No Power Fantasies or Mindless Stories: Something Substantial and Not Cringey 不要爽文，不要无脑文，有深度，不尬

1. 51 收 Get a Grip, and I’ll Make You Reach for the Stars! 收收心，爷让你高攀！ Yu Susu雨酥酥Ancient Romance663k WordsCompleted Not a strong-female-lead story, and not a power fantasy! [Romance-focused + transmigration in infancy + possessive pursuit + intense push and pull + angst and sweetness + sex before love + a husband chasing his wife to the crematorium + taming a dog] Deliberate seduction X clear-eyed surrender. A disastrous start from the moment she transmigrates, when she is nearly drowned in a chamber pot, combined with traditional son preference, a feudal society where the law does not reach the countryside, 34.9kReads9.1Score4.1kShelves

   Reader note

   The author is really talented. If you like forced love but dislike mindless love at first sight, and dislike morally bankrupt and saccharine romance novels, you might want to check this out.

2. 52 无 No Spiritual Roots? I’ll Hunt Down the Heavenly Dao with My Mortal Body 无灵根？我以凡躯猎杀天道 Qi Qiao Linglong柒巧玲珑Eastern Fantasy1.2M WordsOngoing On the day of the tournament, my cousin sighs that I have no spirit root. My fiancée demands to break off our engagement. My whole clan sees me as a burden, and the Heavenly Dao declares me a cripple. But no one knows that the [Myriad Daos Return to the Void System] I awakened tells me: Spirit roots are shackles imposed by the Heavenly Dao. Having no spirit root is what makes a person whole! From then on, I forge an original Great Dao that requires no spirit root. My cousin is a genius? I'll gra 8.4kReads9.3Score775Shelves
3. 53 甲 Sixty Years of Demon Slaying: This Taoist Gets Stronger with Every Kill! 甲子荡魔：这个道士杀怪就变强！ You Have Health Insurance, You Go First你有医保你先上啊Eastern Fantasy1.1M WordsOngoing [Animated adaptation now airing] There are only fake tragic twists, no real ones, so enjoy without worry! [Decisive and ruthless] [Dark cultivation] [Slow burn] [Gender equality] [No female lead] [Sword immortal] War and calamity rage across the land, monsters run rampant. The human world is a furnace, and its people are mere weeds. Shen Hui transmigrates one day and becomes a Taoist priest at Qingfeng Temple on Qilu Mountain. He intends to spend each day meditating and cultivating qi, pursuing 283.4kReads8.5Score37.5kShelves

   Reader note

   The protagonist cultivates Taoism, and the ensemble cast is well-written and not mindless.

4. 54 金 A Journey Through the Martial World in Golden Winds and Jade Dew 金风玉露江湖行 Ink on the Right Hand右手点墨Male-Channel Fanfiction743k WordsOngoing Chen Hao comes from a world utterly different from this one. There, cultivators soar through the skies and burrow through the earth, spells can destroy heaven and earth, and sects have endured for millennia. As the son of the Hehuan Sect’s leader, he was meant to inherit the sect and roam the world in freedom. Until that blood-red night. His sect was destroyed, his father blew himself up, and every fellow disciple was killed. He fought desperately to protect his senior sister, only to end up wit 7.5kReads9.3Score1.1kShelves
5. 55 末 Surviving Among the Mad in the Apocalypse 末世，我在疯子中求生 The Cat's Dark Night猫的黑夜Sci-Fi & Apocalypse511k WordsCompleted Blood-Cross-like / Apocalypse / Strong Female Lead / Not a Feel-Good Power Fantasy / Desperate Survival / No Romance / No Superpowers / Dark / Everyone Suffers / The female lead is not a ruthless, decisive type. She is sensitive and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Qingshui struggled to survive in the apocalypse in her previous life. After zombies overran the base, she risked her life to escort the only surviving researcher onto a plane, but was devoured by zombies herself. She tho 20.4kReads9.0Score3kShelves

   Reader note

   The overall tone of this story is one of despair. The female lead and her team don't have any special abilities, so it's not a wish-fulfillment story; it's about survival in a desperate situation.

6. 56 伊 The Legend of Iliana 伊莉安娜传 Yilianna伊莉安娜Urban249k WordsCompleted The mysterious young girl Iliana arrives with her magic on the continent of Huanzhou, an unsettled land in a chaotic age. There is no modern civilization on this continent, only a host of factions endlessly at war with one another. It is much like an imaginary, lawless version of ancient China, but with magic. People often use swords, bows, and magic to “make their case.” Warriors are the undisputed answer in the eyes of Huanzhou's people, with wanderers (the Chinese-style kind, not archers!) an 9Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   You can check this out; it's not a wish-fulfillment novel, it's purely storytelling.

