Any Novels with a Highly Intelligent, Ruthless Protagonist? 有没有主角高智商，手段狠辣的小说

1. 1 诡 The Eerie Spirit Medium: My Doll Can Really Manifest Spirits 诡异降神师：我的娃娃真能显灵 Clouds Can Smile云会笑Mystery1.4M WordsCompleted [Ghosts in the Book!] [Dark Tone!] [Villain Protagonist!] [Urban Supernatural!] [Horror Aesthetic!] [Invincible from the Start!] A sinister doll saws someone to pieces, a red-clad vengeful ghost claims lives at the airport, a hundred ghosts hunt people down along a ten-mile street, the dead rise again in a crematorium, and corpses dance wildly in an abandoned hospital... None of these things happened to me. They are all stories I wrote. My name is Yang Ning. I am an heir to the Ling Men, a profe 131.2kReads9.5Score11.5kShelves

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   The protagonists in each book are ruthless, one more so than the other. The male protagonist in the first book takes absolutely cruel revenge, like a vengeful ghost seeking death. The male protagonist in the second book returns from hell and commits countless murders.

2. 2 天 Heavenly Abyss 天渊 Mu Xiao Sansheng沐潇三生Eastern Fantasy6.4M WordsOngoing (The print edition has been published and is available to buy online) A hundred years ago, Chen Qingyuan entered a forbidden zone called the Heavenly Abyss. His soul lamp went out, and everyone believed he was dead. Today, Chen Qingyuan has emerged from the forbidden zone alive, but his cultivation has been destroyed and his spiritual roots severed. With his beloved breaking off their engagement and the various sects bullying him, what is Chen Qingyuan supposed to do? “Chen Qingyuan, you have tw 976.7kReads9.4Score99.9kShelves

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   ⭐The protagonist establishes the premier assassin organization, Misty Rain Pavilion, filled with powerful figures who clash with the emperor. Their cultivation progresses through five realms: First Realm, Second Realm, Third Realm, Fourth Realm, Fifth Realm, Illusory Flower Realm, and Divine Realm.⭐②The protagonist is adept at scheming, orchestrating events across the land with meticulous planning. He possesses exceptional intelligence and is decisive in his actions.

3. 3 我 I Returned from Hell to Plan the Perfect String of Revenge 我从地狱归来，策划连环完美复仇 Leaves Can't Predict Autumn叶难知秋Mystery525k WordsCompleted [No Female Lead] [Mad Protagonist] [Elegant] [High-IQ Crimes] [No System] Ten years ago, the Shen family was wiped out by a mysterious organization known as the Alliance. Shen Feng was beaten to death and left in the wilderness. Now, Shen Feng’s soul has returned from hell. That day, the criminal investigation squad received a call from a mysterious person claiming he would kill the famous CEO Liu Ruxu at a shareholders’ meeting. The nightmare began at that very moment. Shen Feng planned one per 118kReads9.5Score12.7kShelves
4. 4 神 The Game of the Gods: Apostle Number Thirteen 神明的游戏：第十三号使徒 Walking a Snail牵蜗牛散步Eastern Fantasy665k WordsCompleted (A battle of human nature + suspense game + in the vein of and + ensemble cast + infinite-loop progression) The doomsday bell tolls A divine oracle appears without warning, a magic cube descends, and the firmament splits with a roar! The selection tournament for the game [The Primordial Age of the Gods] begins. Attention: [The Thirteenth Apostle] has awakened. Now making his entrance [The Thirteenth Apostle] [The Founder of the End] [The Blood-Red Clown] [The 961Reads8.0Score104Shelves

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   The first book I'm introducing is a similar novel to "Ten Days." The protagonist is a financial expert who, in order to save his sister, infiltrates a game world. He uses his financial knowledge to compete against experts from various industries, and even against gods. The game battles in the book are exciting, and the ensemble cast is vivid and well-developed. If you don't like it, feel free to come back and criticize me.

5. 5 分 Clones Are Pointless Unless You Use Them to Stir Up Trouble 分身，不用来搞事情将毫无意义 The Pomegranate Tree Back Home老家的石榴树Eastern Fantasy1.5M WordsCompleted [No Saintly Heroics]+ [No Female Lead]+ [Ensemble Cast]+ [Everyone Is Evil]+ [Stirring Up Trouble]+ [Just Here for the Fun]+ [The Main Body Is a Master at Laying Low] This is a story about someone who uses his clones to stir up trouble, seize resources, and pursue immortality. Being a clone is hard. You're either causing trouble or on your way to cause trouble. A step-by-step guide to destroying a sect, a dynasty, or even... the entire cultivation world. New to the cultivation world, with no con 10kReads8.4Score828Shelves

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   After watching this, you'll know what true ruthlessness and exceptional intelligence are.

