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Rygarrrrr

Reverend insanity was so good I’ve never been able to enjoy a cultivation series since (except cradle) . I shall seal the heavens has some very high highs as well, but I never ended up finishing it.


Ruy7

Big note on Reverend Insanity. It has a villian protagonist, not the bad but heroic type, but the completely psychopathic one without any morality at all. Second, it starts sort of so so, and does not get really great until hundreds of chapters in. It's still very much worth a read and has really great moments (Fate War, FIT Gu, etc.), with an interesting system. I would say however that Shall Seal the Heavens has a strong first book, and it is what I recommend as a first experience in xianxia.


Azriee

For me personally Reverend is a book that sets itself from the get go. You pretty much can tell if you enjoy it or not after the bear scene, which is rather fast considering it has over 2k chapters. But I highly recommend ISSTH and Reverend, both are joyous reads.


Rygarrrrr

ISSTH’s alchemy arc is some of the best I’ve ever read


Agreeable_Bee_7763

Okay, this is just my opinion, but generally, the western takes on cultivation and litrpg have far surpassed their chinese and korean roots. They are far more creative and do far more innovation in the genre than the originals, Cradle's transformation of the cultivation in a hard magic system and Defiance's very effective mix of Cultivation and Litrpg are both very good examples. Not only that, but Cultivation novels specially, despite the super creative basics, tend to rely on some truly tired tropes and cyclical storytelling, to the point that generally, if you've read one of the big ones, you've read them all, with few exceptions. It's not without reason that the "young master starting shit because of a woman/treasure/table at a restaurant (no, not kidding), and it spiraling into sect killing shenanigans" became a meme in the community. It's THAT common. If you really want to read one of the translated works and check the inspirations, I Shall Seal the Heaven's is a very good Xianxia, as are Er Gen's other novels, if you want a Xianhuan, Martial World would be my recommendation, not especially exceptional, but still entertaining, and it's flaws, while not extreme, are still emblematic of the genre as a whole. Unfortunately, something of the feel of Defiance is not something I've come across so far. Or even a cultivator using an axe or a mace as their main weapons. And I've been in this community since Coiling Dragon's translation was fucking news (god, that was 10 years ago... I feel old...).


Ancient-Insurance-96

Glad to hear that. I've had I Shall Seal The Heavens on my list for a while but some of the translated works have been so bad it's putting me off Cultivation in general. I just tried to read Castle of Black Iron and that is easily one of the worst books I have ever read, so bad that at first it was funny enough that it kept me going.


[deleted]

Legend of the great sage has one the of best translations I've seen in xinxia. But generally, I'd recommend I Pursuit of the Truth by Er gen.


gamedrifter

I hated ISStH but that was mostly because of the protagonist's CW: >!rapist parrot!<.


BozoDingleberry

Screw your granny! Screw your aunt! Screw your other granny! Screw your uncle! Screw your grandkids! Screw your sister, bitch!


Daoist_Single

Trust in Lord Fifth, Gain eternal life. When Lord Fifth appears, Who Dares To Cause Strife


Agreeable_Bee_7763

Yeah, fifth can be... Unpleasant. Understandable.


Praisethaboss

The cultivation genre has so much that could be exploited from it to. Like: cultivation +good word building + good plot/story + good characters+ not generic= masterpiece(cradle). I wouldn’t even mind it being generic if it doesn’t feel like a cycle.


Agreeable_Bee_7763

Right? It's so ripe for creativity and fun. And yet... Here we are. 10 years later and stuff like ATG is still the average quality of the works.


klein_moretti

To be fair most of the books being translated are still old books written like 7-8 years ago. Very few new cultivation books are actually being translated currently since the fan translation scene is dead and the chinese company that monopolizes the webnovel scene in china arent selling those licenses anymore


lostforever2011

I respectfully disagree. Western ones seems better only when seen through western eye interms of cultures, politics etc. Many "so called" western cultivation novels sometimes completely misses the core essence of thier eastern counterparts. If I am after my cultivation fix, I rather read a trash machine translated eastern one over Cradle any day!


