founders of some minor heavenly clans, leaders of some weaker minor heavenly clans.

Ruling authorities of Heavenly Clans, founders of heavenly clans, ancient elders etc…

There is some variation in 'titling' within this realm, and the internal delineations are not widely understood by the 'masses' below. Culturally, and perhaps socially, 'Heavenly' Venerates are seen as the most mundane titling within this group of realms, but this is also played up by many influences who might not wish the information on their pinnacle experts to be so easily discernable.

With this in mind, Peerless Dao Venerate, True Heavenly Venerate, Sovereign Venerate and Mantled Venerate are all notable sub-delineations within the wider classification of 'Heavenly Venerate', with varying requirements to reach those realms. The hierarchy of their strength is very much dependant on the cultivator who has attained those heights.

Venerate Emperor

Imperial Venerate

Revered Venerate

A notable sub-delineation at the Peak of the Heavenly Venerate 'Sub Group' of realms. They are the pinnacle of Organized Power. They are generally the World Emperors of powerful and ancient Supreme Worlds, though some exist who have attained equivalence in realm and power via different means.

Lesser Divinities

Power! Unlimited Power!

Some general notes on power 'strength'.

In the 'Mortal Step' its quite hard for people to do serious, long-lasting damage to the landscape in Eastern Azure. Most things in bigger cities and powers are built with the strength of Immortals as the very baseline. That is the base threshold for actual Landscape reorganisation to start occurring. If you want some handy visual metaphors to help with things though...

Golden Core

Think Dynasty Warriors, smashing through lots of minions, big flashy attacks, able to destroy buildings, make craters in the ground akin to 500lb bombs going off and so on.

Dao Seeking

Flight is a thing! If however, fighting happens on the ground it's going to be messy with a lot of collateral. They won't do a lot of damage to buildings in a town, but they could flatten fields, toss small hills worth of dirt at each other and generally call rain and thunder (assuming nobody comes to stop them).

Immortals

You know that fight between Superman and Zod in Man of Steel? that, but with a lot more lightning, minus the bit where they go into space. If serious they could cause quite a bit of damage to a village or small town in a short space of time if you had more than a dozen fighting and not really caring about collateral. Someone would come to stop them before that though, because damage is expensive to fix. They can also teleport short distances and do remarkable things with their Immortal souls and soul-based attacks.

Ancient Immortals

They could ruin of a decent-sized town in fairly short order, breaking the landscape, summoning actual storms and such. Powerful ones can use very preliminary understandings of laws to augment their attacks, massively multiplying the kinds of damage dealt. Goku Vs Cell might also be fairly apt as a comparison.

Dao Lords

A bunch of them could assault a small city with enough prep, easily strong enough to lord it over a side. In terms of damage your on the DBZ scale properly. they can go outside of the confines of a world, fight in the void, wield and break space and natural laws as weapons. the scale of devastation might be less (ironically) compared to two Ancient Immortals facing off, but their ability to cause havoc is a magnitude higher.

Dao Ascension

Two Dao Ascension Cultivations having a no holds barred fight in eastern Azure, with their treasure weapons would easily devastate several thousand miles in a radius around them. they can flatten mountains, pick them up and throw them easily, shatter the void and engage in proper reality manipulation with their minds.

World Venerates

A World Venerate could, with enough time and effort, if left uninterrupted sink an entire continent in Eastern Azure if they attacked from outside the realm wall. They won't do this though, because they worked hard to get to that realm, and don't want to die like a little bitch when a Celestial Venerate comes to ask them what they are doing.

As to a war at the apex?

Well, Yin Eclipse got where it got... somehow?

Specific Cultivation Terms and Definitions.

(some of these are kinda spoiler-ish, you have been warned!)

The Five Steps.

The overall term for the advancement of cultivation through the realms. The five steps refer to the five 'super' realms of spiritual cultivation in this world. Mortal, Immortal, Dao, Ascendant and Heavenly. The name comes from the Five Supreme crossing tribulations associated with the peak of each of these super realms for spiritual cultivators.

Mortal Step: Mortal to Dao Seeking.

Immortal Step: Immortal to Ancient Immortal.

Dao Step: Dao Immortal to Dao Eternal.

Ascendant Step: Dao Ascendant.

Heavenly Step: World Venerate.

Spirit Root:

Figuratively, the very foundation (roots) of one’s body and soul. Associated with a person’s innate talent and elemental affinities.

Meridians:

The networks of vessels/channels in the body through which qi flows. Like blood vessels or the nervous system but for qi instead of blood or impulse. They have a broad relationship with acupoints and pressure points.

Twelve Basic Meridians:

Meridians associated with the internal organs and various aspects of bodily function (sight, breathing, blood circulation and so on)

Eight Principle Meridians:

reservoirs and pathways associated with the circulation of qi. in Spiritual Cultivators these form circuit from the Dantian to the brain along the spine, back from the brain along the front of the body, through the heart and back to the Dantian to form cycle. for Physical cultivators they flow through the internal organs in much the same fashion but focus on the spirit root within the dantian region, so your digestive system and other organs above the pelvis.

Five Core Meridians:

Unique meridians that open up when the Nascent Soul is formed, they are extra channels through the Heart, Lungs, Liver, Spleen and Kidneys. in Physical Cultivation they form the backbone of the link between the Physical Body and Soul Power that passes through their Soul Meridians.

Soul Meridians:

Special meridians, unique to Physical Cultivators that are opened up during the breakthrough to the Soul Meridian Realm. They are a Physical Cultivators equivalent of a Sea of Knowledge

Immortal Meridians:

Formed through the transformation of the three meridian systems of the mortal body during the baptism of Heavenly Qi during Immortal Tribulation

Vitality/Longevity

The innate longevity accumulated by a person. This can be leveraged as qi as a last resort, basically turning life span back into qi.

Foundation

The sum total of a persons cultivation. usually taken to mean the basis on which they cultivate. for a spiritual cultivator, it would be synonymous with their Spirit Root and Dantian. For a Physical Cultivator, it is the qi accumulated and locked into their body before they condense a Mantra Seed.

Qi Types

Five Elements Qi

Qi relating to the five fundamental elements. Qi gains elemental attributes through association with other things in the world. All five elements feed each other in a series of succeeding cycles and there are various versions of the cycle within Eastern Azure Great World, although they all talk of the same set of five fundamental groups of Elemental aspects

Metal >>> feeds >>> Water >>> feeds >>> Wood >>> feeds >>> Fire >>> feeds >>> Earth >>> feeds >>> Metal

Metal >>> overcomes >>> Wood >>> overcomes Earth >>> overcomes >>> Water >>> overcomes >>> Fire >>> overcomes Metal.

