Looking for a Scheming Protagonist Who Treats Heaven and Earth as a Chessboard and All Living Beings as Pieces. 求猪脚是玩弄心计，以天地为棋盘，众生为棋子。

1. 1 何 What Is an Immortal? What Is a Demon? 何为仙！何为魔！ Beyond the Mortal World逸于凡尘Eastern Fantasy1.0M WordsOngoing In the shadowy reaches of the demonic path, he cultivated for thousands of years. At last, hunted by the Immortal Realm, he had no choice but to open a secret realm: the Heavenly River Pavilion. He returns to the past! Schemes against all heroes! Decisive and ruthless! Profit above all else!!! All to find the Dao he seeks. The world may seem ever-shifting, but it is your own heart that lacks resolve. This world changes endlessly and without warning. How can you know whether what lies ahead is 2.3kReads9.3Score22214d adds

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   This is a rebirth novel. The protagonist is incredibly cunning and self-serving, with an apparently superior IQ. Although he plans his future based on memories of his past life, his actions are skillful and shrewd, always demonstrating caution and high intelligence. There are no mindless plot points; the logic is rigorous. The protagonist is extremely self-interested—this is not a mindless novel! Not a mindless novel! Not a mindless novel! I'm saying it three times because it's important. If you're looking for a mindless, feel-good story, look elsewhere! If you don't read carefully, you'll miss many foreshadowing elements. Pay attention and don't skip ahead; even a single word or sentence might be a key to the plot's development. The author's hidden clues will be explained later, perhaps in one, two, or even many chapters. From what I've read so far, there are virtually no major problems. You can read it with confidence. One more thing: if you're not going to read it carefully, don't bother. Some of the exciting parts are on the surface, while others are not. If you don't understand them, don't waste your time.

2. 2 欺EN Deceiving the Gods: A Performance! 欺神演出！ Violent Purple-Skinned Person暴力紫皮人Mystery5.4M WordsOngoing [Satisfying revenge + Mind-bending twists + Slow burn + Strategic battles + Loads of plot twists] “When I thought death was the end, I opened my eyes and discovered that death was only a new beginning.” Lin Yu was killed by a junior schoolmate he thought had come to confess her love, only to discover that he hadn’t truly died. Instead, he had entered a deadly game! Only the winner would earn the chance to “live again.” Fortunately, Lin Yu awakened the “Unique Class: Deceiver.” [Any lie you 539.7kReads9.3Score88.4k14d adds

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   This is my personal number 1.

3. 3 棋 The Divine Powers of Chess: A Battle Royale of Historical Figures 棋道神通：历史人物大乱斗 Xuan Chen玄尘Sports559k WordsOngoing [Original System] [Heroic Strategy Battles] [Passionate Competition] When historical heroes from China and abroad, from ancient times to the present, become pieces that can be summoned onto the board, every match becomes a clash and bloody struggle between legendary heroes. Heroes have spirits, players have their own paths: a whole new world of strategy battles, where heroes face off in an entirely different way. Summon the spirits of heroes from across history, then journey together through the 6.5kReads8.6Score62414d adds

   Reader note

   This book is good.

4. 4 伏 Ambush 伏杀 Mo Bai1莫白1Historical1.4M WordsCompleted [Original title: Ambush] Beneath the awe-inspiring might of Heaven, all living beings are mere ants. And yet he dares, with the strength of an insect, to turn the world upside down. For family, for friends, for the burning hatred in his heart, for the nightmares that haunt him year after year, for justice, and for fairness. This story is set in an imaginary world and has no connection to actual history. Everything in it is fictional. Any similarities are purely coincidental. 15.1kReads8.3Score96214d adds

   Reader note

   A breath of fresh air in the world of political intrigue novels, with a calm and unpretentious writing style, a solid and profound plot, and exciting intellectual battles!

5. 5 我 I Am the Villainous Destined Immortal Venerable: From the Start, I Face-Slap a Reborn Woman 我反派天命仙尊，开局打脸重生女 Xing Wuhai行雾海Eastern Fantasy1.3M WordsOngoing [Cultivation and immortality] [Ruthless killing] [Pseudo-ensemble] [Destined villain] [No System] [The rating just launched and will rise] After being born into the world of cultivation a thousand years ago, Nian Wuwang became the aloof Immortal Venerable of Tianyan Sect. The world honored him as the Immortal Venerable Wuji. The leading figure of the righteous path, he had dominated the Five Regions for centuries. Now, he was the most powerful person in the world. But nobody could have guessed t 9.6kReads7.5Score46914d adds

   Reader note

   It's pretty good.

