Looking for High-IQ Political Intrigue and Mind-Bending Novels 求高智商 权谋 烧脑的小说

1. 1 烟EN Misty Rain Tower 烟雨楼 A Night of Misty Rain一夕烟雨Eastern Fantasy9.5M WordsOngoing [The print edition is now available nationwide at all major retailers] "Traditional xuanhuan" "No harem" In the land of Jiuzhou stands a tower called the Misty Rain Tower. Its master, Li Qingzhi, is hailed as a peerless prodigy, holding life and death in his hands beneath the cover of night. Yet what the world doesn’t know is that someone else stands behind the Misty Rain Tower, its true founder. Using the guise of a spoiled young master as cover, he manipulates the winds and clouds and plots ac 868.8kReads9.6Score66.1kShelves

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   This book is a must-read for those with high IQ, political intrigue, and mind-bending skills.

2. 2 天 Fish of the World 天下游鱼 Happy Acorn开心橡果Eastern Fantasy7.5M WordsCompleted By the Canglan River, a young man wears a straw raincoat and bamboo hat, holding wine in one hand and a fishing rod in the other. His heart has no place in the world, yet he finds himself in the jianghu... I come from a place beyond knowing. I want to see this world, just as unknown to me... 90.7kReads9.0Score8.9kShelves

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   Calculating the world, calculating the future

3. 3 苍 Cangyuan Demon Emperor: Reborn to Avenge Every Blood Debt! 苍渊魔帝：重生归来，血债血偿！ Young Master Run Yan润衍公子Eastern Fantasy2.5M WordsOngoing Revenge + Strategy + Invincibility + Myriad Worlds + Ensemble Cast The invincible Demon Emperor Cangyuan ruled the Myriad Worlds, yet he was betrayed by his beloved and his sect, nearly suffering the annihilation of his soul and eternal ruin. With only a remnant of his soul, he was reborn in the lower realm, in Xuanxin Heaven, on the Xuanxin Continent, in the Great Qian Dynasty, in Thundercliff City. Reborn and revived, he returns in a trail of blood! He swears to ascend to the upper realm and m 934Reads—Score101Shelves

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   Both are highly intellectual, the first one is more about political intrigue, and both are mind-bending.

4. 4 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 259.5kReads9.6Score30.9kShelves
5. 5 年 Only Eight Years Old, He Is Rushed Into Taking the Throne! 年方八岁，被仓促拉出登基称帝！ At Ease at the Edge of the World天涯逍遥Historical2.9M WordsCompleted After transmigrating into the imperial family of the Yu Dynasty, Chu Ling found himself a son born to a concubine, without power or influence, and with a weak maternal clan. It seemed his best option was to become an idle prince, surrounded by beautiful women, frequenting pleasure quarters and indulging in wine and song. But the new emperor died suddenly less than a year after ascending the throne, and fate played a cruel joke on Chu Ling, forcing him down an entirely new path! 12.8kReads8.6Score946Shelves
6. 6 南 South Branches Toward Dusk, The Regent Has Been Plotting This for Ages 南枝向晚，摄政王他蓄谋已久 Doudou from Zhongyue Province中月省的逗逗Ancient Romance726k WordsCompleted [Just received a rating] Complete ◎ [Revenge after being reborn + mastery of medicine and poison + powerful leads who cherish each other + everyone’s a schemer + palace intrigue and political machinations] Important: No stupid villains. Everyone has eight hundred tricks up their sleeve, and the battle of wits is at its peak! In her previous life, Shen Nanzhi, the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo’s family, was blind to the truth. She used a forbidden technique to save a scumbag man, dr 22.6kReads8.8Score2.6kShelves

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   [Rebirth and Revenge + Healing and Poisoning Mastery + Two Strong Individuals Pampered by Each Other + Everyone's Clever and cunning + Palace Intrigue] **Highlight:** No villains with low intelligence; everyone is cunning and cunning, a battle of wits at its peak! In her past life, Shen Nanzhi, the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo, went blind and used forbidden techniques to save her scumbag husband, exhausting her life force. In return, she found him secretly having an affair with her scheming cousin, leading to the tragic deaths of her entire loyal family! Reborn, she holds silver needles, returning to the day she used poison to prolong her husband's life. Facing his expectant gaze and her cousin's feigned tears, Shen Nanzhi coldly withdrew her needles: "I won't cure the poison. Since my cousin is so deeply in love, why don't you bleed her and cut her flesh?" In this life, she tears off the disguise, possessing unparalleled healing and poisoning skills, able to bring the dead back to life and heal the wounded! Xiao Duo, the Regent of Dayuan, a powerful and influential ruler, suffers greatly from a rare poison. Shen Nanzhi tossed down the antidote, her voice cold and arrogant: "I will extend Your Highness's life. Lend me your blade to slaughter all the demons and monsters, how about it?" The world believed the Duke's daughter was merely a delicate canary in the palm of a living Yama. Only when powerful officials took center stage, and deadly schemes unfolded one after another, did everyone realize with horror—the seemingly fragile Shen Nanzhi was actually a master strategist, a female Zhuge Liang who held the reins of power and calculated every move! She and he entrusted their lives to each other, slaying gods and demons alike, manipulating the entire court with ease! When the bloody path was cleaved through, the world was at peace. The ruthless regent, who struck fear into the hearts of all under heaven, shed his menacing aura and held her tightly in his arms, his voice low and hoarse with madness: "Zhizhi, the realm is settled. This vast and beautiful land is my dowry; when will you finally give me a title?!" —A ruthless and decisive medical and poison queen × A crazed regent who bows down to her; together, they join forces to slaughter all demons and monsters!