6. 6 离 Let's Divorce! You Really Think I'm Some Kind of Toad? 离婚吧！真当我是癞蛤蟆？ Lu Qiu Feng鹿秋枫Urban949k WordsCompleted Not a power fantasy. Please read with caution if that bothers you. Chu Yuxuan has been married to Xia Zhu for two years. He thought there was no heart in the world that couldn’t be warmed, until her old flame returns and Xia Zhu rushes to him without a second thought… After the divorce, Chu Yuxuan returns to the Chu family and transforms into a wealthy, spoiled playboy. At his family’s arrangement, he marries the icy beauty Zhao Yanan. On the surface, he’s a good-for-nothing wastrel, but behind 48.5kReads9.4Score4.6kShelves

   Reader note

   Don't let the name fool you, it's incredibly good! I've already watched it three times.

7. 7 十EN Ten Days to the End 十日终焉 Pest Control Team Member杀虫队队员Mystery3.2M WordsCompleted 2024 Tomato Novel Annual Peak Rankings TOP 1 | 2024 China Online Literature Influence List | 2024 China Good Novel Award | Over 2 million copies sold (No harem, no formulaic tropes, no invincibility, no System, no mindless antics, no wish fulfillment. Read with caution if these bother you.) Just when I thought it was an ordinary day, I discovered I had been captured and taken to the End. Just when I thought I could escape by continually taking part in death games, people began awakening supernat 1.7MReads9.9Score207.7kShelves
8. 8 从 The Man Who Walked Out of the Heavenly Prison 从天牢走出来的男人 Rogue Lao Wang流氓老王Eastern Fantasy1.2M WordsCompleted Chu Ye, heir to the Chu family, is the number one wastrel in the Great Zhou Dynasty, with countless heinous crimes to his name. In just four years, he was thrown into the imperial prison eleven times, yet walked out unscathed every time. The reason was his grandfather, the fearsome Northern Frontier Prince, who commanded a million troops. But this time, Chu Ye crossed the emperor’s bottom line. Imprisoned for the twelfth time, he was exiled to the perilous Abyssal Reach. Countless factions and i 11.1kReads8.9Score893Shelves

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   Character traits: Unusually ruthless; everyone is a pawn in his game, and everyone is capable of dying.

9. 9 京 The Violent Prince of the Capital's Elite: The Protagonist Wants to Die Just to Survive 京圈暴戾太子，主角活着想死 Gangmen Pianzuo纲门翩佐Urban7.2M WordsOngoing [Decisive and ruthless]+ [No bleeding-heart saint, no simping]+ [Light System]+ [Beauty everywhere]+ [Never gets pushed around]+ [Invincible] [Unhinged fiction, absurdist humor, author has completely lost it] [Saintly do-gooders, stay away! Saintly do-gooders, stay away! Saintly do-gooders, stay away!!!] Shen Wuxiao arrives in the world of a high-martial arts novel as the vicious, powerful-background-rich playboy from the book! He also awakens the Villain Plunder System. All he has to do is stea 141.3kReads9.0Score11.9kShelves

   Reader note

   Both are good, very nice.

10. 10 诡EN The Horrors Are Hard to Kill? Sorry, I'm the Truly Immortal One 诡异难杀？抱歉，我才是真正不死 Six Gourds六个葫芦Urban2.0M WordsCompleted This book has been signed for publication, so enjoy it with confidence. [Death Regression + Foreknowledge of the Future + Kill the Saintly One First + Dark Tone + Supernatural Resurgence] After accidentally transmigrating to a world invaded by the supernatural, Fang Xiu awakens the ability to return from death, also known as turning back time. Whenever he dies, time rewinds to just before his death. In this perilous and uncanny world, he could have laid low, but instead he chooses to announce to 231.9kReads9.5Score28.4kShelves
11. 11 传EN Legend Management Bureau 传说管理局 Pest Control Team Member杀虫队队员Eastern Fantasy1.4M WordsCompleted (No harem, no formulaic plot, no invincibility, no System, no brainless decisions, and no wish fulfillment. Read with caution if any of that bothers you.) Du Yu dies an untimely death right at the beginning of the story. Hoping to secure a better spot in his next life, he takes a job with the Bureau of Legendary Tales. His job is to return to legends that have gone off course and put their plots back on track. He never expected that the first mission assigned to an ordinary mortal like him would 169.4kReads9.6Score21.7kShelves