6. 6 谋 Planning to Rule the World: Everyone Is a Pawn 谋定天下，一切皆为棋子 Inkstone and Blade砚与刀Historical760k WordsOngoing This is a novel whose characters will live on in readers' minds. Each one has their own reasons for doing what they must. No one schemes for the sake of scheming. Eastern Turkic soldiers collapse in droves after their drinking water is poisoned. Lin Yan did it. Xueyantuo cavalry is shredded by the “three-by-three formation and Mo Dao line.” Lin Yan taught them that. At the Four Crossings of the Yellow River, Lin Yan uses modern military thinking to crush the steppe cavalry. On their wedding n —Reads—Score—14d adds

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   From the Xuanwu Gate Incident to guarding the nation's gate in a lonely northern city, he navigated the complex relationships between Li Shimin and Changsun Wuji, and sought survival between the Crown Prince and the Prince of Wei. He didn't understand the reason behind Wen Wan's hairstyle change that night. He was too late before Shen Qinghuan crashed into the pillar. Search "Planning for the World, Everything is a Pawn" on Tomato Novels—a political intrigue story, not a lighthearted read, proceed with caution.

7. 7 大 The Great Qi Marquis of One Step 大齐一步侯 A Single Thought of Nothingness一念无Historical846k WordsCompleted [Alternate history, airtight logic, a treat to listen to, multiple heroines, lighthearted daily life, the jianghu and court politics, love and hate, national and family vendettas...] A modern-day criminal investigator transmigrates into the body of a minor official in the State of Qi. At first, his only dream is to stay alive. But when foreign barbarians invade the Central Plains, slaughtering and pillaging until the kingdom falls and families are torn apart, he has no choice but to enter the fr 17kReads8.2Score1k14d adds

   Reader note

   A historical fiction novel of exceptionally high quality, perfect for both listening and reading. Clear logic, well-developed characters, rich plot, and tight writing. Not a formulaic, fast-paced story. Please enjoy! [Kissing emoji]

8. 8 诛 Soul-Slaying Mad Blade 诛魂狂刀 The End Before the Finish未完已终Eastern Fantasy772k WordsOngoing "Brother Feng, let's go. My Ye family can afford to keep you!" Ye Shuang looked at Li Feng standing in the pouring rain, her eyes red with tears. "Heh. The sect I built up with my own hands has actually cast me aside like this? If they don't give me an explanation, then just as I built it up, I can tear it down!" Li Feng stared at the tightly shut gates before him. Even the torrential rain couldn't extinguish the rage in his heart! Several years later… "The Ye family? Heh. You're even more despi 22Reads—Score—14d adds
9. 9 藏 The Guide to Concealed Beauties 藏娇引 Zhi Ge Wen Mo止戈问墨Eastern Fantasy793k WordsCompleted Winter. The last of the snow. Her sword is moonlight. Her poison is honey. Her name is a secret. Purple robes, swift as lightning. A woman, like a poem. The world knows Princess Jinning, Zhao Qingli, only as a living portrait of a court lady, hidden deep within the palace. Little does anyone know that she is also the Sword God’s sole disciple and a once-in-a-century genius of the Tang Sect. Her sword is called Purple Lightning. When it leaves its scabbard, it flashes like a startled swan reflect 44Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   One Dao, one Buddha, two gods, three demons, four saints, five ghosts. A young man, a white horse, a beautiful woman, the martial world. One sword opens the gates of heaven, one palm kills a martial saint. Winter. Lingering snow. Her sword is moonlight. Her poison is honey. Her name is a secret. Purple clothes, like lightning. A person, like poetry. The world only knows Princess Jinning, Zhao Qingli, a walking portrait of a lady in the deep palace. But they do not know that she is also the only successor of the Sword God, a once-in-a-century genius of the Tang Clan. Her sword is called "Purple Lightning". When the sword is drawn, it is like a startled swan reflecting its shadow. No one in the world can withstand three of her moves. Because those who have seen the third move have all become mute dead men. Her palm is called "Soul Chaser". Her fingers are called "Wind Splitter". Chu Yueyao and Wen Yunshu are not maids, but two deadly shadows. Three women, a game in winter. The martial world is a cup of strong liquor. They, however, sought to savor the tea's delicate elegance. Until someone spilled the tea… A sword cleaved the heavens, a single palm strike slew a Martial Saint…

10. 10 公 The Princess and the Sword Immortal 公主与剑仙 Zhi Ge Wen Mo止戈问墨Eastern Fantasy1.4M WordsCompleted Atop Lock Dragon Peak, snow falls without a sound. Xiao Jianqiu, the “Lone Shadow Sword Immortal,” is invincible beneath heaven with his gleaming blade. He watches the clouds drift by, seeking nothing more than freedom and ease. The martial world? Just a place where grudges are settled and swords do the talking. In Jinling, behind the deep walls of the imperial palace, Princess Zhaoyang Zhao Jin is born to privilege, yet finds the palace walls too high and her life too stifling. The court? Nothi 2.5kReads—Score19114d adds
11. 11 我 We Villains Don't Want to Be Stepping Stones 我们反派才不想当踏脚石 A Fox on a Lonely Mountain孤山有狸Eastern Fantasy10.1M WordsOngoing What the hell! The Chosen One has singled me out to take him on? And the beauties around me are looking at me strangely too? What do I do? I'm freaking out! Are we villains destined to be stepping stones for others? No! I refuse! I, Ling Xiao, will crush every last one of you so-called protagonists beneath my feet! 4.4kReads8.9Score31214d adds