7. 7 喜 I Got a Useless System, but My Genius Intellect Crushes the Feudal Lords 喜提废物系统，我靠智商吊打诸侯 Hua Jiuchen话九宸Historical1.2M WordsCompleted A word can turn back a thousand troops, a strategy can reverse a desperate situation, a plan can end a war, and a scheme can secure an empire. Reborn in an age of warring feudal lords, Fang Jimo swears to end the chaos and make his name live on in history through his own intelligence. “You’re too young. Wait another ten years.” He has barely taken his first step when a bucket of cold water leaves him thoroughly disheartened... 55Reads—Score—Shelves
8. 8 岁 Spring's Joy, Year After Year 岁岁春欢 I Really Love Little Crabs超爱小螃蟹Ancient Romance669k WordsCompleted [The print edition of Years of Spring Joy is now available on all platforms] [Heroine and scumbag reborn + male lead transmigrates + mutual salvation + play the pig to eat the tiger] At seventeen, Shen Jiasui married Lu Yunzheng. The Shen and Lu families were both military dynasties, making them a formidable match. Two years into their marriage, Lu Yunzheng defeated the enemy kingdom and won renown across the land. But the Shen family was condemned for treason and executed to the last member. On 266.6kReads9.6Score31.2kShelves

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   These books are definitely indispensable.

9. 9 惹 Offending the Imperial Daughter 惹金枝 Kong Liu空留Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted (Film and television rights have been sold. The physical book will be available for preorder on July 10 at 19:00.) Shi Buyu was born smiling. At that moment, lightning flashed and thunder roared, collapsing a row of outbuildings in the Shi family compound. Days of torrential rain brought devastating floods and countless victims. Rumors soon spread through the capital that she was a disaster star sent into the world. But she was as precocious as a demon, with a photographic memory, and learned bo 257.8kReads9.7Score30.2kShelves
10. 10 缚 Bound by Spring 缚春情 Ren Huanyou任欢游Ancient Romance603k WordsCompleted [The print edition is available on the homepage; film and television rights have been sold] The Jiang and Song families have been close for generations, and Song Wan was betrothed to Jiang Xingjian before she was even born. They grew up together, but she was confined to the inner quarters, where everything she learned was meant to prepare her to become a Jiang family wife. The young man was dashing and ambitious. Before he had even turned twenty, he went off to the frontier to make his name. Bef 92kReads9.6Score12.3kShelves
11. 11 她 She Just Wants to Lie Low, but They Keep Forcing Her to Rebel 她想咸鱼躺，非逼她造反 Warfires Stain All烽火尽染Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted [Screen adaptation rights sold] Lu Songli transmigrated into a book and became the cannon-fodder first wife of Xie Zhan, the male lead of The Powerful Minister's Beautiful Young Second Wife. In the book, her friend Zhao Yutan, who returned in glory from a place of exile, would steal her husband. The two of them carried on behind her back while she was gravely ill, and their affair literally angered her to death. Lu Songli was about to roll up her sleeves and tear into the cheating scumbag and 107.4kReads9.5Score12.4kShelves
12. 12 镇 The Nation-Protecting Prince Consort 镇国驸马爷 Xuan Zhi轩轾Historical3.1M WordsCompleted [System + political intrigue + mind games! The story only gets better as it goes] Ji Ping’an, a die-hard Three Kingdoms Kill player, passes out while gaming. When he wakes up, he’s transmigrated to the Dayu Dynasty and, by some fluke, become its biggest doormat of a son-in-law: the princess’s husband. He also activates a Three Kingdoms Heroic Spirit System. With enough gold, he can summon any general, strategist, warlord, or beauty from the Three Kingdoms. From then on, Ji Ping’an sets out to ge 67kReads8.9Score5.1kShelves

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    This book is truly top-notch.

