Xianxia & Cultivation Novels — Complete Reading Order Guide
Chinese cultivation (修仙) novels transported millions of Western readers into worlds of immortal sects, divine treasures, and the pursuit of the Dao. But where do you start? This guide covers every major Xianxia series in English translation, with the correct reading order and an honest pitch for each one.
Renegade Immortal
仙逆 (Xiān Nì)
The road to immortality is paved with betrayal, sacrifice, and unwavering will.
A Will Eternal
一念永恒 (Yī Niàn Yǒng Héng)
All I have is one eternal will, and one desire to live forever.
Against the Gods
逆天邪神 (Nì Tiān Xié Shén)
Rejected by heaven itself, he rewrites the laws of the divine.
Martial World
武极天下 (Wǔ Jí Tiān Xià)
In the vast universe of martial arts, every step forward requires cutting through the impossible.
Lord of the Mysteries
诡秘之主 (Guǐ Mì Zhī Zhǔ)
In a world of fog and mystery, becoming a god is only the beginning.
Coiling Dragon
盘龙 (Pán Lóng)
The dragon coils not around mountains, but around the very fabric of the world.
The Legendary Mechanic
超神机械师 (Chāo Shén Jī Xiè Shī)
He played the game. Now he lives inside it — and he knows exactly what happens next.
Reverend Insanity
蛊真人 (Gū Zhēn Rén)
Fang Yuan is not the hero. He is the monster every hero is afraid of.
Desolate Era
莽荒纪 (Mǎng Huāng Jì)
From a single lifetime of cultivation, to conquering the boundaries of all existence.
Pursuit of the Truth
求魔 (Qiú Mó)
Su Ming asked: what is the meaning of becoming a god?
Immortal Mortal
凡人修仙传 (Fán Rén Xiū Xiān Zhuàn)
Mo Wuji has no spiritual roots. He became immortal anyway — through sheer persistence.
Swallowed Star
吞噬星空 (Tūn Shì Xīng Kōng)
Earth fell to monsters. Luo Feng rose to consume the stars themselves.
Battle Through the Heavens
斗破苍穹 (Dòu Pò Cāng Qióng)
Xiao Yan lost everything at 15. He spent the next years taking it all back — and more.
I Shall Seal the Heavens
我欲封天 (Wǒ Yù Fēng Tiān)
If I want it, the heavens must give it. If the heavens won't give it, I'll seal them.
Warlock of the Magus World
法师世界 (Fǎ Shī Shì Jiè)
An AI mind in a body of flesh. Leylin Farlier calculated every step to godhood.
Tales of Demons and Gods
妖神记 (Yāo Shén Jì)
Nie Li returned to the weakest moment of his life — and used that to change everything.
Peerless Martial God
绝世武神 (Jué Shì Wǔ Shén)
Lin Feng asked for nothing but peace. The world insisted on war.
Perfect World
完美世界 (Wán Měi Shì Jiè)
Shi Hao grew up in a village, unaware he carried the most powerful bloodline in existence.
Zhan Xian (Immortal Executioner)
斩仙 (Zhǎn Xiān)
Yang Chen's immortal execution wasn't the end — it was the reset point for everything.
Forty Millenniums of Cultivation
修真四万年 (Xiū Zhēn Sì Wàn Nián)
In the 40,000th year of cultivation, humanity faces its greatest war — among the stars.
Shrouding the Heavens
遮天 (Zhē Tiān)
Ye Fan's ordinary life ended the day he stepped onto the path of cultivation — as all of existence trembled.
Emperor's Domination
帝霸 (Dì Bà)
Li Qiye has lived for millions of years. He has forgotten more about cultivation than anyone else ever learned.
Keyboard Immortal
键盘侠修真 (Jiàn Pán Xiá Xiū Zhēn)
A troll reincarnated as the prince of a cultivation empire. The world was not ready.
My Senior Brother is Too Steady
我师兄实在太稳健了 (Wǒ Shī Xiōng Shí Zài Tài Wěn Jiàn Le)
Li Changshou's cultivation philosophy: never take risks, always hide your power, and for heaven's sake, don't get noticed.
Top Tier Providence
顶级气运，悄悄修炼 (Dǐng Jí Qì Yùn)
Han Jue was transported to a cultivation world with one rule: stay hidden and cultivate in secret.
Cultivation Chat Group
修真聊天群 (Xiū Zhēn Liáo Tiān Qún)
Song Shuhang accidentally joined a chat group for immortals. They thought he was one of them.
Martial Peak
武炼巅峰 (Wǔ Liàn Diān Fēng)
Yang Kai begins as a servant. He ends as the peak of martial arts itself.
Nine Star Hegemon Body Art
九星霸体诀 (Jiǔ Xīng Bà Tǐ Jué)
Long Chen's yang meridians were destroyed. The universe gave him nine stars instead.
