In a Reading Slump. Recommend Something Smart With Intelligent Characters 书荒，求带脑子🧠，智商在线

1. 151 把 I Turned My Sister into a Doll, Now I Challenge the Gods Above 把妹妹制成人偶，我剑指漫天诸神 Mu Xin Diao Long牧心雕龙Urban1.3M WordsOngoing [Dystopian + dark comedy + grand worldbuilding + thrills and heartbreak] In the summer of Year 1048 of the Pillar Calendar, Luo Li once again pushed open the glass doors of the Civil Affairs Application Bureau. To obtain a license to kill a girl and use her flesh and blood to awaken a sleeping puppet. “Public Safety Bureau of Laiyin City reminds you: kill without a license and lose everything; kill with a license and benefit your whole family.” “Want to kill someone? Getting a license is har 120.2kReads9.4Score14.1kShelves
2. 152 我 I Really Do Have a Soft-Rice-Eating King System 我真有一个软饭王系统 Song Xiangbai宋象白Urban2.0M WordsCompleted “Over 99 percent of the Host’s cells are dormant. You meet the basic requirements for living off others. Bind the system?” “Yes, yes! Bind it, right away!” Warning: To successfully live off others, you must first learn self-discipline!!! Warning: It’s a soft life, but you’ll still have to work hard. If you don’t like workaholics, don’t open this. Warning: The protagonist will live off lots of people (and animals). If that bothers you, don’t click. 110.3kReads9.3Score10kShelves

   Reader note

   Bring it on! The first book is both exciting and intellectually stimulating. I'm a national treasure, and my baby has to be Japanese. The second book is a male-oriented novel written by a female author, with delicate prose. What's the most amazing thing? It's supposed to be a "soft rice king" system, but the protagonist isn't a jerk. I don't know how the author managed to combine all that with her brainpower; it's incredible. The third book is about Lin Jun and me; I suspect I'm a spy.

3. 153 浴 Reborn in the Flames: From a World in Chaos to Glory 浴火重生：从乱世走向辉煌 Cute Crocodile God萌萌的鼍神Urban1.3M WordsOngoing The rating has just come in, and it will rise later. Rebirth + alternate history + no System + resistance-war espionage A hundred-year-old man, Wang Anqing, dies alone amid the chaos of war... Reborn in the resistance-war era, he must start over from scratch. Watch how this teenage boy grows step by step, makes up for the regrets of his previous life, and ultimately rewrites his fate and history. 6kReads9.2Score395Shelves

   Reader note

   A veteran of the War of Resistance against Japan is reborn back to the anti-Japanese era to save the country and its people. It's a relatively realistic story without a systematic plot, written in a simple yet delicate style. Thank you for your support 😊

4. 154 谍 Espionage: I Can Earn Rewards by Playing the Villain! 谍战：我当恶霸能爆奖励！ Loves Honey Longjing Tea爱喝蜂蜜龙井茶Urban2.7M WordsOngoing After transmigrating into a minor secret agent at Beiping Station, he unexpectedly awakened the Tyrant System!! As long as the System judges something to be bad behavior, he gets a reward! Kidnap a dog traitor and torture him for information. Ding! For using serious violence against another person, reward: the Japanese devils’ top-secret military intelligence! Lin Ze: ??? Beating up traitors counts too? “Mrs. Miyamoto, I have a new assignment for you!” Ding! For coercing an innocent young woman, 170.4kReads9.4Score15.4kShelves
5. 155 捉 My Monster-Hunting Was Exposed, So I Had to Livestream Explanations of Monsters and Ghosts 捉妖被曝光，只好直播科普妖与鬼 Pure and Cute Girl清纯萌妹Urban1.1M WordsCompleted [Livestreaming explanations of monsters from authentic ancient Chinese texts + One female lead + Two incredibly powerful protagonists + The Classic of Mountains and Seas + What the Master Does Not Speak Of + All kinds of folk customs, researched in meticulous detail] As the saying goes: I offer the gods fine incense, and they say it isn't good enough. When a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers came down from the sky wearing sunglasses and smoking Huazi cigarettes, the viewers fell silent. Lin Qin 28.9kReads9.1Score2.7kShelves

   Reader note

   Learned something new! [Thinking] Popular science: Ancient Chinese texts featuring monsters + single female lead + two incredibly powerful main characters + Classic of Mountains and Seas + Zi Bu Yu + various folk customs; the research was very detailed.