7. 57 朝 A Mayfly Lives from Dawn to Dusk; Today I Finally Understand What an Immortal Is 朝生暮死蜉蝣命，今日方知仙是仙 Heaven in a Teapot茶壶洞天Eastern Fantasy2.7M WordsOngoing [Mortal's Journey] + [Not Mindless Wish Fulfillment] + [Smart Protagonists, Antagonists, and Supporting Characters] + [Slow-Building Plot] I transmigrated, and from the start I got a… Oh, no, from the start, I was given an old man for a father and eighteen young stepmothers, … Old man! Calm down! Let's talk this out! Put down the sword and straighten that green hat on your head first! … What?! I'd already made enough money, bought myself a little maid, and was all set to coast through life, and 12.8kReads7.7Score1.2kShelves

   Reader note

   The Myriad Souls Banner refines evil spirits, controls corpses and puppets, cultivates both Yin and Yang, is a mortal cultivation story, has no system, is not a wish-fulfillment novel, both protagonists and antagonists are intelligent, and the characters are complex and three-dimensional, not stereotypical. Worth reading for veteran readers tired of mindless wish-fulfillment novels.

8. 58 穿 Transmigrate to Another World: This Great Dao Wants to Eat Me 穿越异世：这个大道要吃我 Feng Tang's Half-Life of Wasted Years半生蹉跎叹冯唐Eastern Fantasy219k WordsOngoing “I spent my whole life following the rules, but the rules killed me!” [Poetry-led storytelling + clever power fantasy + subtle foreshadowing + Lovecraftian horrors + political intrigue and conquest + mystery and investigation] The Great Dao has no form, and fate is a hunting ground. Mortals are ants, cultivators are livestock. After death, every soul is devoured by the Dao. His name is Yun Ping'an, also known as Yun Qingshan. In the dead of night, he is the “Ghost of Yun,” the man who lays other 19Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   Looking at the resume and the title of this book, you can tell that firstly, this is not a mindless piece of writing; secondly, this book emphasizes depth; and finally, this book is also a lighthearted read. Who says that depth can't be enjoyable? As long as you put effort into the structure, the enjoyment comes from the intellectual and worldview-building perspective.

9. 59 丧 Zombies Are Here, and I Keep Trying to Get Myself Killed, But I Just Won't Die 丧尸来了我库库作死，还死不掉 Sugar Made Me Sweet吃糖后我甜了Sci-Fi & Apocalypse696k WordsCompleted Apocalypse + hoarding supplies + farming + fighting monsters Lin Xi is an ordinary person, timid and lacking any will to survive. When the zombies come, she simply lies flat. Reborn five minutes early, Lin Xi joins the zombies painlessly... Lin Xi dies. Reborn one hour early, she rushes home to take shelter... Lin Xi dies. Reborn one day early, she hastily stockpiles supplies... Lin Xi dies. Reborn one month early, she installs solar chargers and water purifiers... Lin Xi dies. Reborn one year e 62.1kReads9.4Score10.5kShelves

   Reader note

   This is definitely not a wish-fulfillment story. The female protagonist, an ordinary person, undergoes numerous life-and-death experiences and gradually transforms, making the story incredibly relatable.

10. 60 求 Please Stop Cursing Me, There'll Soon Be No One Left in the Industry! 求求你别骂了，圈内都快没人了！ Feeling Constrained局促着Urban767k WordsOngoing [After the first hundred chapters, the story's ideas are unlike anything else online!] [No Female Lead, No Flirting, I Swear + Sharp Critiques and Debates + A Master of One-Liners + The Modern-Day Lu Xun, a Mentor of Ideas + Idealism, a Peerless Patriot + An Adult Fairy Tale + Guaranteed Writing Quality] Bad movies shoved in your face, pretty young actors' expressionless performances polluting your eyes: in his fury, Jiang Li unexpectedly awakens the “Public Enemy of the Internet System” and be 8.1kReads8.7Score527Shelves

    Reader note

    I highly recommend checking this out; it's insightful and entertaining! 👍 The content after chapter 100 is simply divine! You can get a glimpse of its brilliance just from the chapter titles.

11. 61 黑 The Crown of the Dark Moon 黑月光冠冕 Three Lives, Three Three叁生三三Modern Romance2.5M WordsCompleted [The first print volume is now available] [Sweet Romance in a Wealthy Family] + [A Forbidden Love Falls from Its Pedestal] + [Characters Awaken] + [A Chaotic Love Rival Showdown] “You are a cannon-fodder character in this world. Your character tags are: beautiful, vicious, and stupid. When you were eight, you were adopted by the Shen family, the most powerful family in Whale Harbor. The head of the family treasured you like a gem, but you joined forces with your villainous mother to scheme agai 319.2kReads9.5Score43.7kShelves

    Reader note

    "So, I taught her to shoot, to force her to face her fear. I wanted to help her stand up again, not physically, but spiritually. Of course, I know my actions were somewhat excessive, but I had no other choice, because I couldn't think of a better solution." "Before I recklessly rushed into the dark room, I called the police, but during that hour of gunfire, no one stopped me. Isn't that ridiculous? They criticized and cursed, but no one dared to step forward to stop me." "Judge, jurors, I would also like to ask, if the order and justice of this world temporarily fail, what's wrong with being a superhero for an hour? Is being a superhero for an hour truly unforgivable?" "If this is also a crime, why is no one judging who has kidnapped order and justice?" Her minute-and-a-half-long self-defense plunged the entire courtroom into an unprecedented silence. Below the audience, everyone's eyes were fixed on her; at this moment, she was the most radiant presence. Because this was a lesson her grandfather had taught them: one cannot use power to oppress others, because once power is delegated downwards, glory will inevitably be trampled underfoot.