    Reader note

    📚The protagonist is cunning and manipulative🍓The villain is a master strategist: Someone secretly observes, and the righteous newbies, seeing their outstanding disciple mingling with the demonic sect's witch, are enraged and rush forward to fight him to the death, completely disregarding their own cultivation. They are trapped by the witch's Demon Heaven Hand Seal, and just as they are in despair, this person destroys the witch's cultivation with a single move [facepalm].

12. 12 全 Global Manhunt: You’re Crazy! You Call This an Escape? 全球通缉：疯了！你管这个叫逃亡 Snow at Dusk in the Clouds云中暮雪Urban1.1M WordsCompleted Ten major conglomerates are investing, a hundred billion dollars in prize money is up for grabs, and elites from every field are taking part! Urban parkour, high-altitude skydiving, wingsuit flying. Everything... is for the sake of escape! A global manhunt! This is a show that drives people wild! Its goal is to uncover vulnerabilities in security systems and public safety in today's information age. Su Yu is sent to prison from the start, but no one could have expected what came next. Su Yu brea 42.1kReads9.3Score4.4k14d adds
13. 13 剑 Where the Sword Rises, Storms Gather 剑起风云 Mu Xiao Sansheng沐潇三生Eastern Fantasy4.6M WordsCompleted In these turbulent times, it is not the world that is in chaos, but people’s hearts. The Gu family, loyal servants of the Tianfeng Kingdom, are heroes through and through. But fate is fickle. The heir to this illustrious military family spent twenty years in a daze, becoming the target of countless whispered insults and mockery. Then, on the young heir’s twentieth birthday, memories of his previous life suddenly returned. What troubles him most is realizing he seems to have done a lot of foolish 47.3kReads9.0Score5k14d adds
14. 14 魔 The Demon Emperor’s Steward 魔皇大管家 Night Owl夜枭Eastern Fantasy4.3M WordsCompleted Demon Emperor Zhuo Yifan incurred a deadly calamity after obtaining the legacy of an ancient Demon Emperor. After being reborn, he was plagued by his inner demons and had no choice but to become the steward of a fallen clan. Watch as this ruthless Demon Emperor leads a small family to the pinnacle of power. 2.1kReads9.1Score26714d adds
15. 15 夜 Lord of the Night 夜幕之主 Morning Farewell to Old Friends朝辞故旧Eastern Fantasy2.6M WordsCompleted What’s so great about inheriting the throne? A kingdom you conquer yourself is the one you can rule with confidence. He commands Nightfall, one of the three great assassin organizations, and a single word from him decides who lives and dies. He also controls the Four Seas Merchant Alliance, one of the ten great trade guilds, and is richer than an entire nation. Once that useless prince leaves the capital, he soars like a dragon released into the sea. He raises the Banner of a Hundred Battles in 22.8kReads8.6Score2.1k14d adds
16. 16 烟EN Misty Rain Tower 烟雨楼 A Night of Misty Rain一夕烟雨Eastern Fantasy9.5M WordsOngoing [The print edition is now available nationwide at all major retailers] "Traditional xuanhuan" "No harem" In the land of Jiuzhou stands a tower called the Misty Rain Tower. Its master, Li Qingzhi, is hailed as a peerless prodigy, holding life and death in his hands beneath the cover of night. Yet what the world doesn’t know is that someone else stands behind the Misty Rain Tower, its true founder. Using the guise of a spoiled young master as cover, he manipulates the winds and clouds and plots ac 868.8kReads9.6Score66.1k14d adds

    Reader note

    📚The protagonist is a master scheming villain🍓A level-up villain: Someone secretly observes, and the righteous newbies, seeing their outstanding disciples mingling with the demonic sect's witch, are enraged and rush forward to fight him, completely disregarding their own cultivation. They are trapped by the witch's Demon Heaven Hand Seal, and just as they are in despair, this person destroys the witch's cultivation with a single move🤦

