Derek Zeroxin

Ki is everywhere in the realms of Heaven and Earth, with some worlds having extreme density, and some being so ki-thin that it cant even be perceived, like the real-life version of Earth. Martial Artists learn to take in the worlds Ki, make it their own, and adapt it to their own strengths and techniques to break through cultivation realms. The most ki-dense worlds can contain the laws of heaven, called the Dao, and are required if a cultivator wishes to allow their will to manifest as law in the world. The laws vary as much as the elements, allowing cultivators to control energy from Sword Dao, to Earth Dao, to Space Dao. While still in the Mortal Realms, instead of having access to Dao, or Law as it may be called, cultivators spend time adding attributes to their internal Ki. For example, a cultivator who wants to walk a path of Fire should cultivate near a volcano, or use flame-based treasures. This will make the Ki they produce from their body into that attribute. Cultivators CAN be born with attributes, and those traits are typically very advantageous. A cultivator with 100% Pure Ki has never existed in the world due to everything having some sort of elemental taint, and theoretically would have both the slowest cultivation speed and the densest possible Ki. 9 is the number of Heaven, so there are 9 Mortal Realms and 9 Immortal Realms, with each realm having 3 levels referred to a Minor Realms; Low, Mid, and High. Going through any realm requires a Breakthrough, with a Major Realm Breakthrough typically requiring something called a Tribulation. Heaven itself lays its vision on any cultivator trying to break through, hitting them with purple tribulation lightning. The amount of lightning bolts scale directly to the realm level, with the strength of the bolts depending on how much power the cultivator is stealing from heaven for themselves. As a result, if a cultivator is greedy, talented, gifted, or all of the above, they can utilize special treasures or their own unique circumstances to take more power than they should in their realm. These cultivators are referred to as "Heaven's Chosen" throughout the universe, as they are typically able to fight and kill other cultivators at least one major realm above their own. This is held to such a high standard due to strength scaling nearly exponentially when you reach higher realms. For example, a normal High grade Golden Core Cultivator is roughly twice as strong as a Low Grade Golden Core Cultivator. The 9 Major Mortal Realms: Ki Refinement, Body Cleansing, Foundation Establishment, Ki Condensation, Golden Core, Soul Formation, Nascent Spirit, Spirit Saint, Ascension Seeking. Elemental and Spiritual powers are able to fully physically manifest once a cultivator breaks through to Ki Condensation stage. Before that, Ki can only be utilized internally. Special Heavenly treasures may allow special exceptions. Cultivators who reach Golden Core are typically called Masters, and become very difficult to kill without damaging their internal core. Cultivators who reach Nascent Spirit are typically hailed as True Masters, and can survive any attack as long as their Core and Spirit are intact. To break through to the Immortal Realms, a cultivator uses their Ki to create a literal world inside of their core. The creation dictates just how strong an immortal is, as well as their potential. An immortal with a barren, dry world only a few square miles will never be able to progress further, while someone with a lush, massive and complex world has all that much more weight to use in their attacks. The Immortal Realms: Ascended, Early Monarch, True Monarch, Dao Monarch, Dao-Seeking Sage, Golden Hegemon, Mystic Hegemon, Heavenly Hegemon, Dao Ancestor. Heaven only allows one Dao Ancestor to exist at a time, and is the only person who can communicate directly with the Heavens. Normal Society: Non-Cultivators make up about 75% of the universes population, and are often largely separate from the cultivation life. So much so that there are several continents on worlds that have never even seen a cultivator before. Cultivator Society: Strength rules all in the martial arts world, and those with power are the only ones who can enforce their rules. Thankfully, most are civil and decent enough not to cause trouble, especially when there are those stronger nearby. Respect for family, be it blood or forged bonds, is highly valued. Seeking vengeance is a common occurrence, and a death penalty for stealing something from someone above your realm should be anticipated. If Ki condenses in a specific area for too long without a cultivator absorbing it, it either transforms into a monster, or a Heavenly Treasure. Cultivators can fight monsters or absorb Heavenly Treasures to aid in their training, or a well timed fight or absorption can aid in a breakthrough attempt. Other races, such as Elves, Orcs, Demons, Naga, and Beastkin exist and have their own cultivation techniques and methods. A dimensional passage can recognize a user and open a pathway between two fixed and designated points. Derek’s Golden Core can stabilize his dimensional energy without leaving a foreign connection in his body.

Chapter 1: The Treasure and the Challenger Derek Zeroxin arrived beneath the forbidden monastery and helped Lianhua and Mei Zhen break the spiritual binding imposed by Lianhua's father. He seized and absorbed the Heavenly Treasure, formed and stabilized a Golden Core, survived its tribulation, and defeated Lianhua's father without killing him; Lianhua remained to decide the Master’s fate. Felisara found Derek through a trail from Stargate City, and together they crossed a Dimensional Crack after Qiao Ren identified a separate trace belonging to a pursuer. In Stargate City, they accepted a relay mission to Hearthfall. There, Jianru warned them of Shen Kuo, a powerful Turning Ridge practitioner who had defeated the town’s defenders. Derek killed Shen Kuo in a one-on-one duel, though his ankle was badly injured. After resting and recording the duel’s official account, Derek and Felisara prepared to leave while Hearthfall’s immediate danger remained contained.