Novels with Brilliant Protagonists Who Build Factions and Show No Mercy 集智商高，创势力，杀伐果断的小说。

1. 201 祖 The Ancestral Dragon Reincarnates: I Use Dragon Qi to Subdue All Heavens for Eternity 祖龙轮回朕以龙气镇万古诸天 True Lord of the Barren Ridge荒岭真君Eastern Fantasy678k WordsOngoing [Ancestral Dragon Ying Zheng] + [slow burn] + [a touch of dragon qi as a golden finger] + [no female lead] + [decisive and ruthless] + [scheming] Humans are the spirit of all things; souls are the essence of heaven and earth. I am Ying Zheng. I died from an elixir of immortality presented by an alchemist, and my soul transmigrated into the body of Lin Yuan, a sixteen-year-old boy in another world. A poor spiritual sea. Betrayed by my elder brother. Barely scraping by. But in this world, wher 37Reads—Score—Shelves

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   I'm writing this myself, hoping you heroes and valiant individuals will grant me the honor of reading it? It's a purely dark, ensemble piece with a vast world-building and no female lead. The First Emperor Qin Shi Huang transmigrates to another world, rising from the bottom to power, showcasing imperial methods and the cunning of a ruler. None of the characters are portrayed as stupid; many heroes emerge, and there are no high-level battles. Every step requires careful planning and scheming. To gain a powerful backer, he schemes to marry the elder's daughter, doing nothing but acquiring resources for cultivation. When resources are scarce, he steals from his classmates, disregarding friendship. To showcase his talent and gain benefits in the martial arts tournament, he ruthlessly kills the clan leader's daughter who helps him, his every move deadly. One wrong step leads to certain death; one wrong step condemns him to a life of mere mortal.

2. 202 亿 With Billions of Talents, I Sweep Across All Races and Become Myself Again 亿万天赋，我横扫万族，做回自己 Self-Destructing Truck自爆卡车Urban232k WordsOngoing [Invasion by all races + supernatural abilities + apocalypse + ensemble cast + emotions + psychology + somewhat dark + not mindless + not a power fantasy + slow-paced] After the invasion of the myriad races, the aloof campus belle fell in love with me after I awakened supernatural abilities. Was it love that came too late, or a desperate compromise for survival? Disaster followed disaster, and everything seemed to reek of conspiracy. Was it the outsiders' scheme, or was someone acting with ulter 1Reads—Score—Shelves

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   You will come back to thank me for my [adoration].

3. 203 刘 Liu Bowen: Tides of Fortune in the Imperial Court 刘伯温之宦海沉浮 Gurgling Spring泉之淙淙Historical565k WordsCompleted Liu Bowen: Rising and Falling in the Sea of Officialdom abandons the magical realism commonly used in earlier works about Liu Bowen. Its main approach is realism, with touches of romanticism. Following the ups and downs of Liu Bowen’s official career, and set against the peasant uprisings led by Fang Guozhen, Xu Shouhui, Wu Chengqi, and others, it offers a many-sided portrait of the vibrant world of the late Yuan dynasty. It depicts both the contests of wits and political maneuvering among strat 158Reads—Score—Shelves

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   High intelligence and strategic thinking

4. 204 风 The Wind Blows, the Demon Is Unbound 风吹无邪魔 Windblown Innocent Demon风吹无邪魔Sci-Fi & Apocalypse322k WordsOngoing Martial arts and spectacular battles. War and grand scenes. Humans and demons, demons and shamans: watch the protagonist survive, fight, and find love in an apocalyptic world. Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng will appear too! 57Reads—Score—Shelves

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   The apocalypse has arrived, ancient martial arts have revived, the Qin Emperor has reappeared, and humanity fights against the demonic sorcerers! [Evil laugh]

5. 205 龙 The Dragon Rises in Jinling: Reviving the Tang Dynasty for Five Hundred Years 龙起金陵，再续大唐五百年 Guest at the Deer’s Call鹿鸣客Historical163k WordsOngoing “The emperor in Chang’an, the army of the Wei residence.” The Wei residence’s household troops had become a thing of the past beneath the executioner’s blade, while the emperor in Chang’an lived in constant fear amid troubles both within and without. Does an emperor have some special birthright? Whoever commands the strongest troops and finest horses becomes emperor! Flames raged everywhere. Looking across the land, the Tang was now divided among rival regional warlords: Zhu Wen, Li Keyong, Yang 52Reads—Score—Shelves

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   The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, slow-paced, no system, not mindless, no time travel, historically accurate, with memorable characters, an adopted son usurps power and controls regional warlords, eventually unifying the country and continuing the Tang Dynasty's five-hundred-year golden age! New book recommendation!!!

