Looking for Slow-Burn Stories: No Power Trips, No Saintly Leads, and No Idiocy 求慢热型不要爽文，不圣母，不无脑的

1. 1 娶 Marry a Wife to Cut My Taxes? I Started by Supporting My Beautiful Bride 娶妻抵税？从养活美娇媳妇开始 Last Night's East Tower昨夜东楼Historical1.8M WordsOngoing [No System + alternate world + farming + hunting + slow burn + not a wish-fulfillment story + political intrigue and warfare + competing for supremacy in troubled times] “Yucheng, do you want a wife or not? Just say the word and I’ll send one over.” “Then go ahead and send her over.” Shen Yucheng thought it was just a joke, never expecting to actually end up with a beautiful wife. The dynasty is in its final years. Warlords carve up the land, and refugees are everywhere. With nothing but bare wa 27.3kReads8.2Score2k14d adds

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   It's well-written, a slow burn, not mindless, and the supporting characters are also distinctive.

2. 2 放 Let Go of the White Moonlight 放下白月光 Crystal in Disguise as Glass玻璃伪装晶Modern Romance171k WordsCompleted Only Chen Yuan knows she likes Shi Xingchi. She’s loved him for seven years, but before she could confess, she got the news that he was making his relationship public. She believes she isn’t worthy of being loved and deliberately shuts herself off. Then, at university, she meets Lin Zeyang, who looks so much like him. They’re both so dazzling that they can’t be overlooked in a crowd. She can’t help wanting to get close to him, yet warns herself again and again not to fall for him. But feelings c 12Reads—Score—14d adds

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   This isn't a mindless, feel-good story; both leads are virgins. The male lead is a rich second-generation heir, a playboy, but actually love-obsessed. He fell in love with the female lead at first sight years ago, but never saw her again. They meet again in college, and he knows she has a crush on someone else. He loves her so much that he's willing to be a substitute for that crush.

3. 3 穿 Reborn as the Abusive Novel’s Male Lead’s Mother 穿成虐文男主他妈 The Little Cat Fell Asleep小猫睡了Modern Romance159k WordsCompleted [Short story contest] [Foodie fiction] [A sweet little treat] Overnight, she transmigrates into a book with a baby in her belly whose father is unknown. On closer inspection, the baby turns out to be the male lead from the tragic novel she read before. He's a poor little thing whose father doesn't care for him and whose mother doesn't love him. Penniless, Ding Sha relies on her excellent cooking skills to become the food goddess of a construction site. Spicy diced chicken, cured pork with garlic 31.7kReads9.6Score4k14d adds

   Reader note

   Don't be fooled by the title of this book! The plot is heartwarming, and the writing is so comforting that I couldn't stop smiling (PS: not a doting smile, but a genuine feeling of warmth in my heart while reading this book).

4. 4 无 The Godless Realm: The Empty Throne 无神之境：空王座 Lone Goose Over the Desert漠上孤雁Eastern Fantasy1.0M WordsCompleted On a continent where the gods have long since fallen, Prince Faser of the Kingdom of Brook sets out on a journey to the "Land of the Divine Coffin" with the mysterious traveler Aserola, hoping to escape the shadow of his mother's death from illness. Along the way, they meet Pronika, an elf who has lost her memories, and Ya, a girl who shares a life with the Demon King. Their hastily assembled party must fend off one bloodthirsty Demon King after another while contending with the mysterious "Kin 1Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   Self-promoted, no system, no time travel, pure fantasy adventure (눈_눈)

5. 5 异EN The Creatures That We Are 异兽迷城 Peng Pai彭湃Urban3.0M WordsCompleted Gao Yang was an orphan. At the age of six, he transmigrated to a parallel world and began living in a warm family of five. When he turned eighteen, Gao Yang accidentally discovered the truth about the world: this was not a parallel world at all, but a mysterious realm, and all the relatives and friends around him were terrifying Beasts! Gao Yang nearly lost his life 478.1kReads9.7Score66.6k14d adds

   Reader note

   You can only look at it superficially and that's it.

