[No harem, no formulaic tropes, no System, no invincibility, no brainless protagonist]
In the far south lies a lawless territory beyond the imperial court's control.
It is home to criminals of every stripe, and the world calls it the City of Sin.
Li Jiangling was born there. On his master's orders, he travels to the prosperous Great Ming Dynasty.
At first, all he wants is to cultivate in peace and return home once his cultivation has advanced.
But oppression by powerful clans, assassination attempts by the court, and an old blood feud stemming from his birth father all come knocking one after another.
As the truth about his origins, buried for eighteen years, gradually comes to light,
the boy who once wanted only to stay alive takes up his sword, stirs the winds of change across the land, and swears to make the lofty imperial court repay every drop of blood!
No harem, with a focus on power struggles and battles of wits, as he carefully plots his revenge and rise to power.
The protagonist Li Jiangling is brave and resourceful. Although he is in the early stage of Qi Condensation, he still relies on his brain to solve all kinds of troubles. The writing is very good.