Qi Refining

Fourteen Stars of Foundation

Qi Refining (연기/練氣)

Qi Refining is the second stage of Immortal Cultivation. It is preceded by Qi Gathering and is followed by Qi Building. Many Qi Refining cultivators spend their entire lives unable to advance beyond a single star.

Boundary

Lower Boundary

Sub-Realms

14 Stars

Lifespan

Mortal

Description

It is considered to be the first actual realm of cultivation. Qi Refining consists of 14 stars (used to be 15 when Qi Gathering was called the 1st Stage). The moment a cultivator activates any one meridian, they are considered to have stepped into the stages of Qi Refining. At the early stages of Qi Refining, one requires both an incantation and a hand seal, but these requirements are removed as one progresses through the realm.

Cultivators all possess something called 'divine consciousness’ (識). Ordinary mortal’s consciousness doesn't extend beyond their brain, but cultivators can extend it to cover the surrounding space, allowing them to know anything they wish.

Substages: Heaven Path

The 14 stages of Qi Refining are as follows:

First Star The Cultivator must understand all seventy-two incantations of the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends True Words (살진언/七十二地地煞眞言) and activate the corresponding seventy-two meridians (영맥/靈脈). Can cast spells with Qi power.
Second Star The Cultivator must master the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits Law Decrees (삼심육천강법결/三十六天罡法訣), building upon the seventy-two Earthy Sha Meridians and forming the corresponding thirty-six Heavenly Gang Spiritual natures(영성/靈性). Can cast spells with heaven and earth Qi.
Third Star The Cultivator must evolve the seventy-two spiritual meridians and thirty-six spiritual natures to accommodate the twelve types of spiritual energy corresponding to the Twelve Earthly Melodies. Overseen by Eastern Heavenly Venerable Flower Monarch and Great Mountain Supreme Deity. Can make formations.
Fourth Star The Cultivator must accommodate ten changes of spiritual energy corresponding to the Ten Heavenly Stems Diagram. Overseen by Radiance Supreme Deity. Can make enhanced formations.
Fifth Star The Cultivator must unify the 108 spiritual meridians and natures and sixty types of spiritual energy changes into nine points according to the principles of the Nine Palaces. Can control formations freely.
Sixth Star The Cultivator must complete the entire spiritual energy meridians in accordance with the operation of the Eight Trigrams. Overseen by Liberation Supreme Deity.
Seventh Star The Cultivator must perform a ritual to seven stars among the 28 stars and 4 constellations, declaring their intention to walk the path of cultivation. Overseen by Southern Heavenly Venerable True Ultimate Eternal Life Great Emperor. Can read their own lifespan.
Seventh Star Ritual Prayer:

I, {Name}, a mortal who seeks the path of Immortal Cultivation,
Wearing simple clothes and ascending the Star Ritual Altar...
Heavens above, bestow upon me the spiritual essence of heaven and earth!
Heavens above, grant me strength..
Eighth Star The Cultivator must navigate spiritual energy through the Six Harmonies and Four Directions of Heaven and Earth. Spiritual power fills the entire spiritual meridians.
Ninth Star The Cultivator must align the properties and symbols of the Five Elements with the main attributes of the learned cultivation method.
Tenth Star The Cultivator must use the principles of the Four Images to fully connect the completed and specialized Eight Trigrams spiritual meridians in order to create two channels of Yin and Yang.
Eleventh Star The Cultivator must penetrate the upper, middle, and lower dantians corresponding to the Three Talents with spiritual power, achieving unification of Heaven, Earth, and Man.
Twelfth Star The Cultivator must continuously circulate the Yin and Yang channels of the Dual Poles, eventually integrating the channels and becoming a flawless Unified Channel.
Thirteenth Star The Cultivator accelerates spiritual power through the Unified Channel, focusing the spiritual power into one point (origin) within the dantian.
Fourteenth Star Also called The Infinite (무극/無極). The Cultivator explodes the concentrated mass of spiritual power to further evolve the inner part of the dantian. Overseen by Great Mountain Supreme Deity.

Earth Path

At the Qi Refining stage, weak Qi is circulated and exploded.

Vitality

Lifespan is mortal. A cultivator gains no additional lifespan at this stage.