6. 206 逃 Thirty Days on the Run 逃亡三十天 Always Advise People Not to Conceal the Truth万事劝人休瞒昧Urban537k WordsOngoing Five years of deep affection could not withstand greed and scheming. Jiang Ling was set up by his lover of five years and her lover on the side, who conspired to seize complete control of his company. In a single day, his love was shattered, his career collapsed, and his life plunged into an abyss. With all hope gone, he chose to retreat to his remote, quiet hometown in the countryside. By chance, in an abandoned mine in a desolate area, he stumbled upon a ton of gold buried deep underground. Af 50Reads6.9Score—Shelves

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   Ahead lies a mysterious forest, behind, ferocious pursuers. Forced into the woods, they set traps, fought black bears, escaped from the jaws of turtles and pythons, ate snake soup, and roasted wild boar. Then, they encountered a solitary grave, nearly losing their lives within its mound. Next, they were trapped in a maze of ghosts, almost unable to escape, but were aided by a troop of monkeys while lost, discovering a bandit's den hidden for eighty years. Whom should the bandits' priceless wealth belong to?

7. 207 围 Hunting a Movie Star: I Took Down the Underworld 围猎女星：我干翻地下江湖 Upstream Traveler逆游人Urban325k WordsOngoing [A passionate underworld saga set in the jianghu, with female celebrities, a harem, cunning scheming, power struggles, capital, and intricate, brain-burning plotting] [This is not a brainless story. If you like low-quality, mindless fiction, stop after the first three chapters. The underworld is more than gangsters, and the jianghu is more than fighting. The first thirty chapters reveal just a fraction of the picture. I’ll use my own experiences to show you what the underworld really is, and wha 190Reads—Score—Shelves

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   Save this book if you're looking for something to read! Set in 1990s Guangdong, this story unfolds as a complex game of chess, with various forces scheming against and restraining each other. An initially insignificant, lowly individual seizes an opportunity to rise through the ranks, rewriting his own destiny and changing the lives of the women around him.

8. 208 解 Dissolver: Incoming Missile 解离者：导弹袭来 Naturally Simpleminded憨的自然Urban156k WordsCompleted Rick, the hard-bitten killer from the series, returns once more. His close friend is brutally murdered, and the trail leads to a major missile trafficking case deliberately kept under wraps. To avenge his brother, Rick ventures alone into the heart of the conspiracy. As he presses forward through a perilous investigation, he finally slays his enemy with decisive force and successfully averts a missile crisis threatening the United States. 146Reads—Score—Shelves

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   American crime literature

9. 209 解 The Dissociator: A Black Comedy of Errors 解离者：黑色幽默大事件 Naturally Simpleminded憨的自然Mystery165k WordsCompleted No formulaic power fantasies! Worldbuilding-driven, realist mystery, where evidence is just the final nail needed to make things official. The second installment in the Dissociator series. This is a story about a killer! A killer and a detective, willing to get their hands dirty. Dissociation is a symptom of detachment following trauma. It is commonly associated with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or dissociative disorders. The mind breaks free from pain, the body escapes the dust of 107Reads—Score—Shelves
10. 210 复 The Revenge Concerto 复仇协奏曲 Naturally Simpleminded憨的自然Mystery272k WordsCompleted No formulaic power fantasies! A worldbuilding-driven, realistic mystery where evidence is just the final nail in the procedural coffin. The first book in the Dissociator series. This is a story about a killer! A killer and a detective, willing to do the dirty work. Dissociation is a symptom of detachment following trauma. It is commonly associated with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or dissociative disorders. The mind dissociates from pain; the body breaks free from the dust. The Ame 424Reads—Score101Shelves
11. 211 解 Dissociator: Financial Bullets 解离者：金融子弹 Naturally Simpleminded憨的自然Mystery167k WordsCompleted Rick takes on a covert chain of missions spanning three continents: assassinate the key figures in charge of five ports. At the same time, he uses the hedge fund behind his client to make a killing, sending his personal wealth skyrocketing. Danger follows close behind. Britain’s MI5 and Interpol trace the clues back to Rick, reopening last year’s unsolved assassination cases and quietly closing their international dragnet around him. The unlikely alliance between assassination and capital stirs 271Reads—Score—Shelves
12. 212 被 After My Breakup, the System Forces Me to Be a Jerk 被分手后，系统逼我当渣男 Tofu Pudding Lover Who Likes Youtiao爱吃油条的豆花Urban537k WordsOngoing [System] [Feel-Good Story] [Many Illustrations] On the first day of his sophomore year, Chen Yang was mercilessly dumped by his girlfriend, who cared more about wealth than love. He unlocked a strange System with no introduction and no interaction, so he had to figure it out little by little on his own. It also kept giving him inexplicable rewards. Sure, she's a player, but there have to be rules. Here is the disclaimer: 1: No dating, no official relationship. 2: Be loyal. 3: Don't interfere wit 92.6kReads8.0Score1.2kShelves

