Battle Through the Heavens (Doupo Cangqiong / 斗破苍穹) is one of the most iconic xuanhuan donghua series, filled with intense battles, ancient sects, and a deep cultivation system that defines every character’s strength.

In this guide, we break down the complete cultivation hierarchy from beginner stages to the pinnacle of power in the Battle Through the Heavens universe — ideal for new fans and returning viewers alike.

🌱 1. Dou Zhi Qi (斗之气) – Fighter's Foundation

  • Also known as: Qi Training Stage

  • Level: Entry-level

  • Description:
    This is the basic stage of gathering and cultivating Dou Qi (Battle Energy). It focuses on absorbing natural energy and forming internal Dou Qi in the body. Before reaching Dou Zhe, one must complete all 10 stages of Dou Zhi Qi.

🥊 2. Dou Zhe (斗者) – Fighter

  • First true rank of combat cultivation

  • Power Source: Battle Qi

  • Fighters can manipulate battle energy outside their bodies and use basic martial techniques. At this level, they begin to stand out among normal people.

🔥 3. Dou Shi (斗师) – Battle Master

  • Specialty: Control of internal energy

  • The user can use energy-infused attacks and store Qi in a Dou Qi cyclone. Combat efficiency increases significantly, and they can utilize more advanced Dou Techniques.

⚡ 4. Da Dou Shi (大斗师) – Grand Master

  • Mid-Tier Expert Level

  • Dou Qi becomes denser and sharper. Users can use partial elemental infusion into attacks and form Qi Wings to temporarily fly.

🪂 5. Dou Ling (斗灵) – Spirit Fighter

  • The beginning of elite-level cultivation

  • This is the stage where a cultivator can form true Dou Qi wings and fly at will. They can also use more powerful Dou Techniques and develop battle instincts.

🐉 6. Dou Wang (斗王) – Dou King

  • Status: High-level expert

  • At this level, fighters have improved speed, physical resilience, and greater Qi reserves. Their battle energy becomes almost elemental, increasing destructive potential.

🔥 7. Dou Huang (斗皇) – Dou Emperor

  • Regional powerhouse level

  • Very few reach this stage. A Dou Huang can destroy large landscapes with a single technique. Their elemental Dou Qi is mature and extremely difficult to resist.

🐯 8. Dou Zong (斗宗) – Dou Ancestor

  • A feared rank among nations

  • Dou Zongs can tear space, perform spatial movement, and have a far higher perception of energy flow. Few sects have more than one Dou Zong due to their rarity and power.

🌀 9. Dou Zun (斗尊) – Dou Venerate

  • Near-divine power

  • They have extreme control over laws of nature and energy, with instant teleportation, space-based attacks, and advanced spiritual power. Their presence alone changes the environment.

🪷 10. Ban Sheng (半圣) – Half-Saint

  • Transitional Rank before Saint

  • These cultivators are extremely rare and are on the verge of becoming true Saints. They’re often limited by resources, understanding, or physical constraints.

🌌 11. Dou Sheng (斗圣) – Dou Saint

  • Almost godlike

  • Saints can manipulate space and elemental energy at planetary scale. They are revered across empires and can destroy entire regions if enraged. They exist at the very peak of the known world.

🕊️ 12. Dou Di (斗帝) – Battle God / Dou Emperor

  • The Ultimate Realm

  • Only one or two individuals in recorded history ever reached this stage — including Xiao Yan's ancestor. A Dou Di can defy the heavens, create realms, and control life and death within a radius of their power.

🔄 Bonus: Spiritual Energy Ranks

Alongside physical cultivation, characters in Battle Through the Heavens also train Spiritual Strength, which plays a major role in becoming an Alchemist. The levels include:

  1. Spirit

  2. Spirit Intermediate

  3. Spirit Master

  4. Spirit Grandmaster

  5. Spirit King

  6. Spirit Emperor

  7. Spirit Venerate

  8. Spirit Saint

These spiritual ranks influence how effectively a character can refine pills, communicate with magical beasts, or use soul-based attacks.