The reverse of these two sequences also cancels each other out. When Yin and Yang attribute comes into play, it becomes a successive cycle so Yin feeds Yang feed feeds yin etc.

The other notable variation on this cycle is Thunder > Water > Life > Fire > Earth. Thunder, in this case, refers more to 'Heaven' and 'Tribulation', as Metal is the element of the Heavens. sometimes lightning is also used, again somewhat metaphorically.

Yin and Yang Qi

Qi that represents the duality present in all aspects of the universe. these can take several forms. the most profound are True Yin and Yang Qi and Pure Yin and Yang Qi. Elemental qi can also have Yin and Yang attributes.

Qi Types (Table hidden for size)

Qi Type

Colour

Symbolism/Aspect/Description

Pure Yin

Black

Yin Metal/Lightning

Metallic with a purple tint

Yin lightning refined and purified

Yin Water

Grey Purple

Qi born of the high places and the deep dark. Clouds and lakes, rain and depthless pools. They were both already familiar with its properties from working in the caves so it was just cold and ephemeral, trying to dissolve away all her control over it in weird and mind-bending ways.

Yin Wood

Pale Green

Qi of poison, growth and new life. Horrifyingly slippery, hard to control, rampant, vibrant insidious and destructive yet with an almost all-consuming vitality hidden within it. The embodiment of the hidden talons of the natural world.

Yin Fire

Orange Red

The Qi of the boundary, desire and ephemeral hope and despair. Flickering on the edge of non-existence drawing all the warmth of the world into herself somehow and shrouding her in darkness that tried to suffocate her and blot out that self-same warmth. The Qi was so meek and insidious as it tried to use her as fuel to burn away the whole world and become the only warmth in it

Yin Earth

Pale Brown

The Qi born of the blooming earth, vitality and primordial origins giving birth to all things. A terrifying pit of primordial creation struggling to claim everything in its embrace yet refusing to mesh truly in equal turn as it saw itself in everything it touched.

Pure Yang

White

Yang Metal/Lightning

Deep Bronze

It was the qi of the heavens, warring against everything and anything with unbreakable spirit and boundless ferocity. The Yang Lightning just wanted to punch holes in things and stomp on them afterwards. The punchier and stompier the better as it raged across the water like an angry tiger. Its form was almost unalterable as well. Not for nothing was it known as the purity tribulation when it occurred naturally.

Yang Water

Deep Azure

Shifting waves of yang water qi rolling through her meridians, the Qi of primordial oceans, dark and strong with devouring currents, soul-destroying calms and drowning waves. If we tried this before we got this durable we would have been torn to shreds by the primal tidal forces it embodied.

Yang Wood

Vibrant Green

Timelessness, the qi of the oldest and most ancient beings great trees and mythical beasts. Unbending qi with a primordial vitality that refused to be shaped and tried to shape her body and soul to its own rhythm of aeons. Each cycle seemed to stretch beyond what her mind was capable of comprehending and contained all kinds of awkward interactions as it took on aspects of all the other elemental types it was interacting with. Its vitality was almost a torture in and of itself trapping her within the confines of its boundlessness as it incrementally wore away at the aeons.

Yang Fire

Red Gold

Qi of the sun and bright souls, giver of life to every world yet destroyer in equal measure. Tyrannical energetic, all-consuming yet ephemeral and ghostly searing the bones and warming the heart in equal measure, sunbeams and firestorms.

Yang Earth

Dark Iron

Soul crushing, sky-scraping immovable and stable on a scale beyond mortal comprehension. The qi of mountains and the world itself able to stand up to the fury of heaven and the greed of mortals in equal measure. It pressed down on her meridians like a vice, ossifying the mist and fusing droplets together wherever it came into contact with them. It was like she was pushing a savage jagged collection of rocks around inside her that wanted to grind down everything and make her one with the world.

Heart Force

Quasi qi like energy that Dharma Cultivators and a few others cultivate. It has a strong relationship with Soul Force. Scriptures that focus on it in depth are rare.

Vital Qi

Similar to Vitality/Longevity, except its more common to Body and Physical Cultivators. In physical cultivation it is the qi that is permanently locked away in the bones during Physical Refinement its capacity is limited and once refined once cannot be replaced if lost prior to breaking through to Mantra Seed. it also exists for Spiritual Cultivators in the form of qi that fuses with their vital organs during Qi Refinement and aside from the difference in location is otherwise identical.

Compound Qi

natural combinations of elemental and Yin and Yang qi that are stable enough to have their own identities. examples include Wind Qi, Rain qi, Light Qi, Dark Qi and so on.

Myriad Elements Qi

a more comprehensive aspect of 'elemental qi'. it is rare in lower realms and even in great realms is much sought after. its purity is a magnitude over Five Elements Qi and has aspects of the entire element cycle within it rather than just singular and compound elements.

True Qi's

Qi in its most fundamental states. it is largely unattributed. Spatial Qi along with some other weirder forces are forms or manifestations of True Qi.

Formations, Feng Shui, Talismans and Moon Runes

Formations:

Formations are akin to big bits of ritual magic in western fantasy fiction. they are usually a persistent thing and are set up using items (like flags, swords, banners, gems etc) that focus elemental energies or intent in particular ways. They have a close relationship to Feng Shui.

Feng Shui:

Talismans:

Moon Runes:

These are a special kind of pictographic script that is loosely modelled after Oracle Bone Script (see the post chapter note for a link to the wiki on it). They are like formations but much more condensed.

Symbol Sets:

First introduced properly in Chapter 28, these are similar in essence to Moon Runes but much more complex and more in line with a real 'script'. they don't have a singular influence. There are at least half a dozen that Arai and Sana were shown, but the main sequence of 100 or so symbols that were drawn out are akin to complex, calligraphic hieroglyphs, while simpler ones have a lot in common with Hieroglyphs or exaggerated variants of ancient alphabets (Aramaic, Phoenician, Sanskrit, Cuniform etc.).

Physiques and Constitutions

Physiques (also constitutions, god physiques and connate mutations) are broadly classified into four groupings; Mortal, Earthly, True and Heavenly. The names are less to do with power, and more the mechanics around them and how they direct the development of the person in possession of them. All of them have their weak and strong points. Spiritual Physiques are a thing the Martial Axial Starfields dreamed up that covers what they decided were the less optimal aspects of mortal and earthly physiques. Peerless Physiques sit somewhere between earthly, true and heavenly and are again largely an invention of the Martial Axial Starfields

Mortal Physiques: Cannot be inherited, passed on or acquired by birth. It is most common for them to develop out of other physique categories but they can also emerge through spontaneously through some event or fortunate encounter. 'Teaching' others how to acquire them, while possible is a grey area fraught with many difficulties and usually more trouble than it is worth. The nature of the physiques can be almost anything, although absolute concepts or abstract things are uncommon and difficult to acquire as mortal physiques.