Library of Heaven's Path
天道图书馆 (Tiān Dào Tú Shū Guǎn)
Zhang Xuan woke up as a teacher. His cheat uploads every book in the universe into his brain.
True Martial World
真武世界 (Zhēn Wǔ Shì Jiè)
Yi Yun carries the Purple Crystal that changes destiny. The martial world stretches to infinity.
Dragon Prince Yuan
元尊 (Yuán Zūn)
Zhou Yuan was born with the Sacred Dragon Blessing — and had it stolen in infancy. He's coming to take it back.
Invincible
无敌天下 (Wú Dí Tiān Xià)
Huang Xiaolong's spiritual veins were said to be useless. They were the strongest in existence.
Release that Witch
放开那个女巫 (Fàng Kāi Nà Gè Nǚ Wū)
Roland was reincarnated as a prince. Instead of fighting demons, he built a steam engine and started a revolution.
World of Cultivation
修真世界 (Xiū Zhēn Shì Jiè)
Zuo Mo has no talent. He has desperation, cleverness, and a sword spirit who won't shut up.
Way of Choices
择天记 (Zé Tiān Jì)
Chen Changsheng was told he would not live past twenty. He chose to live anyway.
The King's Avatar
全职高手 (Quán Zhí Gāo Shǒu)
Ye Xiu was the greatest esports player in 'Glory.' Then he was forced to retire. He's coming back.
Seeking the Flying Sword Path
飞剑问道 (Fēi Jiàn Wèn Dào)
Qin Yun's sword asked a question. The world was not prepared for the answer.
Monster Paradise
怪物乐园 (Guài Wù Lè Yuán)
Lin Huang entered a world where monsters are card-based weapons. His collection got out of hand.
The Strongest System
最强系统 (Zuì Qiáng Xì Tǒng)
Lin Fan has the most shameless system in existence. It rewards being a troll more than cultivating.
Spare Me, Great Lord!
大王饶命 (Dà Wáng Ráo Mìng)
Lu Shu's system gave him a simple source of power: misery points from trolling others.
Gate of Revelation
惊门 (Jīng Mén)
Chen Xiaolian was pulled into a deadly game where every door leads to a different world.
Great Demon King
大魔王 (Dà Mó Wáng)
Han Shuo was a villain in life. In death, he became something worse — and infinitely more powerful.
Divine Throne of Primordial Blood
原始战记 (Yuán Shǐ Zhàn Jì)
Su Chen cannot cultivate. He's going to hack the system with science instead.
Spirit Realm
灵域 (Líng Yù)
Qin Lie was born with an incomplete soul. He will spend his life making it whole.
Absolute Resonance
万相之王 (Wàn Xiāng Zhī Wáng)
At the Resonance Academy, Li Luo's elemental resonance was beyond anyone's expectations — including his own.
Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint
전지적 독자 시점 (Jeonjijeok Dokja Sijeom)
Kim Dokja is the only person who read a 3,149-chapter web novel to the end. Now it's real, and he's the protagonist.
Solo Leveling
나 혼자만 레벨업 (Na Honja Level Up)
Sung Jinwoo was the weakest hunter in the world. Then he got a second chance — alone.
The Second Coming of Gluttony
탐식의 재림 (Tamsig-ui Jaelim)
Seol Jihu was a gambling addict who ruined his life. Paradise gave him one more chance.
Nano Machine
나노 마신 (Nano Masin)
A descendant from the future injected Cheon Yeo-woon with nanomachines. Murim will never be the same.
The Novel's Extra
소설 속 엑스트라 (Soseol Sog Ekseuteura)
Kim Hajin wrote the story. Now he's living in it — as an extra character he barely described.
Everyone Else is a Returnee
나 빼고 다 귀환자 (Na Ppae-go Da Gwihwanja)
Everyone on Earth was transported to another world. Except one. He used the time to grind.
Stellar Transformations
星辰变 (Xīng Chén Biàn)
Qin Yu could not cultivate internal energy. So he cultivated his body until it could shatter stars.
The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor
달빛 조각사 (Dalbit Jogaksa)
Weed was the poorest player in Royal Road. His sculpting skill changed the game forever.
Against the Gods
逆天邪神
A boy abandoned by the gods rises to defy them all.
A Will Eternal
一念永恒
A cultivator who wants to live forever. In a world of death, he seeks eternity.
I Shall Seal the Heavens
我欲封天
A scholar turned cultivator who will seal the heavens themselves.
Lord of the Mysteries
诡秘之主
A detective in a world of occult mysteries uncovers secrets that threaten reality itself.
Emperors Domination
帝霸
A crow that has lived for millions of years returns to dominate the heavens.
Warlock of the Magus World
巫界术士
A scientist reincarnates into a world of magic and brings science to cultivation.
