Spirit Roots

Everyone has spirit roots. They are how cultivators take in and refine Qi from their surroundings. There are quite a lot of different kinds of spirit roots however, and they have a drastic effect on a cultivator’s growth. Spirit Roots are divided by their number and type of stripe. Each stripe can absorb one type of Qi in a linear amount. Two stripes can absorb twice as much as one stripe. Three stripes three times as much, and so on. There is no set limit on the number of stripes, but having more stripes is rare. Most people have one or two, with three being considered very good. Anything above that typically ensures the cultivator will become a legend.
The types of Qi that a spirit root can be are Earth, Water, Wood, Fire, Metal, Lightning, Lunar, and Solar. There are other Qi types, but spirit roots do not naturally absorb them. And changing the Qi of a spirit root is extremely difficult. Most would say it is impossible without some kind of providential incident.
0 Stripes: Null Roots
The caveat to everyone having spirit roots. Some people have a spirit root with no stripe, which means they can’t absorb Qi. This is extremely rare, and considered to be a crippling disability. There is one advantage though. There are ways to artificially form stripes, but only on a Null Root. Thus someone born with a Null Root could potentially have any type they wanted, but this is very expensive and complicated. Thus most commoners are doomed to be crippled for life, while nobles will at most get a three stripe root for their null children.
1 Stripe: Minor Roots
The bog standard of all spirit roots. The majority of the people in the world have this type of spirit root. They can absorb one type of Qi and that’s it. There really isn’t any variation here. Technically it would be possible to get one of the rarer Qi stripes, but typically those only manifest in spirit roots with more stripes.
2 Stripes: Lesser Roots
Having two stripes of the same Qi is good. It lets you absorb twice as much. Having two stripes of different Qi is also good as you can absorb from twice as many sources. There are no bad Lesser Roots, and they typically make good, but not exceptional cultivators.
3 Stripes: Good Roots
Having three stripes of the same Qi is excellent. It allows for exceptional growth. Having three different types is also good as three of the five elements form an exceptionally stable mix even beyond the additional Qi sources. Having two of one type and one of another however is trash. It leads to Qi imbalance and an unstable foundation that can lead to physical and mental crippling without very careful, and slow, cultivation.
This is also the point where Lightning Stripes start cropping up, which most cultivators regard as some kind of heavenly cheat. Since Stripes can absorb matching Qi, and the heavenly tribulation is pure Lightning Qi.
4 Stripes: Major Roots
As always, four of the same is great. But with four stripes a mismatched stripe number leads to even worse problems than a mixed 3 stripes. Four different stripes is also something of a problem. Four is not a stable number of elements. There will be no cultivation problems, but the lack of one type of Qi can lead to mental issues. This is the source of the many strong but eccentric cultivator stories.
5 Stripes: Celestial Roots
Five of any type of stripes is amazing. Five different elements is the most stable and best cultivation base there is. A cultivator with a Balanced Celestial Root can cultivate literally anywhere. Trash roots at this level are generally regarded with extreme regret. They were so close to greatness, and yet wasted. Fortunately stripes can be pruned if the cultivator is willing to endure the painful procedure. So even a terrible Celestial Roots can usually end up as at least Good Roots.
6 Stripes: Heavenly Roots
Six Stripes are so rare that most people with this number end up with an imbalance rather than a pure root. There are only two stable configurations. Two stripes each of three elements. And all the elements plus lightning. Both of these are amazing. But in practice most people discount 6 Stripes as not even being possible.
7 Stripes: Immortal Roots
If you’re lucky enough to get seven stripes of the same Qi you are set. If you are not, then there are no balanced numbers at this level. Cultivators with Immortal Roots usually cultivate so fast that they can’t regulate their own Qi intake and end up going mad or turning into monsters.
8 Stripes: God Root
Oddly enough there is only one configuration of stripes for the God Root. The five elements plus lightning plus lunar and solar. A cultivator with a God Root can cultivate just by breathing. They are supreme existences recorded only in legends.
9 Stripes: ???
The cultivation scholars and mystics agree that there is no theoretical reason a spirit root couldn’t have more than eight stripes. But a spirit root of that power has never been recorded, not even in legends. So they can only speculate as to what such an existence might be like.