6. 156 大 The Benevolent Ancestor of the Tang Dynasty 【大唐仁祖】 Tang Renzu of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors三皇五帝唐仁祖Historical973k WordsCompleted [Golden Finger] [Transmigration] [Li Ke] [Political Intrigue] [History] From the start, he transmigrates into Li Ke. Facing certain death, he uses Li Shimin as a chess piece and goes head-to-head with the Changsun clan and the Guanlong aristocratic families, deftly resolving the struggle over the crown prince's succession. From the start, he is trapped in a dead end: Changsun Wuji has already begun plotting to frame him, and the deadly purge of Zhenguan Year 17 is less than six years away. He 5.6kReads—Score492Shelves

   Reader note

   The author's writing is top-notch! "Emperor Renzu of Tang" has reached the quality of both historical fiction and serious drama, possessing the potential to become a classic. This novel is high-quality, intellectually stimulating, not mindless, logically sound, and features brilliantly portrayed characters! "Emperor Renzu of Tang" was completed in mid-September with nearly a million words, resolving all foreshadowing, filling all plot holes, and avoiding a disappointing ending. The author released a masterpiece in November, comparable to a legendary playwright, a work of art that could be described as divine in ten days! 666! The author's writing style, word choice, plot structure, imperial strategies, political maneuvering, emotional nuances, military warfare, court intrigue, and governance are all top-notch. His writing is astonishing, his scope grand, his themes lofty, his thoughts profound, his knowledge solid, his cultural background deep, and his political maneuvering masterful. If you don't like it after reading it, you can slap me in the face!

7. 157 全 Godhood for All: There's Something Off About My Divine Realm 全民神祇：我的神域有点不对劲 Mumu Sees Changqing沐沐见长青Urban439k WordsOngoing [Godhood for All] [Farming] [Mutation] [No CP] [Multiple Cultivation Systems] [An Increasingly Unhinged Zoo] In the era of divine domains for all, everyone awakens their own divine domain in high school. Tang Shi awakens an A-rank talent: [A Wild, Chaotic Explosion of Growth]. Its effect is simple: the plants and animals in his divine domain mutate at random. The good news is, they might get stronger. The bad news is, they might grow in all the wrong ways. Luckily, he also has a special building 167.2kReads8.3Score23.6kShelves

   Reader note

   This one.

8. 158 表 You Rejected My Confession, So Why Are You Crying Now That I’m Gone? 表白你不接受，我走你哭啥？ One-of-a-Kind Bee不二蜜蜂Urban1.0M WordsCompleted Bai Mo was reborn on the night after the 2004 college entrance exams. Looking at the campus belle, Jiang Luohan, passed out drunk on the bed, he knew better than to entertain any improper thoughts this time. In his previous life, her father had caught him red-handed while he was trying to steal, ruining his reputation and costing him his chance to go to college. He had no intention of making the same mistake again. This time, he would simply focus on starting a business and making money. When Ji 44.4kReads9.2Score4.3kShelves

   Reader note

   Personally, I think the dual-female lead setup is perfectly fine, but if the author had "recruited" both heroines halfway through the novel, the book would likely have fallen apart. Thankfully, the author didn't do that, ending the story happily with both heroines in the final chapters. This book is truly excellent, incredibly sweet from beginning to end! Highly recommended!

9. 159 初 A Rookie's Fortune-Making Adventure in Tokyo, Japan 初鲁日本东京发财记 Big Fish from Harbor City港城大鱼Urban576k WordsCompleted This book has no System, no wild imagination, is not a fantasy novel, contains no sex scenes, and makes nothing up. If that's what you're looking for, don't click. This book is based on my six years living along Tokyo's Yamanote Line. Without violating the laws of my country, it recounts as realistically as possible the protagonist's experiences studying and working in Japan, crossing paths with the yakuza, opening an adult-entertainment business, and nearly being murdered after becoming rich. I 5kReads8.9Score561Shelves
10. 160 机 The Clockwork Woman 机关女人 Old Man Beigong Luo北宫罗老头Modern Romance795k WordsCompleted Born in the countryside, Wu Mei landed a job at the county government after graduating from college. She thought that once she had secured a stable position, she could settle down, but there was a lot to learn at every turn within the system. Faced with temptations in the political arena, difficult emotional choices, and the struggles of everyday life, should she go with the flow or stay true to herself? Through trial after trial, Wu Mei finally broke through and grew. By continually learning a 106.3kReads8.8Score8.8kShelves
11. 161 登 Reaching the Summit 登顶绝巅 Yan Feng of Anzuo安左的炎烽Urban147k WordsOngoing Alternate title: Cultivating Through Power and Money, I Say the Boss Has a Point! [Fresh Premise, No AI] [Childhood Sweethearts] [Cultivation Through Power and Money] [Political Intrigue] [Rival Nations at War] A hundred years ago, the world underwent a cataclysm, giving rise to a substance known as spiritual energy. It could let people fly through the sky and burrow through the earth. It also made animals walk upright, learn to use firearms, and evolve into demon beasts. People and demon beasts 2.1kReads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    There are no mindless plots; the themes of power, money, cultivation, and human relationships are prominent.