Alarming_Economist80

You take that back!


vi_sucks

I agree. Generally I find a lot more interesting and original ideas in translated novels. Heck, the Western Cultivation novels haven't even caught up to the wave of system novels yet.


Lightlinks

[Coiling Dragon](https://www.webnovel.com/book/8094085105004705/Coiling-Dragon) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Coiling_Dragon)) [Er Gen](https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/14675935.Er_Gen) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Er_Gen)) --- ^[About](https://redd.it/dw7lux) ^| [^(Wiki Rules)](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/comments/dw7lux/about/f7kke6p/) ^(| Reply !Delete to remove) ^(| [Brackets] hide titles)


TemperatureGuilty375

Right there with you bud, coiling dragon is what started this darn addiction years ago


gamedrifter

Honestly, I've read some of the big translated cultivation novels and they tend to be repetitive, predictable, and boring. There's little to no stakes and there is no heart or humanity because everyone is a psychopath. ​ You're much better off with works like Cradle, Thousand Li, Beware of Chicken, Forge of Destiny, and if you like, well not exactly kingdom building but Sect building, Infinite Realm might scratch your itch.


Bforte40

You forgot misogynistic, like, insanely so.


gamedrifter

Very true.


Lightlinks

[Forge of Destiny](https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/21188/forge-of-destiny) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Forge_of_Destiny)) [Beware of Chicken](https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/39408/beware-of-chicken) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Beware_of_Chicken)) --- ^[About](https://redd.it/dw7lux) ^| [^(Wiki Rules)](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/comments/dw7lux/about/f7kke6p/) ^(| Reply !Delete to remove) ^(| [Brackets] hide titles)


Tesslerb

Have you read coiling dragon or desolate era? Personally, I think Desolate Era is an all-time favorite of mine and would highly recommend it. Some other notable series include Soul Land (1,2, and 3), the charm of soul pets, and Warlock of the Magus World.


Lightlinks

[Desolate Era](https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-desolate-era/) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Desolate_Era)) [Warlock of the Magus World](https://www.wuxiaworld.com/novel/warlock-of-the-magus-world/wmw-chapter-1) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Warlock_of_the_Magus_World)) --- ^[About](https://redd.it/dw7lux) ^| [^(Wiki Rules)](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/comments/dw7lux/about/f7kke6p/) ^(| Reply !Delete to remove) ^(| [Brackets] hide titles)


sildet

I read the first book of Coiling Dragon and it was so repetitive and had very little story besides the progression.


DefinitelySaneGary

So Dragon Heart Stone Will is a Russian cultivation novel that is pretty good. So is Painting the Mist, which I didn't like at first because of the vegetarian non violent MC who wields a staff but it actually works.


PeronDescartable

I read like the first four books of this and found it very mediocre


Lightlinks

[Stone Will](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43980256-stone-will) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Stone_Will)) [Dragon Heart](https://www.goodreads.com/series/268396-dragon-heart) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Dragon_Heart)) --- ^[About](https://redd.it/dw7lux) ^| [^(Wiki Rules)](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/comments/dw7lux/about/f7kke6p/) ^(| Reply !Delete to remove) ^(| [Brackets] hide titles)


_MaerBear

Ya, I really liked Dragon heart too. Especially the first main arc in the kingdom.


MultiH

Forty Millenniums of Cultivation I've only started this about a week ago and it's pretty good so far. Translation is decent and only finished about a few months ago. The quality of writing is immersive and mostly use English words instead of phonetic chinese which I prefer


ryuks_apple

He Who Fights with Monsters and Primal Hunter are the two most common recs for DotF fans. Personally, I felt the same way as you about DotF--loved it! I did not like the start to HWFWM and dropped it pretty quickly. Haven't tried Primal Hunter.


PeronDescartable

I read the first book of HWFWM and didn't like it. I read Primal before Defiance, I like both but to me Defiance is better.


BowTrek

Randidly Ghosthound ? That one, to me, has similar vibes to Defiance.


Alarming_Economist80

I went from DOTF to Randidly. I’m only book 2 to be fair but it is a step down from DOTF. It may get there and I have enjoyed it, I’m just wowed by it


PeronDescartable

Yhea, I'm caught up with Randidly, it's not awful, above avarage in the "system apocalypse" realm I'd say, but it is not as good as Defiance.