12. 62 全 I’m the Only One in the World Without Powers 全世界只有我没有异能 Do Not Speak of Immortality莫道长生Sci-Fi & Apocalypse1.4M WordsCompleted The apocalypse arrives, and after destruction comes new life. Everyone gains special abilities, while Li Chang'an, who has none, lives like a beast. Some teach him to be kind to others; others teach him to fight his way to a better world. Little by little, he comes to believe that there is light even in the darkness. Though the road is hard, he still wants to become one of the strongest, standing at the very top. But one day, the light vanishes before his eyes. 5.1kReads9.4Score785Shelves

    Reader note

    I would call these three books Tomato's Top Picks

13. 63 关 The Guanshan Pact 关山契 It's Really a Dog真的是狗Historical488k WordsCompleted On the western frontier, yellow sands bury the dead, and honor is as fragile as paper. The young Zhao Tianhao was merely a merchant’s son from Ping Wharf. With a heart full of sincerity, he kept his contracts, protected his family business, and brought peace to his neighbors. Yet the crushing might of the war-torn age destroyed his household, driving him to abandon trade and take up arms. He entered the death camp, managed military rations, trained a corps of death-defying soldiers, and defended 5.3kReads9.3Score577Shelves

    Reader note

    I highly recommend the first book. It's not mindless fun, it doesn't make you stupid, it doesn't involve time travel, no system, no cheat codes, and no romance—it avoids all the clichéd plot points. Not only is the writing excellent and the logic rigorous, but it also weaves war, economics, resources, and politics together very tightly. The political intrigue is extremely cold and calculating, with both overt and covert schemes running parallel, while the battlefield is thrilling and filled with the aesthetics of violence.

14. 64 万 A Carefree Journey Through Ten Thousand Worlds 万世逍遥游 Thinking of the Mortal World应念凡尘Historical420k WordsCompleted The Myriad Worlds + Invincible + No female lead He is a traveler who roams the heavens, a mortal who journeys through countless worlds. He is the past that was never forgotten, the future that could never be recalled. The heavens bear his footprints, and the myriad worlds echo his name. His name is Lin Ziyi. An ordinary, supreme being. PS: This is about the Myriad Worlds, not a historical novel... 3.3kReads9.1Score220Shelves
15. 65 盐 Salt and Iron 盐铁 It's Really a Dog真的是狗Historical387k WordsCompleted Liaodong is bitterly cold, and salt is worth its weight in gold. To save his parents, young Shen Huai pawns his hairpin for salt. But without a permit, the officials seize it. His father dies in prison, and his mother’s blood stains their doorstep. After a blizzard, he leaves his home behind and follows his uncle, a wandering man of the jianghu, onto the path of the black salt trade. From then on, he is drawn into the fateful abyss of salt and iron, military funds, and political power. At first, 453Reads—Score—Shelves
16. 66 低 I Kept a Low Profile, but the Protagonist Secretly Set His Sights on Me 低调的我被主角悄悄盯上了 Holiday Mouse过节老鼠Eastern Fantasy968k WordsOngoing Protagonists who transmigrate usually come with a golden finger. But what should you do if you die by accident before you get one? This is the ridiculous yet tragic story of a native of one world who accidentally killed a protagonist and was branded the ultimate “BOSS” by the golden finger. Zhu Ge swore he only wanted to live an ordinary life, but this System that came out of nowhere just had to stir up trouble. 3.9kReads9.1Score195Shelves
17. 67 一 A Blossom, A Cup of Wine, An Immortal Life 一花一酒一仙人，亦眠亦醉亦长生 Eat a Billion Less少吃亿点Eastern Fantasy1.0M WordsCompleted [This book is also known as The Nine Tales of Peach Blossom Spring] [The print edition of The Nine Tales of Peach Blossom Spring goes on sale at 7 p.m. on November 15!] [Immortality + taking disciples + no female lead + lighthearted comedy, no tearjerkers] When your master serves food, you spin the table; when your master chants a spell, you chatter away. When your master rests, you sing; when your master sleeps in, you bang on a pot. Your master is immortal, but your life is short; your master 199.2kReads9.5Score24.5kShelves

    Reader note

    It's written very comfortably, without any awkwardness.