12. 162 机 Women in the Government Office 2 机关女人2 Old Man Beigong Luo北宫罗老头Modern Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Born in the countryside, Wu Mei earns a foothold in the county government through her abilities and clear-headedness. Then, after passing a competitive selection process, she steadily rises through the ranks and joins a provincial department, embarking on a new chapter in her career. Just as her career and family life are both flourishing, Wu Mei seems to have reached a peaceful new stage after making it. But the world won’t stay still just because she wants it to. Just as she settles into marit 45.2kReads9.0Score4kShelves
13. 163 序EN Sequence: God Eater 序列：吃神者 No Brain, Just Cerebellum不要大脑要小脑Urban4.3M WordsOngoing [Tomato 2026 Male-Focused Fiction Most Popular Author, Ranked Number One] Published in print, quality guaranteed. An alternate high-martial world, ensemble cast and political intrigue, no nested plot twists, a slow-paced story with a grand setting. Readers all say it gets better the further you read. Giant birds swallow the sun, and all things undergo dramatic change. Strange, immortal gods, and humanity's superpowered sequences. Everyone wants to become a god in this world, but they have no ide 972.9kReads9.3Score119.1kShelves

    Reader note

    These books are all quite good, not mindless at all.

14. 164 绑 Bound to a System, I Become the Invincible Adviser to My County Magistrate Father 绑定系统，做县令爹的无敌女师爷 Chouchou畴畴Ancient Romance763k WordsCompleted [A novice female player who pays to transmigrate + an honest, bookish father + a talkative male lead] The heroine is one of the least capable players to transmigrate. She lands in a fictional dynasty with strict rules of etiquette, a typical feudal society that devours its people. The System forcibly comes online and tells her the game is difficult, but there’s no need to worry: someone is paying to give her an advantage. But the heroine has no grand ambitions. She just wants to help her father 46Reads8.7Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The world is set in a place of strict social norms and rigid systems. Those in power are particularly cunning, and the common people and gentry are equally difficult to deal with. The imperial examinations involve naked body searches, and women who are overly exposed are considered heretics. The female protagonist acts discreetly, initially believing that simply helping her father maintain his seventh-rank official position is enough.

15. 165 亡EN The Necromancer Supreme 亡灵大法师 Imperial Armored Cavalry帝国具装骑兵Urban2.5M WordsCompleted [Fantasy + D&D + mage + no saintly heroine + ruthless and decisive + thrilling combat] Standard version: From the moment he awakened his supernatural powers, Huo Ling knew his path lay ahead of him. Would he choose to be a hero, or a villain? He could fight gnolls in a fortress or plunge into the Nine Hells and consort with devils. He could cut off the head of an Abyssal Lord in the Bottomless Abyss, or conquer Heaven and make the gods bow. Looking back, he realized he had already reached the su 61.2kReads9.1Score5.8kShelves
16. 166 女 A Woman in a Man's Body: The Concubine-Born Heir's Rise to Power 女穿男，庶房嫡子的逆袭 Liu Jilian刘忌廉Ancient Romance1.3M WordsOngoing Now available as an audiobook with a full cast. [Alternate history] + [Woman transmigrates as a man] + [Born into this world] + [Imperial exams and business in the early story] + [Court politics later on] + [One female lead, with a relatively small role] + [A touch of ensemble cast] + [No golden finger] Xie Chengxi was born into another world as the sixth son of the Xie family, a minor family in Bianjing's Grain Transport Guild. His father was the clan's rejected son, kept under pressure for yea 34.6kReads8.3Score3.9kShelves

    Reader note

    This one is pretty good.

17. 167 我 I'm a Good Person, So Why Do You Call Me a Menace? 我一个好人，你们说我是祸害？ Likes Eating Tangerines喜欢吃橘子Urban2.6M WordsOngoing [School Life, Everyday Comedy, Hilarious, spiritual qi revival, No Longer Human, Absurd, Shameless] When Qin Ke opened his eyes, he found himself in a parallel world undergoing spiritual qi revival! Right from the start, a bully showed up looking for trouble and asked him if he knew how to write the word “death”! No need to panic. He flipped open a dictionary and showed him exactly how to write it! “Repeat after me: si, as in ‘death’! Its opposite is ‘live,’ as in ‘stay alive’!” If the Syst 54.6kReads9.3Score5.7kShelves
18. 168 从 Mutating from the Shadows 从影子开始变异 Bu Sanyuan卜三元Urban1.6M WordsCompleted In this era, fearsome, savage monsters run rampant. To fight them, humanity pushes its mind to the limit, breaks through its boundaries, and forges a whole new path, mastering all kinds of supernatural powers. Some command wind and thunder. Some can shatter mountains and rivers with their fists. Others unleash countless flying blades with a single thought, wiping out hordes of ferocious monsters. These people are known as the Gifted. Eighteen-year-old Luo Jie learns he can never become one of th 16kReads8.9Score1.4kShelves
19. 169 开 My Uncle Dies from the Start, and I Get This Great Deal? 开局死大爷，还有这好事 Yan Wu Never Speaks of Night言午不说夜Urban669k WordsOngoing On the surface, he is the young owner of a traditional Chinese medicine therapy clinic. In truth, he is a cultivator who has chosen to live in obscurity among ordinary people. If a hospital can treat it, I can treat it. If a hospital can’t, I can still treat it. As long as you aren’t meant to die, I can keep you alive. If you’ve found your way to me, it means you can still be saved. So tell me, what did you do this time? Feng shui can help someone rise to great heights, or leave them plagued by 240Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    To understand ghosts, to comprehend ghosts, to help ghosts, to utilize ghosts, to develop ghosts...