13. 13 惜 Cherishing Flowers 惜花芷 Kong Liu空留Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted [The original novel behind the TV adaptation starring Hu Yitian and Zhang Jingyi] After keeping her talents hidden for fifteen years, Hua Zhi thought she could spend her life as a proper aristocratic young lady, living in peace. But when the Hua family’s fortunes collapse, she has no choice but to reveal her sharp edge and hold the storm-tossed household together. Being out in public becomes the norm, and so does galloping through the streets. When all else fails, she even carries a coffin on he 18.6kReads9.6Score4.2kShelves
14. 14 千 A Thousand Paths 千人有道 Wu Qi武棋Urban3.3M WordsCompleted [Modern underworld] [Stories of crooked gambling] [Gambling scams] [Anti-gambling] When I was six, my grandaunt said I was doomed to a life of loneliness. She sold me. She sold me to an old man who had lost one hand. An old man who made his living as a swindler. From then on, I learned how to cheat at gambling from him. The old man became my master, but he told me to call him Fourth Master. I became a professional swindler, too. But on the day I graduated from my apprenticeship, Fourth Master di 13.2kReads8.8Score1.2kShelves

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    My aunt said I was cursed with bad luck, that I had caused the deaths of my parents and broken my uncle's leg. So, she sold me. Sold me to an old man with a missing arm. I was only six years old that year. From then on, I became a con artist. A professional con artist. I studied con artistry for eleven years under the tutelage of the man who bought me, Master Si. But on the day I graduated, Master Si died. Died from cheating. I became an orphan again, and began to wander the world alone. In this world, I saw many people being cheated, many cheating, and many being cheated by me. Many... Lost their families because of gambling. I saw others build tall buildings. I saw others host lavish banquets. I saw others' buildings collapse. I myself experienced life from nothing to something, and then losing everything. After all that, I decided to leave this bloody world.

15. 15 这 This Prince Has Gone Mad. Why Would You Provoke Him? 这皇子都疯了，你惹他干嘛？ Before the Wind Rises风未起Historical4.0M WordsCompleted [No System + High-Stakes Scheming + Laying Low to Build Strength + Logical Plot + Brains and Brawn + Suspense + Ancient Espionage] His mother consort dies suddenly of an illness. His older brother dies mysteriously in battle. All his backers are gone!! His father distrusts him, and his other brothers all want him dead! Not a single court official is on his side? In that case, he has no choice but to carve out a path to survival from between the cracks! After transmigrating to another world, he b 62kReads8.8Score4.9kShelves

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    💥, This is the first incredibly good historical novel, memories flood back. The eighth prince of the Great Yan Kingdom, an idiot? I transmigrated? Transmigrated into the body of an idiot! Damn it. Realizing his precarious situation, Xiao Wanping immediately made a decision: continue to feign madness and develop stealthily, otherwise he would inevitably become the target of everyone's criticism. With military power in hand, I have the world! Yes, I must seize power, military power! Whether it's going to the Eastern Border or the Northern Border! In short, I must find a way to leave the capital, Xingyang City, without making a sound. 💥, 🌈 The second book is about the sixth prince. The original owner was the sixth prince of the Great Xia Dynasty. As the imperial edict said: he was uneducated in both literature and martial arts, weak by nature, and had no redeeming qualities other than his good looks and large stature. He was plagued by all sorts of bad habits. The original owner was invited to a banquet at the fifth prince's house and got very drunk. But to say that he disrespected his elder brother's fiancée, Zhen Shi, is absolutely untrue! The original owner was cowardly and weak, and even after drinking, he would never dare to disrespect Zhen Shi. Clearly, this was a setup, a setup designed to kill the original owner! However, the mastermind overestimated the original owner's weakness... After drinking too much, he passed out and had Zhou Che, who had transmigrated from another world, take over his body.

16. 16 请 Your Highness, Go to Your Death! 请皇兄，赴死！ Brew Little Wine煮小酒Historical1.1M WordsOngoing Zhou Che is reborn as the sixth prince of Great Xia, but his five elder brothers keep closing in on him. They want to strip me of my claim to the throne! They want to confiscate what little my family has left! They want to take the woman I love and kill me! If that’s how it is “If you, my brothers, can kill your own kin, why can’t I?” “If you can fight for the realm, why can’t I?” “You all think yourselves capable. What makes me any less so?!” Zhou Che rises with his sword drawn. “Your sixth bro 31.3kReads9.2Score2.5kShelves
17. 17 官 A Trap Within a Trap in the Halls of Power 官场局中局 Spring Breeze Leaves No Trace 007春风了无痕007Urban537k WordsCompleted [Political intrigue + power struggles + influential figures + suspense + workplace drama + deduction] Cao Zili, head of the Phoenix Mountain project, falls to his death. Rumors claim a suicide note was found at the scene, but its intended recipient is a mystery, and the case is full of unanswered questions... Was it suicide or murder? And what was the motive? The body cannot be found, making the case difficult to solve... The provincial task force arrives, sending the political scene in Huzhou i 1.3kReads8.7Score128Shelves