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    I've listened to and finished the first two books by the same author, both of which are completed works. The author focuses on logic, the male lead is incredibly intelligent, and the supporting characters aren't unintelligent either. The author's "Legend" was a phenomenal success, and "Ten Days" not only continues the mind-bending style but also reaches new heights: "I am Qi Xia, and I'm about to start lying!" 😁😁😁 The third book is a post-apocalyptic story, the female lead is a government official, a great perspective, and she's also highly intelligent, not a zombie. Highly recommended! 😍😍😍 The fourth book is by Zi Jinchen; his name is his trademark! 🥰🥰🥰 The last one is a personal addition—a cultivation novel. If you're bothered by the female lead's personality, please ignore this. 😊😊😊

12. 12 我 My 99 Perfect Hunts 我的99次完美狩猎 Little Half-Immortal of Shu Mountain蜀山小半仙Mystery1.4M WordsCompleted [Realism] [High-IQ crime] [Masterful mind games] [No female lead] [For readers who love logic] The police in Xikang City received a phone call from someone calling himself Ghost, who claimed he would kill a certain person in three days. More than that, he wanted the police to rush out and protect the target. He intended to carry out the killing under the police's tight security. The police took the threat extremely seriously and made careful preparations. When the three days were up, the result 39.6kReads9.3Score4.1kShelves
13. 13 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. 14.8kReads8.3Score931Shelves

    Reader note

    There's no magic formula for turning the tide; after encountering danger, you can only unravel the predicament bit by bit, and the process of getting out of trouble is written very solidly.

14. 14 重EN Too Many Reborn Heroes? Time to Bring in the Government 重生者太密集？我带国家队下场 Bian Lu边鹿Sci-Fi & Apocalypse758k WordsCompleted (A feel-good power fantasy, with a beautiful, badass heroine who confiscates golden fingers) “Sheng is the boss around here. She's ruthless and doesn't waste words. Cross her, and she'll take you down!” In the year 2323 of the Star Era, the apocalypse is about to begin. Some people awaken their powers early, while reborn people are already making their moves… As the head of a new department, Sheng An is responsible for recruiting and leading all the powered and reborn individuals, preparing for 123.7kReads9.7Score17.5kShelves
15. 15 我 I Use Illusions to Control the World 我用幻术控制全世界 Six Gourds六个葫芦Urban1.1M WordsCompleted [A rare illusion-based novel featuring a villain protagonist, nightmare invasions, and original instances] Su Mu has the same dream every night. Each time he wakes, his mental strength has increased by one percent. He grows stronger just by sleeping. In the first year, hypnosis. He discovers his mental strength is already powerful enough to hypnotize others, and soon gang bosses, the campus belle, beautiful CEOs, and more have all become his slaves. In the second year, control over the five sens 68.2kReads9.4Score7.5kShelves

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    These three books by Quan Fuqi. If you read them and think I'm wrong, then hit me!

16. 16 无 Infinite Planes: Starting with Final Destination 无限位面：从死神来了开始 Madman of the Mohist School墨家狂人Male-Channel Fanfiction1.6M WordsCompleted I battle wits with the invisible Reaper in the world of Final Destination. In the Three Kingdoms, where eunuchs hold sway, I bide my time and become sworn kin to the Ten Attendants, changing the course of history. In A Chinese Ghost Story, I dance with beautiful female ghosts... I don't know why I'm alive, or what keeps me going. Maybe I'm chasing the thrill of life and death in an instant. Maybe I'm searching for something exciting enough to make my frozen heart beat again... 4.9kReads8.9Score359Shelves
17. 17 我 I Took Over My Own Body 我夺舍了自己 Fang Yebai方夜白Urban1.2M WordsCompleted An accident turned Chen Luo into a vessel for his parallel-world selves, who had died and come back to life. He was possessed by his counterparts from parallel worlds. Every time Chen Luo fulfilled an unfinished wish of one of his parallel selves, he gained a skill they had learned, such as combat, languages, computers, firearms, and more. Assassin Chen Luo: “Let's go paint the town red!” Playboy Chen Luo: “My blade is practically begging for a taste!” Master Thief Chen Luo: “Next, we're going t 14.5kReads9.0Score1.4kShelves

    Reader note

    A truly intelligent protagonist, not a saint, decisive in action, and exceptionally resourceful. A rare gem of a novel; those experiencing a reading slump should definitely give it a try.

18. 18 不 I Only Refuse to Betray the World 不负天下而已 Doudou’s Darling豆豆的宝贝Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Cultivation setting + no rebirth + no transmigration + not a wish-fulfillment novel] A kind person may be swept along by the ways of the world and fall into darkness; A great villain with blood on his hands may also turn over a new leaf through a single act of kindness; Li Chenxi is one of the rare people who, even after experiencing a major upheaval, can still hold fast to his true nature; The fates of people like him are often more troubled than those of ordinary people; They are usually eit 280Reads—Score—Shelves
19. 19 全 The World's Number One Assassin 全球第一杀手 Lamb Who Found Its Way Back迷途知返的羔羊Urban1.3M WordsCompleted He survives beneath the light and walks through the darkness. Together, light and darkness weave a glittering world. Volume One: The Traditional Urban Assassin. Volume Two: A Dark Feast at the End of the World. (It leans more toward science fiction in the middle.) 18.6kReads9.2Score1.7kShelves

    Reader note

    That's ruthless.

