Looking for Old-School Cultivation Stories: An Ordinary Mortal Who Works Hard to Cultivate, Not Someone Who Levels Up Every Few Chapters 求曾经那种凡人资质，辛苦修仙不要那种几张就升级

1. 1 拾 Gathering the Dao of Immortality 拾道长生 Magical Watermelon Hand神奇西瓜手Eastern Fantasy1.7M WordsOngoing [Mortal-style cultivation + bargain hunting + no System + cautious cultivation] An ordinary boy who makes his living scavenging junk accidentally saves a badly wounded Saintess. After cultivating dual techniques together, he embarks on the path to immortality. Relying on his cautious nature and knack for finding hidden treasures, he steadily grows stronger in the cultivation world. 14.5kReads8.8Score1.3kShelves

   Reader note

   Starting by scavenging scraps, gradually finding hidden gems and developing cautiously to eventually reach the top.

2. 2 道 Dao Gui's Path to Immortality 道癸仙途 Shadow of Su Yun苏云之影Eastern Fantasy576k WordsOngoing A country boy gains a fortuitous opportunity and sets sail for adventure, then returns in triumph. He catches a glimpse of the colorful world of immortals, yet sees bones littering the path to the Dao. Let’s see what kind of wonders Lin Xuan, a lad from a mountain village, can accomplish in this vast and turbulent world of cultivation~ 582Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   These books fit the bill perfectly: traditional cultivation novels, mortal protagonist stories, slow-burn, not mindless, featuring lightning-based spiritual roots, depth, and strategic elements.

3. 3 上 The Ancient Ring Spirit 上古戒灵 Quick Blade Li San快刀李三Eastern Fantasy3.7M WordsCompleted [Mortal cultivation, no System, decisive and ruthless, not stupid] The foremost divine craftsman in the Immortal Realm, Lu Ban, spent his entire life forging the Ring Spirit, an immortal artifact hailed as the greatest of the ancient immortal artifacts. Then, all of a sudden, he vanished along with the Ring Spirit. 5.9kReads8.5Score794Shelves
4. 4 道 The Dao Crumbles: A Carefree Wandering Immortal 道堙，闲散游离仙 Shadow of Su Yun苏云之影Eastern Fantasy134k WordsOngoing Thirty thousand years have passed, and immortals are no more in this world. Time wields a mighty force, turning seas into mulberry fields. A carefree Daoist priest, lucky enough to escape the calamity that destroyed the Dao, has spent ten thousand years in seclusion. Now he wanders the mortal world. —Reads—Score—Shelves
5. 5 炼EN Cultivation Clan: My Fortune Space 炼气家族，我有一个造化空间 Metal and Fire Flourish, Jia Wood金火旺甲木Eastern Fantasy3.5M WordsOngoing [Traditional Cultivation + Slow-Burn Progression + Close-Knit Family + Ruthless + Both Parents Alive. Spatial Realm + Mortal + Cautious + Schemer + Not a Good-for-Nothing] [Realms: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Deity Transformation...] Li Qingyuan was born with congenital heart disease and died young. He transmigrates into the cultivation world before birth, into a family of Qi Refiners. Once he learns that this is a world of cultivation, seeking immortalit 76.5kReads8.2Score5.6kShelves

   Reader note

   A Mortal's Journey to Immortality: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Deity Transformation... Slow-burn progression, spatial cheat, the male protagonist is steady, very shrewd, decisive in killing, not a saint or a sycophant, has many aliases when he goes out, and cultivates immortality by hiding his true nature.

6. 6 一 Two Souls in One Body, Two Empresses from Different Eras Accompany Me Through the Heavens 一体双魂，两代女帝陪我闯诸天 One Sword Soars Through the Clouds壹劍騰雲Eastern Fantasy221k WordsOngoing Today's dungeon is: your destined cultivation partner is the Empress of the current dynasty. And sleeping within her body is the soul of an ancient sect's great empress! Two souls in one body, two generations of empresses sharing a single form. You came from beyond the outer realms and were ambushed by three sages working together. Your cultivation foundation was shattered and your power plummeted. You fell into the Canglan Continent, were branded a foreign marauder, thrown into prison, and sent 1.9kReads7.7Score644Shelves

   Reader note

   🤩Fellow Daoists rejoice! The dual-soul empress setting is practically godlike!✨ The current empress and an ancient empress share the same body. Starting from prison, the male protagonist sweeps away court intrigues and conquers the Canglan Continent. The author promises it will never be abandoned, so feel free to jump in!