18. 68 宇 A New Myth of the Universe 宇宙新神话 Jing Zhao井照Sci-Fi & Apocalypse2.4M WordsOngoing The dazzling stars are the stage of the gods. When supernatural powers intertwine with interstellar technology across the boundless cosmos, how many wondrous legends will be born to capture our imaginations? What do they love? What do they hate? What do they fear? What do they seek? Perhaps in the endless universe, so-called gods and aliens are no different from us, ordinary people fumbling our way forward. We are all creatures struggling to survive, fighters who refuse to yield, and, above all, 4.3kReads9.2Score423Shelves

    Reader note

    Give this one a try. All the plot is completely original, no clichés or silly jokes, the setting is rigorous yet imaginative, and the character development and writing are both good. Recommended 🙂

19. 69 开 Invincible from the Start, But I Can't Go Back 开局无敌，但我回不去了 Once Welcomed Home an Old Friend曾照故人归Eastern Fantasy632k WordsOngoing My name is Dong Youzhi. I wasn't hit by a car, struck by lightning, or reborn. I simply transmigrated to a cultivation world, with no sect or faction to call my own, and settled alone on an uninhabited mountain. From the start, I gained invincible cultivation and wanted to return to my hometown to show off, but it turned out I couldn't go back. From the start, I gained invincible cultivation. I write diary entries every day while waiting to return home and show off in front of my roommates. Why 1.1kReads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Although the protagonist starts off invincible, a standard feature of wish-fulfillment novels, it's not just mindless fun. The protagonist travels through countless worlds, witnessing the history of humanity's struggles, making it quite profound.

20. 70 我 I Awakened a Dao Companion Synthesis System 我觉醒了道侣合成系统 The Eye That Lost Its Mind失了智的眼Urban2.9M WordsOngoing (Not a mindless power fantasy. Don't read if that's not your thing.) Ten years after transmigrating, Zhou Ding finally worked up the courage to send a message to the campus belle of the "Chosen One University": Hey, want to become cultivation partners? I've got plenty of yang energy! That night, the campus belle died… 57.3kReads7.9Score4.8kShelves

    Reader note

    Go ahead and figure it out; it's all a subject of study!

21. 71 只 I Was Just Playing a Cultivation Game, I Didn't Mean to Cultivate for Real 只是玩个修仙游戏，没想真修仙啊 Meteor on a Spring Outing踏青的流星Eastern Fantasy593k WordsOngoing This book has been adapted into two animated dramas, so you can count on the quality. [Slow Burn] [Cultivation Sects] [The fiery spirit of youth, gifted rivals, laughter and tears. There are always things you have no choice but to do, and people you have no choice but to say goodbye to.] [The further you read, the better it gets. If you don't believe me, try the latest chapter first, then decide whether to keep reading.] [This book won't have Foundation Establishment cultivators cutting down Nas 14.1kReads8.1Score1.7kShelves

    Reader note

    This isn't a slow-burn, fast-paced, light novel. [Realms: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Divine Transformation, Integration...] This book isn't just about cultivation and leveling up; it also features a cast of vivid characters. Each character has their own unwavering beliefs, experiences love and hate, encounters and companionship, and also faces inevitable farewells. The passionate path of cultivation is interwoven with the warmth and coldness of human relationships, making the characters three-dimensional and lifelike.

22. 72 万 All Things as One: Transmigrating Across Light-Years to Protect You 万有一体：穿越光年守护你 Zi Dan紫萏Modern Romance270k WordsOngoing Fantasy cultivation, Eastern Zen, and post-apocalyptic science fiction intertwine in a beautiful romance between immortal and mortal. An immortal spirit descends to the mortal world to turn the tables and change her fate. With an expansive imagination and a plot full of twists and turns, the story blends cultivation and tribulations, a love spanning dimensions, and the secrets behind the universe’s ascension to a higher dimension. Set against Earth’s ascension to a higher dimension, the novel fo 137Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Urban fantasy, modern cultivation, male and female protagonists awaken and ascend to immortality.

23. 73 道 Fellow Daoist! That Thief Has Written Another Book 道友！那贼子她又写新书了 Three or Four Times三四番Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Cultivation + ensemble cast + no romance + divination cultivator + light literary borrowing] What do you do when you transmigrate to the cultivation world and are about to starve to death?! I’ve just arrived in the cultivation world, fresh off a mule. Thanks for asking: of course I’ll write stories to make money! . Her quest for immortality could wait. One book, After My Spiritual Root Was Destroyed, I Became the Immortal Venerable’s First Disciple, made her famous. Zhu Wuyou thought she could 8.8kReads9.0Score1.5kShelves

    Reader note

    This one is good. It has many foreshadowing elements, an ensemble cast, a smart protagonist, and no romantic pairing.

24. 74 知 A Delicate Educated Youth? General Zhenyuan: I Love Beautiful Women 知青娇弱？镇远将军：我爱美 Dewy Green Plants at Dawn朝露翠草木Modern Romance425k WordsCompleted At the General’s residence, the imperial edict had been delivered. Xue Mulan sat at the side table in the main hall. After a long while, she said only, “Enough!” After the general left, the maid in green collected half a cup of leftover tea, but did not wipe the table or straighten the chairs. 2Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Without a system, without space, without top-tier items, Xue Mulan escapes the prison of the palace and arrives in an era where women can hold up half the sky. She loves the vibrancy on their faces, and she loves his face even more!