17. 17 我 I'm the Invincible Big Bad: From the Start, I Ruthlessly Crush the Chosen One! 我，无敌大反派，开局狂虐气运之子！ A Lifetime一世Eastern Fantasy1.0M WordsCompleted (Readers with fragile hearts, and holier-than-thou types, stay away) The chosen one, blessed with immense fortune, wants to kill me. The embodiment of Heavenly Law regards me as an aberration from the Great Dao. And the sword saint, whose life is a glorious tale of effortless success, declares me a demon… Should I just accept my fate? No. Never! How could I, Jiang Heng, let you kill me and walk all over me? You think you're the chosen one? I'll take your fortune. You want to kill me? I'll k 3.3kReads7.4Score14614d adds
18. 18 蝉 Cicadas Sing as the Sun Sets in the West 蝉声且送阳西 Rain Falls, Bamboo Turns Cold雨落竹冷Eastern Fantasy2.6M WordsCompleted [Wuxia + swordsmanship + political intrigue + scheming protagonist + comedy + multiple leads] The world’s great currents form a chessboard, and all living beings are its pieces. One player commands the black pieces, another the white. One person has double pupils and looks down coldly on mortal life, overturning heaven and earth with a single gesture. Another is refined and graceful, laying schemes one after another, each linked to the next. Another, though only at the second rank, takes one ste 7.4kReads9.3Score73714d adds
19. 19 天 Fish of the World 天下游鱼 Happy Acorn开心橡果Eastern Fantasy7.5M WordsCompleted By the Canglan River, a young man wears a straw raincoat and bamboo hat, holding wine in one hand and a fishing rod in the other. His heart has no place in the world, yet he finds himself in the jianghu... I come from a place beyond knowing. I want to see this world, just as unknown to me... 91.4kReads9.0Score8.9k14d adds
20. 20 为 A Commentary on This Wonderful Otherworld 为美好的异世界献上吐槽 Xiao Luo Wushuang小落无双Eastern Fantasy3.1M WordsCompleted [Funny + lighthearted + witty banter] I’m Yun Shu, a transmigrator who loves peace and excels at witty comebacks! My dream is to find a long-haired, straight-haired goddess who’s equally at home entertaining guests and cooking, then live a quiet life with her. But in reality, all I get is a jerk of a System mocking me three times a day, sometimes even giving me an extra serving. So, to stop that thing from mocking me, I set out on a passionate journey to become the strongest in the world. Well.. 39.3kReads9.0Score3.1k14d adds
21. 21 七 Seven Days of Possession 七日着魔 Brick Fun砖乐Eastern Fantasy713k WordsOngoing Demons are temptation and desire, chaos and disorder, destruction and upheaval. Demons dwell in the obsessions of all things; anything can become demonic. So long as all things endure, the demonic path will endure. After the protagonist’s corpse lay unclaimed for seven days, he awoke on the seventh day and forged a demonic body. Since Heaven has given me this chance to live again, rather than remain one of the numb masses in this mortal world, I would rather become the one and only primordial de 2.8kReads9.2Score32614d adds

    Reader note

    Main character: The only demon to appear in all of eternity, one of the rules of Heaven. The stories in this book all express that all things possess demonic nature and can become demonic; as long as all things exist, the demon will never perish. [Thinking][Sending Heart]

22. 22 诀 The Dao-Cutting Art 诀天道 Yue Xin Hengtian月信恒天Eastern Fantasy1.2M WordsOngoing (No mindless protagonist, no clichéd plot, a cunning lead, fully realized characters, no System, twin swords) The twin swords ring out, cleaving the heavens. Let souls be severed and bones torn out as you will. The world shall know no more bloody storms. I am both demon and god! With everything shattered, can it be made whole again? Faced with the shackles of fate, he will cut them apart with his twin swords! The gods and demons wage war for a hundred years. The Heavenly Dao is merciless, treati 3.6kReads—Score28914d adds

    Reader note

    Speaking of which, I have to mention this book. It has a very positive moral compass, doesn't hold grudges, and lets revenge happen on the spot. The chapter where one person fights seven geniuses was especially satisfying! It avoids the clichés of traditional fantasy, the protagonist is very shrewd, and it's not just mindless wish-fulfillment.

23. 23 永 Eternal Demon 永魔 Adding Ink to Continue the Story点墨续作Eastern Fantasy761k WordsOngoing Traditional cultivation. The protagonist is ruthless and merciless, no holier-than-thou hero, no heroine, dark fiction! No System!! If you want to become an immortal in the heavens, you must climb the road to immortality over the bones of others. This isn't AI-generated. I wrote it by hand!!! 3.2kReads5.4Score31614d adds

    Reader note

    A traditional cultivation-themed story, the protagonist is ruthless and decisive, willing to use any means to achieve his goals; he is cold-blooded, cunning, and utterly inhuman. No female lead, no system, and not a brainless or dark novel. [Sending hearts][Sending hearts]

24. 24 十 Ten Realms: I Was Ordinary 十界：我本平庸 Sanqi Confused Fish三七糊涂鱼Eastern Fantasy1.8M WordsOngoing (We are all ordinary people. Some say they don’t understand what I’m writing! The truth is, I simply want to tell the story of an ordinary person who keeps growing, improving, and learning. He feels lost and helpless, never knowing what to do. His life is full of stumbles, but through repeated setbacks and lessons, he slowly grows! Some people are born in Rome, while he is stuck in the mud. In Rome, it’s easy to cross the finish line. But there’s something all the more inspiring about perseverin 7.1kReads9.1Score59514d adds

    Reader note

    May you be joyful throughout your life, untouched by worldly concerns.