7. 7 清 The Immortal Path of Qingyuan 清源仙途 Flatbread with Three Pork Tenderloins烧饼加三里脊Eastern Fantasy2.6M WordsCompleted I’ve been an avid reader for twenty years, especially fond of cultivation novels about ordinary people. Of all the books I’ve read, my favorites are A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality, Renegade Immortal, The Path of a Cultivation Sect Leader, Xuanchen Daoist Path, True Spirit Nine Transformations, and Qinglian Peak. On a sudden whim, I decided to write the kind of xianxia story I’ve always wanted to read: no overpowered cheat or mysterious old master, just an attempt to portray a cult 13kReads8.2Score995Shelves

   Reader note

   A bookworm for twenty years, especially fond of mortal cultivation novels, among which "A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality," "Against the Gods," "The Path of the Cultivation Sect Leader," "The Path of Xuan Chen," "Nine Transformations of the True Spirit," and "The Peak of the Azure Lotus" are my favorites. Suddenly, I had the idea to write my own version of the Xianxia genre, without overpowered characters or powerful backers, striving to present a realistic world of cultivation as I envision it. Orphaned at a young age, he relied on his clan for support, only to witness the deaths of his people as he grew up. Neglected by his family and only wanting to live a carefree life, fate brought him his nemesis. Unsuitable for leadership, he now had to shoulder the honor and disgrace of his entire clan due to various circumstances. Wang Xuanyi turned back, taking one last, poignant look at the place where he had grown up, before leading his children and flying away into the distance without looking back… This book tells the story of a small Foundation Establishment clan that, through generations of effort, grows into an immortal clan… Completed at 2.6 Million words, welcome to read!

8. 8 修 Cultivation Begins in a Mine 修仙从矿洞开始 Blanched Bok Choy菜心白灼Eastern Fantasy1.4M WordsCompleted A pure-mortal cultivation story: no System, no transmigration, a return to the traditional essence of cultivation! The protagonist is an ordinary mortal with no spiritual roots who enters a sect to mine spirit stones for a living. By chance, he survives a deadly disaster and awakens the Five-Colored Spiritual Marrow buried underground. This rare treasure, unseen in ten thousand years, reshapes his spiritual roots from within, unexpectedly condensing the rare Five-Element Spiritual Roots! From th 2.3kReads8.7Score188Shelves

   Reader note

   Need a good read? I highly recommend this cultivation novel! The protagonist starts with no spiritual roots, but a villain in a mine delivers a huge opportunity. Years after leaving the sect, he accidentally rediscovers a long-sealed Spirit Guiding Technique, discovering he has spiritual roots. Struggling with spiritual energy, he rejoins the sect, only to find he has obtained a rare five-elemental root, making him invincible among those of the same cultivation level. It's incredibly exciting and addictive! More importantly, every plot point is filled with crucial opportunities; you can't skip a single chapter. And most importantly, it's concise and to the point, without any filler or unnecessary details. [Already hooked][Thumbs up][Already hooked][Already hooked][Already hooked][Already hooked]

9. 9 修 Cultivating Immortality, I Shatter the Firmament 修仙破苍穹 Overlord Blade霸刀Eastern Fantasy3.4M WordsOngoing [Mortal’s journey + no System + foreign races + immortal pets + supreme secret realm + sect] A young man ventures into the mountains and accidentally obtains a manual. After passing an examination, he joins the local sect, the Azure Dragon Gang. One night, an old man catches him cultivating. The young man becomes his disciple and learns that he has five spiritual roots, which will make cultivation extremely difficult. By chance, he obtains a mysterious little green bottle. The liquid inside cont 12.6kReads8.4Score1kShelves

   Reader note

   I recommend a promising book, it's really good! [I'm full]

10. 10 凡 A Mortal's Immortal Cultivation: Dual Cultivation of Sword and Body 凡人修仙之剑体双修 Murderous Aura Drifting煞气飘飘Eastern Fantasy579k WordsCompleted [Mortal-style cultivation] [Slow burn] [Cautious and careful] [No harem] [Driven by self-interest] [Not a bleeding heart] [No System] [Decisive and ruthless] Chen Xuan was once an assassin in the Darknight Hall. During a mission, he unexpectedly obtained a cultivation technique. He made the assassin's instinct etched into his very bones, caution, his highest principle. He treaded on thin ice with every step of his cultivation, carefully considering every possibility. He watched and waited whenev 892Reads8.0Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The story follows the "Mortal Journey" style, emphasizing caution and meticulousness. However, the development in the first fifty chapters is somewhat bland and slow. After the fifty chapters, the battles become exciting and follow the "Mortal Journey" style. The protagonist advances to Foundation Establishment in Chapter 120, but is still in the early stage of Foundation Establishment in Chapter 170, and is almost at the middle stage.