Pros: Phenomenal growth potential, very dangerous to subvert, nigh impossible to steal, rapid advancement,

Cons: Cannot be inherited or easily taught, exceptional mortality rate.

Earthly Physiques: the broadest category of physiques. They range from basic things concerning elements or transformations in the natural world all the way up to surprisingly profound concepts like harmony and predestination. Their defining features are their malleability and a tendency to relate to fundamentals rather than complexities. They are the most common base from which other physiques develop.

Pros: Good growth, malleability, very few things are limited, can be passed on, inborn and taught.

Cons: Poorly defined capabilities, strength can be very variable, malleability may be an issue, can be stolen/subverted (special cases may apply)

True Physiques (also peerless): Second broadest category of physiques. They differ from earthly ones in that their nature is usually well constrained. They can be inborn and are most commonly associated with those who have the bloodlines of qi beasts or mythical creatures (Phoenix, Dragon, Qilin, Luan etc).

Pros: Excellent strength, clearly defined capabilities, decent growth potential (in the right circumstances), easy to pass on to others

Cons: Stagnation common, can be stolen without much risk of devolution or subversion (exceptions apply)

Heavenly Physiques (also supreme): The smallest physique category, they tend to be held up as the apex. They can be inborn or taught and tend to relate to absolute or fundamental concepts that have reached the zenith (in power, perfection etc...). Their defining attribute is their absolute nature. They will rarely if ever devolve or change form once they settle as a heavenly physique.

Pros: Can be inborn, taught, inherited, very powerful, hard to subvert, very clearly defined capabilities.

Cons: Huge risk of stagnation, very poor growth, can be stolen by force, very clearly defined capabilities.

Almost any class of physique can shift to another given (or wrong circumstances). A mortal physique will change to another type if it passes on to a descendant or stolen away. An earthly physique might become a true physique if exposed to a natural treasure like a phoenix feather. A true physique born into a child with an exceptional spirit root might become a heavenly physique. A heavenly physique that is improperly compromised might devolve back to an earthly physique, or if born in someone who is incompatible become a nigh unshiftable curse rather than a blessing.

Manifestations

Intent

Intent can mean a bunch of things. At its most basic it is a kind of Empathy/Psionopathy that allows people to have a degree of control or perception over their surroundings in various ways. Usually, Intent is used in conjunction with qi manipulation but it doesn't always have to be. Due to the way Physical Cultivation differs in subtle (and not so subtle) ways from Spiritual Cultivation, Physical Cultivators tend to be slightly better on average at manipulating Intent at a given realm compared to Spiritual Cultivators where all other variables (like law quality/experience etc...) are equal. Both, however, are far behind Martial Cultivators and Dharma Cultivators in this regard.

This is not to say that it is just a thing of the lower realms. 'Intent' exists at all levels and is a fundamental part of the way the cosmos functions. At its most fundamental it is akin to a kind of Law that governs the movement of the natural energies of the world. Everything has some kind of Intent; be it to grow, to live, to die, to go from one place to another.

In most cultivation systems in the Martial Axial Regions, it will emerge organically through sustained practise with and exposure to qi during Qi Refinement. At Golden Core comprehending these emergent Intents and crafting them into something unique to a cultivator/practitioner is an integral step in advancing towards Soul Foundation and opening up a Sea of Knowledge.

Different Intent Forms

Martial Intent: is more in line with 'Killing Intent' you see in a lot of anime and other stories.

Dharma Intent: is mysterious and relates to the connections between people.

Soul Intent: (or sometimes Soul Perception) relates to the intuition of the soul, based on its strength. perception of this aspect of it is fundamental to connecting with your own soul and opening up your Sea of Knowledge.

Natural Intent: Manifest inertia of the natural world. Can be slight or all-encompassing.

Uses of Intent

Qi Manifestation - at its most basic, all qi requires some guidance from the wielder, this is intent.

Soul based attacks - soul attacks require impetus from the mind to have any form of direction, this is also intent.

Weapon Augmentation - a common variant, usually done along with qi manifestation, involving shrouding a physical medium with a form of intent, this usually requires some comprehensions regarding the soul or an advanced method to practice.

Transfer of knowledge - usually done via the medium of qi, this is also a subtle form of intent, very widely applied but very rarely mastered.

Synergistic deployment and direction of formations - harmonisation of formation centres in multi-person formations requires manifest intent, this is why active formation control is largely limited to Golden Core and above and not properly common until Nascent Soul.

Inheritance - Similar in many ways to 'transfer of knowledge', but specifically relating to comprehensions of various things. This can be very simple things like transferring a Spiritual Art from one person to another or very complex like the passive imprinting of memories into physical mediums like blood. Another complex variant is passing on of Perfected Intents to others. This can only be achieved by those who have truly mastered both the intent and the medium within which it was created. the very earliest this can be achieved is the Immortal Realm for very basic Intents. It is usually a hallmark of Inheritances of the Dao Immortal Rank or higher, where the person passing on the knowledge has grasped laws and properly founded their principle, gaining a holistic understanding of how Intent's interact with things within the Mortal Step. The more profound the intent, the harder it is to pass on. Even with this, the Intent as originally seeded will not be identical, forming from the recipients own interpretations. Imprinting extant, complete intents can be done but is usually not beneficial as it builds a false foundation and requires the recipient to have a very strong soul. In extreme cases, this latter approach is basically an offensive or evil art depending on the nature of the Intent as the likelihood is that the recipient will be unable to shoulder the received comprehension and either die from soul shock or be subsumed by it, turning into a mindless monster controlled fully by that intent.

Principle

Manifest Powers of an Immortal, formed from their intent before they were an Immortal. they are usually somewhat personalised. ie: two people whos principle relates to fire won't really do the same thing even if they are both Principles of Fire.

Principles, like Intent, can also occur naturally and have many forms.

Book 2 spoilers

Principles also have a bunch of different 'grades' that follow the same proximal structure as the physique categories. In Eastern Azure and the Martial Axial Starfields these are Spiritual (most common), Earthly (rare), True (very rare), Peerless and Heavenly (duh).

