Upper stage is the third of the four small realms inside every Gu Master rank. It sits between middle stage and peak stage.
The Gu Yue academy elder places upper stage as the third of four small realms inside each of the nine ranks, after initial stage and middle stage, and before peak stage. ch. 7 Moving from middle stage to upper stage is a small realm. Breaking from rank one peak stage into rank two initial stage is a large realm, and the two difficulties are not the same. ch. 90
Aperture walls
Nurturing the aperture with primeval essence is how a Gu Master climbs the small realms. Upper stage walls are stone barriers, also called a stone membrane, ch. 33 light condensed into a solid state, thicker and more stable than the middle stage water membrane. A rank one upper stage aperture shows that stone membrane clearly. ch. 230
Primeval essence at this stage
Within a rank, higher stage darkens the essence and makes it more durable in use. Green copper primeval essence at rank one upper stage is dark green. A Liquor worm can refine middle stage essence up into that upper stage product, so battle strength can sit above the Gu Master’s true cultivation stage when the worm is feeding the sea. ch. 80
Rank two colour
Red steel primeval essence, at rank two upper stage, is crimson. ch. 145
Rank three colour
White silver essence at rank three upper stage is bright silver, shining silver in colour. ch. 312
Rank four colour
Within rank four, upper stage yellow gold essence is called essence gold primeval essence. ch. 358
Rank five colour
Purple crystal essence at rank five upper stage is deep purple. ch. 379
Initial Stage, Middle Stage, and Peak Stage complete the set. The full rank ladder is on Ranks and Realms. Essence by rank is on Primeval Essence.
Connections(12)
0 later connections are veiled.