20. 20 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 868.2kReads9.6Score68.1kShelves

    Reader note

    These books meet your requirements.

21. 21 朝 A Hound of the Imperial Court? You’ve Never Faced the Six Fan Gate’s Blades 朝廷鹰犬？没挨过六扇门的刀 Tian Yan天衍Eastern Fantasy5.8M WordsOngoing Also known as: Six Doors: Confiscating Estates and Wiping Out Clans [Transmigrate into a book + ruthless and decisive + single or no heroine] Reality isn’t a game, nor is it a storybook. Reality has rules, and breaking them brings retribution. My name is Li Jun Su. I paid the price for breaking the rules. After that, I was reborn. Unlike the real world, this world was dominated by martial arts, and the path to immortality flourished. Power mattered more than authority. The Great Qian Dyna 65.7kReads9.2Score4.8kShelves

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    [Top Post][Top Post][Cool] Tomato is number one!!! Who doesn't know the succubus Li Junsu? My name is Li Junsu, and I paid the price for my arrogance. I was reborn, but why in a fantasy world, and as the illegitimate son born to a maid who climbed into her bed? But so what? I joined the Six Doors, step by step rising to the position of Chief Constable. On this path, blood is the vein, and bones are the ladder. Confiscating property and exterminating families, my fearsome reputation can stop children from crying at night. [Top Post][Smirk][Laugh]

22. 22 颠 Turning the World Upside Down: Playing the Villain from the Start 颠覆全球：开局扮演反派大佬 Blazing Heavenly Inquiry炽生天问Eastern Fantasy1.2M WordsCompleted Shen Yan transmigrates to a parallel world. As soon as he arrives, he falls into a strange dimension. Everyone who falls in here is slaughtered by alien creatures, dying in despair! Luckily, at this moment, Shen Yan obtains the Super Big Shot Role-Playing System. “Ding! Randomly drawing a big shot template. Big Shot Role-Playing Mode activated. The closer you are to the character, the more abilities you can unlock.” Make people believe the character is real, and you’ll earn Subversion Points. Th 22.2kReads9.4Score2.2kShelves
23. 23 穿 I Transmigrated into Hong Kong’s Crime Shows as a Cop, but Something’s Off About the System 穿越港综当警察但系统不对劲 Sun Ce Who Jumped Ship跳船的孙策Male-Channel Fanfiction628k WordsCompleted Song Shijie transmigrates to Hong Kong in 2004, where he works as a probationary inspector. The bad news: he's bound to an entertainment industry System. The good news: in his previous life, he worked for a certain special department, so he's perfectly suited to the job. What's more, his family is one of Hong Kong's wealthiest. 3.8kReads8.6Score316Shelves

    Reader note

    Don't be fooled by the ratings; this one is absolutely fantastic. It's a rare pure police drama with rigorous case-solving logic. Everyone's intelligence is on point, and it depicts high-level power struggles. However, it only started in 2004, so it skips many classic Hong Kong films. The protagonist is a top-tier rich kid who solves cases primarily on his own, without relying on past life memories. The current storylines include elements from various Hong Kong films like *Race Against Time*, *Overheard*, *New Police Story*, *SPL*, *Men's True Colors*, *E. U.*, And *Black Society*, which are well-integrated. Unlike other Hong Kong variety shows, the protagonist solves cases independently and is rewarded with scripts, which are later used to make movies. It has already progressed to the point of conflict with Western instigators, making it the most insightful portrayal of "banana people" (people who are culturally Westernized and culturally isolated) I've seen in Hong Kong variety shows.

24. 24 特 Special Cleaner, Occasional Crime Scene Stager 特殊清洁员，偶尔也布置案发现场 South Morning, North Moon南晨北月Mystery1.0M WordsCompleted (Content warnings: no female lead, no romantic ambiguity, dark plot, protagonist is not a good person, lighthearted everyday tone) (No female lead does not mean no female supporting characters. Recommended that you stay away. The male lead is very much a criminal, not a positive role model, and people get killed on a regular basis.) Good news: He transmigrated. Bad news: The body’s original owner seems to have just killed someone. Is Qi Shu panicking? He’s practically panicking to death. After a 511Reads8.6Score102Shelves

    Reader note

    They're all super beautiful.