11. 11 破 A Broken Cauldron Helps Me Cultivate Immortality 破木鼎助我修仙 Red Eggplant Cloth红茄布Eastern Fantasy1.6M WordsOngoing [Mortal cultivation + no System + Divine Wood Cauldron + fantasy world] A brother and sister went into the mountains to forage. His younger sister found a broken wooden cauldron and gave it to her brother to use as a bowl. Suddenly, she spotted an immortal flying through the sky on a sword. “Hey, immortal up there! Hello!” At her greeting, Ye Yao was kidnapped, and her brother Ye Fan was knocked unconscious. When Ye Fan woke up, he burst into tears, only to run into a passing fairy-like young wo 26.2kReads8.5Score2.4kShelves

    Reader note

    Upon hearing Elder Qi's words, Du Yue jumped up excitedly: "Elder Qi is brilliant! Making a move in the Qingdong Secret Realm will be completely undetected!" Elder Qi stood up, waved his hand, and encouraged him again: "After it's done, each of you will receive a reward of no less than ten thousand spirit stones. Moreover, Peak Master Lingtian will remember this great achievement." After saying this, Elder Qi suddenly lowered his voice: "In the future, if you can confirm that Lingxuzi has perished in the Lingxu Sect..."

12. 12 苟 Raising Pigs in a Cultivation Sect on the Sly 苟在修仙宗门养猪 Bay Chief湾长Xianxia229k WordsOngoing After transmigrating to the world of immortal cultivation, Chen Mo is guided by a five-colored pearl and begins in a lifeless space of yellow earth. While others toil in cultivation and fight over resources, he quietly raises flower spirit pigs in Spirit Beast Valley. In his space, spiritual springs bubble, spiritual herbs grow in lush patches, and spirit pigs fill the pens. One drop of Origin Spirit Liquid can evolve a village dog into a spirit beast. A hundred-year-old spiritual herb, somethin 21.3kReads—Score3.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Cultivating immortality through Taoist practices, raising pigs within a sect, developing in a low-key manner.

13. 13 带 Taking My Sister-in-Law on the Path to Immortality 带嫂子修仙记 Fate's One-Slash Style命运一刀流Eastern Fantasy2.1M WordsOngoing The rating has just been posted and will rise later. A mortal's journey, with steady growth. Sun Dongliang and his sister-in-law were sold together and sent deep into the mountains to toil. They were destined to be buried there for the rest of their lives. But he had a mysterious treasure bottle. It could automatically detect and capture spirit beasts! It could remove impurities and turn junk into treasure! His low-grade cultivation techniques could be directly enhanced into high-grade technique 30.2kReads8.5Score2kShelves

    Reader note

    Perfectly matches your ideas

14. 14 赤 The Immortal Path of Crimson Blood 赤血仙途 Fire and Water, One Source火水同源Eastern Fantasy107k WordsOngoing In a world of immortal cultivation, the protagonist Lu Li starts out as an unknown nobody. But when he steps into Medicine King Valley, the wheels of fate begin to turn. He grows stronger step by step, slays evil spirits with his sword, defies fate, and breaks through the barriers of life and death in pursuit of transcendence, ultimately becoming the ruler of the Three Realms. 10Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Traditional cultivation novels, without a system

15. 15 既 Marry a Dao Companion and Cultivate the Truth: Faithful to the Great Dao and to You 既娶道侣又修真，不负大道不负卿 Overlord Pork Knuckle霸王肘子Eastern Fantasy1.7M WordsCompleted After transmigrating to the cultivation world and becoming a low-level rogue cultivator, the protagonist finds that his predecessor was attacked and lay unconscious for three months. Having taken over someone else's body, he is about to be kicked out of the market because he can't renew his lease when the Cultivation Arts System appears! Whatever you know, I know. Whatever you don't know, well, I know that too. In short, I know everything. From then on, the protagonist begins his rise to success 9.2kReads7.8Score471Shelves

    Reader note

    This book has a steady pace but slow progression.

16. 16 苟 Staying Low in the Immortal Cultivation World and Gaining Longevity Points 苟在修仙界加点长生 Chi Jianyu池涧鱼Eastern Fantasy2.8M WordsOngoing [Cultivation + Keeping a Low Profile + Daily Life + Status Panel + Spending Points + No Female Lead + Slow-Paced + Not a Power Fantasy] Yi Changsheng transmigrates to the cultivation world and is so hungry from the start that he's ready to chew on grass. He's an orphan, just ten years old, and a refugee. He has no food, no drink, and not a penny to his name. Fortunately, the game-like status panel he created and his talent, [Eye of the Virtual Dimension], came with him when he transmigrated. Rel 3.2kReads6.7Score246Shelves

    Reader note

    This might be the only book that meets your requirements. Don't be scared off by the rating; it's a really good, mind-blowing novel.