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    High IQ Strategy

18. 18 冮 Gangcheng Storm 冮城风暴 Spring Breeze Leaves No Trace 007春风了无痕007Mystery414k WordsCompleted [Officialdom + Power Plays + Big Shots + Suspense + Business + Deduction] A woman jumps to her death, and the clues point to the senior management of Jiangzhou Group. Canada’s Shen Group moves in, along with America’s Grid and Japan’s Cai Si… Who is the player, and who is the pawn? Power struggles in high places draw government officials into the fray… Powerful officials make their moves, foreign forces intervene, and a contest unfolds over the nation’s major Jiangzhou No. 1 Project… The male an 358Reads8.5Score—Shelves

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    I recommend this book to everyone.

19. 19 潜 Lying Low on a Lonely Island 潜伏孤岛 Spring Breeze Leaves No Trace 007春风了无痕007Urban126k WordsCompleted Shanghai in 1941 is a battlefield without gunfire. Lin Mo, the youngest chief of the secretariat in the Wang Jingwei regime, conceals a Browning pistol beneath his immaculate suit and deadly sharpness behind his gold-rimmed glasses. When he finds a classified message encrypted with the “Plum Blossom Cipher” in a safe, cold sweat soaks through his shirt. There is a traitor within the organization, and this person knows that he is the Chinese Communist Party’s ace agent, code-named “Winter Plum.” 519Reads—Score104Shelves
20. 20 红 Hong Yun and Yunxiao 红云与云霄 Spring Breeze Leaves No Trace 007春风了无痕007Eastern Fantasy223k WordsCompleted When the Primordial Chaos Spirit Cloud meets the Primordial Chaos Golden Dipper, an against-heaven legend spanning time and space begins. The remnant soul of Daoist Hongyun transmigrates a thousand years into the modern era, then returns to the Primordial World armed with the wisdom of technological civilization. He arrives just as Fairy Yunxiao is being imprisoned beneath Qilin Cliff. The moment he breaks the seal and rescues her, the course of the Heavenly Dao shifts. From the blood oath at Wu 19Reads—Score—Shelves
21. 21 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

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    The pinnacle of political intrigue novels: a Beijing elite, now living in hiding in a small county, secretly helps his wife get promoted. Unexpectedly, she mistakes his wife for the vice mayor and files for divorce. Fine, then let him show you what real connections and power are... The plot is incredibly satisfying, absolutely fantastic!

22. 22 逆 Against the Meridians: Liar, Stop! 逆经：骗子住手 Ren Fanwuyin任梵无音Eastern Fantasy1.3M WordsCompleted [Original novel for the animated series This Taoist Is Not Quite Right] Life is unpredictable. The fit thrive under Heaven's law, Those skilled in force become generals, those skilled in strategy become kings. Born into the lowest of professions, he refuses to live like a nobody, He waves the yin-yang banner and sees through the Six Lines of Divination. Watch him play at being a spirit medium, watch him swindle and deceive, Watch him make ruthless decisions, watch him rise like a hidden dragon f 43.3kReads9.4Score4.5kShelves

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    Check out this book, also known as *The Six Lines Hidden Trap*: a traditional martial arts novel combined with suspenseful crime-solving. The plot is fast-paced and full of unexpected twists, intricately linked, and humorous. You won't regret reading it! 👆👆

23. 23 山 A Strategy for Realm and Rivers: Chronicles of Court and Jianghu 山河策【庙堂江湖录】 Hermit of the Cave Peak洞顶山人Historical309k WordsCompleted [Peerless Heir] [Jianghu and Court] [Blood-and-Iron Warfare] [Political Intrigue and Wits] [Alternate History] [Chivalry and Tenderness] [No Transmigration] [No Golden Finger] The Dingbian Prince’s household is wiped out. Ten-year-old heir Ling Canglan narrowly escapes. After years in hiding, he makes his name in a single stroke. He studies both literature and martial arts, and grows into a man of great talent. Faced with the enmity of his country and the hatred of his family, he joins the army 2.2kReads7.0Score155Shelves

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    An alternate history, a world of court intrigue and (jianghu, the martial arts world), bloody wars, and power struggles...