25. 75 我 I Am Uncontainable 我，无法收容 May Season五月时期Urban3.2M WordsCompleted [Lighthearted] [Everyday life] [Managing containment facilities] (Peaked at 600,000 active readers and has updated steadily for over a year.) The sun burned beneath the deep sea, while roots spread across the sky. Gears grew from people’s bodies, and upside-down cities fell like meteorites. Fang Jiu once thought that these things, which existed only in fantasy, had nothing to do with an ordinary man like him. That was until his head was chopped off one night... (The pace is slower from the start 188.5kReads9.3Score28.6kShelves

    Reader note

    It's a good read, with a novel premise. The author has a very creative mind, and occasionally throws in a couple of clever phrases that make you laugh out loud.

26. 76 那 That Year, That Cicada, That Sword 那年那蝉那把剑 Mo Yu默煜Eastern Fantasy3.1M WordsCompleted Holding a cicada from summer doesn’t necessarily mean holding the whole summer in your hand. But grasp that sword, and you hold an entire world of martial arts. Wield a three-foot blade of gleaming steel. Dream of becoming a revered Sword God, if only for a day. Be an invincible Sword Immortal, if only for a moment. Sever the headmaster’s treasured pagoda and knock the emperor’s crown from his head. He laughs aloud: “Eight kings with zithers, lutes, harps, and pipes; four imps with grotesque fac 82.6kReads9.3Score8.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Character traits:

27. 77 献 Lord of Sacrifice 献祭之主 Wang Xin王信Eastern Fantasy1.4M WordsCompleted [A new book from a veteran author, guaranteed quality and regular updates.] [No System, beast taming, high martial arts, fantasy] Chen Gu transmigrates into a fantasy world where martial artists reign supreme and strength is everything. However, most people have no talent for martial arts. For ordinary people, the only way to reach the top is to spend nine years studying beast-taming theory and become a... Beast Tamer! While others cautiously spend their few spirit stones at the beast market, ch 2.9kReads8.6Score310Shelves
28. 78 南 Southern Song, Northern Center 南宋北中 Zhong Hong仲弘Historical1.1M WordsCompleted From the start, two strangers who accidentally ended up together transmigrate with their bare bottoms exposed, covering themselves with leaves before getting stung in their most sensitive spots by hairy caterpillars. No System, no golden finger. They mainly rely on what they've learned online to make their way in the world, and the story wins on plot alone. Humorous and funny, with an emphasis on realism. 1.5kReads8.5Score137Shelves

    Reader note

    No system, no cheat codes, just two naked guys transmigrating. They use leaves to cover themselves and even get stung in the groin by stinging caterpillars. They rely entirely on their own hard work, wits, and courage, and the plot is what makes it so compelling. Humorous and funny, with absolutely sharp intellect, striving for realism. The author is an investment guru, and the story covers a lot about financing, projects, negotiation, stock market techniques, and manipulative tactics.

29. 79 我 I Was Raised by Monsters 我被怪物养大 Uncle Nan Yao南妖叔Urban769k WordsCompleted The story is set in a modern city in a parallel world. Legend has it that City A is home to an urban myth called the White Cat Agency. The agency is run by a group of monsters and demons. As long as you pay the appropriate price, they'll fulfill any request you make. Money, organs, emotions, memories, years of life... Anything could become a bargaining chip. Seventeen years ago, an infant boy of unknown origins was found by the agency's owner and raised by a group of monsters. Seventeen years l 2kReads9.6Score379Shelves
30. 80 灵 Ling Cage: Sign-In for the Shadow Army, I Am the Lord of Light and Shadow 灵笼：签到黑影兵团，我光影之主 Don't Say the Chrysanthemums Are Thin莫道黄花瘦Anime Fanfiction1.9M WordsOngoing [Ling Cage + Multiple Heroines + Not Mindless Wish Fulfillment + Ensemble Cast (Enter at Your Own Risk) + Lord of Light and Shadow] [The plot moves slowly at first, then things get exciting in the middle and later parts. If you want mindless thrills, proceed with caution.] The apocalypse descends, the land lies in ruins, and humanity clings to the Lighthouse to survive! Dustborn 5437, Lin Ye, awakens the sign-in System! [Ding! Signed in at Dustborn 4277’s bedroom. Obtained 100 Shadow Soldiers an 1.7kReads6.8Score161Shelves

    Reader note

    A new story is created based on the original world view of Ling Cage, retaining the characteristics of the original work while innovating the plot, making it easy for longtime readers to get immersed in it 🥰