25. 25 逆 Heaven-Defying Demon Mirror 逆天魔镜 Baili, God of Wind风神百里Eastern Fantasy325k WordsCompleted [No transmigration, no System, ruthless and decisive] Zhong Li, a descendant of Zhong Kui, is framed and turned into a corpse puppet. After his bloodline awakens and activates a magic mirror, he rises from the Ashen Lands of the Demon Realm and carves a path through the worlds of immortals and demons... [Demonic world, survival of the fittest, brutally frank, demonic cultivation, immortal cultivation, the Immortal Way, golden finger magic mirror, golden finger, a world-shaking scheme, all-out co 10Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    They're all shrewd and calculating; the protagonist's mental development rivals that of those old monsters... Zhong Li, a descendant of Zhong Kui, is tricked and forced into corpse-making, but his bloodline awakens, activating the Demon Mirror and leading to a heaven-defying rise! He traverses both the immortal and demonic realms... "The Demon Mirror Against Heaven"

26. 26 退 After Breaking Off the Engagement, the Foolish Princess Marries the Ninth Lord with Her Four Maids 退婚后，傻妃携四大丫鬟嫁九千岁 Clingy Little Tomato粘人小番茄Ancient Romance1.8M WordsOngoing [Palace Intrigue + Household Intrigue + Historical Romance + Princess Consort + Legitimate Daughter + Medical Skills + Two Powerful Leads + Cunning + Playing the Fool + Reborn + Fiercely Protective + Political Scheming] 99% of the comments are positive! Read with confidence! Su Qian, once the leader of a special forces unit in the apocalypse, died unexpectedly while carrying out a mission. With her portable medical space, she transmigrated to ancient times and into the residence of a great gener 23.3kReads8.1Score3.8k14d adds

    Reader note

    Xiao Yan, that madman, appears cold and ruthless on the surface, but when his hand is bandaged, he doesn't even dare to breathe loudly. Su Qianqian remarked that this generation of villains is really too difficult to handle; even treating an injury requires a bonus lesson in modern medical science. [Top Post]

27. 27 临 A Final Wish 临终之愿 Lei-jie's Hopeless Simp蕾姐的老舔狗Mystery322k WordsOngoing [Not for everyone: a niche novel with no harem, no formulaic tropes, no invincible hero, and no wish fulfillment. The storytelling is detailed, but the pacing is a little slow.] [Why I write: I'm not after money. I don't have much, but I have enough. What I hope for is understanding, and I sincerely look forward to thoughtful readers.] [Keywords: hard science fiction, rigorous logic, wit and humor, critical thinking, and knowledge from seventeen academic disciplines to broaden your perspective] 193Reads—Score10214d adds

    Reader note

    My middle-aged critic's book recommendation: A crossover book, for ease of understanding, you can think of it as a combination of hard science fiction, strong strategy, and high-minded viewpoints, like "The End of Ten Days." However, the main characters are a bit abnormal, and if readers laugh uncontrollably, it's not the author's fault. The logic is rigorous; the knowledge from 17 disciplines is supported by orthodox theories, not just popular theories disguised as science. The story is ingenious, with interconnected plots, numerous foreshadowing elements, and all plot holes are resolved; it's not a disjointed story pieced together solely to prove the author's point. I don't care if this book turns my life around or changes my fate. The questionable title won't introduce me to any interesting souls!

28. 28 尘 No Life in the Mortal World 尘间无生 A Sword in Ink and Water水墨一剑Eastern Fantasy839k WordsOngoing [Sword cultivator + genius + dual bloodlines of demon and immortal + ruthless + no transmigration + no System + not a saint] One man, one sword, roaming a world of dust for ten thousand miles. Amid broken walls and ruins, he beholds all the suffering beneath the sun. May there be no frost and wind to silver our hair, no sorrow to weigh on our hearts, and may every year bring peace and warmth. Life is fleeting, its meetings and partings like smoke, its fortunes and declines ever-changing. May eve 2.3kReads—Score11114d adds

    Reader note

    He included both the righteous and demonic factions, as well as the demon race, in his plan.