24. 24 官 Officialdom: The Puppet Wife 官场：提线夫人 A Crystal Grape一颗水晶葡萄Urban2.4M WordsCompleted Power is the finest puppeteer, and marriage its sharpest strings. Every gift comes with a price quietly attached. When the elegant puppeteer slid the divorce papers in front of Li Mo, he realized he was already standing on the edge of a cliff. 14.1kReads8.8Score1.7kShelves

    Reader note

    Rebirth + Political Intrigue + Officialdom

25. 25 官 The Official's Path: Rising to Prominence from a Funeral Home 官道：从殡仪馆平步青云 A Crystal Grape一颗水晶葡萄Urban3.2M WordsCompleted With a touch of scholarly refinement and a strong sense of justice, Zhang Yuanqing had been thriving in the officialdom until he hit a major setback. Then his girlfriend betrayed him, and he was banished to conduct research at a funeral home. Faced with deceit and sinister schemes, he refused to give up, finding a way to survive against all odds. Armed with the skill to bring down dragons, he set out from a humble background to forge a path to the very top. I am but a commoner from Jiangbei. 55.3kReads9.4Score5.4kShelves
26. 26 蜀 Zhuge Liang Calls the Rebellious Son of Shu Han a Total Monster 蜀汉逆子诸葛亮直呼太妖孽 Lan Bingche岚冰澈Historical1.0M WordsCompleted Autumn winds sweep across Wuzhang Plains, and a star of the Han falls. For so many later romantics who love Shu Han and dream of its restoration, this became an unshakable regret in their hearts. Yet in the final moments of Zhuge Liang's life, he met a kindred spirit from a younger generation, long overdue. A mere brat, yet born with a rebellious streak. His words made even Zhuge Liang question his own life, leaving him feeling diminished. And yet, a deathless light flared in his aging eyes. "Th 767Reads8.7Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The pinnacle of historical fiction and political intrigue; challenge me if you dare!

27. 27 被 After Being Kidnapped, I Kidnap the Western Regions' Young Lord and Bring Him Back to the Central Plains 被拐后，我反拐西域少主回中原 Thousand Threads of Intrigue千丝戏Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Young lord of the Western Regions × Princess of Sheng'an] Ye Zhaoyu was born into the imperial family. She figured she'd surely been dealt the pampered darling's script in life, so she wisely decided to coast. But she never expected to take a wrong turn and be kidnapped to the Western Regions. By a stroke of bad luck, she was sent to the bed of a deranged young lord known as a demon's lair and a living Shura. She immediately switched into survival-and-escape mode, determined to flee back to the 8.8kReads9.5Score1.4kShelves

    Reader note

    The whole thing is absolutely brilliant, with each plot twist leading to the next, and you can never guess who the final boss will be. The story is full of surprises, and the author's writing is superb.

28. 28 鬼 The Divine Schemes of Guiguzi 鬼谷神谋 Qing Chong Yue Er青虫月二Historical4.6M WordsCompleted [Historical Fiction Writing Contest] Other people are reborn into wealth and privilege, but I came back as a stalk of rice. No, a stalk of rice growing on a grave! A lovesick woman ate me, and became my mother. I became Guigu Wang Chan, whom later generations called Guiguzi, the founding patriarch of the Vertical and Horizontal School. In this turbulent age, watch me stir up the world once more and make my mark on the battlefields of the Warring States! 554Reads6.6Score102Shelves

    Reader note

    You could take a look at the Guiguzi two-piece set.

29. 29 山 A Kingdom as My Betrothal: The Cold-Faced Minister's Feisty Little Ancestress 山河为聘，冷面权臣的娇蛮小祖宗 Lan Lan Yu Chen蓝蓝雨辰Ancient Romance240k WordsCompleted A new work is here! Come read my story on Tomato Novel. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Your support is what drives me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! —Reads7.1Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Crime solving! Political intrigue! Mind-bending! A thrilling tale of two powerful figures uncovering and investigating each other!

30. 30 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 40.6kReads8.7Score3.2kShelves
31. 31 鬼 Ghost Bean 鬼豆 Qing Chong Yue Er青虫月二Historical341k WordsCompleted History, mysticism, enlightenment, cultivation, qi refinement, and political intrigue. Not for beginners. Gui Dou is neither a ghost nor a bean. He is simply Guiguzi’s son. At sixteen, he left the mountain during the early Warring States period, an age of upheaval that few records describe. This book follows on from Guigu’s Divine Stratagem, telling a historical fantasy of intrigue and turbulent events in the Warring States era, as well as conflicts in the martial world. 45Reads—Score—Shelves
32. 32 太 The Crown Prince Is a Treasure Trove, but She Flirts and Runs 太子浑身是宝，但她撩完就跑 Nine Strokes, Then a Horizontal Line九笔横才Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Clever revenge + ensemble court drama + male lead fakes his death and reveals his identity, then goes mad + heroine is his one true love] [Power couple comedy | Strategic mind games | All the right ingredients | Fictional setting] Axiang, a huntress, bought herself a live-in husband. He was handsome, with a fine figure and a noble, radiant air, like an immortal crane descended from the heavens, or a jade-faced gentleman from a storybook. But he had no idea how to show affection. When she offer 1.5kReads9.2Score185Shelves

    Reader note

    A classic historical romance with political intrigue! The female lead is a master strategist with unparalleled wisdom, practically a genius. The villains aren't stupid, and the female supporting characters don't compete with her. The author's writing is excellent, with a particularly solid foundation in historical romance. Skipping chapters can be difficult. It tests the reader's memory and intelligence!