Renegade Immortal
仙逆
A betrayed cultivator walks the path of the renegade to defy the heavens.
Pursuit of the Truth
求魔
In a world of demons, one man seeks the truth behind existence itself.
Coiling Dragon
盘龙
A magical beast bloodline awakens. The dragon coils around the world.
Stellar Transformations
星辰变
A young man transforms into a stellar being, reaching beyond the heavens.
Desolate Era
莽荒纪
In the desolate era, a boy rises from a tribe to become the ultimate warrior.
Swallowed Star
吞噬星空
A post-apocalyptic cultivator devours the stars to become a cosmic warrior.
Lord Xue Ying
雪鹰领主
A lord of the snowy lands rises to become a cosmic legend.
Legend of Futian
伏天氏
A legend is born in the imperial city. He will dominate the heavens.
Battle Through the Heavens
斗破苍穹
A fallen genius regains his power and battles through the heavens.
Wu Dong Qian Kun
武动乾坤
A martial artist cultivates the power of the universe itself.
Dragon Prince Yuan
元尊
A prince with a dragon bloodline rises to reclaim his destiny.
Tales of Demons and Gods
妖神记
A demon spiritist returns to the past to rewrite his tragic fate.
Martial God Asura
修罗武神
A youth with a mysterious spirit. The asura martial god awakens.
Ancient Godly Monarch
太古神王
An ancient godly monarch is reborn. The heavens will tremble once more.
The Legendary Mechanic
超神机械师
A gamer transmigrates into an NPC and becomes a legendary mechanic.
Library of Heavens Path
天道图书馆
A teacher gains a library of heaven that can see flaws in any technique.
King of Gods
绝世神皇
A youth rises to become the king of all gods.
Perfect World
完美世界
A boy born from a divine stone cultivates in a perfect world of chaos.
Heavenly Jewel Change
天珠变
A jewel master cultivates heavenly power through the change of destiny.
Immortal and Martial Dual Cultivation
仙武同修
Immortal and martial dual cultivation. Two paths, one ultimate power.
True Martial World
真武世界
A world of true martial arts where a youth unlocks his hidden potential.
Martial World
武极天下
The martial world is vast. A young man will conquer it all.
Martial Peak
武炼巅峰
The peak of martial arts is endless. He will climb it step by step.
The Human Emperor
人皇纪
A human emperor rises to defend humanity against the ancient races.
Sage Monarch
圣王
A sage monarch cultivates the power of the divine.
God of Cooking
食神
A chef cultivates the way of cooking to become the god of food.
Nightfall
将夜
When night falls, the world changes. A young scholar steps into the cultivation world.
Joy of Life
庆余年
A modern man reincarnates into a cultivation world. Joy and life intertwine.
Ze Tian Ji
择天记
Choose the way of heaven. A sickly youth cultivates to defy his fate.
The First Order
第一序列
In a post-apocalyptic world, the first order is survival.
My Senior Brother is Too Steady
我师兄实在太稳健了
His senior brother is too cautious. In a dangerous world, that might be genius.
A World Worth Protecting
一念永恒
A world worth protecting, a life worth living.
Spare Me Great Lord
大王饶命
A comedy cultivation novel where the protagonist collects resentment points for power.
The Daily Life of the Immortal King
仙王的日常生活
An immortal king tries to live a normal daily life. It never goes as planned.
Soul Land 3
斗罗大陆III龙王传说
The third installment of Soul Land. A new generation of spirit masters rises.
Soul Land 4
斗罗大陆IV终极斗罗
The fourth era of Soul Land. The ultimate Douluo arrives.
Soul Land 5
斗罗大陆V重生唐三
Tang San is reborn into a new world. The fifth era of Soul Land begins.
Alchemy Emperor of the Divine Dao
神道丹尊
An alchemy emperor reincarnates into the divine dao. Pills will reshape the heavens.
Unrivaled Medicine God
绝世药神
A medicine god reincarnates. His pills can defy the heavens.
Divine Doctor Daughter of the First Wife
神医嫡女
A divine doctor daughter reincarnates and uses medicine to conquer the cultivation world.
Rebirth of the Malicious Empress
重生之贵女难求
A malicious empress is reborn. She will rewrite her tragic fate.
The Gate of Good Fortune
造化之门
A gate of good fortune opens. Those who enter find destiny itself.
Immortal Executioner
斩仙
An immortal executioner wields the blade that kills gods.
Great Demon King
大魔王
A great demon king rises from the abyss to conquer the heavens.
Cultivation Chat Group
修真聊天群
A modern cultivation chat group. Cultivators discuss dao on WeChat.
Magic Emperor
魔皇
A magic emperor reincarnates into a weak body. Darkness returns to the world.
Strongest Abandoned Son
最强弃少
The strongest abandoned son returns. He will reclaim his destiny.