📚 Xiao Yan’s Cultivation Journey & Known Dou Di in the Novel

In Battle Through the Heavens, Dou Di (斗帝) is the legendary peak of cultivation — so rare and mysterious that most people doubt it even exists. But throughout the novel, especially in its later chapters and during lore flashbacks, several figures either reach or are hinted to have reached this near-divine realm.

Here’s a breakdown of Xiao Yan’s personal cultivation path, followed by a list of all known or referenced Dou Di-level beings in the Battle Through the Heavens novel.

🔥 Xiao Yan’s Cultivation Journey (Novel Timeline)

Cultivation Rank Arc / Stage
Dou Zhe Season 1 – Begins cultivation again at Wu Tan City
Da Dou Shi After winning Alchemist Gathering (Black Corner Region)
Dou Wang Jia Ma Empire – After defeating Yun Leng
Dou Huang En route to Central Plains
Dou Zong Central Plains – After Pill Tower battle
Dou Zun Ancient Clan Training Arc
Ban Sheng Pre-Tomb Invasion Arc
Dou Sheng (Saint) Final War Arc against Hall of Souls
Dou Di (Battle Emperor) Final Chapter – Xiao Yan reaches Dou Di by opening the final Tou She Ancient God’s inheritance

👑 All Known or Referenced Dou Di (斗帝)

Here are the major Dou Di-level characters either confirmed, implied, or legendary in the Battle Through the Heavens universe:

🔱 1. Tou She Ancient God (陀舍古帝)

  • Status: Confirmed Dou Di

  • Lore: The strongest known cultivator in ancient history. He created the Tou She Ancient God Realm and left behind the Dou Di inheritance.

  • Legacy: His Essence Flame (the final Heavenly Flame) and Inheritance Jade are the keys to becoming a Dou Di.

🌌 2. Xiao Xuan (萧玄)

  • Status: Implied Near-Dou Di / Half Step Dou Di

  • Relation: Xiao Yan’s ancestor, former patriarch of the Xiao Clan

  • Power: One of the most powerful Dou Shengs; was near Dou Di level before his death due to soul injuries.

  • Notable Feat: Could fight against the Hall of Souls and other ancient clans alone.

🔥 3. Xiao Yan (萧炎)

  • Status: Achieved Dou Di in the final chapter

  • Era: Modern protagonist

  • Means: Obtains Tou She Ancient God’s full inheritance and merges the last Heavenly Flame

  • Significance: Becomes the first Dou Di in tens of thousands of years, ending the age-long stagnation in cultivation history.

💀 4. Hall of Souls Founders (Hun Tiandi’s Ancestors)

  • Status: Possibly former Half-Step or Failed Dou Di

  • Implication: The Hall of Souls was established to collect soul energy to manufacture or cheat the path to Dou Di.

  • Outcome: All attempts failed, but they pushed many boundaries of soul-based cultivation.

🧪 5. Gu Yuan (古元) (From Ancient Gu Clan)

  • Status: Peak Dou Sheng (Did NOT reach Dou Di)

  • Note: Although he was one of the strongest alive, he never crossed the final threshold into Dou Di.

  • Role: Mentor to Xiao Yan during Ancient Clan Arc.

🌀 What Makes a Dou Di So Powerful?

  • Perfect Control of Laws (Space, Time, Flame, Soul)

  • Ability to Reshape Realms and Planes

  • True Immortality & Rebirth Capabilities

  • Freedom to Traverse the "Realm Beyond" (Extra-World Realms)

Even at the Dou Sheng level, a cultivator may still be killed by joint forces or soul-based attacks. But a true Dou Di is essentially invincible in the known world, capable of destroying empires or recreating them with a wave of their hand.

🧭 Final Note

Battle Through the Heavens may begin with humble roots — a fallen genius trying to regain his strength — but it ends with universe-defining power. Xiao Yan’s journey from a bullied teen to the first Dou Di in tens of thousands of years is what makes this story a true xuanhuan epic.

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