33. 33 开 Suspended from the Start? I Join the Discipline Inspection Team Instead 开局停职？我转投纪委调查组 Second Master Jiangmen江门二爷Urban7.5M WordsOngoing His superior was under investigation, his girlfriend was cheating on him, and after being targeted by office rivals, he was forced onto leave. Yang Dong hit rock bottom from the start, never imagining that a phone call would change the course of his life. He was seconded to the Discipline Inspection Commission's investigation team to save his superior, only to inadvertently trigger a massive storm. Yang Dong had this to say: "No need to panic. I'll have a cigarette and calm down first!" (No hare 531kReads9.3Score28.7kShelves

    Reader note

    We are constantly in various "situations," and we are either pawns who are manipulated without our knowledge, or we do our best to fight for limited freedom.

34. 34 官 The Road to Power: A Clash of Ambition and Desire 官途从权欲交锋开始 Little Lotus Breeze小荷风Urban1.7M WordsOngoing [Political Revenge] + [Career Advancement] + [Alliances of Mutual Interest] + [Romantic Entanglements] + [Political Scheming and Wits] + [Multiple Heroines] + [Ensemble Cast] [The male lead keeps a low profile without being creepy early on, reveals his sharp edge with a roguish charm in the middle, and takes revenge on all his enemies later.] Wang Maoyuan is a "golden phoenix" who flew out of the countryside. The year he graduated from college, he passed the civil service exam and joined the la 17.6kReads7.7Score1.2kShelves

    Reader note

    This is an excellent novel that realistically portrays the lives of officials; it is highly recommended and worth reading.

35. 35 重 Reborn: This Time, the Commoner Will Become an Official 重生，草根这次要当官 Fish Hill Listening to Rain鱼丘听雨Urban1.1M WordsCompleted [Reborn] + [Officialdom] + [A hidden identity] He was an ordinary nobody who unexpectedly returned to life eighteen years in the past! His fate took a new turn, and he rose through the ranks of officialdom! When his rivals moved against him, he discovered that his background held a surprising secret. One of the country's top wealthy families came looking for him of their own accord. Both his uncles were powerful figures, and his older brother was a special forces commander. The Zhong family is i 27.1kReads8.4Score2kShelves

    Reader note

    A brain-teasing, satisfying novel. Powerful background. An ordinary person rises through the ranks of officialdom, doing practical things for the people! Encountering opposition, a top family in the country comes to claim kinship!

36. 36 我 I, the Ultimate Schemer: The Empress Calls Me a Living Yama 我，最强毒士，女帝直呼活阎王 Xing Xing Zi星星子Historical4.3M WordsOngoing [Search Tomato to watch the short drama: The Third Greatest Stratagem of All Time] Gao Yang transmigrated to the Great Qian Dynasty just as the Empress ascended the throne and began recruiting talent from across the land. So he volunteered himself as a poison strategist! The Empress: “Suppose you personally wiped out your enemy's entire family. As you looked at the bodies scattered everywhere, you suddenly realized there was still a child in the house. What would you do?” Gao Yang: “I'd say, ‘Re 382.6kReads9.2Score32.3kShelves

    Reader note

    🌟🌟🌟The data speaks for itself: over 960,000 reads! 🌟🌟🌟It's a time-travel/alternate historical fiction, but the emperor is Empress Wu Zetian, so it's not entirely fictional. 🌻🌻🌻The protagonist navigates the imperial court with cunning, scheming, and meticulous calculations—the plot is logically sound, unfolding layer by layer without any illogical plot points, showcasing the author's writing prowess. 💫💫💫

37. 37 雪 Spring Burns Through the Ashes of Snow 雪烬春灼 The Remarkable Wang Shiyi了不起的王十一Ancient Romance189k WordsOngoing A historical tale of destruction and renewal, hatred and redemption, political intrigue and true devotion. Watch as yesterday's blazing sun is tempered in the deepest darkness, and at last becomes a bright moon shining over the land. Wang Chunxue went from being the prized jewel of the Langya Wang clan to the daughter of a condemned traitor. The imperial decree accusing her family of treason crushed everything she had: her father and brothers, her glory, and her betrothal to the Crown Prince. Af 70Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    History buffs, come here!

