Cultivator

Biodata

Overview

Cultivators refine spiritual energy through cultivation methods and employ Daoist arts, formations, pills, talismans, spirit artifacts, and other inheritances in pursuit of the Dao. A cultivator's strength is shaped by spiritual roots, cultivation methods, available resources, combat experience, and accumulated spiritual power. 17 57 1254 971

Cultivation is costly. Rogue Cultivators in particular must obtain cultivation methods, Dao arts, arrays, and manuals on their own, often at substantial expense, while clan and sect disciples benefit from established inheritances and resources. 23 568 672

Cultivation Paths

Spirit Cultivators

Spirit Cultivators practice spell-based Daoist arts. They use divine sense to manipulate spiritual energy and condense it into attacks. 20

• Rely primarily on the Qi Sea and spiritual power. 739
• Are generally vulnerable in close-range combat during the Qi Refining stage. 83
• Can attack from range and provide control, harassment, self-preservation, and escape support. 159 1025
• Are considered especially powerful in the very late stages of cultivation. 933

Body Cultivators

Body Cultivators practice martial arts and body refinement, using spiritual power to stimulate the potential of the physical body for close combat. 20 47

• Emphasize physical strength, blood qi, and close-quarters fighting. 47 631
• Hold a considerable advantage over Spirit Cultivators during Qi Refining. 83
• Are necessary for strenuous work such as mining tough copper and iron ores. 404 408
• Most Barbarian Cultivators are Body Cultivators, noted for high attack, defense, and recovery. 1195

Sword Cultivators

Sword Cultivators specialize in sword methods, sword arts, and sword artifacts; they are distinguished from ordinary Spirit Cultivators and Body Cultivators. 576

• Depend heavily on their swords; a Sword Cultivator without a sword is drastically weakened. 739
• May use swords for close combat as Body Cultivators or control them from afar through divine consciousness as Spirit Cultivators. 576
• Require costly sword artifacts and often depend on secret lineages for cultivation methods, sword arts, and refining techniques. 576
• Are strongest in the middle and later stages of cultivation. 933

Other Classifications

Spiritual Roots

A cultivator's spiritual root has both an attribute and a grade, influencing compatible cultivation methods and vocational paths. 17

• The primary five-element attributes are metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. 17
• Spiritual roots may be single-element, mixed, or possess complete small or large five elements. 17
• Rare mutated roots include ice, lightning, wind, and yin-yang roots. 17
• Fire roots are required for alchemy, artifact refining, and spiritual-meal preparation. 179
• Water roots are suited to shipping; wood or water roots to spiritual planting; metal or earth roots to yin-residence construction; and wind roots to escort work. 179
• Spiritual roots are fated and cannot be changed. 57

Cultivation Resources

Social Conditions

• Cultivators from clans and sects usually possess broader inheritances, stable resources, and more time to build foundations than ordinary Rogue Cultivators. 568 576
• Poor Rogue Cultivators often begin body refinement early and undertake physical labor when cultivation alone cannot support them. 681
• Mining is dangerous due to foul miasma, ghosts, mountain-burrowing demonic beasts, and collapsing tunnels; Qi Refining cultivators generally cannot survive a mine collapse. 407
• In Nanyue City, Mine Cultivators may spend an entire day mining Blue Stone Iron Ore for a single Spirit Stone. 408
• Weak cultivators are frequently vulnerable to exploitation and oppression by stronger factions. 238 1124
• Arrays, Spirit Artifacts, and coordinated Dao Soldiers can allow ordinary cultivators to unite and challenge opponents of superior individual talent. 232 1003

Known Realms