31. 81 世 The World Sinks into Eternal Night, Civilization Drowns in the Light of the Stars 世界沉于永夜，文明溺于辰光 Anti-Static防静电Urban1.8M WordsOngoing [Fantasy] [Plot] [Character Growth] [A Hint of Cosmic Horror] [Slow Burn] [Not a Pure Power Fantasy] Would you rather burn the history books and offer a white veil to the old world, or cradle the rotting truth and dance at the celebrations of the new world? As the world bleeds amid its collapse, as divine revelations echo through civilization... Where will you go? 51.8kReads9.0Score4.7kShelves

    Reader note

    Pollution engulfs the world, civilization fades away, and the lament of the thirteenth era intertwines with the protagonist's quest to unravel the mysteries of his birth. From an orphan of the old world to a mechanical king, this is the journey of a bewildered youth in the new. The world-building is grand, the power system novel and well-developed, and it features a strong ensemble cast, with each character vividly portrayed. A magnificent epic in the realm of fantasy. Not a harem, not an invincible protagonist, not a time-travel story. Some criticize the first volume as mindless, but isn't every protagonist's journey from the start reasonable, with a growth process? Lao Dian's writing has never disappointed; his previous book, Gray Mist, was also exceptionally good. Fellow readers, if you're interested, give it a check it out! 💕

32. 82 他 Them! 他们！ Quan Quan zs权权zsEastern Fantasy803k WordsOngoing This world favors no one. He has no golden finger, no special abilities, and no destiny to become a god. Every bit of strength he gains comes at a price, and the consequences of every choice are irreversible. In this world, no encounter happens for no reason, and no enemy exists merely to serve the plot. Every conflict follows a rigorous chain of cause and effect, and everyone who stands against him has their own convictions and motives. Along his journey, he gradually tears open the truth about 2Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    When a fantasy world removes the elements of cheat codes, overpowered abilities, and unexpected opportunities, and incorporates realism and logic, how cruel would that world become? Perhaps all efforts would end in vain; perhaps one rushes to the battlefield only to find no divine intervention, just a battle already over and an irretrievable regret.

33. 83 富 Better to Kill Without Mercy Than to Be Filthy Rich 富甲一方不如杀人如麻 Unlucky Author Picks Up a Pen非酋提笔Eastern Fantasy201k WordsCompleted A touch of ensemble cast + martial arts + assassins + power players + alternate setting By day, he’s the young master of a money house, pushing an abacus. By night, he’s the Ghost-Faced Reaper of the martial world... Then the martial arts ban that shook the entire realm is enforced, and the martial world undergoes a massive reshuffle. 239Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I'm recommending my own martial arts novel. It's not mindless, it doesn't have a system, it doesn't have a harem, and it features a small ensemble cast.

34. 84 我 I Have a Joker Card 我有一张小丑牌 Azure Company蔚蓝公司Urban2.2M WordsCompleted They say that on the day some people turn eighteen, the gods grant them a playing card with a supernatural ability. There are 52 playing cards and 52 different abilities. Those who receive a supernatural playing card are allowed to attend the best ability-user school. The campus belle: “I have the Queen of Spades. I can conjure all kinds of weapons!” The rich kid: “My dad has the Jack of Diamonds. He can get unlimited money!” Meanwhile, somewhere, a boy took his own playing card and used all 52 157.1kReads8.9Score24.4kShelves
35. 85 重 Reborn: Evolving from a Cell II 重生：从细胞开始进化II Overnight Lemon Water隔夜的柠檬水Urban332k WordsCompleted [Cells + Viruses + Apocalyptic Mutation + Devouring Evolution + Gene Sequences + Ascension Through Flesh] Ning Tian had evolved into an individual being. When he woke, he discovered that mutated pathogens were spreading throughout the city, infecting countless people and turning them into monsters. The mysterious Special Affairs Directorate, once hidden underground, had emerged into the open. Their mission was not only to clear out infected creatures, but also to eliminate those hiding among hum 33Reads6.7Score—Shelves
36. 86 电 Digital Homecoming: Reborn 《电子归途之重生》 Guest of Qinggu Valley箐谷客31k WordsCompleted The Electronic Road Home: Reborn 352Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Hello fellow book lovers! I sincerely recommend the two hard science fiction novellas, "Electronic Journey: Breaking the Cocoon" and "Electronic Journey: Rebirth". The novels have a unique science fiction perspective and novel ideas. They are about a series of ups and downs caused by the discovery of micro-intelligent civilization by mankind in the future. The author's work is conscientious. It is not a fast-paced, formulaic, or trendy work. It is a work written with real care. The author just loves writing and wants to leave behind some good stories with thoughts and meaning. The novel has vivid descriptions, rich character emotions, grand story scenes and a complete world view. The author's writing is very smooth and the logic is very rigorous. All science fiction elements are reasonable conjectures based on the development of science and technology and contradictions. (1) The novel puts forward the idea of "future macro and micro symbiotic civilization", which is a new thinking from the perspective of science fiction. (2) The novel's conjecture that "oxygen atoms and the structure of the solar system are homologous and isomorphic, and the 8-planet celestial system may have similar environments and may give birth to similar life forms" is worth discussing and thinking about by science fiction fans. (3) The novel proposes that "the 'simultaneity' of time in the human world may be a very large time scale in the microscopic world. The 'superposition state' in quantum mechanics, if viewed from the long time scale of the microscopic world, is likely a collection of multiple states of events occurring in a linear sequence, and therefore there is no superposition state." This view is worth considering and discussing. (4) The novel argues that "the electrons observed in experiments are not necessarily passively excited, but may also be actively escaped by life behavior." This view is worth considering and researching. (5) The novel's vision of the future combination of brain-computer interfaces and bionic robots is worth looking forward to. (6) The novel's connotation is satirical towards extremism. Technological extremism, scientific extremism, fame and fortune extremism, and extremism that gets stuck on trivial matters are all objects of satire in the novel. (7) The novel advocates the supremacy of morality and the harmonious coexistence of all things. (8) The novel embodies a spirit of self-sacrifice with great love, a free and easy manifestation of great love. I sincerely recommend it to my fellow readers!