38. 38 权 A Benefactor on the Road to Power 权路贵人 Young Master Huajia花家大少Urban1.6M WordsCompleted After a junior employee named Ye Dong impresses his superiors with an outstanding performance, he earns their favor and begins climbing the ladder. The workplace is rife with undercurrents, and family feuds never cease. He proceeds cautiously, establishes himself amid complicated power games, and ultimately turns his life around! 6.3kReads8.6Score457Shelves
39. 39 背 The Mastermind Behind the Scenes 背后高人 Young Master Huajia花家大少Urban418k WordsCompleted Xu Qiang was framed and sent to prison. There, he met a powerful official who gave him guidance and revealed many secrets to him. After Xu Qiang got out, he rose to great heights in no time... 689Reads—Score—Shelves
40. 40 黑 The Black Man 黑汉 Young Master Huajia花家大少Urban176k WordsCompleted We are a black male tribe. Neither dazzling nor romantic. Yet black itself is our precious glory! This is a story about the black earth and its little-known past. 92Reads—Score—Shelves
41. 41 乱 After Fleeing the Chaotic Era, I Became the Founding Empress 乱世逃亡后，我成了开国女帝 Nan Wanxu南婉徐Ancient Romance4.1M WordsCompleted [Publication rights signed] [Strong heroine + political intrigue + turbulent times + power struggles + ensemble cast] She’s fleeing from the start, a female warlord in a chaotic age. Lin Zhihuang, originally named Lin Zhihuan, transmigrates as a county magistrate’s daughter, only to find tens of thousands of refugees attacking the city from the start! While others transmigrate into palace or household intrigue, she transmigrates straight into a chaotic age and a desperate flight from famine. The 95.8kReads9.4Score13.2kShelves

    Reader note

    These three books are high-IQ, political intrigue novels—must-reads for Tomato! [Thumbs up] The first one is about Lü Songli [heart]. After being exiled after marrying into her husband's family, she rises again through scheming. Her opponent, Xie Zhan, is also a brilliant and talented individual. Their interactions are a highlight. The characters are vividly portrayed, and the scathing father and Qin Xiaojiao's husband are hilarious! [Thumbs up] The second one is about the chaotic world. The female protagonist, Lin Zhihuang [heart], attracts talented individuals with her personal charm and clashes with various powerful figures. She navigates the complexities of politics and maneuvering step by step towards becoming the First Empress. Every character is described in detail, with distinct personalities. The writing is humorous—super, super humorous!!

42. 42 美 My Beautiful Boss Won’t Leave Me Alone 美女领导缠上我 Young Master Huajia花家大少Urban620k WordsCompleted A female leader's driver saved her during an unexpected crisis, earning her trust from then on. He helped her cut through obstacles in the political arena, advance her career, and thrive at every turn. 6kReads7.6Score439Shelves
43. 43 郭 The Guo Family's Crosstalk: A Twisted Take on Journey to the West 郭氏相声之歪批西游 Kou Chengtian, Think Extra Spicy寇承天思加辣Urban2.6M WordsOngoing Teacher Guo: Xiao Kou, why did you decide to write a novel that's all crosstalk? It's one of a kind online. Aren't you worried it's too niche and nobody will read it? Me: Because I truly love crosstalk. Teacher Guo: Oh, plenty of people love crosstalk! Even the old man who fixes bicycles at the end of the alley can crack a few jokes. Who do you think you are? Me: I'm nobody special. I'm just... worried. Teacher Guo: Worried? Did an elephant in your family crash an airplane? Me: Not an elephant! 1.6kReads8.8Score105Shelves

    Reader note

    Teachers Guo and Yu personally crafted these imaginative scenarios: the Cowherd acting like a hooligan, Bai Suzhen brutally defeating Fahai, Sun Wukong fighting Li Gui, Sun Wukong becoming Qin Wuyang, Sun Wukong having a secret rendezvous with Nie Xiaoqian, Sun Wukong debating with a group of scholars, Sun Wukong meeting Zhuge Liang from the Time and Space Administration, Sun Wukong righteously rescuing Huo Qubing, Yue Fei being the reincarnation of Bodhi Patriarch's golden-robed attendant, a delivery guy version of The Ring, Sun Wukong righteously rescuing Bai Suzhen, Liu Huaqiang selling melons in Journey to the West with guaranteed ripeness, Guanyin setting up a werewolf game, Sun Wukong's four love affairs with Aquaman, Sun Wukong traveling through Causeway Bay, the Bull Demon King loving to drink sugary drinks, Sun Wukong being arrested at the police station, Sun Wukong's buffet, the Bull Demon King riding a roller coaster, Bodhi Patriarch being a GM, and Chen Haonan being the sworn brother, Lion Camel King.