20. 170 提EN Logged In Early! How Can I Lose After Rebirth? 提前登录！重生的我怎么输？ Little Belly Fish肚肚鱼Urban1.4M WordsCompleted [Character build] [Health bar] [Horrors] [Martial artists] [Sequence] In 2035, a fully immersive game called Dark Realm hit the market and instantly took the world by storm. But a year later, the game descended into reality. Flesh-eating horrors, murderous foreign races, and paranormal Ascendants brought about the apocalypse and drove humanity to extinction. Zhang Qing is reborn two years earlier and is shocked to discover that his headset has returned with him. So he logs in ahead of time! Rebo 97.8kReads9.2Score9.4kShelves
21. 171 冥 The Funeral Parlor Owner's Son Becomes a Forensic Doctor Just to Lie Flat 冥店之子当法医，只为躺平 Yan Wu Never Speaks of Night言午不说夜Mystery620k WordsCompleted You can talk to ghosts about human relationships and social niceties, but you can't reason with people, because people are often scarier than ghosts. When dealing with conflicts between ghosts and people, you don't always have to side with the living. Those who have done wrong don't deserve help. The so-called Five Disadvantages and Three Deficiencies aren't a fate that comes with being a cultivator. They only befall cultivators who help people do evil. Some jobs aren't hard because of the work 77Reads—Score—Shelves
22. 172 人 One Meal Kit a Day in a Chaotic World 人在乱世，一天一份拼好饭 Compete with Heaven for Freedom与天竞自由Historical1.8M WordsOngoing [Not a mindless power fantasy] [Everyone stays smart throughout] [The new story doesn't recycle the same plot] [Tomato's fastest updater] [No emperor worship] [Contains personal takes, enter at your own discretion] [Alternate history mash-up] Lin Yuan wakes up after a nap and finds himself transmigrated back to a chaotic age. Just as he's about to starve to death, he suddenly discovers that he can order one combo meal every day. From that moment on, what path will a soul that can never return ho 313.2kReads8.1Score31.7kShelves

    Reader note

    Every single one of these is a high-quality online novel that I've personally tested. You can read them with confidence! [Eating popcorn][eating popcorn][eating popcorn]

23. 173 快 My System Seems Different from Theirs 快穿：宫斗？霸总？统统滚蛋！ Su Bancheng苏半城Historical2.6M WordsCompleted This book contains ninety-five small worlds, including supernatural tales, ancient history, modern cities, farming, cultivation, and all sorts of others. Many can be read as standalone stories without affecting the main plot. The protagonist’s System has no point shop and can’t offer much help... Most of the time, Fang Zhiyi has to move things forward on his own. “What? You’re saying I have an army of five hundred thousand, and the emperor suspects I’m plotting rebellion?” “That’s right. The Hos 55.2kReads8.8Score4.6kShelves
24. 174 重 Reborn in 1993: Dark Sea 重生1993，暗海 The Gods Want to Go Wild神想出去浪Urban1.9M WordsCompleted The physical edition of Wrathful Sea, Calm the Abyss is now available. Presales officially begin at 19:00 on October 11. [Reborn] [Mystery] [Undercover Agent] [Revenge] [Anti-Drug Operations] [Counterespionage] The golden finger is extremely weak, and he relies on his own abilities. This is a battle of wits between highly intelligent opponents, so you need to keep your brain switched on. There is no showing off and face-slapping! Ideal for veteran readers. If you understand it, you'll find it ve 258.2kReads9.6Score30.8kShelves
25. 175 我 My Wife's World 我妻世界 Why Say So Much何必言深Urban2.4M WordsCompleted When worlds descend and the world itself is threatened, no one can stay out of it! Biological anomalies! Climate anomalies! Geological anomalies! Anomalies in the laws of nature! All anomalies must be eliminated! Become the world’s [white blood cells] and devour them! The West: “I will protect our world!” The East: “We will protect our shared home!” Zhang: “I will protect my wife!” Everyone: “???” [Comedic and lighthearted] [Includes hand-drawn monster illustrations] 33.6kReads9.2Score3.6kShelves

    Reader note

    The first book includes illustrations drawn by the author himself, so don't be fooled by the title. The second book is well-written and requires careful reading throughout; I'll eat my hat if you don't enjoy it.