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    I highly recommend "A Bloodstained Family," a must-read if you're tired of naive and sweet female protagonists. After their entire family is wiped out, twin sisters return, stained with blood. The female lead is clear-headed and composed, planning carefully before acting, and doesn't rely on any special advantages to survive in the treacherous vortex of the imperial court. There are no pointless melodramatic farces; political intrigue, revenge, love, and hate unfold layer by layer, with nuanced character development. A must-read for fans of political intrigue.

13. 213 重 Reborn in the World of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer 重生笑傲江湖世界 Author Chen Ran作者陈然Male-Channel Fanfiction740k WordsCompleted The protagonist is reborn in the world of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer. What are the Five Mountains Sword Alliance, the Sunflower Manual, or the Dugu Nine Swords compared to doing whatever you please? The martial world is simply a place where people clash with one another. 47Reads—Score—Shelves

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    A young outlaw ventures into officialdom, encountering grudges, unexpected twists, and complexities.

14. 214 高 The Master Sent Me Down the Mountain to Break Off My Engagement and Marry My Senior Sister 高手下山，师父让我退了婚娶师姐 Flying Sword From the West飞剑西来Urban474k WordsOngoing Little Taoist Lu Xuan is ordered by his master to go down the mountain and break off his engagement. His fiancée, the Su family, gives him a hard time, but his senior sisters arrive to help. They also reveal a secret from eighteen years ago: his parents' deaths were no accident. His fiancée's grandfather, Su Zhenhai, was responsible... 1.9kReads—Score100Shelves

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    Young Taoist Lu Xuan descends the mountain to break off his engagement, only to discover that his fiancée's father is the murderer of his entire family! A blood feud that cannot be forgiven. Seven senior sisters aid Lu Xuan in his revenge. An invincible, exhilarating story, super satisfying and not angsty, with an invincible start and a smooth, effortless progression.

15. 215 元 The Revival of Vital Energy: Yuanqi, the Arrow God 元气复苏之元启箭神 Black-and-White Arrow黑白箭Urban1.0M WordsOngoing A new work is here. Welcome, everyone! In the future, the star system containing Blue Star breaks free from the barren zone. Elements and spiritual qi revive, and all kinds of plants and animals constantly mutate and evolve to adapt to their environment. Blue Star keeps growing larger as spiritual qi revives. Ancient species and the legacies of various eras emerge one after another, ushering in an age of fierce competition. Watch as the protagonist, Liu Yu, grows stronger and stronger and protec 49Reads8.2Score128Shelves

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    This book is quite good. It's a different kind of post-apocalyptic world, a different kind of archer, with clear thinking and meticulous logic, which perfectly meets the requirements.

16. 216 龙 A Dragon Kingdom Police Cadet Charges Into Maitira 龙国警校生，勇闯迈提拉 Thousand-Year-Old Stone Monkey千年老石猴Urban137k WordsOngoing [Decisive, not a bleeding heart, self-serving, scheming, highly intelligent, always planning several steps ahead]+ [Everyone is ruthless]+ [No System, no golden finger]+ [No characters acting stupidly, logical]+ [No heroine, female supporting character] Ye Zilu plays by his own rules! This is a logically consistent power fantasy: With his options exhausted in Longguo, Ye Zilu, a graduate of the Longguo Police Academy, ventures into Maitila to survive. After joining the police force, he uses ever 1Reads—Score—Shelves

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    High EQ and IQ, not a saint, decisive and ruthless, self-serving, strategic and meticulous, building his own multi-billion dollar empire step by step.

