Cultivation and breakthrough
Cultivation makes you stronger apart from your level: you gather Qi, climb the stages of a realm and then break through into the next realm. There are 3 realms, Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment and Golden Core, and every stage raises your max HP, attack and defence.
How do you gather Qi?
Section titled “How do you gather Qi?”Qi comes from timed actions and one consumable:
- Meditate in the Forest of Beginnings: 100 Qi per run.
- Meditate at the Spirit Spring at the Spirit Spring in the Mistfen Marshes: 180 Qi per run.
- Meditate at the Water's Edge on the Saltwind Coast: 140 Qi per run.
Qi Gathering Pill: 200 Qi, outside combat, crafted by alchemists.
Wisdom adds +1% Qi from meditation per point, and the Monk passive adds more.
How do stages work?
Section titled “How do stages work?”When your Qi reaches the amount for the next stage, you advance automatically and leftover Qi carries over. Each stage needs more Qi than the one before, and Foundation Establishment needs far more per stage than Qi Condensation.
Formula
Qi for the next stage = Qi per stage of the realm × current stage (Qi per stage: 100 (Qi Condensation), 400 (Foundation Establishment), 900 (Golden Core))Example: Going from Qi Condensation stage 3 to stage 4 takes 300 Qi.
Data from game version 0.3.0 · f8531c1 (2026-10-01)Every stage multiplies your max HP, attack and defence. A new realm starts with a big jump: the first stage of Foundation Establishment is already much stronger than the last stage of Qi Condensation, and its last stage multiplies these stats by 1.6. Mana and stamina are not affected.
| Stage | Qi to next stage | HP, attack, defence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 | 0% |
| 2 | 200 | +2% |
| 3 | 300 | +4% |
| 4 | 400 | +6% |
| 5 | 500 | +8% |
| 6 | 600 | +10% |
| 7 | 700 | +12% |
| 8 | 800 | +14% |
| 9 | 900 (full pool) | +16% |
| Stage | Qi to next stage | HP, attack, defence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 400 | +30% |
| 2 | 800 | +33.75% |
| 3 | 1,200 | +37.5% |
| 4 | 1,600 | +41.25% |
| 5 | 2,000 | +45% |
| 6 | 2,400 | +48.75% |
| 7 | 2,800 | +52.5% |
| 8 | 3,200 | +56.25% |
| 9 | 3,600 (full pool) | +60% |
| Stage | Qi to next stage | HP, attack, defence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 900 | +80% |
| 2 | 1,800 | +86.25% |
| 3 | 2,700 | +92.5% |
| 4 | 3,600 | +98.75% |
| 5 | 4,500 | +105% |
| 6 | 5,400 | +111.25% |
| 7 | 6,300 | +117.5% |
| 8 | 7,200 | +123.75% |
| 9 | 8,100 (full pool) | +130% |
At the last stage of a realm the Qi column shows the full pool. Once it is full, more meditation gives no Qi, so that is the moment for the breakthrough.
What do the stages unlock?
Section titled “What do the stages unlock?”- Qi Condensation stage 2:
Qi Strike and your element affinity, see Leveling and cultivation. - Foundation Establishment:
Qi Barrier, a mana shield that absorbs damage for a few rounds. - Foundation Establishment also opens the Academy of the Five Phases in Dawnmere Village: Elemental Infusion lets your element flow into your basic attack and chosen techniques, and Re-attunement changes your affinity.
How does the breakthrough work?
Section titled “How does the breakthrough work?”The breakthrough is the timed action Breakthrough at the Spirit Spring. You can start it when all of this is true:
- You are at least level 30.
- You are at the last stage of Qi Condensation and your Qi pool is full.
- You carry a
Foundation Pill. - No tribulation is waiting for you.
When you start, you choose how many 
Clarity Incense to burn, up to 2. The pill and the incense are used up at the start; if you cancel the action, you get them back. The action takes 1 h, and Momentum works as usual.
When it finishes, the game rolls the chance. Luck does not help.
Formula
chance = min(95%, 60% + 15% × Clarity Incense); Luck does not countExample: With 1 Clarity Incense, the breakthrough to Foundation Establishment succeeds with 75%.
Data from game version 0.3.0 · f8531c1 (2026-10-01)| Used up at the start | Success chance |
|---|---|
| Foundation Pill×1 | 60% |
| Foundation Pill×1 + Clarity Incense×1 | 75% |
| Foundation Pill×1 + Clarity Incense×2 | 90% |
If it fails, you lose 30% of your Qi, but you keep your stage. Fill the pool again and try with a new pill.
Where do the pill and the incense come from?
Section titled “Where do the pill and the incense come from?”- Foundation Pill is an alchemy recipe, see Crafting. It needs a
Wyrm Scale from the 
Mire Wyrm and 
Spirit Stone, which also come from the Sunken Shrine chest and the 
Fen Hag. - Clarity Incense is sold at the Herb Hut in Dawnmere Village, see Shops.
What is the Heavenly Tribulation?
Section titled “What is the Heavenly Tribulation?”A successful breakthrough does not move you into the new realm yet. The heavens answer with the 
Heavenly Tribulation, a boss fight you start at the Spirit Spring when you are ready. Heal up first: it is a normal fight with your current HP and mana.
- Win: you reach Foundation Establishment stage 1 with 0 Qi, and your HP and mana are refilled. You also get the fight’s EXP and drops.
- Lose or flee: the usual consequences of a lost fight apply, but your breakthrough stays valid. You can face the tribulation again after 1 h; no new pill is needed.
Its ability is an announced heavy strike: when it starts charging, defend or heal before the strike lands.
| Stats (lowest level) | Drops (chance) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavenly TribulationBossAbilities: Heavenly Thunder | 30 | — |
| 3,000 | 0 |
|
How do you reach the Golden Core?
Section titled “How do you reach the Golden Core?”The third realm, Golden Core, opens from level 60. Its breakthrough follows the same rules, but takes place in the meditation hall of the Temple, needs a 
Golden Core Pill and calls down the much stronger 
Tribulation of the Golden Core. 
Cedar Incense raises the chance.
| Used up at the start | Success chance |
|---|---|
| Golden Core Pill×1 | 55% |
| Golden Core Pill×1 + Cedar Incense×1 | 70% |
| Golden Core Pill×1 + Cedar Incense×2 | 85% |
What happens to cultivation at an Ascension?
Section titled “What happens to cultivation at an Ascension?”An Ascension takes you back to the first stage of Qi Condensation. You need Foundation Establishment to ascend, and a higher realm gives more soul points.
Tips and common mistakes
Section titled “Tips and common mistakes”- Don’t meditate with a full pool. At the last stage extra Qi is lost. Break through or do something else.
- Collect the pill ingredients early. The Mire Wyrm has a respawn timer, and the pill needs several Spirit Stone.
- Burn incense for the pill’s sake. A failed breakthrough uses up the pill, so more incense protects the more expensive item.
- Face the tribulation at full strength. Sleep at the inn, in a stilt hut or in the lighthouse first; see Recovery.