17. 17 全 Global Ocean Survival: My Grappling Hook Never Misses 全民海洋求生：我的钩爪百发百中 Little Marquis of Huaiyin淮阴小小侯Sci-Fi & Apocalypse785k WordsCompleted [Global Survival] + [Doomsday] + [Ship Upgrades] + [Stockpiling Supplies] People wake up to find that billions around the world have entered a marine survival game. From the start, each person gets a small wooden boat, and all supplies must be hauled in with a grappling hook. There is extreme weather, terrifying sea beasts, and pirates who kill for loot. Everyone's goal is simply to stay alive as long as possible. Xu Ning awakens the talent to hit the mark with his grappling hook every time. He 13.9kReads6.1Score954Shelves

    Reader note

    This is a book I wrote myself. Please don't criticize if you don't like it, but please remember to rate it.

18. 18 凡 A Mortal's Quest for Immortality: The Hundred Arts of Cultivation 凡人求仙传之修仙百艺 Ke Yuan's Ran'er可原的苒儿Eastern Fantasy449k WordsOngoing "My old friend has gone west from Yellow Crane Tower; white clouds drift on, empty and unending. The ancients have ridden the Yellow Crane away, leaving only Yellow Crane Tower behind... Why should immortals roam the world freely, while we mortals are nothing but frogs at the bottom of a well...?" 3Reads—Score—Shelves
19. 19 都 A City Slicker with Cheats Takes on the Cultivation World 都市外挂佬闯荡修真界 Ke Yuan's Ran'er可原的苒儿Eastern Fantasy142k WordsOngoing Zhao Xuan, the youngest sales manager at Tianqiong Group, is worth tens of millions at just twenty-four. But after obtaining a mysterious jade book, he transmigrates to the war-torn Great Yan Dynasty. No spiritual roots? No problem! He's got a System cheat! In this world of the law of the jungle and rampant demon beasts, a single click lets him achieve more than ten years of hard cultivation can for others. From a poor country boy to a powerful figure in the cultivation world, he carries a br —Reads—Score—Shelves
20. 20 网 Online Game: Tianyuan Jianghu, Martial Arts of the Future 网游：天元江湖，未来武侠 Ke Yuan's Ran'er可原的苒儿Martial Arts267k WordsCompleted In 2062, technology is highly advanced, and a global online game enters its open beta. Zhao Yong, an ordinary young man at the bottom of society, gradually finds friendship and love in the game. There are no supernatural abilities or fantasy elements, only a vision of the world of the future. —Reads—Score—Shelves
21. 21 全 All Humanity Transmigrates to Survive in the Misty Tribes 全民穿越迷雾部落求生 Ke Yuan's Ran'er可原的苒儿Sci-Fi & Apocalypse151k WordsOngoing Everyone transmigrates into a world where they must fight to survive. The protagonist has no System, just a grueling struggle to stay alive. Later, he finds a native tribe that not only welcomes him but also chooses him as their leader. From then on, his fortunes take off. There are no overpowered heroes here, just ordinary people struggling to survive. —Reads—Score—Shelves
22. 22 绝 The Peerlessly Beautiful Dragon Maiden Fell in Love with Me 绝美龙女爱上我 Ke Yuan's Ran'er可原的苒儿Urban124k WordsOngoing Ye Fan, born in a modern city where martial arts reign supreme, accidentally transmigrates to ancient times and awakens a slumbering Dragon Maiden. Thus begins a fantastical adventure that ultimately brings them together. —Reads—Score—Shelves
23. 23 争 Striving for Immortality 争仙 I'm Zhang Dapao, Everyone Fears Me我张大炮谁都怕Eastern Fantasy1.1M WordsCompleted [A classic mortal cultivation story + no System + Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, and Core Formation] Archaeology expert Wang Zheng transmigrates to the cultivation world, bringing with him a double-sided bronze mirror unearthed from an unknown ancient tomb. While tending cattle one day, he spots a block of ice floating down the stream. To his surprise, someone is sealed inside... 16.4kReads8.5Score1.5kShelves

    Reader note

    This book by Tiezhi avoids mindless overreaching and boastful displays of power. Every character is distinct, even the supporting ones have rich life experiences! It's humorous and witty! The Amazon rainforest, known as the "lungs of Earth," is experiencing a spiritual resurgence. It's not about being a saint (it doesn't interfere with cause and effect, and respects the fate of others). This is truly meant to be savored slowly. The pacing is slow, set in 1980s Earth, featuring a cowherd in a mountain village (who dreams of cultivating immortality). It's a traditional cultivation fantasy (with early chapters focusing on Earth martial arts), not clichéd, and the theme is fresh. If you like stories about ordinary people, check it out! Later chapters introduce the cultivation world!