17. 217 大 The Iron-Boned Ming, Zhu Qizhen the Fortress Emperor 大明硬骨头，堡宗朱祁镇 Book Silkworm书蚕虫Historical204k WordsOngoing [No System, no golden finger, no overpowered protagonist, no crushing everyone with brute force] On the eve of the Tumu Crisis, he transmigrates as Zhu Qizhen and is emperor for just one day. Why did Zhu Qizhen clear Wang Zhen's name? Was the Zhu Qizhen who returned to power in history really the same man? Did the Ming dynasty truly begin its decline with him? Of the sixteen Ming emperors, how many met a clear-cut end? He must survive first. Only then can he think about anything else. With three 1.1kReads—Score117Shelves

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    Backed by force and utilizing commerce, adhering to a people-centered historical perspective, and employing open and aboveboard strategies, the story aims to transform the Ming Dynasty. A dual-narrative approach, offering a fresh interpretation of the Tumu Crisis, with logical consistency and all characters displaying high intelligence. No system, no cheat codes, just a diverse cast…

18. 218 钢 Steel and Sunflower 钢与葵 Ripples of a Dream梦的涟漪Eastern Fantasy1.4M WordsOngoing This is a serious, dark-toned epic fantasy set on an imaginary continent. It features multiple protagonists, intricately interwoven plotlines, and a profound world. Its many elements include historical realism, political intrigue, steampunk, Cthulhu, mystery, and character growth. It is a slow burn, but never drags. Welcome to a world that belongs to no heroes. Here, pure light does not triumph over darkness. Instead, faith and fate clash in a bloody struggle. Supernatural powers are not blessin 271Reads9.2Score239Shelves

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    A traditional fantasy novel, a high-IQ, mind-bending work. A serious subject matter, a dark atmosphere, an epic masterpiece. Well-written, with numerous foreshadowing elements. Layers of mystery await you to unravel.

19. 219 九 Nine Nether Heavenswallowing Art 九幽吞天决 Laughing, Leaving Dust Behind笑留尘Eastern Fantasy810k WordsCompleted Once a peerless prodigy, Chu Yuan was betrayed by his closest friend, had his spiritual roots crippled, and fell into the mortal world. On the brink of certain death, he encountered the supreme ancient demonic manual, the Nine Nether Heaven-Devouring Art. This art is incredibly domineering: it can devour the spiritual energy and bloodlines of all things, even the cultivation and Dao fruits of others, and turn them into nourishment for its user. From then on, Chu Yuan embarked on an heaven-defyin 7Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Golden Elixir Creates the Nine Nether Palace

20. 220 鹿 A Deer Treads the Dust of Yong 鹿踏雍尘 Linlugu City林鹿谷城Historical1.6M WordsCompleted In the final years of the Great Yong dynasty, royal princes fought for the throne, military governors carved up the realm, and aristocratic clans meddled in government. The foundations of three hundred years crumbled, while the northwestern frontier lay strewn with bones. Lin Lu, a poor young man from Gucheng, joined the army in Shuofang with the ambition of “defending the land and securing the borders.” But when his army rations were stolen, his military achievements taken from him, and his rel 6Reads—Score—Shelves
21. 221 造 The Creator's Taboo 造物主的禁忌 Xiu Ji休济Sci-Fi & Apocalypse1.1M WordsCompleted (This book has been years in the making and revised over a hundred times. From the first volume to the last, it will tell one complete, expansive story, with a large cast, suspense, and a touch of brain-teasing mystery. From time to time, the author will offer summaries or hints in the author's notes.) A creator's greatest taboo is making a life more perfect than their own! The gods created humanity and shackled it with birth, aging, sickness, death, memories that slip away like sand, and endles 238Reads9.0Score161Shelves

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    High intelligence is mainly displayed by the villains; the true protagonist and super-powerful BOSS only appears in the third volume, during the later stages of various power struggles.

22. 222 黑 The Underworld Heiress Makes a Fierce Bodyguard 黑道千金猛保镖 Count Blue Squid蓝乌贼伯爵Urban518k WordsOngoing [Underworld] + [Urban] + [Multiple Female Leads] + [Power Fantasy] [Not for readers under 18] Wang Meng rose from bodyguard to godfather of the underworld, unifying both the criminal and legitimate worlds. His was a life of power and grandeur. 2Reads—Score—Shelves

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    From a bodyguard to a mafia godfather, he unified both the legal and illegal worlds, living a life of unparalleled power and influence.