Martial Arts Master
武道宗师
A martial arts master rises through the modern cultivation world.
The Founder of Diabolism
魔道祖师
The founder of diabolism returns. The cultivation world trembles.
Heaven Official is Blessing
天官赐福
A heaven official descends to bless the world. But the world has changed.
Scum Villains Self-Saving System
人渣反派自救系统
A scum villain gets a self-saving system. He must become a better person or die.
Thousand Autumns
千秋
A thousand autumns pass. Two martial artists meet and change each others fates.
Sha Po Lang
杀破狼
A military strategist and a young prince. Politics and war in a cultivation dynasty.
Liu Yao
六爻
Six divination lines. A group of cultivators seeks the truth of the dao.
Faraway Wanderers
天涯客
Two wanderers meet. A martial arts adventure across the jianghu.
The Legend of Sun Knight
吾命骑士
The legend of the Sun Knight. A holy knight who is not as holy as he seems.
No Hero
非英雄
No hero is perfect. A vampire detective navigates a world of shadows.
Kill the Lights
熄灯后
When the lights go out, the real world begins. An adventure beyond imagination.
Sovereign of the Three Realms
三界独尊
A sovereign rises to rule the three realms of heaven, earth, and humanity.
Dragon King with Seven Stars
七星龙王
A dragon king wielding seven stars transforms the heavens.
Chronicles of Primordial Wars
原始战记
In the primordial era, tribes war for survival and the path to godhood.
Eternal Sacred King
万古神王
An eternal sacred king awakens. The heavens shall kneel.
Fury Towards The Burning Heaven
焚天之怒
His fury burns the heavens. None shall stand in his path.
Transcending the Nine Heavens
傲世九重天
Transcending the nine heavens, one man defies the celestial order.
Spirit Sword Sovereign
灵剑尊
A spirit sword sovereign reincarnates to reclaim his lost glory.
Dragon Marked War God
龙纹战神
Marked by the dragon, he becomes the war god of the ages.
Great Demon King
大魔王
A great demon king cultivates both magic and martial arts.
Invincible
无敌天下
Invincible under the heavens. He is the supreme sovereign.
Heavenly Star
天星
A heavenly star falls, and a cultivator rises to claim its power.
Shrouding the Heavens
遮天
Shrouding the heavens, one man defies the divine order.
Dragon Talisman
龙符
A dragon talisman grants the power to command the heavens.
Gate of Good Fortune
造化之门
The gate of good fortune opens. A cultivator steps through to destiny.
Immortal Mortal
不朽凡人
An immortal mortal defies the boundary between heaven and earth.
Strongest Abandoned Son
最强弃少
The strongest abandoned son returns to claim his rightful place.
Seeking the Flying Sword Path
飞剑问道
Seeking the flying sword path, a cultivator soars beyond the heavens.
Unrivaled Medicine God
绝世药神
An unrivaled medicine god refines pills that reshape the heavens.
God of Slaughter
杀神
A god of slaughter rises. Blood paves the road to immortality.
King of Myriad Domains
万域之王
The king of myriad domains unites the fragmented worlds.
My Disciples Are All Villains
我的徒弟都是大反派
A villainous master inherits a sect full of terrifying disciples.
I Have Nine Female Disciples
我有九个女徒弟
A supreme cultivator takes nine female disciples, each with a unique destiny.
The Sacred Ruins
圣墟
In a world reborn from ruins, a young man walks the path of sacred evolution.
Cultivation Chat Group
修真聊天群
A college student joins a chat group that turns out to be full of real cultivators.
Longevity Beginning with the Sword
长生从剑开始
A swordsman begins his journey to immortality, one blade strike at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Xianxia, Wuxia, and Xuanhuan?
Wuxia (武侠) focuses on martial arts in a historical Chinese setting without magic systems. Xianxia (仙侠) involves cultivation — characters train to achieve immortality and transcend human limits. Xuanhuan (玄幻) is a broader fantasy that draws on Chinese mythology but isn't limited to cultivation. Most translated novels fall under Xianxia or Xuanhuan.
Which Xianxia author should I start with?
For most new readers: Er Gen's A Will Eternal. Lighter tone, funny protagonist, emotionally resonant. If you want something more epic and philosophical immediately, start with Lord of the Mysteries (Cuttlefish That Loves Diving) — the most acclaimed Chinese web novel in Western circles.
Do I need to read Xianxia novels in any particular order?
Most series are standalone — you don't need to read one before another. Some authors have connected universes (I Eat Tomatoes' works share cosmology; Er Gen's novels share themes). We note these connections in each series guide.
Where can I read Xianxia novels legally in English?
WebNovel (webnovel.com) has the largest official library. WuxiaWorld hosts many older fan translations. Amazon Kindle and Audible have growing official English releases. We link to the best source for each series.