24. 24 逍 The Carefree Immortal Mirror 逍遥仙镜 Ke Yuan's Ran'er可原的苒儿Eastern Fantasy66k WordsOngoing This is the story of modern archaeologist Li Xuan and his unexpected path to immortality. During an excavation, he is cut by a mysterious ancient mirror and bleeds, only to transmigrate into another world as a nine-year-old orphan. From the start, he faces a deadly threat from a demonic shopkeeper, and while fleeing for his life, catches a glimpse of this world's cruel laws. After he is fortunate enough to enter an immortal sect, his talent and wisdom from a past life become his strengths, but a 1Reads—Score—Shelves
25. 25 光 Chronicles of Time 光阴录 Sea and Stars沧海与星辰Eastern Fantasy125k WordsOngoing [Mortal's Journey] [Farming and Management] [Ensemble Cast] A black page has drifted through the river of time for as long as anyone can remember. Untouched by the passage of time, it records all kinds of remarkable people, cultivation techniques and martial arts, as well as strange tales and amusing anecdotes. Gradually, it develops intelligence and begins traveling through the river of time to explore countless worlds... After the protagonist, Ye Qi, accidentally exposes one of its pranks, the 668Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This one is okay.

26. 26 凡 A Mortal’s Immortal Destiny 凡人仙命 The City Falls, Yet the Flowers Say Nothing倾城花不语Eastern Fantasy1.5M WordsCompleted [Mortal’s journey] [Traditional xianxia] [No System] [No harem] Ding Dali, an orphan from a mountain village, happened to find a white porcelain bottle in a river, and thus began his path to immortality. The white porcelain bottle can refine ordinary things into supreme treasures: Pour river water into it, and it becomes Primordial Jade Liquid; put in weeds, and they become top-grade spirit herbs; keep ordinary iron inside, and it becomes a divine weapon capable of slaying immortals; throw in r 5.1kReads8.1Score594Shelves

    Reader note

    Ding Dali, an orphan from a mountain village, stumbles upon a white porcelain bottle in a river, thus embarking on his path to immortality. This bottle can transform ordinary objects into supreme treasures. Pour river water into it, and it becomes Primordial Jade Elixir; add weeds, and they become top-grade spiritual herbs; nurture ordinary iron, and it becomes a divine weapon capable of slaying immortals; throw in discarded pills, and they become rare elixirs… A mere mortal, wielding this treasure bottle, ultimately proves his immortality! [Already hooked][Smirk]

27. 27 异 A Journey into the Uncanny Immortal Realm 异仙旅 Loves Dried Chili Peppers爱吃干辣子Eastern Fantasy130k WordsCompleted [One Female Lead + Pure Romance + Comedy + Slice of Life + Passionate Action + Sect Rivalries] Huainan was a professional assassin. After taking revenge in a suicide attack, he somehow transmigrates to another world? “What? You’re saying there are demons in this world? Come on, man, don’t mess with me.” “Holy crap! What is that green-headed tree spirit?” “No way. I just transmigrated and I’m already going to die?” At the very moment Huainan’s life hangs by a thread, his misfortune turns into a b 1Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It's not the kind of mindless wish-fulfillment novel. Although the protagonist is powerful, he will also fail and has to work hard to cultivate. The pacing is relatively slow.

28. 28 凡 A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality: From Servant Disciple to Sword-and-Talisman Dao Ancestor 凡人修仙：从杂役弟子到剑符道祖 Are the Plum Blossoms in My Hometown Blooming?故乡的梅花开了吗Xianxia180k WordsOngoing Spiritual roots are ranked from highest to lowest, and the lives of menial disciples are as insignificant as dust. Chen Mo is the lowest-ranking menial disciple of the Qingyun Sword Sect. His spiritual root is poor, and his fellow disciples mock him, saying he will never achieve immortality. While cleaning the old Scripture Pavilion one day, he discovers a fragmentary secret manual of sword talismans. Others draw spiritual energy into their bodies and diligently cultivate their dantians; he uses 5.3kReads—Score445Shelves

    Reader note

    This book is great, truly wonderful!