37. 87 直 Insulting Me on My Livestream? I'll Read Your Fortune Right Back at You! 直播间骂我？反手推你八字！ Big Dark Cloud大乌云Urban1.2M WordsCompleted [Coming of Age, Ensemble Cast, No System, Not a Wish-Fulfillment Novel, Metaphysical and Supernatural] [The short drama adaptation is now available!!!] I’m a lousy fortune-teller, and I’m a streamer too. If you insult me in my livestream, I’ll use your birth details to put your embarrassing secrets on a livestream for the whole internet to see. If another streamer talks bad about me, I’ll help him court good fortune and avoid disaster, and make sure he suffers. I can even diagnose internet cripp 10.9kReads9.0Score974Shelves
38. 88 电 Digital Homecoming: Breaking Free from the Cocoon 《电子归途之破茧》 Guest of Qinggu Valley箐谷客30k WordsCompleted Electronic Journey Home: Breaking Free 404Reads—Score—Shelves
39. 89 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 1.7MReads9.9Score209.2kShelves
40. 90 我 Are My Opponents Earthlings? 我的对手是地球人？ Yi Gong益公Sci-Fi & Apocalypse1.2M WordsOngoing Five hundred years ago, two people from Earth crossed sixteen light-years and came to our world, bearing vast knowledge and magnificent technology. They were like gods. We prostrated ourselves before them, humbly seeking their guidance in all things and praising their great deeds. A hundred years ago, twenty million people from Earth followed in the gods' footsteps and came here as well. In keeping with the reverence for Earthlings in our legends, we once again wanted to welcome these angels who 107Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Give me the chance to write 600,000 words, and I will repay you with an excellent work.

41. 91 我 The System Punished Me by Making Me Bleed. Why Are You Crying? 我被系统惩罚流血，你们哭什么 Jie Ni Bai杰尼白Modern Romance600k WordsCompleted The Villainess System had never encountered such a difficult tasker. Every time, she chose to reject the task and accept the punishment of bleeding. But can someone explain why this woman has maxed out the male lead’s affection by bleeding from all sorts of places? System: Host, please choose whether to accept the Level Two task: [Steal the original heroine’s scenes]. Failure will result in coughing up blood. Lin Zhumian: I choose to refuse. Then, while acting, she spat out a mouthful of blood. 10.8kReads9.4Score1.5kShelves
42. 92 穿 I Transmigrated into a Book as the Villain, and the System Told Me to Save Myself 穿书成反派，系统让我自救 Yi·Mo已·墨Eastern Fantasy365k WordsOngoing [The rating just came in...] Chen Mo transmigrates into the book Heaven's Plea Record and becomes a minor villain who gets killed by the protagonist from the start. [Ding! The Self-Rescue System has been activated. Self-rescue points, cultivation, techniques, divine gear, and all kinds of items can be exchanged for.] He doesn't want to be the protagonist's lackey, and he certainly doesn't want to die. His only choice is to frantically establish a persona: I'm a good person. I only want what's be 426Reads8.3Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    No pretentious posturing or face-slapping moments, no idiocy or mindlessness; the plot is exciting and original, lighthearted, funny, and heartwarming. Definitely worth watching.

43. 93 大EN The Great Emperors' Forbidden Zone: After My Master Died, I Went Mad 大帝禁区：师傅死后，我疯了 Bashu Red Bean巴蜀红豆Eastern Fantasy2.2M WordsCompleted [At the end of the immortal path, who stands supreme? One glimpse of red hair, and the Dao is lost.] (Not a wish-fulfillment novel. A brain-teasing, increasingly captivating long story.) “My eldest senior brother is reborn. In his previous life, he was an ancient-era Great Emperor.” “My second senior brother transmigrated from another world, one where technology and shady shortcuts coexist.” “Our junior sister is the little princess of the Ji family, peerless in swordsmanship and unrivaled in ta 36.9kReads9.3Score3.3kShelves
44. 94 金 A Golden Branch Falls to Dust, Yet the Clear Wind Still Comes 金枝坠尘，自有清风来 Plum Valley梅谷Modern Romance145k WordsOngoing He Ya was a beloved heiress from a wealthy family, but a sudden upheaval brought her household to ruin. Her fiancé called off their engagement, his words cutting and cruel: “You have nothing now. You’re no match for me. Stop deluding yourself.” His gleaming leather shoes brushed past He Ya... 1Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Try this one.