29. 29 乱 After Fleeing the Chaotic Era, I Became the Founding Empress 乱世逃亡后，我成了开国女帝 Nan Wanxu南婉徐Ancient Romance4.1M WordsCompleted [Publication rights signed] [Strong heroine + political intrigue + turbulent times + power struggles + ensemble cast] She’s fleeing from the start, a female warlord in a chaotic age. Lin Zhihuang, originally named Lin Zhihuan, transmigrates as a county magistrate’s daughter, only to find tens of thousands of refugees attacking the city from the start! While others transmigrate into palace or household intrigue, she transmigrates straight into a chaotic age and a desperate flight from famine. The 93.2kReads9.4Score12.8k14d adds

    Reader note

    This is a completed novel featuring a strong female protagonist who rises to power as empress through intelligence and political maneuvering in a chaotic world. Every supporting character is well-developed and memorable. This is the novel where I remember the most names of the supporting characters. It's definitely worth reading!

30. 30 太 The Crown Prince Is a Treasure Trove, but She Flirts and Runs 太子浑身是宝，但她撩完就跑 Nine Strokes, Then a Horizontal Line九笔横才Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Clever revenge + ensemble court drama + male lead fakes his death and reveals his identity, then goes mad + heroine is his one true love] [Power couple comedy | Strategic mind games | All the right ingredients | Fictional setting] Axiang, a huntress, bought herself a live-in husband. He was handsome, with a fine figure and a noble, radiant air, like an immortal crane descended from the heavens, or a jade-faced gentleman from a storybook. But he had no idea how to show affection. When she offer 1.6kReads9.2Score19814d adds

    Reader note

    The highlight of this novel lies in its core theme of "evenly matched opponents." The female protagonist is decisive and ruthless, while the male protagonist is exceptionally intelligent and fiercely protective of his wife. Amidst the turbulent political landscape, they complement each other perfectly, sharing both a tacit understanding of "you scheme for the throne, I'll help you reach the top" and a deep affection of "you protect me, I'll stay with you for the rest of my life." The plot is fast-paced and full of twists and turns, with a logically sound political intrigue storyline and a sweet yet not cloying romance, perfectly capturing the thrill of a love-hate relationship between two equally matched individuals.

31. 31 以 Using Divination as a Chessboard, All Living Beings Are Pawns 以卦为棋，众生皆子 Jade-Faced Official玉面官Eastern Fantasy287k WordsOngoing “Master, let's avoid the west when we cultivate tonight.” Chu Jiuyin bowed respectfully. A faint glimmer of a Soul Formation cultivator lay hidden in his eyes, while the aloof sword immortal before him merely thought her disciple was timid but considerate. He was an inept Golden Core cultivator in the sect, and also a sinister diviner who killed without a trace. He feared heavenly tribulations and feared being exposed, yet only when facing his master did he feel a flicker of guilt he couldn't ex 1Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    I feel great. I've been playing mind games, using divination to set up a scheme, and pretending to be weak while actually being strong.

32. 32 天 Heaven and Earth Are the Board, All Living Beings Are Pieces 天地为棋众生皆子 Jin Zhan金栈Historical114k WordsOngoing Heaven and Earth are impartial, and all beings suffer. Only by saving yourself can you find salvation. The Liyang dynasty is nearing its end, and Chen Chao is poised to rule. I want to raise the banner of rebellion and bring peace to this troubled age. But I don’t have an emperor’s destiny. The stars and moon shift, dynasties rise and fall. Disciple, it’s time for you to descend the mountain. What? In the end, I’m the one who wins? I never imagined I’d become emperor. The world is ever-changing. —Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    You don't even read such an amazing book?

33. 33 双 A Game of Two Faces 双面奕局 A Little Cabbage w一颗小白菜wHistorical148k WordsCompleted Seven years ago, Yan Chi, commander of the northern frontier, was betrayed by a close friend, branded a traitor, and saw his family wiped out. He barely escaped with his life. Seven years later, he returns to the imperial capital under the alias “Chen Yu,” a mysterious merchant. On the surface, he is a wealthy imperial merchant offering an auspicious treasure. In truth, he intends to make one grand move on the chessboard of power and bring down the dynasty in a game of revenge. 8Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Revenge and political intrigue: A long-suffering avenger returns, his former friend now his enemy. He sets foot on this land anew, carrying supposedly auspicious omens, determined to overthrow the entire dynasty.

34. 34 大 The Splendor of Great Ye 大邺梦华录 Mundane Little Things凡人小事Eastern Fantasy527k WordsCompleted He crashed while delivering takeout and transmigrated. Everyone else got a System and a golden finger from the start, but he got nothing. This world has true qi, spiritual qi, and qi cultivators. But spiritual qi is so scarce that finding it is harder than snatching a takeout order! Countless people get stuck at the very first step, drawing qi into their bodies. He’s just an ordinary mortal, so what makes him think he can defy fate? No System, no wise old mentor. All he has is relentless self- 2.1kReads7.0Score17914d adds

    Reader note

    This one meets the requirements.