6. 6 争 Fight for the Heavens 争天 Mysterious Big Eater神秘大吃家Eastern Fantasy615k WordsOngoing [Passion and high stakes, an expansive world, intelligent storytelling, a new cultivation system, and a deeply layered plot] The order of Heaven and Earth is shattered, the Six Paths collapse, dark clouds blot out the sun, and evil spirits engulf the skies! But where did these demons come from? And what brought this calamity upon the world? What earth-shaking secret lies behind the spreading fog? A lone young man stands tall. All he sees is the suffering of the people, and every path he takes le 2.6kReads6.8Score11114d adds

   Reader note

   This book is so well written, with great character emotions, foreshadowing, and a tight plot.

7. 7 末 Apocalypse: The Whole Company Denies the Existence of the 18th Floor 末世：全公司否认18楼存在 On Jiufeng Mountain九峰山上Sci-Fi & Apocalypse783k WordsCompleted [Apocalypse + No System + Reborn + Mystery + One Female Lead + Zombies + Hard Sci-Fi + No Mindless Decisions + Revenge] Reborn six hours before the apocalypse, Chu Yan has not only retained his memories of the future, but also mastered the ultimate secret of genetic evolution! He can become the most powerful god in the apocalypse! He frantically stockpiles supplies, builds weapons, modifies vehicles, and saves his parents, racing against time! He will kill his enemies with his own hands and turn 3.6kReads8.7Score31414d adds

   Reader note

   If you're looking for a slow-burn, unpredictable novel, check this one out! It's a sci-fi post-apocalyptic story with a well-developed and original setting. The protagonist is intelligent throughout, and the plot is full of twists and turns, getting more and more exciting as it goes on.

8. 8 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 519.6kReads9.7Score67.5k14d adds
9. 9 第 The Ninth Special Zone 第九特区 Wei Jie伪戒Urban6.1M WordsCompleted After the catastrophe, the land was scarred beyond recognition. Food was scarce, resources were in short supply, and the situation was chaotic... A young man who had fought his way out of an undeveloped zone, with endless yellow sand at his back, came alone to District Nine to make a living. Yet he never expected to meet a few good friends by chance, rise to prominence in the chaotic era over a single thought, and embark on a legendary journey... 210.7kReads9.6Score22.6k14d adds
10. 10 春 Spring Desire Flows Like Water 春欲如水 Doesn't Eat Persimmons不吃柿子Modern Romance375k WordsCompleted New novel on my homepage: Wild Kite. A penniless, down-and-out real heiress × a sinister, spoiled doctor from a wealthy family. His bloodstained hand grips her chin. Fire burns in his one eye as his cold lips press against her trembling softness, and the smell of blood mingles with his scorching breath. “Tastes good. You’re mine now.” Lin Wanxing discovers an organ-trafficking empire and sells a kidney to save her life. With a gun pressed to her head, she saves a patient, only to be suspected of 529Reads—Score11114d adds

    Reader note

    😄😄

11. 11 残 Broken Stone 残石 Breadwinner Wage Slave养家的打工仔Sci-Fi & Apocalypse36k WordsOngoing This is the first novel I've written. My writing isn't very good, and nobody reads it, but I'll just treat it as practice. Of course, if even one fan reads it, I'll keep writing. 1Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    How about this one? It's sci-fi and slow-burning.