45. 95 这 This Top Scholar Plays by His Own Rules 这个状元路子有点野 The Foundation of One's Life立身之本Historical2.3M WordsCompleted [Farming + imperial examinations + alternate history + lighthearted] My Parents Flipped the Table and Quit, So I Want to Take the Imperial Exams Too Just as Wang Xuezhou was about to reach the peak of his life, he transmigrated. The good news: in this life, his parents were loving, and his siblings got along. The bad news: the whole family was pinching pennies to fund his eldest uncle's studies. They had next to nothing and were living on coarse grain and wild greens. But before he could flip t 52.4kReads8.9Score6.5kShelves

    Reader note

    A post-apocalyptic sci-fi masterpiece! Rebirth, revenge, and high-IQ battles, with plot twists that will make your scalp crawl. The protagonist is ruthless and decisive, not a saint. You won't be able to stop reading once you've finished watching it!

46. 96 诡EN The House of Dread 诡舍 The Sound of Wind and Rain at Night,夜来风雨声丶Mystery2.1M WordsCompleted [Infinite-flow + Mild Horror + Survival + One Female Lead] A driverless bus carried a group of cursed people to a strange black lodge… Inside the lodge stood a door stained red with blood. At regular intervals, the cursed were forcibly dragged through the blood-red door and into terrifying worlds, where they had to complete horrifying events… After Ning Qiushui survived one bizarre and terrifying story after another inside the lodge, narrowly escaping death each time, he discovered that none of 711.1kReads9.6Score100.9kShelves
47. 97 定 Defined as True 定义为真 I Just Write with My Eyes Closed闭眼就是写Urban177k WordsOngoing [Not Mindless Wish Fulfillment + Ensemble Cast + No Romance + Fantasy + Superpowers + Light Sci-Fi + Suspense + Mystery] When utterly different “rules” collide, how should reality be defined? 2Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The writing is decent, not mindless, and there's no romantic pairing.

48. 98 首 The Prime Minister's Child Bride Is Quite the Flirt 首相大人的童养媳，有点撩 Zuo Erfang左耳方Ancient Romance611k WordsCompleted [A few warnings: 1. They don’t take over someone else’s body; their souls switch places. 2. The child bride identity is for her protection.] Jiang Yu transmigrated into a book! But she had no System, no golden finger, and she wasn’t the heroine or a supporting female character. She’d become a child bride who appeared in just one panel of a comic, and all you could see of her was her back! Ack… She was just an ordinary little office worker. In this ancient world where the birds didn’t even bother 1.3kReads8.8Score101Shelves

    Reader note

    It's not a wish-fulfillment story, nor is it mindless. There's no system space or cheat codes; it's a simple and heartwarming slice-of-life story.

49. 99 灰 The Gray Lotus 灰莲花 Clouds of Rough Noodles Again又见糙面云Modern Romance819k WordsCompleted [A textbook case of realist business warfare + a deeply romantic, top-tier intellectual romance] The world has gone mad. A top-tier rich, handsome young heir is forced to compete with his wealthy wife for a lover... “If she likes me and I like her too, then we’ll each have to prove ourselves.” The male lead is loaded with resources and comes with every advantage, while the female lead has brains and beauty and rises from humble beginnings. A textbook case of realist business warfare, arranged fa 36.3kReads9.4Score4.3kShelves

    Reader note

    This year's pinnacle of realism, suitable for seasoned fans of contemporary romance novels with discerning taste; mindless newbies should skip it. A very sophisticated setting; Tomato (the author) doesn't deserve it.

50. 100 宁 Ning Yan: When Women Rule the Roost 宁兖，牝鸡司晨 Books Bring True Wealth有书真富贵Historical167k WordsOngoing [Ensemble political intrigue + entrusted heir + factional strife + expansion of the realm + redressing an old injustice] [Wronged powerful minister male lead x emperor female lead disguised as a man] Also known as "After I Blundered into the Imperial Family, I Discovered I Was the Imperial Family" On a winter night in the seventh year of Chengxu, Emperor Zhao Ning Fu suddenly went mad. Wearing the robes of his favorite consort, Yan, he climbed the bell tower and rang the funeral bell before fall 173Reads—Score104Shelves

    Reader note

    A ensemble drama of power struggles, with everyone displaying high intelligence. It features elements of entrusting the heir to a prince, factional infighting, territorial expansion, seeking justice for old cases, and counter-espionage. There's no time travel or minor character lapses in intelligence. Also known as "After Accidentally Entering the Imperial Family, I Discovered I Am the Imperial Family."

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