26. 176 规 Rule Horror: The Prince Is Always Lusting After Me 规则怪谈：王子总是对我垂涎欲滴 There Will Always Be Youth总有青葱Mystery2.1M WordsOngoing [Volume One of the print edition goes on sale August 7] [Short drama and comic adaptation now available] [No romance + Infinite-flow + Horror game + No national destiny + Dark fairy tales] A young woman weeps softly at midnight. A handsome prince turns into a bloodthirsty “beast” at night. Cinderella dies a gruesome death on the night of the ball. The horror game is wrapped in shiny glassine, disguised as a sweet candy. What lies hidden behind the enchanting fairy-tale world... Weird tales desc 84.3kReads9.3Score9.9kShelves
27. 177 我 I Grow Stronger by Devouring the Dead, but the Goddess Wants to Devour Me 我靠吞噬死者变强，女神却想吞我 Director Little Dot导演小不点Urban350k WordsOngoing [Urban high martial arts + varied supernatural abilities + new power system + no System / but a loot-box-style golden finger + intelligent protagonist who grows stronger + satisfying story with brains + mind games and martial combat] Lin Mo is a cleanup worker for the Special Affairs Administration in Shenzhen, tasked with handling the affairs of unclaimed "lonely deaths." During a routine funeral, he unexpectedly awakens the supernatural ability "Echoes of Last Wishes": by touching a dead pers 353Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Some brothers, yes! 🧠 Yes! New book, new original! Near-future + urban fantasy with high martial arts elements. The story is mainly set in the Eastern Kingdom in 2049. Every character has clear motivations and is well-developed. No AI, stable updates. If you're tired of formulaic novels, come and try something different!

28. 178 圣EN The Holy White Crown 圣白冠冕 Feng Xiao Ya枫潇呀Eastern Fantasy3.5M WordsOngoing [Fast-Paced] [Explosive Action] [Emperor] [From Eaglefolk Tribe to Angel Empire] [Ascend to Godhood from the Throne] [Gods' War for Supremacy] [Early Transmigration] [Minor System] [Single Female Lead] [The Animated Adaptation Is Out, Come Watch] Demon God: When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back at you! Jiang You: Wrong. Abyss, when you gaze at Heaven, Heaven gazes back at you! The First Chapter: The Primordial Age of Chaos. Humanity did not yet exist. The ancestors of the elves were 118.6kReads9.0Score10.9kShelves
29. 179 扮 Playing Guanyin, Giver of Children: My Followers Have Babies, and I Grow Stronger 扮演送子观音，信徒生娃我变强 Shaved My Head to Become a Nun削发为尼Eastern Fantasy467k WordsCompleted Li Puti transmigrates into a Guanyin statue in a Buddhist temple and activates the child-bestowing System. Spend one point of incense to help a believer conceive. When the child is born, receive incense as a reward. The stronger the child, the greater the reward. “You helped the Grand Princess conceive. This child has the makings of a great emperor. Incense +999.” “You helped a female immortal conceive, and she bore a child with an immortal spirit root. Incense +9999.” “You helped a female demon 72Reads8.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The first book, "The Goddess of Mercy Who Grants Children," started off very poorly, but it got better later on; you could give it a try. The second book, "Three Lifetimes of Reincarnation," is a series of short stories where everyone is just a passerby in the protagonist's long life. Because the writing was so good, I got too emotionally invested and stopped reading. The third book, "A Woman Disguised as a Man, a Fake Minister," was extremely nice at the beginning. She was a universally hated opportunist in the court, playing dumb to outmaneuver others, eventually becoming the regent who seized control of the court. She was also a legendary teacher who only taught those with a special affinity, and all her students passed the imperial examinations. She was also a chivalrous woman who showed true compassion in the darkness, scheming against the old, undead prime minister, saving the new prime minister, and then the young emperor. She genuinely did good deeds, yet everyone wanted her dead. The fourth and fifth books are a novel and a comic book, respectively. This one is considered a classic, right? It also features a woman disguised as a man. Similarly, she quietly does good deeds and takes the blame for countless wrongdoings. She refused to explain, only wanting to die so she could go home. Unfortunately, not only did she fail to die, but her cultivation only increased, making her even harder to kill. I won't spoil the rest; read it yourself. I won't spoil the surprise. The sixth book is "When Darkness Falls, Close Your Eyes; Werewolves, Open Your Eyes." Everyone is tricked into playing a werewolf game, with the female and male leads trapped in a never-ending loop. Then, every time it's about to end, bang, an explosion! The culprit is among you. The seventh book also features a woman disguised as a man. The female lead transmigrates and serves as a slave under Qin Shi Huang for several years, eventually turning from a devoted fan to a hater. As soon as she escapes, she encounters Qin Shi Huang's carriage and successfully kidnaps him. Afterward, she occasionally tells the emperor she wants to serve a man named Liu Bang, infuriating him! Note: This story has no male lead, and the female lead is not a bloodthirsty person; she holds the male lead's script and has the world in her heart. The eighth book is a comic. Hmm, this is a comic where you can ship the main characters. Uh, it's a family-themed comic, but the Empress is supposedly a writer and artist, as she's been following the gossip online firsthand. The plot revolves around the Emperor's younger brother, who's always plotting a rebellion and knows the Emperor's secret, so he schemes... Go read it for yourself! [Smirk]