12. 12 九 Immortal Fate Beneath the Nine Heavens' Thunder 九霄雷霆仙缘 The Enlightened One Said悟道子曰Eastern Fantasy3.2M WordsCompleted [Ordinary protagonist + thunder arts + beast taming + spatial treasures + insect control + corpse puppets + artifact forging] The ordinary man Wu Dao unexpectedly inherits the legacy of the Thunder Ancestor at the Sanqing Temple. Armed with the True Scripture of the Thunder Emperor, the Divine Heaven Thunder Art, and the Thunder Tempering Technique, he sets out on the path to immortality alongside two little beggars, a blacksmith’s son, and an auctioneer, leading thirteen divine beasts. Carrying 28Reads6.6Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    [Slow-burn, but enjoyable to watch] A ten-year-old child leads four other children, commanding thirteen demonic beasts to knock on the immortal peak. Their bones are tempered by thunder and fire, their spiritual understanding deepens, their childlike words astonish the world, and their beastly roars shatter the sky. They crave no fame, only their true selves, treading through tribulations step by step, comprehending the Dao within those tribulations. A small beginning, ultimately piercing the heavens, the thunder of the nine heavens witnessing their immortal journey. 😳[What][Pouting]🤔

13. 13 雷 The Creation of Thunder 雷霆创世 The Enlightened One Said悟道子曰Eastern Fantasy736k WordsCompleted A miserable chef transmigrates with his culinary skills. The eight great beauties of the Drunken Flower House fall for him, a three-eyed hyena becomes his kitchen maid, and an army of praying mantises serves as his honor guard! Who in the cultivation world has ever seen someone conquer the realm with a spatula? He's witnessed a princess's shy affection, tasted an immortal maiden's tenderness, and even brought the greatest beauty of the Miao frontier completely to heel! Thunderous Marquis of Jinb 14Reads—Score—14d adds
14. 14 雷 Thunder Gazi 雷霆嘎子 The Enlightened One Said悟道子曰Eastern Fantasy1.0M WordsCompleted Lei Ting Gazi's Cultivation Chronicles: Got a Problem? Let's Settle It! The Cultivation world has a new shameless “honey badger”: Lei Ting Gazi. Rules? What rules? “Don't touch my woman. Don't touch my treasures.” That's where he draws the line. Cross it, and whether you're an Immortal Venerable or a demon lord, he'll grab a weapon and fight you head-on. He's never learned the meaning of backing down. See a beautiful female immortal? He'll brazenly say, “It's your good fortune that I took a fanc 58Reads—Score314d adds
15. 15 神 Mythology: Rewriting the World After the Version Update 神话：重写于版本更新之后 Mu Qiao Mu木丂木Urban297k WordsOngoing [No System] [Ensemble Cast] [Urban Supernatural Powers] [Eastern Fantasy] The story is a slow burn, so give me some time and I'll give you a good story. Pangu created the heavens and the earth, and Nüwa created humanity... The awakening of human thought brought about the collapse of fictional myths. But the subject of myth has always been humanity. After the catastrophe fifty years ago, everything changed. Psychic energy, demonic beasts, incantations... Things that did not belong to this world c —Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Slow-burning books don't get ratings, so this one is perfect for me.

16. 16 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 18.2kReads9.6Score4.2k14d adds

    Reader note

    "Cherishing Flowers and Orchids" is truly amazing. The author's writing style is gentle and flowing, making it a very comfortable read. The writing is also excellent. 😘 The main characters are well-developed and their personalities are also very well-developed. 😳

17. 17 大 The Corpse Collector of the Great Wilderness 大荒收尸人 An Utterly Ordinary Wannabe Author平平无奇小扑街Eastern Fantasy102k WordsOngoing [Beast Taming + Classic of Mountains and Seas + Slow Burn] After the Battle of Zhuolu, the gods retreated to Kunlun, while wild beasts vanished into the mountains and marshes. The Five Emperors had divided the Great Wilderness among themselves, and humanity was flourishing. Yet unknown changes were unfolding in this world of mountains and seas... Bo Yuan, a young man of the Bo tribe, carries the Atlas of Mountains and Seas. Setting out from a small tribe, he witnesses the wondrous splendor of th —Reads—Score—14d adds

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    Classic of Mountains and Seas, a primitive genre, slow-burn.

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