25. 25 人 In the Police Force: Rising Step by Step 人在警界：步步高升 Ants Dating蚂蚁搞对象Urban3.0M WordsOngoing [Everyday Police Work + Decisive and Ruthless + Beautiful Women + No Saintly Heroics + No System + Patriotism] After transmigrating to a parallel world, Lin Yu became a police officer. On his first day on the job, he was ordered to crack down on prostitution. He jokingly called for the wife of a crime boss, only to discover that her husband was the ringleader of a new drug case. After interrogating her, Lin Yu cracked a major drug-trafficking case and earned a First-Class Merit. A husband report 111.2kReads9.2Score6.6kShelves

    Reader note

    The protagonist is highly intelligent and revolves around his own personality.

26. 26 犯 The Usurper 犯上者 Li Ma李马Urban2.7M WordsCompleted [The print edition has been signed, so read with confidence] (No System, no invincibility, plot-focused, explores human nature, not a formulaic power fantasy) (The protagonist grows and changes as the story unfolds) (An ensemble cast: supporting characters aren't one-dimensional, and respond with genuine emotions to the changes around them) No one knows when this world began to split in two. 218.8kReads9.4Score35.1kShelves
27. 27 一 I Woke Up with 40 Murder Cases on My Hands 一觉醒来：我背上了40起命案 No Joy无喜Mystery1.0M WordsCompleted Chen Xiao wakes up to find everything around him strangely unfamiliar. The only thing beside him is a diary. He thinks it might explain his current predicament, but as he reads, he begins to doubt whether its contents are real. It is clearly a record of crimes committed by “himself.” Just as Chen Xiao is about to read on, the piercing wail of police sirens downstairs jolts him awake, and he can't help imagining the worst... 29.8kReads9.3Score3.2kShelves
28. 28 我 I, the Cash King of Hong Kong, Reap the Island Nation from the Start! 我，港岛现金王，开局收割岛国！ No Meat Tomorrow明天不吃肉了Urban1.2M WordsCompleted Reborn in the 1980s, Lin Yaodong sold his property immediately and headed to the Bear country to trade bread, making a staggering 31 times his investment. In three years, he amassed ten billion rubles. In December 1989, Lin Yaodong brought five billion rubles to the Island country. He struck while they were down, sweeping up its light industries and reselling them to the Bear country for profits dozens of times over. Wall Street’s plan to prevent its assets from going bankrupt? Lin Yaodong would 9.9kReads8.7Score707Shelves
29. 29 镇 I Sealed the Ruins of Return for Three Hundred Years, and You Call Me an Evil God? 镇压归墟三百年，说我是邪神？ Eighty-Three八三Urban221k WordsOngoing [High Martial Arts + No System + Not Mindless + Ancient Past] I was the first person in the world to awaken. I entered Guixu and spent three hundred years suppressing the strange creatures of the Ruins, keeping the world at peace. When I awoke from that distant past three hundred years later, the world had changed beyond recognition. The age was chaotic, and powerful figures stood everywhere. Mutated creatures rampaged unchecked. A group of "false gods" rose to power by trading on my reputation, 69Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It looks great, absolutely true to its name.

30. 30 都 I Was Reborn, So Why Am I Still a Loser?! 都重生了，我怎么还是混子？！ Eighty-Three八三Urban2.3M WordsCompleted [Undercover in the underworld + ruthless and decisive + no sanctimonious do-gooding + sharp as a tack] Brothers, this book once had over 500,000 readers following it, and kept that readership for several months. Quite a few people have adapted it into absurd animated videos and AI short dramas. I’m not a touchy person. You can post videos without my permission, but shouldn’t you at least show me a little respect? Couldn’t you include the original book title and the author’s name? Using Foqin’s n 25.1kReads9.1Score2.6kShelves
31. 31 豪 Cast-Off Rich Wife? Sorry, She's a Beautiful Madwoman 豪门弃妇？抱歉，她是疯批美人 One Paycheck, One Hundred Trillion一薪一亿亿Modern Romance945k WordsOngoing [Pursuit of his wife + unhinged heroine + satisfying face-slapping + male rivals competing for her + revenge] This book is also known as Mr. Fu, Your Wife Is Acting Up Again. Three years into their marriage, Mo Lansheng suddenly discovered that her husband was keeping another woman on the side. An ex-girlfriend he still had a thing with, a first love he couldn't let go of, and a whole crowd of admirers. And she was nothing but a discarded rich man's wife in everyone else's eyes. But she wasn't d 23.3kReads8.4Score1.7kShelves

    Reader note

    A female-centric, fast-paced novel where the female lead is highly intelligent, cunning, ruthless, and relentlessly pursues her; multiple male leads vie for her affections in a fierce power struggle.