30. 180 弹 The Second Book by Tan Jian Ting Chao 弹剑听潮的第2本书 Strumming a Sword and Listening to the Tide弹剑听潮Urban5.8M WordsCompleted In the world of fame and fortune, he keeps his resolve hidden beneath a steely exterior. He never compromises his principles, and every move reveals his true mettle... He plans before he acts, breaks deadlocks through hard work, and builds his reputation with foresight. Through the ups and downs of officialdom, he never forgets his original purpose. 127kReads9.4Score13.5kShelves
31. 181 手 With a Traitor System in Hand, I Disguise Myself as a Man and Win Big 手握奸臣系统，女扮男装我赢麻了 Weng Huahua翁花花Ancient Romance379k WordsCompleted Palace intrigue and power struggles, gender-bender [multiple secret identities, woman disguised as a man, pretending to be weak while hiding her strength, villain protagonist] She starts out keeping her head down, then rises to power. A tale of scheming and betrayal in the world of officialdom! When Shan Xuexing wakes up, she discovers that she’s not only disguised as a man, but also a treacherous minister hated by everyone. The good news: she transmigrated with a System. The bad news: it’s a tr 123Reads8.3Score—Shelves
32. 182 疯 After the Mad Emperor Redeemed Himself, All Under Heaven Became His Devoted Subjects 疯批帝尊洗白后，天下皆为裙下臣 Chuchu Ziyu初初子语Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted Original title: After Constantly Trying to Get Myself Killed, I Became the Emperor Venerated by All Di Yange transmigrates into a wish-fulfillment novel aimed at male readers, where she can only return home by getting herself killed. To make it back as soon as possible, she disguises herself as a man and does everything she can to oppose the protagonist and befriend the villains. In the end, through one careless mistake, she not only saves all the villains but also follows their path, rising ste 30.9kReads9.4Score5.3kShelves
33. 183 江 Jianghu Dragon: Underworld Storm in the Northeast 江湖枭龙：东北黑道风云 Colorful Victory彩胜Urban4.3M WordsOngoing Three years in prison, and everything had changed. After his release, Lu Tao found himself at a crossroads in life. The snowstorm that year was so fierce it bent Lu Tao’s back. The friendship that year was so warm it helped him emerge reborn and fight his way upstream. Watch as a close-knit group of friends stand shoulder to shoulder, stride through a turbulent era, and build something magnificent! 20.1kReads9.1Score1.2kShelves
34. 184 暴 So What If I'm a Tycoon? Don't Come Begging Me 暴发户怎么了，有本事别求我啊 April Sunshine四月骄阳Urban602k WordsCompleted This is a wish-fulfillment novel with one female lead, no NTR, and plenty of ruthless revenge. The male lead is easygoing, takes everything in stride, and hits back whenever anyone crosses him. He doesn’t drag things out, play dumb, forgive, let anyone off the hook, hold back, or turn a blind eye. It has already been adapted into a short drama and an animated comic. Search for the protagonist He Yinjiu on Hongguo to find multiple versions. You slap me? I’ll hit you right back. Sorry, but where I 17.1kReads8.3Score1.5kShelves

    Reader note

    A collection of thought-provoking, high-quality books on my bookshelf that I can read from beginning to end.

