Quick intro to Moxiang Tongxiu’s Danmei novels
Most of you should’ve already known about Mo Dao Zu Shi. Let me just get this straight: No words can express how much I adore this novel. Moxiang Tongxiu’s writing style and character designs hit me right in the feels. If you are just like me, you love Mo Dao Zu Shi and you want to explore her other works, here is a quick intro :)
In order of publication, presenting you:
1. 人渣反派自救系统 / The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System
Synopsys (taken & modified from NovelUpdates):
Shen Yuan is reborn into a scum villain in a typical harem novel. His character is Lord Shen Qingqiu.
But it must be known that the original Shen Qingqiu was sliced alive by his disciple and also the protagonist, Luo Binghe, into a human stick! A human stick!
Then, why, as a scum villain, should he still have to take the bullet for the protagonist and sacrifice himself?
Simply because he wants to save his own ass and prove that even scum villains can live, and live coolly at that!
But incidentally, in the mid of trying to save his ass, Shen Qingqiu made his disciple Luo Binghe fall for him, and fall for him really hard…
This is the story of a master and disciple’s unknowing, strange and cheesy process of falling in love.
It’s also a scum villain’s firsthand account of the male protagonist turning from a small white sheep into an overbearing Demon king…
Length: 81 chapters + 14 extras
Translating group: Cnovel
Personal review:
- Breaks all the 4th walls you can ever imagine.
- Intensively hurts your stomach. It will.
- Angsty yet hilarious love story of a crybaby disciple and a thick-skinned, sarcastic master. Also really cute supporting characters.
- Rather simple, easy to follow plot.
- An excellent starting point into System-based fantasy novel (what is System? Read to find out!).
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2. 魔道祖师 / Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation
Synopsys (for the benefits of those who haven’t yet known about this masterpiece) (taken from NovelUpdates):
“As the grandmaster who founded demonic cultivation, Wei WuXian roamed the world in his wanton ways, hated by millions for the chaos he created. In the end, he was backstabbed by his dearest shidi and killed by powerful clans that combined to overpower him.
He incarnates into the body of a lunatic who was abandoned by his clan and is later, unwillingly, taken away by a famous cultivator among the sects—Lan WangJi, his archenemy.
This marks the start of a thrilling yet hilarious journey of attacking monsters, solving mysteries, and raising children. From the mutual flirtation along the way, Wei WuXian slowly realizes that Lan WangJi, a seemingly haughty and indifferent poker-face, holds more feelings for Wei WuXian than he is letting on…”
Length: 113 chapters + 13 extras
Translating group: Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Personal review:
- I FREAKIN’ LOVE THIS.
- Epic story spanning across northern ancient China, involving taking down monsters, killing zombies, hunting ghosts, solving murder cases, training teenage cultivators, raising children (okay, maybe not that…) and so much more.
- Slowburn romance that is just perfect because it is, yes, so slowburn. And have I talked about how much I love the couple?
- Prepare tissues because it’s so gonna hurt.
- Excellent cast of supporting characters. (Jiang Cheng I love youuuuuu)
- The sheer amount of ambition from the author. She smoothly blends so many issues including politics, the grey area of morality, redemption, hatred and forgiveness into a beautiful romantic tale.
- What are you doing?!!! Just drop whatever you are doing and read this!!!
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3. 天官赐福 / Heaven Official’s Blessing
Synopsys (taken from NovelUpdates)
“Eight hundred years ago, Xie Lian was the Crown Prince of the Xian Le kingdom; one who was beloved by his citizens and the darling of the world. Unsurprisingly, he ascended to the Heavens at a very young age.
Now, eight hundred years later, Xie Lian ascends to the Heavens for the third time as the laughing stock of all three realms. On his first task as a god, he meets a mysterious demon who rules the ghosts and terrifies the Heavens… Yet unbeknownst to Xie Lian, this demon king has been paying attention to him for a very, very long time.”
Length: 244 chapters + 4 extras
Translating group: Sakhyulations
Personal review:
- Even more epic than Mo Dao Zu Shi in terms of scale. Spanning across 3 realms - the Heaven, the Human World and the Underworld.
- Splendid blend of humour, mystery, war drama and, beware, so much angst.
- A love story that took 800 years to unfold. 800 YEARS!!! Their love is so pure it will strike the deepest cord in your heart. Ragpicker Crown Prince Heavenly God uke (yes, you read that right) x Extremely Loyal Thick-skinned Demon King seme. What a combo.
- Also with those 800 years, you follow Xie Lian’s journey through the most remarkable ups and downs. What he goes through in 800 years is a humbling tale of a person who has probably seen it all. Make sure you embrace yourself for this. It really is going to hurt.
- Even the supporting cast have really solid backstories. And most of them are truly adorable. Basically all of her works have great supporting cast lol.
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Some fantastic additional information I thought I should also share:
- The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System: A donghua adaptation has been confirmed and production will probaby start next year.
- Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: As I have always screamed about, there’s a manhua, an upcoming donghua, an upcoming live-action series, and an audio drama. And a game adaptation has been confirmed!
- Heaven Official’s Blessing: A donghua adaptation and a live-action series adaptation have been signed! Looking forward to more news in the near future.
(You probably start wondering how much money the author makes… yes, I wonder that too…)
(and rumour has it that Moxiang Tongxiu ie the author just barely graduated college (!!!) )
In any case, with the info above, I hope you have something good to read and to look forward to. Come to this Moxiang Tongxiu’s abyss, fangirl and scream with me please!!!
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All images used are credited to artist 毛糰小劍劍 @ Weibo (who is also the artist behind Mo Dao Zu Shi manhua).