29. 29 仙 A Ten-Thousand-Mile Journey on the Immortal Path 仙途万里 Looking North at Langguan Pass北望岚关Urban761k WordsOngoing [Xianxia + sword cultivation + no meddling in karma; respect the destinies of others!] There was no warning, no sound. It was just an ordinary afternoon! That bizarre dream rose up on its own, as clear as yesterday! In the dream, he was Li Shanfeng, a Nascent Soul True Lord and the last Supreme Elder of the Xuanqing Sect. He had cultivated all his life, cautious from beginning to end! He never imagined that, in the end, the sect’s legacy would be cut off in his hands... Blue Star, Xia Kingdom. I 20Reads—Score—Shelves
30. 30 星EN Path to Immortality Among the Stars 星路仙踪 Wang Yu忘语Eastern Fantasy1.4M WordsOngoing In the modern world, a passage to another realm appears on Blue Star. Wang Yu is among the first people to enter a cultivation world through their dreams. In a daze, he embarks on the path of cultivation in order to survive! The Great Dao is merciless. On the path of cultivation, failing to advance means falling behind! By becoming a supreme cultivator, one can enjoy endless longevity and bring the power of cultivation back to Blue Star, saving its future. The cultivation world faces an apocalyp 175.5kReads9.1Score15.7kShelves

    Reader note

    The story is cautious and well-structured, avoids fighting beyond one's level, and progresses relatively slowly. It gets exciting after chapter 50, but the story remains largely within the Qi Refining stage until around chapter 100. It's addictive!

31. 31 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 12.6kReads7.7Score1.1kShelves

    Reader note

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

32. 32 凡 Cultivating Immortality as a Mortal: The Azure Lotus Immortal's Trail 凡人修仙，青莲仙踪 Ink-Washed Painting墨染绘丹青Eastern Fantasy326k WordsOngoing [Traditional cultivation + mortal-protagonist style + a lifelong independent cultivator in the marketplace + decisive and ruthless + master of deception + extremely low-key] [Talisman-making, alchemy, artifact-refining, formations, beast-taming, cooking, and winemaking] [Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, and Deity Transformation] At death's door, Chen Yang, a young independent cultivator, awakens memories of his past life. Still dazed and confused, he is fortun 433Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Mortals cultivate immortality, wandering cultivators in the marketplace, diligence is rewarded by Heaven.

33. 33 凡 The Mortal's Immortal Gourd 凡人仙葫 Ximen Woxue西门卧雪Eastern Fantasy4.4M WordsOngoing Er Gouzi is an honest, hardworking farmer. His greatest dream is to save up enough to buy a few acres, become a small landowner, and marry a buxom, strong-legged wife. Then his life would be perfect. But after an accident leaves him with a gourd and an old swindler talks him into it, he blunders into the path of immortality and gets dragged into conflict. Even so, he never forgets his original goal: he just wants to farm... 237.8kReads9.0Score16.4kShelves

    Reader note

    Traditional mortal-style gameplay, decisive in killing, slow in leveling up, and unsatisfying; you might want to read this.

34. 34 无 Unintentionally Seeking Immortality 无意问仙 Qi-Refining Rogue Potato练气散修土豆子Eastern Fantasy341k WordsOngoing [Mortal's Journey] [No System] [Cultivation Through Caution] Li Wuyi was an ordinary man who delivered food part-time after work, until a small silver stone drew a bolt of heavenly lightning that sent him into the cultivation world. With no backing and no one to rely on, he had little access to spirit stones, pills, or magical treasures. Luckily, a small space hidden deep within his sea of consciousness could produce spirit liquid and accelerate the growth of spiritual plants. Qi Refining, Fou 478Reads5.8Score—Shelves
35. 35 鸦 Crow Immortal 鸦仙人 Feng Yijuan封一卷Eastern Fantasy2.8M WordsOngoing Crows cry in the cold night as a young man embarks on the path to immortality. Han Yu curls up in a corner of a dilapidated courtyard, barely clinging to life. Then a crow lands on his shoulder. “Hand over the treasure, boy, and this Daoist will teach you a skill.” The black-robed old Daoist's voice is hoarse. Han Yu hands over his ancestral token of immortal cultivation, but quietly makes a second copy in his palm. From then on, his path to immortality follows one ironclad rule: Anything I've t 84.6kReads8.6Score10.2kShelves
36. 36 凡EN The Mortal's Cultivation Journey: Ancestor of Talismans 凡人修仙之符祖 Tomatoes Dipped in Soybean Paste番茄蘸大酱Eastern Fantasy3.8M WordsOngoing [Mortal's journey, no System.] Xu Changshou, a young cowherd, is brought into the world of cultivation after saving an errand disciple of the Green Immortal Sect. He later awakens a bloodline jade talisman and obtains a legacy in the Dao of Talismans. Starting with the art of drawing talismans, he steps onto the path of cultivation, ascends to immortality, slays demons, attains eternal life, questions the heavens, creates the Great Dao of Talismans, and achieves the rank of Talisman Ancestor. 219.4kReads8.8Score16.2kShelves
37. 37 凡 Mortal Cultivation: A Mysterious Stone from the Start 凡人修仙，开局得奇石 Purple Dust Garden紫尘花园Eastern Fantasy1.6M WordsCompleted [Mortal cultivation | No System | No female lead | Powering up by defeating monsters | Everyday life in the cultivation world] Lin Shisan, a country boy, is found to be a cultivation waste with the weakest spiritual root. A stone passed down through his family opens the path to cultivation, and his determination carries him forward. The road ahead is shrouded in uncertainty, but the boy stands tall and walks with firm steps. The protagonist is kind-hearted, resilient, cautious, and decisive. If 4.9kReads8.7Score507Shelves
38. 38 沉 The Fallen Star Seeks the Dao 沉星问道 Dao Gui岛归Eastern Fantasy641k WordsOngoing The Su family, with a legacy stretching back a thousand years, has crumbled into dust. Su Qingyan, the last surviving member, happens upon Chen and his daughter, who save him. He joins a struggling minor sect and endures a life of hardship and upheaval as he strives to restore his ancestors' former glory. 521Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    (No filler text) The first three new books cover comedy, horror, and traditional fantasy, and the writing style, character descriptions, and scene transitions are all quite good.