35. 185 操 Controlling the Ancestors: Creating a Millennium-Old Clan from the Chu-Han Contention 操控祖宗：从楚汉争霸创千年世家 Just Pay Me给钱就行Historical2.0M WordsOngoing A story of a millennium-old clan and its ancestors After graduating from university, Chen Cheng gained the ability to travel through time, going back and forth across history to control his own ancestors! If he can't get rich in the present, he'll start in ancient times! He takes a leg from Xiang Yu during the Chu-Han Contention, becomes Emperor Wen of Han's tutor amid the Lü Clan Disturbance, pushes through reforms in Emperor Jing of Han's era, and turns the tide in the late Eastern Han! The Ji 96.3kReads8.9Score7.8kShelves
36. 186 开 From the Start with a Commoner Card, I Loop My Way to Becoming the Seer 开局平民牌，我靠循环杀成预言家 Qi Kai Ran柒开染Mystery254k WordsCompleted “Night has fallen. Everyone, close your eyes. Werewolves, open your eyes...” College student Tang Zhijian joins an in-person game of Werewolf to experience the game for herself. But once the game begins, players who were only supposed to die in the game start dying for real! To make it out alive, Tang Zhijian has no choice but to play this deadly game. As she reasons things out step by step and searches for the werewolves through one loop after another, Tang Zhijian discovers that every player h 547Reads8.5Score—Shelves
37. 187 首 A Billionaire Dad and a Prestigious Family Mom: What’s Wrong with Being a Little Arrogant? 首富爹世家妈，嚣张一点怎么啦？ Corporate Slave社畜牛马Urban1.0M WordsCompleted Reborn in his youth, Wang Congcong's first act is to slap himself hard across the face! His father is a real estate tycoon and the richest man in Huaxia! His mother is the legitimate daughter of an eminent family, with connections everywhere! In his previous life! He took a winning hand and played it terribly! He could have inherited a fortune worth hundreds of billions, but instead insisted that his father give him 500 million to start a business. And the result? He lost every last cent! Wasted 16.9kReads7.4Score1.3kShelves
38. 188 大 Disguised as a Man in Great Qin, I Kidnap the First Emperor to Start a Rebellion 大秦女扮男装，掳走祖龙去起义 Yi Sir易SirAncient Romance449k WordsCompleted Lighthearted + everyone misreads the situation + officials gossiping + woman disguised as a man + the First Emperor is my best buddy The heroine is a miracle doctor. After spending a year as a slave, she turns against Qin Shi Huang and sets her heart on joining Liu Bang. Qin Shi Huang hides his identity. Impressed by the heroine's intelligence, he tries to win her over as a minister every time he conquers a kingdom. Scheming Ying Zheng, unhinged Liu Bang, yandere Lu Zhi The heroine is lively at 1.6kReads9.2Score270Shelves
39. 189 魔 The Demon King Transmigrates into the Victim? He Goes on a Rampage, Killing Everyone in Sight! 魔王穿越苦主？血溅五步杀疯了！ Hai Jingliangong海静凉宫Urban2.0M WordsCompleted [Male-Oriented Quick Transmigration] + [Wish Fulfillment] + [Meme-Filled] + [Just Here for the Fun] + [Ruling Multiple Worlds] The demon king of civilization, Su Chen, is bored out of his mind. After capturing a System belonging to a wronged protagonist, the great demon king sets out to conquer mission worlds! The wronged victim of bullying: Su Chen mercilessly slaughters the bullies! Take them out, every last one! The tragic life of a wealthy family's real heir: Su Chen rules like an emperor at 12.2kReads8.8Score757Shelves
40. 190 长 The Ning Empire's Army 长宁帝军 Know White知白Historical5.3M WordsCompleted This world is divided among hundreds of countries, large and small. When it comes to warfare on land, the Ning Kingdom is virtually invincible. Its fierce armies, drawn from the four frontiers and four arsenals, sweep across the realm. Wherever the land stretches, Ning's banners can be planted. But beyond the sea, where its armies cannot reach, there are always those who refuse to submit. And so a young man took up his blade and halberd, and crossed the sea on a single reed. 488Reads9.4Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I've read several good ones over the past few months; they all feature intelligent main characters, good writing, and good plots.

41. 191 一 One Man, One Dog, One Zombie 一人一狗一丧尸 Uncle Nan Yao南妖叔Sci-Fi & Apocalypse1.1M WordsCompleted [No superpowers + no System + plot-focused + no harem] Huang Jin, a young man who secretly worked in a specialized line of business, received a call from his boss at the beginning of the zombie outbreak. His boss ordered him to stay put in C City and wait for the organization to rescue him. But time passed, and after waiting for two whole years, Huang Jin still saw no sign of anyone from the organization. He decided to head to Z City, where his boss was, on his own. Along the way, he came across 35.9kReads9.4Score3.4kShelves
42. 192 道 Fellow Daoist, Why Is Your Human Emperor Banner Belching Black Smoke? 道友，你这人皇幡怎么冒黑烟啊？ He An Is Simple贺安很简单Mystery1.1M WordsCompleted Even unorthodox paths can lead to Heaven! This poor Daoist has always been a bit timid. If I don’t pull up the roots after cutting the grass, I won’t be able to sleep at night! Heh heh heh... I, He An, am your great calamity! 81.4kReads9.3Score7.3kShelves
43. 193 开 Fleeing Famine from the Start, I Keep a Low Profile and Become a Powerful Figure in Troubled Times 开局逃荒，苟在乱世做权贵 When Young, I Didn't Know Leopards Were So Great年少不知豹豹好Historical504k WordsCompleted Lin Rui, who’d gone back to his hometown to loaf around, transmigrates into a chaotic era: warlords fight for power, foreign tribes invade, the emperor is weak, and the people are displaced. The foreign cavalry is about to reach the capital, and the emperor and officials have already fled. Unfortunately, Lin Rui has transmigrated into a poor commoner, with barely a copper to his name. Fortunately, his mansion has come along too. Its functions are stingy and pretty useless, but at least it keeps 10.3kReads8.6Score780Shelves

    Reader note

    This book is super good! The male lead is intelligent and has high emotional intelligence too [I understand][I understand]. The author's writing is superb; they portray their escape from famine so realistically that some parts even made me a little scared [facepalm][facepalm]. Overall, it's a good book and worth reading!