32. 32 从 Starting from Scratch: Building a Secret Organization That Controls the World 从零开始打造掌控世界的幕后组织 Lin Jiang, Don't Bite霖酱别咬Urban1.0M WordsCompleted [Decisive and ruthless + sharp-minded + war contractor + BOSS-style protagonist] Li Yi transmigrates to a parallel world and obtains the [Apocalypse Supreme System], but the System is ten years ahead of schedule. And so: Even though I planted bombs in public places, I’m still a good citizen. Even though I sell hypersonic missiles, I’m still a peace-loving person. After all, I’m not the one who fired them! Even though I run a military academy overseas, you can’t deny I’ve raised the average level 23.5kReads8.3Score1.4kShelves
33. 33 官 Thunderous Crackdown on Black Crime in the Political Arena 官场之雷霆扫黑 Wen Tianyu问天羽Urban776k WordsOngoing The chessboard of power, every move calculated, every step taken on thin ice. No matter how cautious you are, you can never guard against everything. Li Yan, a community officer at a local police station, starts from the very bottom. He refuses to buckle under pressure and fears no powerful figures. With thunderous force, he uproots every criminal gang and underworld faction. Step by step, he rises to the pinnacle of power! 89.1kReads8.1Score6.7kShelves

    Reader note

    Ruthless methods, exceptional intelligence. Fast-paced and full of exciting moments.

34. 34 帝 The Empire's First Prince Consort 帝国第一驸马 Heavenly Fragrant Eyes天香瞳Historical4.4M WordsCompleted [New book release: The Rebellious Son Is Invincible, the final installment of the Empire Trilogy] Guan Ning transmigrates, hoping to live a carefree life of wine, women, and luxury as a young prince. Instead, he becomes a prince consort whose engagement has been broken off. Rumor has it that no dynasty can last more than 300 years. The Great Kang Dynasty is at that very threshold: a golden age is in turmoil, loyal ministers are being persecuted, and an age of chaos is about to begin. He will top 113.8kReads9.1Score10.7kShelves

    Reader note

    This book features absolutely ruthless methods! The protagonist transmigrates into the body of the Prince of Zhenbei's heir, is distrusted by the royal family, and is forced to rebel. He fights his way through the land, and after becoming emperor, he becomes even more ruthless and merciless; skinning people alive and disposing of their skins is commonplace!

35. 35 离 Humiliated at My Divorce Banquet, I Set Sail for a Brighter Future 离婚宴受辱，我的前程自此启航 Wild Roots草根之野Urban2.0M WordsOngoing On the day of his divorce, he endured ridicule and scorn. Everyone thought he would sink into despair, unaware that after lying low for so long, he was about to begin a whole new chapter in life. Free of the shackles of his past, he keeps his feet on the ground and breaks through prejudice with his own abilities. Through wind and rain, he presses forward step by step. The era that belongs to him is about to begin. 63.4kReads8.1Score3.8kShelves

    Reader note

    These two novels about officialdom can only be described with one word: incredibly satisfying!

36. 36 退 After Retirement, My Wife Brought People to Arrest Me 退休后，老婆带人来抓我了 Storytelling Lazy讲故事的LazyUrban1.9M WordsCompleted From the start, a beautiful woman proposed to him. Liu Xuedong was a fake psychologist and, in reality, an S-Rank Cleaner. Just as he was happily anticipating a perfect life, he realized things weren't going quite the way he'd imagined… Wait, isn't my wife the one I hate most? (A professional writer registered with the Provincial Writers Association. Credentials verified, so read with confidence.) 47.8kReads9.0Score4.2kShelves

    Reader note

    This book is definitely for you; the protagonist is a retired assassin.

37. 37 假 Fake Eunuch: I Am the Ming Dynasty's Ninth-Thousand-Year Lord 假太监：我乃大明九千岁 Ninth Day, Tenth Month初九元十Historical7.1M WordsOngoing [Mythic Great Ming] [Alternate History] [High Martial] [Great Ming] [No System] Yang Fan transmigrates to the Great Ming Dynasty and becomes a lowly eunuch, witnessing with his own eyes the grand, turbulent age of humanity! A dynasty that has endured for millennia, immortal aristocratic families, heroes of the martial world, mighty commoners, and dragons and serpents rising together! If that's how it is, then I, Yang Fan, will become the greatest man under heaven! I'll shatter the clouds and bec 132.2kReads9.2Score12.9kShelves

    Reader note

    He plans one step ahead but has eighteen steps ahead; he has no system, is cunning, ruthless, and decisive. (Old Six)

