CMD's Worldbuilding

Power Levels, Steps, Bases and Realms ✏️

Jun 02, 20256 min read

Todo

This page is undergoing a structured re-write for clarity and completeness.

Power Levels, Steps, Bases, and Realms form a structured system for evaluating the strength and capabilities of individuals across the universe. This system categorises individuals based on their inherent power and progression through distinct Steps of advancement.

Power Levels

Represent numerical or categorical measures of an individual’s overall strength and potential. In instances where an individual’s Power Level is unknown, their Base, Step, and Realm are used as indicators of their prowess. For example, Command’s undisclosed Power Level is inferred from his Base, Step, and Realm.

Steps

Denote incremental advancements in power and capability within the system, with each Step representing a significant increase in strength. Realms, a subsection of Steps, further delineate an individual’s stage within their Step (Early, Mid, Late, Peak).

Bases

Attention

The information provided in this section is currently incorrect

Serve as the foundation for determining an individual’s initial Power Level and potential for growth. Command’s progression, for instance, saw him ascend from an Early to Mid 1st Step at birth to a Peak 4th Step after becoming an Ancestor of The Root. Other entities have their own starting Bases within the system, providing a reference point for their initial power levels and potential for growth. These starting Bases include:

  • Mortal (for Humans and most other species)

  • Late 2nd Step (for Surakans)

  • Mid to Peak 4th Step (for Angels)

  • Early to Mid 4th Step (for Demons)

  • Mid to Peak 5th Step (for Arch-Angels)

  • Mid to Peak 6th or early 7th Step (for Omni-Angels)

  • Late 6th Step (for Princes of Hell)

  • Late 6th Step to Late 8th Step (for Gods)

🌀 First Step: The Spirit Realm

The Spirit Realm is the foundational Step in cultivation, where individuals begin their path by developing spiritual power and refining their connection to Qi, mind, body, and soul. It consists of six Realms:

1. Qi Condensation (Early > Mid > Late > Peak)

The entry point of cultivation, where the practitioner absorbs ambient spiritual energy to refine and store Qi in their dantian. Cultivators develop internal circulation methods and basic techniques here.

  • Goal: Refine Qi and build the Spiritual Sea.

  • Breakthrough Criteria: Formation of a stable Spiritual Sea and saturation of Qi.

2. Foundation Establishment (Early > Mid > Late > Great Circle)

The Spiritual Sea becomes refined into a solid foundation. This Realm stabilizes the body, meridians, and soul to prepare for higher transformations.

  • Goal: Construct a strong base for Core Formation.

  • Breakthrough Criteria: Condensation of a Perfect or Imperfect Root Foundation.

  • Notes: Some rare cultivators form unique variants like Perfect Root Foundation, which mimic Heavenly Qi.

3. Core Formation (Early > Mid > Late > Great Circle)

The Spiritual Sea is compressed into a rudimentary core. It becomes the cultivator’s new center of power. During this stage, cultivators face Heavenly Tribulation in most paths.

  • Goal: Form a stable and powerful Golden Core.

  • Breakthrough Criteria: Survive the Nine Heavenly Lightning Strikes and condense a true Golden Core.

4. Nascent Soul (Early > Mid > Late > Great Circle)

The core undergoes sublimation to create a Nascent Soul — a spiritual consciousness that can act independently of the body. Cultivators begin to develop true spiritual sense and can leave their body.

  • Goal: Form and stabilize the Nascent Soul.

  • Breakthrough Criteria: Nascent Soul synchronization with the physical body and core.

5. Spirit Formation (Early > Mid > Late > Great Circle)

The Nascent Soul merges deeper into the cultivator’s being, creating an integrated spiritual entity. At this stage, true cultivators can exert pressure across great distances and alter nature.

  • Goal: Achieve spiritual unity and expand soul potential.

  • Breakthrough Criteria: Full soul-body synchronization and enhancement of essence.

6. Spirit Severing (1st Severing > 2nd Severing > 3rd Severing)

Unlike previous Realms, Spirit Severing does not follow the Early-to-Peak model. Instead, it involves three key Severings. Each represents a critical self-reflection and breakthrough where the cultivator severs a fundamental imperfection or limitation within their soul.

  • Breakthrough Criteria: Completion of a Severing through enlightenment and internal evolution.

  • Mechanism: Each Severing is unique to the individual and reflects their personal flaws, attachments, or karmic burdens.

  • Dao Alignment: Some cultivators may experience Dao Correspondence during a Severing, aligning that spiritual transformation with a Dao or Great Dao.

  • Dao Resonance: Exceptionally rare. Resonance occurs only when the cultivator’s Severing mirrors and harmonizes with the deeper essence of a Dao, amplifying the result significantly.

Note: The examples of Severings (e.g., fear, illusion, contradiction) are illustrative. Actual Severings vary by individual.

Upon completing the third Severing, the cultivator is eligible to enter the Second Step.

🔥 Second Step: The Path Beyond Spirit

The Second Step represents transcendence beyond the spiritual limitations of the mortal and lower spiritual planes. Cultivators here have wholly refined their soul through Severing and are considered to have stepped into the domain of higher beings.

General Traits of the Second Step:

  • Greater influence over laws of reality, causality, and space.

  • Higher resistance to spiritual and physical decay.

  • Capable of forming Avatars, Domains, and Conceptual Techniques.

The Second Step is divided into Realms that vary depending on the system, but often include stages like:

✧ Void Manifestation

The cultivator’s internal Dao or will manifests externally into the world. Their power no longer comes just from Qi, but from Intent, Law, and Essence.

  • Goal: Manifest personal Dao or Essence into reality.

  • Breakthrough Criteria: Create a persistent spiritual phenomenon or manifestation.

✧ Law Integration

Here, the cultivator integrates minor laws or fragments of Great Dao into themselves. Their techniques become expressions of law itself.

  • Goal: Fuse understanding of laws with cultivation.

  • Breakthrough Criteria: Achieve harmony with at least one law.

✧ Dao Embodiment

At this level, the cultivator is their Dao. Their presence warps reality according to their essence, and they may develop Immortal Bodies, Eternal Cores, or Spirit Domains.

  • Goal: Become one with a Dao.

  • Breakthrough Criteria: Embody the Dao without contradiction or rejection.

The Second Step’s realms and terminology can vary greatly depending on region, race, and sect philosophy. Some traditions use entirely different terms or break realms into additional sub-tiers.

Many Paths exist beyond this Step, leading toward the Ancestor Realm, Apotheosis, and beyond — but all who walk the greater roads begin here, beyond Severing.

Graph View

Backlinks