39. 39 默 The Silent Sword’s Path to Immortality 默剑长生 Gentle Breeze and Drizzle Rong和风细雨蓉Eastern Fantasy887k WordsOngoing Modern painter Shen Mo transmigrates into the body of a constable’s son in the Great Liang dynasty. Using the Daoist art of ink painting as a key to cultivation, he turns ordinary skills into a path to immortality, practicing amid the everyday bustle of life as he sets foot on the road to becoming an immortal... 4kReads9.3Score348Shelves

    Reader note

    This is what you should need.

40. 40 破 The Spiritbreaker Chronicles 破灵传 Wild Donkey Flatbread野驴火烧Eastern Fantasy715k WordsCompleted A true mortal's path to immortality Seeking the truth of the path to immortality This world began with a bloody war, yet it is also a prison. The world divided into four, its order established A thousand years ago, the blood of gods and demons drenched the land, dimming the stars. The Demon God fell, and the defeated were exiled: the demon race was imprisoned on the southeastern Star Sea Continent, sealed away for all eternity. The Divine Venerable was gravely wounded and passed away a hundre 30Reads—Score—Shelves
41. 41 神 The Divine Fire Path 神火大道 Among Mulberries and Pus桑间濮上Eastern Fantasy2.7M WordsOngoing Mortal-style cultivation, no female lead, no golden finger Zhuang Yu, a boy from an ordinary fishing village, gets the chance to join the Qingyang Sect, a cultivation sect. There, he obtains a crude cultivation manual called The Divine Fire Ascension Art. Through countless dangers in the cultivation world, he gradually rises from a kind and honest young man to a ruthless overlord in his own right. [Lower Five Realms]: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Spirit Trans 6.2kReads8.5Score441Shelves
42. 42 十 Ten Realms: I Was Ordinary 十界：我本平庸 Sanqi Confused Fish三七糊涂鱼Eastern Fantasy1.8M WordsOngoing (We are all ordinary people. Some say they don’t understand what I’m writing! The truth is, I simply want to tell the story of an ordinary person who keeps growing, improving, and learning. He feels lost and helpless, never knowing what to do. His life is full of stumbles, but through repeated setbacks and lessons, he slowly grows! Some people are born in Rome, while he is stuck in the mud. In Rome, it’s easy to cross the finish line. But there’s something all the more inspiring about perseverin 6.7kReads9.1Score557Shelves

    Reader note

    It's almost 200,000 words, and the main character is still only a rank 2... Is that alright?

43. 43 长 Longevity: A Well-Connected Immortal Court Official Slacks Off in the Mortal Realm 长生：仙庭关系户下界摸鱼 Core of Chaos混沌核心Eastern Fantasy3.2M WordsOngoing [Immortal cultivation + no System + not a power fantasy + slow-paced + no female lead + pseudo-ensemble cast. Read with care if this isn’t your thing.] The mighty will of Heaven shines like a mirror, illuminating the causes and effects binding immortals and mortals alike. The countless living beings are like grains of sand, ground into the ashes of tribulation beneath mountains and rivers. A mysterious mirror hangs among the highest heavens, reflecting the lives of all beings in the Three Realm 215.4kReads9.0Score15.3kShelves
44. 44 一 One Step, One Look Back 一步一回头 Lin Xi临傒Eastern Fantasy4.2M WordsCompleted Traditional cultivation, with no cheats, no golden finger, and no idiotic characters. Every step of cultivation is earned, and life is calm and unhurried... A fresh take on cultivation, with rigorous logic. What sets this work apart is its focus on enlightenment. Cultivate the Dao, cultivate the heart... 5.9kReads8.5Score492Shelves
45. 45 仙 Tenant Farmer of the Immortal Sect 仙门佃农 Nangong Chenchen南宫沉沉Eastern Fantasy1.8M WordsCompleted [Mortal cultivation] + [Farming] + [One female lead or no female lead] Mu Jiuxiao, a tenant farmer in an immortal sect, unexpectedly awakens the wisdom of his past life. At the same time, he awakens his own talent: diligence can make up for a lack of aptitude! After ten years of cultivation, his cultivation talent increases by one! After cultivating the Everlasting Spring Art for ten years, his cultivation speed with the art increases by 200 percent! After growing Golden Spirit Rice for a hundre 13kReads8.3Score1.2kShelves