44. 44 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 1.7MReads9.9Score206.4kShelves

    Reader note

    Oh, brain-teasing and high-IQ? [Rolls eyes] Interesting. [Cool] How could I forget my four boy bands from the bookshelf? Except for the second book, which is only 7.0-7.0, The rest are all 9.0-9. That's what it means to be invincible without a system; it all comes down to your own brain. There are a lot of scammers out there; can you handle them? [Sends heart]

45. 45 上 The Affairs of the Gods 上帝们的那些事儿 Loves Maocao Liquor 521爱吃茅草酒521Mystery2.5M WordsCompleted [Once the top post in the Three-Body Tieba forum, with over 100,000 replies] [Ensemble cast of geniuses]+ [Infinite Flow]+ [Mind games]+ [Wild ideas] Two hundred geniuses are invited to take part in a God Game spanning 28 different worlds. Contestants must conquer their own worlds within 30 days, while entering into battles and strategic contests with other worlds. A mechanical world ruled by AI… A zombie world overrun by the undead… An electronic world gone virtual and chaotic… A world populate 4.7kReads8.7Score926Shelves
46. 46 诸EN The Gods' Foolish Game 诸神愚戏 Ninety Autumns in January一月九十秋Urban3.7M WordsCompleted I have two principles in life: 1. I never lie. 2. I never believe anything anyone says, including myself. “Sir, I would like to point out that your second statement conflicts with the first.” “How so?” “If you never lie, why don’t you believe what you say?” “Oh, sorry. I forgot to mention that I don’t consider myself human.” “?” Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Cheng Shi, Cheng Shi who never lies. What, you’ve never heard of me? That’s all right. You simply haven’t been deceived by m 519.6kReads9.7Score67.5kShelves
47. 47 欺EN Deceiving the Gods: A Performance! 欺神演出！ Violent Purple-Skinned Person暴力紫皮人Mystery5.4M WordsOngoing [Satisfying revenge + Mind-bending twists + Slow burn + Strategic battles + Loads of plot twists] “When I thought death was the end, I opened my eyes and discovered that death was only a new beginning.” Lin Yu was killed by a junior schoolmate he thought had come to confess her love, only to discover that he hadn’t truly died. Instead, he had entered a deadly game! Only the winner would earn the chance to “live again.” Fortunately, Lin Yu awakened the “Unique Class: Deceiver.” [Any lie you 535.6kReads9.3Score87.5kShelves
48. 48 虐 Tortured into a Locked Love 虐锁清欢 Already Exists 11已存在的11Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted Leng Qinghuan was forced to marry the notorious Prince Yan. But she wasn't some naive, helpless girl. Crying and accepting her fate just wasn't in Leng Qinghuan's nature. She seized every opportunity, with the courage to burn her bridges, fought scheming women, fought the empress, opened shops, learned to solve cases, and more... Through her words and deeds, she proved herself. The woman Prince Yan had once sneered at ultimately became someone far beyond his reach! 293Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Completed. An imperial decree shattered Qinghuan's childhood romance with the Crown Prince, forcing her to marry the ruthless Prince He, Ning Zechen. The eavesdropping under the pear blossom tree, the maliciously spread rumors, and the resentment of the arranged marriage all became Qinghuan's sins! The humiliation of her wedding night, the touch of blood, only served to spur Qinghuan to live! For the sake of the Leng family, she had to live well! A series of bizarre murders drew Qinghuan into the case, and the deaths of bystanders filled her with guilt... Through shared experiences, Ning Zechen rediscovered the woman beside him, but when all the beauty is not cherished, why wait?

49. 49 锦 Wealth and Power: The Concubine's Merchant's Scheme 锦绣钱权：庶女商谋录 Little Hejian小禾尖Ancient Romance721k WordsCompleted From five taels in her private stash to wielding control over the empire’s finances, she relied on the simplest principle: Everything in the world can be calculated. Human greed, tangled interests, the rise and fall of dynasties: it is all just a ledger waiting to be tallied. 69Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Using calculation as her blade and wealth as her path, the illegitimate daughter navigates each step with meticulous planning, wielding immense power and wealth in a world where political intrigue and business warfare coexist seamlessly.

50. 50 人 Rising Through the Ranks of Officialdom! 人在官场：步步攀升！ Brothers of the Heavenly Emperor天帝兄弟Urban1.4M WordsCompleted Lin Feng was too honest, so his career never advanced. His wife, Zhang Meina, left him for money. Faced with a woman's betrayal and the indifference of friends and family, Lin Feng finally saw the harsh realities of society for what they were. Then, unexpectedly, a major opportunity came his way: Secretary Huang transferred him to Xincheng County to serve as the county Party committee secretary. 625Reads8.8Score181Shelves

    Reader note

    Low rating, but an exceptionally good official novel. Raymond Lam's story is truly excellent. Extremely good!!!

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