Book 10, “Ear Root” and “Seeking Magic“.
“Before becoming a demon, three thousand years passed. Looking back, the world of mortals did not become a fairy.” The protagonist Su Ming spent his entire life struggling with powerful opponents, trying to break free from the fate that others had arranged for him. Although Ear Root’s most famous work is “Renegade Immortal,” the core of “Seeking Magic” is more mature, with a lot of philosophical thinking.
book 9, “Sacrilege” by Smoke and Rain in the South of the Yangtze River
The world is divided into three levels: mortals, strong people, and gods. The gods of the heavenly realm control countless planes and seize the source of faith from each plane. The strong are powerful, but they are limited by the rules of the plane and are ruled by the national religious system. As the lowest level of existence, mortals have no rights and can only become “food” for the upper class. Where there is balance, there is an imbalance, and where there are rules, there is rebellion. Some people say that the writing in “Sacrilege” is good, but the protagonist portrayed is an unscrupulous villain. Is the value system really okay? In a world full of villains, is it really okay to become one yourself? How long can you survive as a saint? Although the protagonist is greedy and lustful, he also has bottom lines and dignity. Novels are a carrier that can bear evil, not instigate it. Human nature is inherently good. While observing evil, we are also reflecting on goodness.
Book 8, Mao Ni, “Nightfall.”
Setting aside the author Mao Ni, each of his novels carries his ideological soul. In terms of story design and world-building, “Nightfall” is among the best in all of Chinese online literature. The early part of the story is already very exciting, with characters like Master, Junior Uncle, Senior Brother and Sister, and even the Emperor and Empress all having their unique charm and personality. However, it’s in the plot after Master ascends to heaven that their souls are truly revealed. Senior Brother, who cannot fight, picks up a wooden stick; Second Senior Brother, who never interacts with strangers, learns Buddhism in order to kill Buddha; Third Senior Sister, who only knows how to write embroidery in small characters, becomes a 23-year cicada in order to buy time for Junior Brother. The older brothers and sisters who once enjoyed a peaceful life risk their lives and never retreat.
Book 7, Wo Chi Xi Hong Shi, “Coiling Dragon.”
This is my favorite work by author Wo Chi Xi Hong Shi. Although “Stellar Transformations” and “Swallowed Star” have received rave reviews, to me they are almost purely upgrade-oriented stories. In contrast, the story of “Coiling Dragon” is more compact, and I like the character of Linley and his adventurous story more. It set more than a dozen records and was even used by foreign readers as a way to quit the addiction. This is quite an achievement.
Book 6, Aiqianshui de Wuzéi, “Lord of the Mysteries“
This is a Lovecraftian-style novel set in a parallel world. It once made it onto the Overseas Influence List of Chinese online literature and became a cultural export. It was serialized and updated on Kakao Page, the largest online novel website in South Korea, and won a lot of praise. It was quite difficult to achieve this, as it had to fight a cultural war against the opposing cultural camp in South Korea.
Book 5: “Brave Swordsmanship in the Snow“
After “Brave Swordsmanship in the Snow,” there is no more Wulin (martial arts world). In this era where wuxia (martial arts fiction) is dead, a netizen asked how much knowledge is needed to write a book like “Brave Swordsmanship in the Snow.” I can tell you that not much is needed, just the level of knowledge found on Baidu Baike (Chinese Wikipedia) is sufficient. It covers everything from the common people to the imperial court, feng shui, antiques, the military, human emotions, and more. But in reality, the knowledge base in “Brave Swordsmanship in the Snow” is broad and shallow. As is well known, the author’s personality is “I write what feels good.”
Book 4: “The Rules of Evil”
What can one gain by selling their soul to a demon? This book broke the monthly ticket record twice and is hailed as the last masterpiece of the Qidian Xuanhuan (fantasy) genre. Some readers occasionally reread it and express their dissatisfaction with the length, saying that it’s not enough. They want at least another 1,000 chapters to fill in the gaps, correct, and perfect the plot.
Book 3: “Foolish Talk and Mortal Cultivation”
After the words “Mortal Cultivation,” there is no more cultivation. This is enough to prove the pinnacle of this book. It created the “Mortal Cultivation” genre, and the cultivation novels have since had another mode – realistic, grounded, and with a creative style. The author Han Lieming did not show off or brag, instead, he quietly became rich and famous. His character of pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger is also worth learning from among many online fiction protagonists.
Book 2: “Tian Can Tu Dou and Battle Through the Heavens”
Even if you haven’t read it, you must have heard that the fighters in “Battle Through the Heavens” are terrifyingly strong! It not only dominated the rankings for 670 consecutive days but also created a myth of the first billion clicks in online literature history.
Book 1: “Zhe Tian” by Chen Dong
With a grand worldview and a unique and innovative cultivation system, these are Chen Dong’s specialties. The Nine Dragon Coffin enters the Northern Dipper, progressively unfolding a golden world for the readers. Climb the Heavenly Road, dance with music, snap fingers to conceal the sky, guard the world and quell the chaos, seek immortality and prove the Dao, all for the question, “I dare to ask the heavens, is there immortality?” The regrets of how many geniuses became the readers’ unquenchable thirst. The Nine Quiet, the Void Emperor, the Demon Emperor, and the Green Emperor, stories became unforgettable in readers’ hearts.
