The Heavenly Dantian, the Grounded Dantian, and the Underworld Dantian.
These 3 dantians connect the human soul to the mortal plane. The Heavenly Dantian represents Mind, the grounded Dantian represents body, and the Underworld Dantian represents Soul. Qi was given to Earth 80 years ago, and humans have done a lot with it.
In the year 2025, a global meteor shower shook earth and changed the world as we knew it. These meteors held massive amounts of what is called Qi, and slowly became a crucial substance in the earth's atmosphere, making itself as needed as oxygen. This Qi was unprecedented in what it allowed, and those blessed with extreme talent learned to wield and manipulate it.
We call them cultivators. Those that strengthen bones, broaden meridians, and turn Qi into a weapon of mystic arts and destruction. Martial arts is the norm; no kid wants to be a famous popstar or actor anymore. This is the Era of Martial Unity. But what came with this change wasn't just mountain shaking Martial artists or superhuman ability, but monsters, mutated from existing creatures on earth. Lizard-like reptiles formed into drakes and dragons, and birds became ever-undying phoenixes, and so forth.
These cultivators became the only ones capable of stopping these life-threatening monsters; they called the hunters of these monsters, the Awakened, to set them apart from any other kind of person. What came with these awakenings were Heavenly Attributes, a unique skill, or statistical strength.
This is the Era of Martial Unity.
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2105
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In the city of Calheart, which rests in the region of Noserity, is a young man with martial ambitions like no other. Since he was a young boy, he used to kick pillows and craft make-shift sandbags to train in the Arts of Qi manipulation and martial arts. He did not come from a noble family of Martial Artists, so the idea of receiving a Qi awakening potion never crossed his mind once. Hard work was his motto, and he wasn't planning to go back on it for a single thing.
Quincy Sade, a 18 year old young man with neck-length black hair lays on his empty room floor. A training sword was planted to the ground, and his own body was slick with sweat. His body was well-sculpted, clearly indicating he had been working like this for a long time. Yet Quincy clenched his jaw and covered his eyes with his forearm.
His chest heaved not only in exhaustion, but in frustration.
"11 years... of nothing. I've been working up sweats for 11 years, screaming about hard work and all of this bullshit, just for not a damn thing!"
His fist smashes against the wooden floor, eyes staring up to the ceiling, at nothing and something at the same time.
"Dammit... why?"
It was true, he sweated like this often, but today was different, because today, a childhood friend of his recently brokethrough to becoming a martial artist. They descended from a rich lineage heavily interested in the way of Qi manipulation and martial arts. All it took was 1 year of training and some Elixirs, and they were a made man.
"Is this all hard-work is worth? Sweats and distraught?"
He sat up now, letting out a heavy sigh full of anger and frustration. His eyes flickered to the TV, seeing the upcoming match between 2 body cultivators.
Cultivation was set between 2 distinct paths.
[Body Cultivation]|/|[Qi Cultivation]
Now, let's understand that body cultivators also manipulate Qi, just more so on the physical aspect in terms of muscles, bones, and strength. While Qi cultivators, on the other hand, may not focus so much of their energy on refining muscles and bones, and primarily on Qi manipulation and a strong internal force.
Both can master any set of skills, as seen in weapons cultivation and the art of many martial arts. The two can be in the same realm of cultivation, and the other may primarily lose due to the use of one's abilites, not because one was overwhelmingly stronger than the other. But, realms in cultivation obviously play a large factor.
A Pulse Condensation can not even dream of overcoming a Qi formation in terms of anything. That is not only true due to physical differences, and the expanse of one's True Essence (Qi), but also in terms of pure skill, and or talent.
Talent plays a crucial role in who gets to and doesn't get to wield and manipulate Qi. That's why Quincy's frustration can be felt by any man with low talent, such as himself, who also embarks on the martial path.
Quincy was putting on his coat and shoes and headed out the door. Cultivators can stride across terrain on a moment's notice, yet all Quincy could do was ride on his bike. He was headed for The Tiger Arena, the biggest Arena for Awakened fighters in Calheart city. All kinds of cultivators could battle, and nothing was seen as foul play; the only rule was no killing your opponent. There was also something like weight classes, but in terms of one's cultivation. Nobody would go see a Pulse Condensation fighting a Nascent Soul cultivator; that's a complete and utter loss on the Pulse Condensation's half. That's why they were split up and set into different classes.
Currently, the world of cultivation is diverse, and the known realms are:
[Pulse Condensation](1-5 Minor stages)
[Qi Formation](1-9 Minor Stages)
[Nascent Soul](1-9 Minor Stages)
[Golden Core](1-5 Minor Stages)
[Void Origin](1-9 Minor Stages)
[Soul Amalgamation](1-9 Minor Stages)
[Fusion](1-9 Minor Stages)
The world itself was also extremely vast, meaning the possibility of higher realms is unknown and not entirely impossible. Cultivators, especially those with the strength to topple mountains, are seen as otherworldly beings. In Calheart City, the strongest man is at the Peak of [Nascent Soul] and has political authority like a governor.
Closing in on the grand Arena of the Tiger Arena, Quincy looked up to see the flashing and brilliant lights, the distant yet close echo of screams, and the city's nightlife lights. He smiled a bit, feeling a bit at ease after being so frustrated over his lack of martial talent.
"No matter how many times I see it, the Tiger Arena sure is a show!"
He parked and locked his bike and headed inside.