Psychological Warfare, High-IQ Showdowns, and Brain-Bending Reads. Any Genre 心理博弈，高智商对抗，烧脑的好书。无论什么题材

1. 501 百 A Hundred People Hide the Killer 百人藏凶 Zuo Yedie左叶蝶Mystery817k WordsCompleted This is a game worth three hundred million. Cover up a murder, hide the killer, and only the champion gets to live. Some join for money, some for love, some out of curiosity, and some for revenge. But whatever your reason, once you enter the game, you must follow its rules. Anyone who breaks them will die a terrible death. Unless… you destroy the rules and build a kingdom of your own. [Overworked professional special cleaner] X [Socially anxious mad programmer] X [Bossy, mature doctor] 1Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   The first book, "Cure for Skimming," is truly excellent, especially its world-building—highly recommended! The second book is similar to "Strange Tales of Rules," definitely worth reading at night! The third one needs no further explanation; it's a masterpiece! The fourth one, with its subtle details and foreshadowing, is truly breathtaking when it fills in the gaps.

2. 502 麻 The Muggle Esper Squad 麻瓜御能团 Ruixiang芮香Modern Romance405k WordsCompleted Noble heirs with brains and looks, gifted elites locked in a battle of wits. Alongside the thrilling competitions, there are plenty of funny everyday moments. Beneath the twists and turns of the plot lie reflections on life. At times it's gripping, at others laugh-out-loud funny. A knowing smile will leave you with something to ponder. Ensemble cast + youthful passion + coming of age Lighthearted + no angst + a touch of romance Four main characters: two men and two women Wild imagination + no S 123Reads—Score—Shelves

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   Four young people entered a unique academy. This academy enrolls 80 students each year, but only a handful graduate. It has four classes: Speech, Sensation, Action, and Knowledge. On their first day, each student undergoes a system test, and their scores determine their class assignment. The four young people possess different talents, ultimately leading to them being placed in four different classes. A passionate group portrait, a high-stakes game of wits.

3. 503 友 The Friendship-Wrecking Game 友裂游戏 The Divine Cannot Be Defeated神灵不败Mystery119k WordsOngoing [Murder game + mystery detective + frail and disabled characters + mind-bending + Hong Kong Island] Werewolf + rule-based horror + survival death game + cooperative survival + infinite flow. Deception is a merciless game, and friendship falling apart is the price of playing. After attending Bingzai's birthday party, my friends and I were forced into a deadly game that pitted us against one another. To survive, everyone became a liar, scheming against each other, fighting for their lives, and ki —Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   High intelligence, deduction, survival, Hong Kong Island, and illness—a multi-faceted story. I highly recommend my own book, *The Game of Broken Friends*! The plot twists and turns, it's incredibly mind-bending, and while the protagonist's initial invincibility isn't immediately apparent, they gradually mature and develop—it's a coming-of-age story. Several supporting characters are also exceptionally intelligent, maintaining their sharp intellect throughout. Definitely worth reading! Don't miss it!

4. 504 2 Saving the World in 24 Hours 24小时拯救世界 Si Hui司绘Urban2.3M WordsOngoing What would you do if you had only 24 hours to save the world? After countless rebirths and resets, Zhu Shijiu has endured the unbearable pain of dying tens of thousands of times. With each endless loop, his will has teetered closer to collapse. He has tried everything to escape, but nothing has worked. Every time he dies, he returns to the day before that damned world is destroyed! All he can do is follow every thread and search for clues, using each death to uncover the truth. 24 hours to save 3.7kReads8.8Score387Shelves

   Reader note

   I'd never seen this book before; someone else recommended it to me. They're so clever!

5. 505 开 From the Start, I Had a Three of Diamonds. This Hand Is in the Bag 开局一张方块3，这把稳了 Looks Like a Scholar酷似书生Mystery742k WordsCompleted [Mystery and Imagination + Twists + Strong Female Lead + Play the Pig to Eat the Tiger + Plot-Driven + No Golden Finger + A Ruthless Heroine] Chuan Liu has always believed: “Chaos isn’t a pit. Chaos is a ladder.” So the magician Chuan Liu chose the isolated prison island for criminals: “Paradise Island.” On this island, teeming with criminals and ranked by the value of your playing card, how can you survive from the start with nothing but a Three of Diamonds? Find the Joker and she’ll set y 2.3kReads9.1Score441Shelves

   Reader note

   Both are quite good. 1 Is a three-way power struggle with many twists and turns, very exciting. 2 Is plot-driven and quite mind-bending; the female lead is highly intelligent and must uncover the identity of someone on an island teeming with criminals, discerning truth from falsehood and engaging in strategic maneuvering with various people. 3 Is still ongoing and features a romantic pairing; it's more plot-driven, with both the male and female leads being highly intelligent. Each exam is like entering a different world to uncover the truth, and each world is well-written.