38. 38 官 The Road to Power: From Betrayal to Commanding the Storm 官路：从遭人背刺到执掌风云 The Legend of Brother Cao草哥的传说Urban1.0M WordsOngoing For love, Lu Xiuyuan hid his identity as the heir to a powerful family, rejected his family’s arrangements, and went to a small county town. He came first in the written exam and eagerly expected to land the position, only to be betrayed by his girlfriend, lose his place, and be mocked in public as a nobody with no connections. Fine. If that’s how it is, then I’ll stop pretending. From then on, the winds of change began to blow. The people who once humiliated him finally learned what it meant to 7.4kReads7.8Score654Shelves
39. 39 我EN I'm a Type II Civilization with a Dimensionality Reduction Strike, Isn't That Perfectly Reasonable? 我一个二级文明有二向箔很合理吧 Chen Erlan陈二懒Sci-Fi & Apocalypse2.0M WordsCompleted [Technology + Disaster + Interstellar + Tech Tree] In the year 2050 AD, the Sun is affected by an unknown force, and a helium flash is imminent! Is Earth on the brink of destruction? No matter. I’ll handle it! Is the Trisolaris system’s Proxima Centauri civilization about to invade? No matter. I’ll handle it! Are advanced civilizations locked in conflict across the dark universe? No matter. I’ll handle it! … Starting with controlled nuclear fusion, the protagonist, Lü Yongchang, ushers humanity 90.1kReads9.6Score7.9kShelves

    Reader note

    Looking for a protagonist with high intelligence and ruthlessness! This post-apocalyptic infinite flow novel takes the concept of gods to a whole new level, relying on wits to break through the impasse, and is high-energy throughout. Every dungeon will keep you guessing about the ending, leaving you exclaiming that the plot is too imaginative!

40. 40 长 Eternal Immortality: A Jailor Hiding Out in the Heavenly Prison 长生万古：苟在天牢做狱卒 Qingfeng Riverside青峰浦上Eastern Fantasy1.1M WordsCompleted [Smart characters, no brainless plotlines]+ [No System]+ [Cautious survival]+ [Immortality]+ [No heroine]+ [A sly schemer]+ [Political intrigue]+ [Prudent and cautious] Zhang Wu transmigrates to a cultivation world and becomes a jailer in the Imperial Prison from the start. For officials, the end of the road is the Imperial Prison. For soldiers, it is dying on the battlefield. For those in the martial world, it is getting killed in a vendetta. None of them meet a good end. If he wants to survive 37.6kReads9.1Score3.2kShelves
41. 41 威 The Mighty Phoenix Ode: Li Shimin 威凤赋之李世民 momocaHistorical926k WordsCompleted In the waning years of the Sui dynasty, warlords contended for supremacy, matching wits and fighting with everything they had. Emperor Taizong and Empress Zhangsun were young newlyweds who supported each other and brought peace and prosperity to the people. Adapted from history, this is not an alternate-history novel. It features political maneuvering, warfare, and noble ideals. It vividly recreates the four major battles of Li Shimin's career and shows how, before the Xuanwu Gate Incident, this 42Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The Sui and Tang dynasties were a battlefield of intrigue, a struggle of wits, courage, and ruthlessness. The Zhenguan Emperor and Empress, a young couple, supported each other, striving to bring peace and prosperity to the people. Based on historical events, not a fictionalized account. It features political intrigue, warfare, and righteous righteousness. It comprehensively recreates the scenes of Li Shimin's four major battles and how, at Xuanwu Gate, Li Shimin, a master hunter, lured eight hundred cunning brothers and his shrewd father into his encirclement, swiftly ambushing them.

42. 42 挪 Embezzling My Entire Clan’s Money to Trade Stocks, I Lost Everything? Now I’m Making Billions! 挪用九族炒股亏炸？我狂赚百亿！ Maozi, Stop Rising茅子别涨了Urban1.1M WordsCompleted My new work is out! You can read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you enjoy it. Your support motivates me to write, and I'll do my best to tell every story well! 17.1kReads8.6Score766Shelves

    Reader note

    High-IQ battles and comebacks! These hardcore business warfare articles teach you how to crush the times with your intelligence!

43. 43 官 The Official Road: Great Wisdom 官道：大智慧 The God of Heaven Fell in Love with You天神爱上你Urban451k WordsOngoing [Authentic Political Drama + Inspirational + Political Intrigue + Business Warfare + A Sense of Justice] After spending so many years in government, Liang Guofeng has long since learned the philosophy of officialdom: A single transfer order sends Liang Guofeng to work in the southern province. He hoped to make a difference, but instead found himself constantly caught in traps and suppressed! A new place, a new environment, and a new job bring all kinds of trials. Every step is perilous, but ever 2kReads6.2Score195Shelves

    Reader note

    That's awesome!