    Reader note

    "Back then, my ancestor relied on this immortal technique to fly through the air and roam freely between heaven and earth." "My ancestors said it was an immortal technique, so it must be!" "Tell me, isn't it an immortal technique?"

46. 46 凡 A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality: Starting with a Pigback Ride Up the Mountain 凡人修仙：从骑猪上山开始 Xuanbo Mountain Hermit轩博山人Eastern Fantasy357k WordsCompleted [Traditional xianxia, decisive and ruthless, a mortal's path to immortality] Han Lin, an orphan from Backing Mountain Village, has been bullied and exploited by the landlord Lin Fugui's family since childhood. When fortune finally turns in his favor, he obtains a demonic technique and sets out on the path to immortality. From the moment he gains power, Han Lin knows he must make sure the entire Lin Fugui family dies together. An ancient, unadorned broken pot guards his sea of consciousness, and 41Reads—Score—Shelves
47. 47 剑 Sword, Moon, Zither, and Star 剑月琴星 Wutong Youyou梧桐悠悠Eastern Fantasy5.1M WordsOngoing [Xuanhuan] [Mortal Protagonist] [No System] [Slow Burn] [Swordsmanship] [Mystery] After a war that lasted ten thousand years, heaven and earth shattered, three races stood side by side, and divine artifacts sank into oblivion. A mountain boy with no spiritual roots sets out from the mortal world to avenge a great wrong, enduring hardship after hardship. With one sword, he forges ten thousand; with his Dao heart, he enters a demonic tribulation! Wielding the sword in his hand, he cannot kill ever 115.5kReads8.9Score6.9kShelves
48. 48 修 Cultivation: I Have an Attribute Panel 修仙，我有一个属性面板 A Bookworm Who Reads Web Novels看网文的书虫Eastern Fantasy1.5M WordsCompleted [Ordinary-person cultivation, cautious early on and bold later, decisive and ruthless] After gaming all night, Zhang Qingxiao suffers a sudden heart attack and transmigrates to a world of immortals and demons. With mediocre talent, he becomes a servant disciple of the small Changsheng Sect, reaching the third level of Qi Refining only in his thirties. He thinks his hopes of immortality are over, but it turns out he brought a status panel along when he transmigrated. Whether he practices cultivat 9.6kReads7.8Score643Shelves
49. 49 没 I Have No Spiritual Roots, Yet Becoming an Immortal Seems Reasonable, Doesn't It? 没灵根的我，成仙很合理吧？ What If I Could Cultivate Immortality如果可以修真Eastern Fantasy2.2M WordsCompleted [Mortal Cultivation + No System + Farming + Pocket Dimension + Medicine Garden] Chen Yu transmigrates to the cultivation world, only to find himself an ordinary man with no spirit root, and a tenant farmer of extremely low status. By a stroke of fortune, he obtains a mysterious pearl, which creates a world within his sea of consciousness. There, he can grow crops, spirit herbs, and other plants, and it even produces divine water that grants sudden enlightenment. To escape the landlord's bullying 2.4kReads7.7Score228Shelves
50. 50 修 Cultivation: Laying Low in the Herb Garden, Growing Crops and Seeking Immortality 修仙：苟在药园种田求长生 Qiu Guagua秋呱呱Eastern Fantasy1.7M WordsCompleted [Leisurely cultivation] + [keeping a low profile] + [no System] + [lighthearted and humorous] Master said: “For twenty years, you've been upholding justice to raise the prestige of our Qingyun sect and win people's hearts... You can't keep helping old folks find their sheep. Go do something proper, like slay demons and exorcise evil!” Jiang Yining: “Master, I'm not up to it. I need to hurry back and forth to tend the medicinal garden...” Junior brother said: “Eldest Senior Brother, let's go down 7.9kReads8.9Score537Shelves

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