The 'grades' that are periodically assigned to cultivators - calling them a Peerless Golden Immortal, for instance, tend to be an acknowledgement of the grade of that person's principle. These epithets are only applied after crossing Immortal Ascension. Prior to that, a Principle is sometimes considered to have a grade in kind, according to the grade of law that helped derive it, but it is only during Immortal Crossing that this is recognised by the Heavens. This practice of declaring principles to have grades before Immortal crossing has... grown somewhat, in popularity in more recent generations.

Laws (of the world)

The rules governing the world. These should not be confused with the Five Elements, which are more of a thematic construct. the Laws are stuff like Gravity, Thermodynamics, Relativity, Conservation of Mass, Photonics or the dreaded 'Quantum'. not all of them may behave in the same way 'ours' do, but this is basically what they are. Time, Space and Balance and Harmony, even Destiny and Karma can broadly be considered 'laws' even if they also fall under other things. Their varying profundity and interconnected nature is part of why people end up staying in Dao Step (Dao Immortal > Dao Ascension) for so long. Unless of course people cheat and don't have to worry about the way Fate and Tribulations work quite as much >.>'.

they have a lingering relationship with Intent that is mysterious and difficult to discern. properly recognising these connections is the key to stepping from the Immortal Step, where Inten and Principle is the focus to the Dao Step.

It can also refer to the methods by which people cultivate, but that's just English being English sadly.

Truth

'Truth of Self' - Like Principles, but based on attainments with Law rather than Intent. it is the representation of one's awareness of self-built from laws and principles. each one is unique to a person and they cannot be taught. in terms of how it's used. think of it as a form of Empathic Charisma imbues any action a person takes. It doesn't really rely on qi once it is attained as Qi is also a part of the natural laws of the world, and your Truth is allowing you to bend those directly, rather than use qi to catalyse a change. this is where cultivation steps beyond simple 'arts' to become more akin to outright Reality Manipulation.

Reason

'Reason to Be'. this is basically an answer to the question 'why you' posed by the cosmos on a fundamental level, proof of reason is like truth, but a whole step higher. it very closely relates to karma, fate and whatnot. It is integral to stepping beyond the boundaries of general causality.

Prestige/Declaration

Kind of like showing off all your spiritual bling. If you want to consider it the equivalent of rolling around the block with the windows down blaring out ACDC, this is not far off it.

Mantra

'The words in the heart that cannot be taken'. The fundamental aspect of physical cultivation and both the reason why they are so unique, and also a bit bothersome. A mantra always has five phrases that harmonise in different ways with the wielder. They can only be passed on willingly by the bearer.

Fate

This of these more like the Greek 'Fates' but not as physical beings. They are the super laws that govern the natural flow of things within worlds. they have their own agency after a fashion and their own kind of inertia, but they are also movable and direct-able or guidable in various ways.

Destiny

The measure of a persons place in the world. How much store is placed in it is... complicated.

Karma

The ephemeral connections of cause and effect. I refuse to define this further! go read Wikipedia >.>

Basic Breakdown of the Ranks between Mortal and Immortal for spiritual cultivators.

Qi Condensation:

The basic realm. Learn to sense qi, practice a Spiritual Cultivation Method, move qi about in basic ways, open up a Dantian and stabilise it. Open up the 12 basic meridians

Qi Refinement:

now you have a Dantian, you can store qi in it and start to work out how to direct it a bit more coherently. At this point, your Qi will start to acquire aspects of Intent. Map out and open up the Eight key/Principal meridians.

Core Formation:

Take your dantian and your qi and form a golden core out of it.

The core that a cultivator forms is based on their spirit root and cultivation law*. Once you break through to Golden Core you can open up the five true meridians in your body and properly start to perceive nascent intent and learn how to fuse your intent to your qi. The qi refined in the dantian will also now be liquid rather than misty. At this realm the cultivator's lifespan increases several-fold, even with a poor core: for a cultivator with a grade 9 core, they might get 1-150 more years, for someone with a grade one core that increase would be 3-400.

The table below (hidden for size), is a list of the general core formation grades.

Core Grade

Colour 1

Tint 1

Tint 2

Rotations

Name

Notes

9

Dull Metallic

various

Normal Tribulation

8

Dull Bronze

Bronze

various

2

Spiritual Tribulation (3 strikes)

7

Bronze

Silver

various

4

Spiritual Tribulation (3 strikes)

6

Silver

Green

various

8

Earthly Tribulation (6 strikes)

5

Silver

White

various

15

Earthly Tribulation (6 strikes)

4

Silver

Purple

Gold

21

Earthly Tribulation (9 strikes)

3

Pale Gold

Purple

Gold

24

Soul Gold Core

Earthly Tribulation (9 strikes)

Notable Cores: Ling Luo

2

Pure Gold

White

Purple

28

True Gold Core

Earthly Tribulation (12 strikes)

Notable Cores: Ha Yun (29 rotations)

1

Bright Gold

White

various

30

Heavens Bright Gold Core

Earthly Tribulation (12 strikes)

Notable Cores: Ling Yu,

Special Cores

Special Cores are considered those between thirty and thirty-three rotations. These are not necessarily unique but all are formed under strange or auspicious circumstances. Once you get to thirty-three rotations the rules start getting a bit weird. Any Core at thirty-three rotations has the qualifications to be considered unique.

Any that go PAST it are absolutely unique and no two will ever settle in quite the same way. this is because the successful forcing of the final rotations relies on comprehensions from the person forming the core and no two people's comprehensions of something will be quite the same. A thirty-three rotation core also increases lifespan substantially.

Each rotation past thirty-three gives some bonus's to qi reserves, refinement rate, life span and so on above the usual, the returns are diminishing though for the risks involved. As a comparison, it's a bit like overclocking your computer!

*

Core Grade

Colour 1

Tint 1

Tint 2

Rotations

Name

Notes

Special

Off White

Rainbow

31

Myriad Elements Unity Core

Heavenly Tribulation (9 strikes)

Formed if a core contains traces of all the major elemental qi types in a harmonious state, e.g. 'Major Succession Cycle'

Special

Dark Blue

Gold

Black

31

Nine Devouring Kun Core

A Kun Clan Old Ancestor: incorporated aspects of Yin and Yang Metal and Water to form a ‘Minor Unity Cycle’ that reflected the nature of the mythical Kun beast

Special

Black

White

32

Yin Yang Supreme Core

Heavenly Tribulation (12 Strikes)

Formed if a core is tempered in or contains some pure elements of Yin and Yang

Special

Purple Black

White

Gold

32

Martial Heavens Supreme Core

Cao Leyang

Special

Golden Bronze

Red

Yellow

33

Solar Bronze Core

Cang Di - Formed using a mysterious method passed down by Ancestor Bronze

Special

Azure

Green

Gold

33

Heavenly Seas Sovereign Core

Heavenly Tribulation (15 Strikes)

Lu Ji: with the Blue Water Sage, Lu Xiao and Mo Xiao all involved here did you think he was gonna have something less?