23. 223 三 The Poisonous Strategist of the Three Kingdoms: Li Ru Seizes Power 三国毒士：李儒夺权 Ink Shadow Fragrance墨影流芳Historical599k WordsCompleted After transmigrating to the late Han dynasty, Li Ru becomes the most underestimated schemer under Dong Zhuo. When the eighteen warlords unite to campaign against Dong Zhuo and his faction is beset by troubles both within and without, everyone believes Li Ru is merely a sinister adviser clinging to Dong Zhuo. What they don't know is that Li Ru has long memorized The Art of War and The Thirty-Six Stratagems, and is secretly plotting with the advantage of a thousand years of historical knowledge. F 6Reads—Score—Shelves

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    A cunning strategist of the Three Kingdoms period, the chief strategist under Dong Zhuo, condemned by the world for his flattery, power-grabbing, and insidious framing. Was he truly just a weak scholar fit only to hide behind the scenes and wield his pen?

24. 224 黑 Black, White, and Gray: The Perfectly in Sync Players' Minimalist Judgment 黑白灰默契玩家：极简裁决 Between the Mountains方寸山间Urban651k WordsCompleted A high-IQ urban power fantasy with smart characters and a fresh approach! Trust your instincts, no dragging things out! A tight pace with no dull moments, absolutely thrilling! A cool, confident, sexy CEO + a stern, handsome, highly skilled super-spy in the business world: Together, they believe in the “less is more, but stay adaptable” philosophy and join forces to overcome one “impossible” challenge after another… Love, reason, law; black, white, gray; steady, precise, ruthless. A talented bea 3Reads9.4Score—Shelves

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    Female CEO's political intrigue, a high-IQ, satisfying novel

25. 225 网 Online Game: The Great Treasure 网游：大宝藏 Racing Forward疾风向前Sports301k WordsOngoing An ultra-realistic online game + story-driven plot + multiplayer dungeon exploration + battle-pet raising + world bosses + faction clashes + arena duels + treasure hunting + all kinds of life-skill progression! This book covers an incredibly wide range of elements. Keep reading, and you’re sure to have an amazing experience. If it’s not for you, feel free to complain! —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I'd like to recommend a book I wrote. The protagonist isn't very intelligent; he relies entirely on cheat codes and incredible luck. Readers with high tolerance for such stories are welcome to give it a try.

26. 226 综 Wuxia Crossover in the Great Song: The Goddesses’ National Husband 综武大宋：女神们的国民老公 Ice Warrior冰斗士Male-Channel Fanfiction200k WordsOngoing [Grow Stronger by Killing Enemies + Multiple Female Leads] Only five months remain before the Huashan Sect is wiped out. Only five years remain before the Jin invaders destroy the Northern Song. Only ten years remain before the Mongols destroy the Southern Song. Time is short, so I'm busy killing bad guys. I can only flirt with the goddesses. There's no time to marry them. —Reads—Score—Shelves

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    High intelligence in killing enemies

27. 227 林 Lord Lin Chong 林冲君 Xiong Wen夐文Historical1.0M WordsCompleted There have been heroes who were not sages, but never sages who were not heroes! One who can rouse himself may be called a hero. To rouse oneself is for one’s nature to arise from one’s vital energy. Dragging one’s feet and simply going along with the world, accepting what is and rejecting what is not, working all day yet never rising above a life of rank, land, house, and family, counting every grain of rice and every bundle of firewood until one’s spirit is worn down day by day, looking up at t 4Reads—Score—Shelves

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    The author has created a very rich setting for this work, which integrates historical, philosophical, military and political elements, especially combining Eastern philosophy with the governance of a steppe empire, which is very profound.

28. 228 天 The World Is Falling Apart: Escape from Tumu Fortress and Flee for My Life! 天崩：逃出土木堡，亡命狼居胥！ Book Silkworm书蚕虫Historical450k WordsOngoing [Survival of the Fittest] [No System] [Political Intrigue] He transmigrates into Zhu Qizhen. He is emperor for just one day, before being forced to flee into the snowy north. The Battle of Tumu is riddled with unanswered questions. First, he has to stay alive. Only then can he think about anything else... 13Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    No system, no knowledge of history. He transmigrated to this world on the night of Tumu Crisis, and killed Wang Zhen. He only reigned as emperor for a day, sending his double south to be captured, while he led three thousand remaining soldiers north, facing hunger and cold. Snowfields, blizzards, starvation, wolf packs… No cheat codes, only the struggle for survival. Meanwhile, Zhu Qiyu in the capital, watching the empty treasury, defended the borders with Yu Qian. Two parallel storylines, one overt, one covert. This is the Ming Dynasty's toughest bone, its coldest blade.

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