35. 35 神 The Mighty Little Constable 神通小捕快 Seven Stars in Hand手握七星Martial Arts2.0M WordsOngoing “One leaf riding the wind, roaming ten thousand miles; a dashing constable, famous throughout the land.” The most righteous men are often those society looks down on, and heroes rise from the streets. The spring breeze and I are both passing travelers, but your name alone belongs to the martial world. Ye Fei, a lowly errand boy at an inn, is rejected by the Su family because he's nothing but a nobody who runs errands! Who could have guessed that after getting drunk, saving a beauty, and catching 15.1kReads8.8Score1.5k14d adds

    Reader note

    The world is full of injustices, so I will be the one to settle them.

36. 36 种 Farming: From Sect Tenant Farmer to Supreme Across the Myriad Worlds 种田：从宗门佃户到万界独尊 Foolish Zhi傻志Eastern Fantasy3.0M WordsOngoing [Farming] + [Ensemble cast] + [Lord] + [Conquest] + [System] + [Satisfying wish fulfillment] Zhang Guiyuan transmigrates to a parallel world at the end of the Eastern Han dynasty, where he becomes a tenant farmer growing spiritual plants for a sect. He awakens the strongest Lord System and obtains an unparalleled book: Postpartum Care for Sows He settles into a fine life of farming, raising pigs, and teasing his wicked sword cultivator little sister. But then a calamity that comes once every tho 3.2kReads5.7Score18714d adds

    Reader note

    [Contending for Hegemony] + [Expanding Territory] + [Lords] + [Group Portrait] The protagonist is highly intelligent and skilled at strategizing. He takes advantage of major events at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty to rise to power.

37. 37 聊 Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio: I Asked You to Repay Your Debt, Not Paint Skins and Ghosts 聊斋：让你还债，没让你画皮画鬼 On Jiufeng Mountain九峰山上Eastern Fantasy125k WordsOngoing [Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio + Bizarre Cultivation + No System + Subverting Expectations + Folk Supernatural Tales + Becoming a God Through Painting + Dark Tone + Lovecraftian Horror + Clever Protagonist + Decisive and Ruthless + Not Mindless Wish Fulfillment] Transmigrating into Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, I find myself trapped in the deadly predicament of The Painted Skin from the start, and saddled with an unpayable debt to the dead? Don't panic. I have a White Bone Brush tha 817Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The protagonist of this book truly treats the world as a chessboard, using his brain and Taoist magic to outwit demons. There are so many plot twists that you can't guess the ending, and the folk customs setting is full of hardcore details.

38. 38 官 The Road to Power: The Pinnacle of Officialdom 官道：权力巅峰 The God of Heaven Fell in Love with You天神爱上你Urban219k WordsCompleted Peng Zijuan’s Notes on Climbing the Career Ladder Peng Zijuan was an ordinary female official who had hoped to lead a quiet life. But her husband, Wu Dashan, chose a rich woman over her and divorced her. Wu Dashan said, “You’re a woman. Why are you always thinking about becoming an official?” Peng Zijuan replied, “That’s right. I want to become an official!” Wu Dashan said, “You’re a woman. You should stay home and take care of the kids. Stop thinking about becoming an official all the time!” Pe 1.8kReads6.7Score12914d adds

    Reader note

    Absolutely a classic. Very good.

39. 39 候 Hou Weidong's Notes on Being an Official 候卫东做官笔记 The God of Heaven Fell in Love with You天神爱上你Urban790k WordsCompleted As a graduate of a prestigious university, Hou Weidong encounters one thorny problem after another upon entering government service, yet manages to turn danger into safety every time. Taking different approaches: that is Hou Weidong’s political philosophy. That is how Hou Weidong conducts himself. That is Hou Weidong’s great wisdom. 3.5kReads6.7Score48414d adds
40. 40 天 Supreme Destiny 天命最高 Sweet Dream Feather甜梦羽Historical180k WordsCompleted He was the “Qin dog” everyone in Handan hated, a hostage who trembled in his mother’s arms. Before the age of nine, he lived for one reason alone: to avoid being beaten to death by the people of Zhao. Then one day, his father died, and he became the King of Qin. The road back to Xianyang was strewn with thorns: his grandmother wanted to depose him, his younger brother wanted him dead, powerful ministers treated him like a puppet, and the queen dowager and her lover controlled the inner palace. H 10Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Everyone knows that Qin Shi Huang was ruthless and decisive in conquering the world, but few know that he suffered countless humiliations in Handan from a young age. After returning to Qin, he was caught in the machinations of his grandmother, brother, and powerful ministers, ultimately seizing the Qin throne through sheer cruelty and bloodshed. His heart had long been frozen, except for the tenderness of A Fang, who moved him to promise her the land as her dowry. However, with the empire newly established, cruel fate cruelly shattered the only tenderness in his life…