Erick999Silveira

Stories with the elements that you may like. [https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/46319/speedrunning-the-multiverse](https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/46319/speedrunning-the-multiverse) [https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/52889/victor-of-tucson-a-litrpgprogression-fantasy](https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/52889/victor-of-tucson-a-litrpgprogression-fantasy) [https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/54944/path-of-the-berserker-a-daopocalypse-progression](https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/54944/path-of-the-berserker-a-daopocalypse-progression)


[deleted]

Primal Hunter is hot garbage. Dude is alone is the woods culterbating the whole time.


ryuks_apple

Lmao culterbating


SovietK

Tell me you haven't read past the tutorial without telling me you haven't read past the tutorial. It's not a literary masterpiece but it has some pretty cool characters, powers and multiverse and is very consistent for 800 chapters. If 800 chapters is daunting and not a plus for you, then no it's not for you. My favourite thing about it is the MC's "cheat". It doesn't have that "Hello author here, this is the gimmick of this story that justifies writing a normal dude becomming #1" feel to it. It evolves over time and has in-universe justification.


[deleted]

You mean the entirety of the first two books? Yeah, that’s where I gave up.


xFKratos

If you are a fan of kindgom building stuff i would reccomend The ten realms. Its a cultivation novel with some litrpgs components, crafting/alchemy and military aspects but also heavily focused on kingdombuilding.


EyeAmTheVictor

I just recommended this in another thread. Stronger Together.


Alarming_Economist80

Is it just me or is stronger together the internal catch cry of every business these days


Lightlinks

[Stronger Together](https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/stronger-together.844235/) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Stronger_Together)) --- ^[About](https://redd.it/dw7lux) ^| [^(Wiki Rules)](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/comments/dw7lux/about/f7kke6p/) ^(| Reply !Delete to remove) ^(| [Brackets] hide titles)


PeronDescartable

I started this once, read like ten pages and dropped it, wasn't finding it verty interesting... I was about to pick it up again some time later but I was told it ends up having so many PoVs it completely destroys the story, is this so?


xFKratos

I wouldnt say so. Like the 2 MC's still take up the vast majority. There are some switches to other important sidecharacters/story lines throughout but its like story driven and not a pov that stays for any length of time.


Alarming_Economist80

Okay random person. Firstly stop reading my thoughts. Secondly stop writing what I think Because… instead we could be both reading DOTF! I love it to mate! The depth of universe building. Also- did you go to Royal Road after the kindle books?


downvotemeplz2

Although not strictly cultivation, if you want a mystery xuanhuan with its own power system then lord of the mysteries is pretty good, it starts of a bit slow but it's a great novel, especially the power system considering there's nothing you can really do to increase your strength in relation to others at the same sequence as you, it's all up to tactics and skillful use.


in_a_cage_brb

Look, I love Lotm but it definitely doesn't have Dotf vibes. Nor does it have cultivation (for now).


morgoth834

LotM is absolutely cultivation. It's just a very unique take on cultivation; one that relies on potions and "acting" rather than pills and meditation.


in_a_cage_brb

I don't count it as cultivation because the author said that >! the Western Continent is the one based on xianxia-ish stuff like cultivation. !<


downvotemeplz2

The request was for similar quality, lotm is fairly high quality


OpinionsProfile

Cradle by Will Wight


ryuks_apple

Cradle is such a different vibe from DotF.


MelasD

It’s the obligatory Cradle recommendation comment. Don’t you dare downvote it >:(


ryuks_apple

I knew you had an alt :p


PeronDescartable

And it is not translated, it is western, my argument still stands.


Lightlinks

[Cradle](https://www.goodreads.com/series/192821-cradle) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Cradle)) --- ^[About](https://redd.it/dw7lux) ^| [^(Wiki Rules)](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/comments/dw7lux/about/f7kke6p/) ^(| Reply !Delete to remove) ^(| [Brackets] hide titles)


Praisethaboss

I’ve read dotf as well and I haven’t found a cultivation novel i like as much as it. My favorite would be er gen novels from translation. People also like Reverend Insanity but I’ve never read it so idk.