Unique

Imperial Red

Gold

Purple

33+2

Vast Obscurity Primordial Core

Meng Fu's Golden Core: Holds the prestige of a Phoenix, imprinted with nine celestial flames, Yin and Yang

Unique Azure Green White Blue-grey 33+3 Western Bells Celestial Core Bright Dream's Golden Core: ???

General Spoilers for chapter 56+

The special cores related to the MC's

Core Grade

Colour 1

Tint 1

Tint 2

Rotations

Name

Notes

Unique

Black

Gold

White

33+1

Boundless Transformations Sovereign Core

Jun Arai: Black gold with black-white corona, symbol and 10 flames of yin yang elements cycle and 2 other hard to sense flames

Unique

Black

Gold

Purple

33+1

Myriad Permutation Sovereign Core

Jun Sana: Black gold with black-purple corona, symbol and 10 flames of yin yang elements cycle and 2 other hard to sense flames

Unique

Red

Black

Gold

33

Eternal Yang Sovereign Core

Lin Ling: Reddish black, flickering with gold, surrounded by a red-purple corona that sparked gold.ephemera of 33 rotations and the strength of 5 yang elements.

Soul Foundation:

Take your Intent and fuse it with your Core. At this point, you will start to naturally form connections between your 'soul', 'spirit root' and 'meridians'. Once you have fully condensed intent, your sea of knowledge will become detectable.

Nascent Soul:

Your soul foundation will coalesce properly merge with your Sea of Knowledge, forming a spiritual body within you. The primacy of body and soul will start to shift so your soul takes on the appearance of your body, and your life force is tied more closely to your soul than your physical condition. Physical death is no longer the end so long as your soul remains intact, but you can still die of old age.

Nascent Soul's usually start out quite ghostly looking and resemble the cultivator as a young child, irrespective of what age they form the 'soul' at. The process of maturing the soul can be quite resource intensive, depending on the quality of your laws, how good a core you had and other factors. The Golden Core starts to merge with the Nascent Soul, connected through the Soul Foundation which is the heart of their 'Sea of Knowledge'. Once the Nascent Soul as 'matured' the primacy of body and soul will shift so that your life force and longevity are more closely tied to the spiritual form of the soul than the physical shell within it. At that point, regeneration of limbs becomes a formality and even physical death is not necessarily the end so long as your Core has merged with your Soul and your soul remains intact.

A cultivtors live span also takes a huge leap in this realm. A Nascent Soul Cultivator with an average foundation might live for 1000 years. Someone with an exceptional foundation and a high grade core (or specilising in yang or wood laws) might easily live for 4-5000.

There is no grading of 'quality' for a Nascent Soul, but based on the quality of the cultivators Golden Core and the types of 'Intent' they comprehended, their Nascent Soul may also aquire various ephemera

Core Quality Rotations Nascent Soul Ephemera Other Notes

Low Grade 1-7 None, or a faint white/blue outline

Mid Grade 8-21 Tend to have some small elemental ephemera, usually relating to the law used to form the soul

High Grade 22-30 Silvery or Golden halo around the soul before it is fully matured. When matured, the ephemera is again usually related to the core, or the law used to form it. Some intents will also have a noticeable impact on how the soul is perceived by others.

Special Cores 30-33 Tend to manifest ephemera related to the special Intent associated with the core, or failing that, relating to the law or foundation formation. Intent Manifestation through their appearance is very common, even without any real comprehensions.

Unique Cores 33+ Always manifest a halo relating to the corona of the core, usually have other ephemera associated as well. Intent Manifestation as with Special and High Grade Cores.

Physical Cultivators who get to Soul Meridians (the equivalent realm) also form a 'Soul' of sorts, but it cannot leave the body. Instead, they form a set of 'Soul Meridians' that focus on the refinement of soul intent.

Cultivators who manage to achieve BOTH a Nascent Soul and the Soul Meridian's Realm, will find that their Nascent Soul is much more rigidly bound to their body because of the Soul Meridians. This is very uncommon though, because the resources required are prohibitive for most lay folk who use Physical Cultivation and the tribulation is extreme.

There are various higher quality methods regarding the strengthening of Nascent Souls that do similar things, albeit in different or supplementary ways, but these are quite rare and well guarded by those who possess them.

Severing Origins:

Perceive your mortal ties and step beyond them. the means of passing through this realm are quite variable and depends on the person. Some seek to sever some aspect of them that are holding them back, to others it is simply realising how the world works around them, or reaching some understanding of their place in it. usually, this relates to the early perception of one's principle.

Dao Seeking:

Refinement and coalescence of principle. This is technically a transitory realm, but it is frequently where many stall in the cultivation ladder. passage through it can take weeks or months or could take centuries and even millennia depending on the practitioner's innate comprehensions and grasp of self. unlike spirit severing, which can be coached through, Dao Seeking must involve self-discovery. there are workarounds, like using a law that already has a proven principle that can be replicated, but these are tightly controlled and much sought after.

Immortal:

Condense Principle, Transform the body, Open up Immortal Meridians and step across the threshold

Tribulations

A short table showing the normal tribulation lightning colours. More exotic tribulations exist (and dangerous) as should be clear from later chapters in Book One! However, I won't discuss them here, that has to wait for Book 2 to finish up (hah!). Please use your imagination for now!

Tribulation Lightning can also show up as other weird phenomena like flowers, small animals, weapons or even things like dragons, soldiers, weird signs or strange tableau as I am sure you have noticed. The form is usually unimportant. It is the colour and the number of entities that are important for the most part.

'Normal' Tribulation lightning can occur for almost anything that might provoke a tribulation. Will always be bolts of lightning, usually with little to no warning.

'Spiritual' Tribulation lightning is common at all steps, usually first encountered in cultivation at Golden Core Breakthrough. Either straight up lightning or appears in the form of supernatural aspects, strange signs or other oddities.

'Earthly' Tribulation lightning can appear much more infrequently from Golden Core onwards but is usually only seen in association with Nascent Soul or Dao Seeking Phenomena. It may appear as flowers, animals, or almost any worldly thing.

'Heavenly' Tribulation Lightning can appear in any circumstance. It is most commonly seen as a form of fate sense censure for some transgression. Usually, it is encountered by the average cultivator for the first time at Immortal Crossing. However, it can also be encountered at Golden Core Formation for some particularly impressive core types and within Dao Seeking if a person's principle is suitably exotic. It almost always manifests as pure bolts, but can also be weapons or signs that have some heavenly important; Dragons, Imperial Soldiers, Sages or an Imperial Style seal etc...