44. 44 第 The Ninth Special Zone 第九特区 Wei Jie伪戒Urban6.1M WordsCompleted After the catastrophe, the land was scarred beyond recognition. Food was scarce, resources were in short supply, and the situation was chaotic... A young man who had fought his way out of an undeveloped zone, with endless yellow sand at his back, came alone to District Nine to make a living. Yet he never expected to meet a few good friends by chance, rise to prominence in the chaotic era over a single thought, and embark on a legendary journey... 210.5kReads9.6Score22.9kShelves

    Reader note

    Tired of saintly protagonists? These books feature protagonists who are intelligent, ruthless, and willing to do anything to achieve their goals, carving a bloody path through the dark rules of the world – a truly thrilling story.

45. 45 宦 Tides of the Political Sea 宦海浮沉 Liang Zhoumu梁州牧Urban4.7M WordsCompleted No cheating spouse At the end of the day, every rule follows one fundamental principle: the strongest force gets to decide. This is the “meta-rule,” the rule that determines all other rules. The martial world isn’t all about fighting and killing; it’s about human relationships and social conventions. The same goes even more so for politics. Chen Bo is drawn into an unwinnable game of chess because of a debt he has no choice but to repay. He thinks he’ll spend the rest of his life in prison, but 249kReads9.5Score27.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Still being serialized... (Read with caution) Personally, I feel this is Tomato's best book. Please don't criticize if you don't like it!

46. 46 浪 The Prodigal Returns: I Can See the Future 浪子回头：我能预见未来 Bai Ling白灵Urban4.1M WordsOngoing The short drama of the same name, I Can See the Future: The Prodigal's Return, premieres on Hongguo on December 6. On his way to get a divorce, Lin Ming finally realized what a bastard he'd been his whole life! He couldn't change the fact that he was getting divorced, but he unexpectedly gained the ability to foresee the future! Rising prices, volatile real estate, stock market fluctuations, global trends... he can handle them all with ease! Years later, a reporter interviews Lin Ming: “You're n 19.9kReads9.1Score1.3kShelves
47. 47 流 Golden Years: Getting Rich on the Quiet 流金岁月之闷声发财 Zhu Dongfei朱东飞Urban1.0M WordsCompleted This novel is about foreign exchange... futures... gold... stocks... It's the story of a man who is reborn in another person's body and trades foreign exchange and gold. If you're new and have never traded foreign exchange, don't read this. And if you're looking for a harem, this book isn't for you either! Haha... Zhao Shengli is in his forties. He had his moment of glory when he was young, but over the past few years he's become a down-and-out trader. After his company goes bankrupt, he goes to 5.9kReads8.3Score249Shelves
48. 48 老 Tales of a Con Artist 老千故事 Very May非常五月Urban189k WordsCompleted Su Qing challenges the legendary gambler Mei Luo, hoping to avoid falling into someone else's trap. But her actions lead to her father's tragic death, and Su Qing herself is left in grave danger. After repeatedly risking her life, she sees the good and evil, and the injustices, in the world. To survive and avenge her father, Su Qing pushes herself to the limit again and again, ultimately escaping death by a hair. 146Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The male protagonist in the first book has an extremely high IQ and ruthless methods. In order to survive in the apocalypse and for the benefit of himself and his friends, he is fearless and faces difficulties head-on, eventually forging his own path.

49. 49 玄 Xuanhuan: From Down-and-Out Jianghu Wanderer to Traveling Escort 玄幻：从落魄江湖，走马镖客开始 Howling Gale哀嚎的狂风Eastern Fantasy265k WordsOngoing [No System + Passionate + Smart Protagonist + No Harem + The Author Has Already Written a Million Words, So You Can Trust Them] Li Changshou accidentally transmigrates to an unfamiliar world. In a small border town, he struggles to make a living. Born into troubled times, his greatest dream is to save enough money to open an escort agency and enjoy a cozy life with his wife and children. But then, while escorting a shipment, he encounters a mysterious, powerful woman, followed by a down-and-out 92Reads9.2Score—Shelves
50. 50 从 Starting in 2008, I Took Over the Whole World 从2008开始收割全世界 Manchu-Han Feast满汉全席Urban1.5M WordsCompleted I woke up to find myself back in 2008, at the age of eighteen, inheriting a fortune worth tens of billions from the start. Yang Chen: “With decades of future memories, making money should be as easy as lifting a finger, right?” “That year, I walked with my hands in my pockets. I didn’t even know what a rival was!” “I have two rules in business: first, I never rip off my fellow countrymen. Second, I rip off foreigners for all they’re worth!” “I’ve been reborn, so taking a little from the whole wo 26.7kReads8.9Score1.7kShelves

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