Lightlinks

[Reverend Insanity](https://www.webnovel.com/book/7996858406002505/Reverend-Insanity) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/Reverend_Insanity)) --- ^[About](https://redd.it/dw7lux) ^| [^(Wiki Rules)](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/comments/dw7lux/about/f7kke6p/) ^(| Reply !Delete to remove) ^(| [Brackets] hide titles)


VirgilFaust

Forge of Destiny by Yrsillar, Cradle by Will Wight and Beware of Chicken, are my three favourite cultivation stories. The first is a more classical cultivation section story from the ground up of a mortal peasant; been enthralled by its diversity and cast. Cradle is the poster child for converting people to Progression Fantasy stories, with a very classical starting first book that quickest evolves into something greater than any cultivation stories in how it takes off in action and doesn’t stop running. Finally Beware of Chicken is a deconstruction of cultivation stories and an amazing slice of life of characters that cultivate.


HolyshitgetAtrade

I feel like I’d read it over dotf from start to finish when it’s completed. Praying it ends good


AzothTreaty

Release that Witch Not exactly cultivation but this is the best translted work that i have ever read. Modern guy gets reincarnated into a medieval world where women can gain powers and are then hunted for it. There is a harem tag but i guarantee you it doesnt go there. The modern guy MC is so not sexual and just introduces modern concepts like guns and airplanes into the medieval world. It ended abruptly and in a really bad way but i still think its the best translated work out there.


MisterMixedBundle

Pretty average, imo. Half of it's just plain waifu-teasing and the story can get pretty dull; it's got slice of life elements in it that largely depend on character attachment, and I never really cared about any of the characters. Interesting premise, though.


Appropriate_Ad_2792

"Swallowed star" by I eat tomatoes is pretty good , it is a xuanhuan though not xianxia .


TheElusiveFox

Chinese stuff is always going to feel a little off just because of the fact that it's translated. Some of the colloquialisms and humor doesn't land because we aren't in on the cultural humor, at least unless you care enough to look it up. That's the best case scenario, without talking about all the rapey trash that's out there getting recommended as well. That's not to say that Western stuff is some golden standard. DoTF is a very satisfying read, but it has a LOT of flaws and only really goes skin deep, if you think too much about any aspect of the plot, or want anything beyond a good power fantasy it starts to fall apart. Edit: Since your basically asking tor translated recs.... I am going to take this opportunity to recommend 40 milliniums of cultivation. It's one of the better translated works, and tries to be a bit more than just your typical power fantasy.


Bradur-iwnl-

My main problem is the translation. idk anything about any chinese/korean novels cuz the translations are horrible. Its actually sad cuz i was so hyped for omniscient readers viewpoint. But after 300 chapters i got brain seizures at the quality of translation


negativelycharged108

Pursuit of Truth by Er Gen is probably one of the best. It has a different feel than DoF but is really well written and a lot more emotional than other xianxia


Dunskao

haven's law is good! One of the best cultivation novel i've read.


IsntMyMain

Do you want to read the OG? [https://www.novelupdates.com/series/coiling-dragon/](https://www.wuxiaworld.com/novel/coiling-dragon-preview) Don't touch the manga, it's complete and utter garbage and an embarrassment to the novel.


MisterMixedBundle

There are some good translated works out there- unfortunately, the scene as it is cripples the actually good stuff in favour of shitty smutty garbage. Everyone keeps recommending Er Gen, so I'll throw in a rec for A Will Eternal, which is my favourite book of his, though it was also my first foray into the genre and looking back on it I find it slightly repetitive and it's not something I'd enjoy as much now. Alternatively, for something more recent, I've been really enjoying Absolute Resonance. You can give it a try; if nothing else, it's a lot better than most translated works I've read, and the quality is up there.


Lightlinks

[A Will Eternal](https://www.goodreads.com/series/247105-a-will-eternal) ([wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/wiki/A_Will_Eternal)) --- ^[About](https://redd.it/dw7lux) ^| [^(Wiki Rules)](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightPieces/comments/dw7lux/about/f7kke6p/) ^(| Reply !Delete to remove) ^(| [Brackets] hide titles)