Tribulation lightning in breakthroughs will step up when it occurs. if Normal manifests, then it strikes once. if Spiritual strikes, it strikes however many times, and normal lightning strikes once for every spiritual strike. If Earthly Lightning Strikes, Spiritual and Normal lightning will also strike and so on.

Tribulation lightning arriving as censure will just be a singular occurrence, without however many strikes are warranted.

Grade

Colours

Strikes

Normal

Various (but not white, black, gold, silver or purple)

1

Spiritual

White

3

Spiritual

White Purple

6

Spiritual

White Blue

9

Earthly

Blue Green

6

Earthly

Deep Blue

9

Earthly

Purple

12

Heavenly

Gold + Various

9

Heavenly

Gold + White

12

Heavenly

Gold + Black

15

Special Tribulations

Grade Colour Strikes Notes

Fate Black 11 Associated with breaking through to Immortal, usually in Mortal Realms

Judgement White 33 Associated with breaking through to Dao Immortal, where is almost always appears, but can show up earlier.

Denial Grey & Black 66

Retribution Black & Gold 99

Execution Silver ???

General World Building (Cosmos At Large)

Universe Structure

This is an update of sorts on what was in that author blurb very early on. There are of course exceptions to every rule, and somewhat, the story will find ways to find those exceptions with unerring regularity. However, these are the rough framework upon which those irregularities are built.

Layer World Type Notes.

Mortal

Mortal Realms

Normal worlds, people get born, grow old, die etc. you can cultivate to immortality in them or become a sorcerer with attitude. to pass beyond one requires exceptional circumstances or to fulfil the requirements for crossing the Immortal Threshold.

Immortal

Great Worlds

Greater Realm Planes

Immortal Realms

Largely Interchangeable. they also contain mortals, and with the exception of 'Immortal' Worlds, most people born on them are 'Mortal'. Their realm strength can Cause problems for those from lower worlds who have an insufficient foundation or were not born into them though. this is usually an issue for immortal ascenders or any mortal unlucky enough to end up in one and not be born there.

Crossing over the Immortal Threshold does not kick you out of the realm plane, and Immortal Realm Strength is commonly viewed as being the 'standard' for any kind of wider role in the world outside small localities.

If you are born in one you cannot leave before becoming a Dao Immortal, but in reality, few choose to leave or have the means to leave before becoming a Dao Ascendant when the departure is enforced if they cross over to World Venerate. It's a Dangerous sky out there!

World Venerates and higher can enter these worlds if they suppress their strength accordingly.

Ascendant/

Transcendent

Supreme Realms

Throne Worlds

Their Threshold is fundamentally unlimited to any Mortal or Immortal Being. Their realm strength can cause problems for those from lower worlds who have an insufficient foundation or were not born into them though.

Treasure

Treasure Worlds*

Treasure Realms

Heavens & Hells

Yama's Realm/ Underworld

Special worlds and realms that exist in their own category. very very rare and all hold special importance in their own way. Frequently they exist simultaneously in all three 'layers' or are associated in some way with all of them. Their suppression is usually absolute in some way.

???

Star Ocean/Abzu/The Abyss

Technically its own thing, its akin to the treasure realms. It is the layer of reality -above- or perhaps -below- the usual bunch of dimensions. The reality there is very big and scary.

Glossary of Powers for Martial Axial Regions 10,000 Starfields.

The Martial Axial Region, as the corner of the cosmos where this story starts off in is called, is you can appreciate a rather complicated place. On a world, by world basis, there are more powers and sects than you can shake a stick at, but at the top, there are a few autocratic hegemonies that stand out as being worthy of remembering. Foremost among these are the Four Queen mothers and the Seven Wise Emperors, who are the de facto heads of the most powerful Heavenly Clans and Influences. we won't see much of them, if at all, for a long time yet in the story, but they will be alluded to by various characters and some of their more travelling powers will get a look in from time to time.

Faction Leaders Major Clan/Influences Notable persons/notes.

Northern Star Grotto Queen Mother of the North

Xue Clan

(Fox)

Heavenly Saintess Xue Qian - number one beauty in 10,000 starfields.

Vast Obscurity Grove Queen Mother of the South

Vast Obscurity Sage

Meng Clan

(Phoenix)

Her Exalted Highness the 3rd Sovereign Princess of the Hong Meng clan, Lady of the Parasol Pavilion, Fairy Envoy for the Phoenix Throne, The Seven Severing Celestial Saintess.

Saintess Meng Fu - Seven Sovereigns School Founder (Eastern Azure)

Vast Obscurity Sage -- A mysterious and aloof figure, who together with the Queen Mother of the South founded the grove. He is said to be one of those who stands closest to the Supremacy of Heaven and the Chronograph of the Dao.

God Slaughtering Hall Queen Mother of the East

(Qilin)

Mo Clan

Lu* Clan

Mo Shurian (Mother of Blood)

Mo Zhao (Peak Heavenly Venerate)

Mo Xiao, Mo Lu (Mo Zhao Daughters)

*Ancestral Lu Clan has links to the Mo Clan. Current Lu Clan does NOT.

The Turquoise Pond Queen Mother of the West

(Luan)

Wusheng Clan (core)

Ju Clan

Guo Clan

Emeishan

Heavenly Saintess Wusheng Xiurong

Everbright Dreamsong Sovereign

Queen Mothers Lady in waiting Ju Xifeng,

Turquoise Princess Ju Shan (niece of Ju Xifeng)

Ju Tianji

Kong Heavenly Clan Wise Emperor of Kong

Kong Clan (core)

Dun Clan

Din Clan

Lu* Clan

They/their influence currently has primacy within the current Aeonspan in Eastern Azure.

Dun Clan controls Imperial Seat on Eastern Azure.

Kong Clan Controls E.Azure Astrology Bureau

Din: Jade Gate Court (Eastern Azure)

Current Lu Clan has links to the Kong Clan. Ancestral Lu Clan did not.

Huang Heavenly Clan Wise Emperor of Huang

Huang Clan (core)

Wuli Clan

Fei Clan

Hong Clan

Shi Clan

Gan Clan

Feng Clan

Various bloodlines relating to mythical birds.

Young Sovereign* Huang Teng

Young Sovereign* Huang Gan Hao

Ju Shan (Envoy from Turquoise Pond, a friend of Huang Wuli)

Guo: Huang Guo Wuli (Leader), Huang Kong (Husband), Huang Leng (Son), Huang JiLao (Grandson)

Huang Clan has influence with the Astrology Bureau on Eastern Azure.