44. 194 江 The Empire as My Canvas 江山为卷 Morning Farewell to Old Friends朝辞故旧Eastern Fantasy1.2M WordsCompleted [A completely fictional xianxia history: political intrigue + xianxia + no System.] “Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince has broken through all four passes. He has led his army across the Yinma River and is closing in on Tianmen Pass.” The ministers were speechless. How could that dissolute heir, who spent every day drinking and womanizing and even brought dancers on military campaigns, have broken through all four passes? From the looks of it, he was going to attack the strongest pass in Western Shu 12.4kReads9.1Score990Shelves
45. 195 回 Back in 1977, I Married the Queen of the Daughters' Kingdom 回到1977年，娶了女儿国国王 Ji Yuning季宇宁Urban2.2M WordsCompleted Ji Yuning transmigrated back to 1977. He went from being a 21-year-old educated youth returning to the city to a literary young man, a great poet, and a famous novelist. It was all thanks to his memories of his previous life and the books he copied. But his greatest reward was marrying a wife as beautiful as a fairy. 11.7kReads8.0Score755Shelves
46. 196 家 My Father Is Sha Ruijin, My Wife Is Zhong Xia Ai. Got It? 家父沙瑞金，老婆钟小艾，懂？ The Newbie's Advance小萌新的进击Male-Channel Fanfiction1.8M WordsCompleted (One heroine, power and influence, a lightly feel-good story, with an incredible background!) Sha Yisheng is reborn in In the Name of the People as the son of Sha Ruijin. From the start, he helps Chen Yang transfer back to Handong. Li Dakang: I told you to go work in the township, so how come your township's GDP is higher than Jingzhou's? Zhao Lichun: Are you kidding me? One township raised the GDP of Handong Province? Qi Tongwei: I only got where I am today thanks to my big brother. Anyone got 8.8kReads8.5Score364Shelves
47. 197 拐 I Dragged Chongba Off to Farm: Brother Would Never Hurt You 拐了重八去种田：哥不会害你 Elder Uncle大姥爷Historical250k WordsOngoing Late Yuan Dynasty + character development + one heroine + unofficial history (please don't flame me) Transmigrate to the end of the Yuan Dynasty, and I become Zhu Chongliu, Zhu Yuanzhang's second elder brother! The good news: I'm a member of the imperial family. The bad news: Not only do I have none of the original owner's memories, but the timing seems a little off, too! The final years of the Yuan Dynasty! An era when Han people lived worse than pigs and dogs! Even more frightening, a group of 1Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    You need to use your brain; there are some plot holes that need to be filled in later. I'm recommending this myself, so I'm asking for feedback. If you can't accept the portrayal of ordinary characters from ancient times, if you can't handle angst, or if you can't accept Taoist abilities, please stay away.

48. 198 重 Reborn in Hong Kong, With a Huge Family Business 重生港岛，家大业大 The Hero of This Place此间人雄Urban2.8M WordsOngoing [Blood-Soaked Conglomerate | Global Hunt | Six Industrial Empires] In 1980, Shao Weiding opened his eyes and found himself the most rebellious of the six young masters of the Shao Group. Everyone laughed at him for turning his back on a fortune worth tens of billions and risking his life in Southeast Asia instead Then, three years later, they watched him smash open a Swiss bank vault with his bloodstained Rolex and propel the Swatch Group to the very top! When Watsons swept across Asia's retail 31kReads9.3Score1.6kShelves
49. 199 雪 Intrepid Blade’s Path in the Snow 雪中悍刀行 The Warlord Who Played with Princes烽火戏诸侯Eastern Fantasy4.5M WordsCompleted The jianghu is a beaded curtain. Great and small figures are its beads; great and small stories, the strings that bind them. And loyalty and affection are the spirit that gives those beads their luster. The story is drawing to a close. The final chapter will end with those words: “Waiter, bring us some wine.” 11.5kReads9.7Score603Shelves
50. 200 你 You Call This a D-Rank Ability? 你管这叫D级能力？ Shang Die商迭Urban5.6M WordsOngoing Five million words, plenty to read [Mind games] [Strategizing] [Intricate plot] [Not a wish-fulfillment novel] Transmigrating three years ago brought Xu Ye to an unfamiliar world! In this world, Void Demons invade and Void Beasts run rampant! Humans have abilities that allow them to become Void Hunters and fight to protect humanity! Xu Ye awakens an SSS-grade ability by chance, only to discover that it lets him understand and use D-grade abilities alone! His beloved dies tragically in the belly 40.8kReads8.7Score3.3kShelves

    Reader note

    How can a book with a high IQ be complete without this?! Don't be misled by the title; it's not a typical mindless, feel-good story like Tomato's. (I think the low rating is just a title issue.) It starts slowly but gets really good, especially after the academy arc. It's a breath of fresh air in the urban martial arts genre, with very engaging intellectual battles. The writing style is similar to Jue Ge's (highly recommended by fans for three days). Don't listen to the comments that say it's cringeworthy; those who have read Jue Ge's work all say it's brilliant.

Other lists with I Turned My Sister into a Doll, Now I Challenge the Gods Above