41. 41 每 Six Hundred Million in Instant-Kill Deals Every Week 每周秒杀六个亿 Nine-Fingered Divine Lid九指神盖Modern Romance1.6M WordsCompleted #UrbanRealism #SoftSciFi #CompliantTycoon #TimeTravelingLovers #TwoStrongLeadsSaveEachOther #FinancialWarfare What would you do if you were given six hundred million, but had to get it safely into the system without triggering regulators or raising suspicion? Chi Xia and Chen Guang are two ordinary people with average intelligence and modest backgrounds. By chance, they get the opportunity to win six hundred million in a weekly lottery. The price is that Chen Guang will forever live in "tomorrow 2.8kReads9.0Score35414d adds

    Reader note

    The book's writing style is atmospheric, making the descriptions of scenery feel like being there, and its descriptions of emotions strike a chord directly. Without piling up fancy words, it uses the simplest language to evoke deep resonance, making for an ultimate reading experience.

42. 42 越 The More Off-Roading, the More Addictive It Gets 越野越上瘾 A Passing Guest in the Flow of Time往事流年稍作客Ancient Romance111k WordsOngoing ◆ Powerful leads tame each other ◆ Obsessive Emperor × Proud, Defiant Princess ◆ Explosive revenge plot ◆ A tragic romance that lasts until death ◆ “You once shackled me. Now I’ll repay you by turning your empire into a cage.” “Ye Huang, the wilder you get, the more addictive it becomes. This time, I’ll play along with you all the way to the depths of hell.” She was Liang’s most bewitching and unruly Ninth Princess, Helian Ye Huang. Three hundred li beyond the capital stood the royal hunting gro 1Reads6.4Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    [Stunned][Stunned][Stunned][Stunned]

43. 43 兵 Marching Out of the Ten Thousand Mountains to Reclaim Our Homeland and Expand Our Borders 兵出十万大山，复故土拓新疆 The Twenty-Five-Thousand-Li Long March二万五千里长征路Historical885k WordsOngoing Liu Yongfu went up the mountain to gather firewood. In a dream, an old man told him that he was a mighty general who should defend his home and protect his people. When he woke, he also had a new set of memories from the future. Liu Yongfu decided that, besides defending his homeland, he should find the Han people a place to settle, help them survive more than a decade of war and natural disasters, and fight against imperialism... [Some parts of this story take liberties with history, or happen 5.4kReads—Score38514d adds

    Reader note

    The male protagonist is reborn to restore his homeland and build a Han Chinese world for the people.

44. 44 回 After the College Entrance Exam, I Used My Foresight to Become a Tycoon 回到高考后，利用先知成富豪 The Twenty-Five-Thousand-Li Long March二万五千里长征路Urban841k WordsCompleted By a twist of fate, Chen Feiyu returns to the day after his class reunion, held after the college entrance exam. Using his information advantage, he makes up for past regrets. From the start, he sets his sights on the Brazil World Cup to earn his first fortune, then uses his expertise and memories to grow his money in the stock market. He also keeps in touch with his high school crush and his senior from university, wins the hearts of both beauties, and becomes a winner in life! 2.8kReads—Score11014d adds
45. 45 绝 The Peerless Sword God 绝色剑神 Zhi Ge Wen Mo止戈问墨Eastern Fantasy1.3M WordsCompleted That winter, the martial world died. Tianwaitian slaughtered the entire martial world, staining rivers and mountains with blood. Beauty meant death. Zhao Qinghe was the most remarkable princess in the world, and the most beautiful woman in the world. When she smiled, the mountains and rivers paled. When she drew her sword, even immortals bowed their heads. Her Flowing Cloud Soft Sword made her invincible in three moves. Two even more dangerous women were always at her side: Luo Qinghan, “De 464Reads8.1Score19114d adds
46. 46 觉 After Awakening the Righteous Path System, the Evil Cultivator School Beauty Was Terrified 觉醒正道系统后，邪修校花吓哭了 Self-Destructing Truck自爆卡车Urban658k WordsOngoing The rating has just appeared and will go up later. [Advanced Martial Arts + Scumbag Male Lead + Hypocritical Moralizer + Scams and Swindles + PUA] The moment Pang Guang opened his eyes, he had transmigrated to Blue Star, where spiritual qi had revived. Traditional cultivation methods still existed here. But ordinary people lacked resources, making cultivation difficult. So most took the path of one kind of unorthodox cultivation or another. Fortunately, Pang Guang awakened the Righteous Cultivat —Reads6.6Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    You'll come back and thank me. [Pouting][adoring]

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