Huang Gan Branch controls Red Sovereign Sect and White Storm Sect on Eastern Azure

Long Heavenly Clan Wise Emperor of Long Long clan (core)

Bai Family

Tian Family Rampant and powerful, the Long Heavenly Clan is among the most militaristic of all the supreme influences, however its strength is in its peak experts, not its size. They claim their power descends from Dragons and the Quasi-mythical 'Dragon Emperor'.

Ming Heavenly Empire Wise Emperor of Ming Ming Heavenly Clan (Rulers)

Golden Swallow

Qin Clan

Wu Clan The largest of the Heavenly Clans, and the only one in current times to have establied a genuine 'Heavenly Empire'-- though this is currently beset by significant internal turmoil with clan rivalries and factions vying for power and influence in the Court of the Wise Emperor. It controls a vast swathe of the Martial Axial Region and frequently contests with unknown threats at its borders and other clans throughout it who dislike its expansionist tendancies.

Tang Heavenly Clan Great Sage of Tang

Heavenly Tang Emperor

Tang Heavenly Clan (Core)

Azure Astral Authority

Moon Tomb Sept (Eastern Azure)

-Has links to that old turtle dragon (remember him?)

Cao Clan within Eastern Azure has historic links to them.

The power who held Imperial primacy for much of the previous Aeonspan within Eastern Azure Great World. They have a complex relationship with the Meng Clan that stretches back into distant antiquity.

Theirs is the power that sits highest in the Azure Astral Authority.

Among the supreme heavenly powers they are considered to be among the most reacent to fully uplift themselves to the status of a Heavenly Clan.

Fang Heavenly Clan Heavenly Fang Emperor Fang Clan (Core) An ancient Heavenly clan that shares borders with the Ming Heavenly Empire and the Huang Heavenly Clan. In recent times it's influence has been waning as the dysfunction of those two powers spills over into its territories.

Teng Heavenly Clan Wise Emperor of Teng Teng Clan (Core) Duchess Teng Minhua -- Controller of one of their starfields. It leads the Ten Thousand Stars Bureau.

Shu Heavenly Clan Wise Emperor of Shu Shu Clan (Core)

Shu Pavilion (Eastern Azure)

Shu Tian: Current Headmaster of Shu Pavillion

Ancestor Bronze - Cang Di's Teacher.

'Tian' Cang Di - current No. 1 figure in Eastern Azure's Younger Generation.

A powerful and ancient clan with mysterious origins and a deep well of strength. They were the original rulers of Eastern Azure in the era after its primordial gestation.

After the Ming, the Shu are frequently considered to be tied with the Kong for power and prestige through the Martial Axial Regions.

Meng Heavenly Clan Wise Emperor of Meng

Hundred Heroes Court

Vast Obscurity Sage Meng Clan (Core)

The Meng Heavenly Clan and Vast Obscurity Grove are in many ways partner influences.

The Queen Mother of the South rules the Grove, while Vast Obscurity Sage, who took his name from the grove observes most external matters on it's behalf. The Meng Heavenly Territories are ruled by the Wise Emperor of Meng, who as a sign of their alliance will take the most senior of the Grove's Saintesse's to be his Empress.

Meng Ruo - Solitary Slaughter Sect Leader (Eastern Azure)

Meng Yang - Current Leader of Seven Sovereigns School

Xue Heavenly Clan ???

Mysterious, they are wholly affiliated with Northern Star Grotto and care little for territorial control outside of their mysterious and secluded bastion worlds.

Mo Heavenly Clan

Demoness Binary Ruin.

God Slaughtering Lunatic

Mother of Blood

A mysterious ancient clan with deep roots in many places. They have few allegiances beyond their own interests and are frequently at odds with most other clans. Their major affiliation is with God Slaughtering Hall.

Heavenly Solace Society Great Sage of Heavenly Solace Gan Clan A starfield spanning power affiliated with the Kong and Huang Heavenly clans, that also has presence within the Ming Empire. It has a long-running cold conflict with the Meng Heavenly Empire and God Slaughtering Hall.

10,000 Stars Bureau Teng Clan

Azure Astral Authority Azure Astral Emperor

Supreme Sovereignty Alliance Kong Clan

Glossary of Powers in Eastern Azure Great World

Sects and Schools + various other supra-clan influences

Faction Rank/Influence Associated Powers Associated Clans Notable People Notes

Dun Imperial Dynasty

World Controlling Power.

Member of Supreme Sovereignty Alliance.

Astrology Bureau*

Town & City Authorities on most continents

Regional Dukes in the Central, Southern Continents

Dun Clan (Main House)

Din Clan (Main House)

Kong Clan (Heavenly & Earthly Branches)

The Astrology Bureau is what was the Astral Authority Bureau - it was basically reconstituted by the Kong and Dun Clans

Azure Astral Authority

Starfield Authority. Subsidiaries are all peak influences.

Civil Authority Bureau

Military Authority Bureau

Hunter Authority Bureau

Astral Authority Bureau*

Regional Dukes in North and Easten Continents

Tang Clan (Earthly Branch)

Cao Clan (Main House)

Kun Clan (Main House)

Ling Clan (Main House)

Astral Authority Bureau is the original influence that swapped to the Kong Clan/Dun Clan.

Shu Pavilion

World Power Regional Dukes in the Western Continent

Shu Clan (Earthly Branch)

Shen Clan (Main House)

Jade Gate Court

World Power

Jade Pavilion

Dragon Jade House

Kong Clan (Earthly Branch)

Din Clan (Main House)

Dun Clan (Branches)

Seven Sovereigns Imperial School

World Power

Meng Clan (Heavenly Branch)

Cao Clan (Main House)

Red Sovereign Sect

World Power

Huang Gan (Gan Earthly Branch)

Moon Tomb Valley

Northern Continent Tang Clan (Earthly Branch)

Brotherhood of Lives

All Continents Dark sect specializing in information brokering and illicit activities.

Sable Sovereigns Sect

All Continents A dark sect specializing in assassination and mercenary activities.

White Storm Sect Southern Continent

Huang Clam (Earthly Branches of Wuli and Gan)

Dewdrop Sage Sect Western Continent Hua Family

Argent Hall South/Central Continent Argent Justice Sect (2nd rate)

Hao Clan (Main Branch)

Shen Clan (Branch)

Shimmering Dragon Sept Southern Continent

Verdant Flowers Valley Western Continent

Blue Gate School Blue Water Province Lu Family Last properly independent Province-wide influence in Blue Water Province

Teng School

Blue Water Province

Dun Imperial Clan

Teng Clan

Largely controlled by proxy from the Central Continent

Lin School

Blue Water Province Lin Clan (Main Branch) School destroyed and Clan scattered thirty years before the story starts.

Golden Promise School

Blue Water Province

Dun Imperial Clan

Leng Clan

Largely controlled by proxy from the Central Continent

Blue Gauze Pure Pavilion

Skylark Province

Solitary Slaughter Sept

???

Meng Clan

Tai Clan

Yuan Clan

Blue Pavillion ???

Mo Clan

World Geography

The world has Seven 'Continents'.

Book 1 Conclusion Spoiler:

Originally it only had three, the Western + South Western, South + Central and East + Northern. Then a certain 'mountain' splashed down.

The Imperial Continent (in the centre)

The Easten Continent (in the east of the world map) - this is sometimes referred to holistically as the Eastern Continent, including all its islands and two sub-continents (Yin Eclipse and the other 'island' off its eastern coast

The Demon Continent/Southern Darklands (in the S.E of the world map)

The Argent Gate Continent (in the South) - this is occasionally called the Southern Continent.

The Merciful Skies Continent (in the S.W)

The Western Shu Continent (in the West)

The Northern Tang (In the north)

The Imperial Continent is where the Influence of the Kong and Huang Heavenly Clans is strongest, and where the powers of the world are mostly congregated. It is also home to 'Mt Tai, the tallest mountain on Eastern Azure. The Easten Continent is the most undeveloped because Yin Eclipse is the gateway to much of it and that's not easy to traverse, and the lands beyond, while expansive are not that prosperous. Its tribes and clans have a very mixed relationship with the Imperial Court but more and more of them are turning to the support them, compared to the Azure Astral Authority. There is also a core of forces that refuse both influences and is heavily focused around the periphery of the Yin Eclipse Great Mounts northern and southern limits, using its suppression as protection.

The Southern Darklands are a place where a bunch of demons took up residence in a previous Aeonspan and have yet to be dislodged. They mostly keep to themselves. The Southern, Argent Gate Continent is the one most closely allied to the Central Continent in terms of its powers and sects and is very developed. It also holds a number of strategically important ruins and the Argent Devouring Caves, a forbidden zone. The Merciful Skies Continent is the home to this realms 'Mount Erlang'. It has a very adversarial relationship with the Imperial Court but has a strong relationship with the Azure Astral Authority. Most Dharma Cultivators are based here. The Western Shu Continent is named for the Shu Clan, and the Shu Pavilion based on its northern end. At the south, it also has the Yerrek Pits, one of Eastern Azure's forbidden zones and its foremost prison. Northern Tang Continent is the ancestral lands of the Tang Clan in this world, and also the home of their core influence. they are largely neutral, but a lot of rogue cultivators and forces unsympathetic to the Imperial Rule (like the Mo Clan) linger in their lands, causing many problems for the Imperial Court and the Azure Astral Authority Alike.

Alternate Map Album Link.

~ Local Map ~

Yin Eclipse with bits of the Northern and Easten Continent

(It's kind of big so I spoiler tagged it)

World Map

Undergrove - Book 2

1: Sar'Vash - The city on the island where the spear resides, home to the main enclave of Sar'Katush within Undergrove

2: Yogo Shada - The great city within the swamp controlled by Undrenfolk and Ghoblan tribes

3: Cloud Arrow Territory

4: Foothills of the 'White Dragon' Mountains - upland plateau and forests which are a battleground between the Defilers, Ghoblan and Undrenfolk.

5: The deep central waters of the Under grove

Book 2 Map - Undergrove

Book 3 - The Dark Lands (Grand Trial)

Book 3 - The Dark Lands (Historic Map)

if they aren't showing let me know? they are hosted on google photo (album) as an alternative link and Imgur for the main images.

General formatting Stuff.

Much is obvious, yet some things are handy to make clear as every author's style is a little different. I have spoiler tagged this whole section just to make it a bit more compact for now.

This section contains DIALOGUE, FONTS & FORMAT, COLOURS IN TEXT

Dialogue

Dialogue is being updated in light of reader feedback. Over the next while, I will be transitioning to "normal speech",

Inner thoughts are displayed like -these are my inner thoughts.

Fonts & Format

I use different fonts where possible to enunciate when different 'languages' or intents are being conveyed. Some of it is very obvious. 'Bold' is more emphasis/shouty, 'CAPITALS' is real shouting, italics are also for emphasis, except where its whole sentences after en-dashes. '&' are for particular titles or terms for things when first introduced or where of particular import.

Abilities and occasionally some people using speech to do aura smack down also use { }.

[ ] and ( ) may also see some use, but don't have any special meaning yet.

The fonts are largely a secondary thing, as I appreciate that not everyone has every font so where possible I also try to tie them to colour or make it obvious in other ways like with { } or [ ] or ~ ~ and so on. I tried to keep myself limited to the standard ones in word and here on royal road. they also relate to somewhat spoilierish things so click at your own risk.

Algerian - Sar'Katush empathetic speak.

Trajan Pro - also { } in some cases, is only used by some very mysterious beings.

Chiller - Eldritch abominations.

Lucida Calligraphy - A mysterious Ancient Tongue. (i was using Pfeffer Mediaeval but it resolutely refuses, if anyone has any good suggestions I'm all ears!)

Verdana - stands in for the Easten language in its various forms. It's a secondary tongue several of the characters know and has some importance in various other places.

Book Antiqua - more mysterious eldritch speak, but not only that one group, but others will also use it on occasion as well as its basically telepathic communication.

Consolas - a few rare examples of formations centres and spirits speaking.

Ariel - a language from the ruins (It's also used without meaning in the lore blurbs to make them look a bit different and because time new roman isn't a default font for some bizarre reason)

Colours

Colour

Greens of various shades

Abilities and arts Chunni enough to warrant a 'Name'.

except when its THIS green.

THIS green relates to symbol stuff.

This Yellow Qi-based stuff with spoken or intuited dialogue. its commands, intent and what not.

This Orange Mantra based stuff and a few other rare arts.

Vibrant or Deep Red

Anger, Slaughter, Rage, Fury... Very Vexed, Extreme Prejudice.

Qi Howls and general Aura crush stuff with killing intent from cultivators AND beasts are now also red

Purple

( of all shades)

Soul Stuff. for "text" its a soul attack or manipulation in some way. for -text and when the colours start going all shades of purple,

that's mental issues, voices in your head, splintering psyche etc.

Blue

Spells, yes actual Abracadabra.

Off-yellow of various shades

Squidward stuff, the Big C, eldritch things best left unspoken of by mortal ears.