6. 506 我 I'm Sick, and as It Happens, Everyone Else Is Too 我有病，巧的是大家都有病 A Scholar With a Wooden Knife儒生配木刀Urban1.0M WordsCompleted You discover that you’re sick and go to the hospital for a checkup. A plague breaks out, and by chance you become infected and turn into a pig... When you wake up, you realize it was just a dream. But when you leave home and see pigs filling the streets, you suddenly realize that everyone in the world is sick... This is a sick world. 989Reads8.8Score100Shelves

   Reader note

   Of these, I didn't finish "In the Name of Illness" and "Don't Run Away..." Because they weren't updated at the time, and I was already reading other novels. I can't guarantee their intelligence, but they're pretty good. "High Dimension," "10 Days," and "Strange Beasts" are also good. "10 Days" is still updating, and I absolutely love it; the intellectual battles are thrilling. "Strange Beasts" will get really good later on, with the protagonist constantly fighting the villains and escaping death, while his companions often die. There's another book in the series that the author is currently updating. I also love "High Dimension"—it's very exciting, and like "Strange Beasts," it made me cry several times, especially "Strange Beasts," which made me cry uncontrollably. Perhaps only "10 Days" truly fits the title, but I really love these three. This is my first time recommending books; I wanted to share good ones. I still have a bunch of novels I haven't read yet, which I'll recommend later. Of the other two, I prefer "In the Name of Illness," where the protagonist travels to another world while sleeping. In short, you should check it out. The weakest one here is "Don't Run Away," which you can also check out; it's about the protagonist and his group trying to escape the control of the "human circle." [Thinking]

7. 507 基EN Gene Lock Unleashed: I Am Invincible—Do As You Please 基因锁一开，我无敌，你随意 Brilliant Writing Turns to Smoke妙笔生烟Sci-Fi & Apocalypse1.2M WordsCompleted [A classic old-school story, set in a fictional world, no System, full of passion.] Towering walls rose from the ground, turning Earth into a maze. Monsters mutated wildly and reproduced in grotesque forms. Humanity entered a post-apocalyptic era of biological mutation and energy control. All kinds of combat professions emerged. As a despised subspecies and a weakling on the battlefield, Fu Junlin should have spent his life just trying to get by. That was until a twisted, goofy life-form entered 7.4kReads9.2Score635Shelves
8. 508 雪 Spring Burns Through the Ashes of Snow 雪烬春灼 The Remarkable Wang Shiyi了不起的王十一Ancient Romance189k WordsOngoing A historical tale of destruction and renewal, hatred and redemption, political intrigue and true devotion. Watch as yesterday's blazing sun is tempered in the deepest darkness, and at last becomes a bright moon shining over the land. Wang Chunxue went from being the prized jewel of the Langya Wang clan to the daughter of a condemned traitor. The imperial decree accusing her family of treason crushed everything she had: her father and brothers, her glory, and her betrothal to the Crown Prince. Af 64Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   Ancient Chinese romance, political intrigue, conflict, angst, and thrilling.

9. 509 请 Please Let Me Keep All the Experience Points to Myself, Thanks 请让我独享经验，谢谢 Oats in Milk牛奶泡燕麦Mystery1.4M WordsCompleted [Unsatisfying Story] [Slow Burn] [Growth-Oriented Protagonist] Years later, gazing at the scenery of a new world, Su Zhen would remember that distant afternoon when he clicked on an obscure little link. 488Reads8.6Score106Shelves

   Reader note

   This is a true psychological battle; every time I think about it, I wonder how the protagonist deduced it...

10. 510 镜 Mirror City Loop 镜城循环 Sakura Doesn't Want to Fight Monsters樱子不想打怪Mystery334k WordsOngoing If you were trapped in the same day, would you go crazy, or turn it into a game you could beat? College student Lin Che chose the latter. By the 37th time he woke up on July 15, he couldn’t even be bothered to panic. Confessing to the principal in front of everyone, jumping from the fourth floor of an academic building to test the limits of physics, trying every flavor of instant noodles sold in every convenience store in town: he had turned the time loop into a massive open-world game. Then h 9Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    You could try this time loop novel. The male protagonist is trapped in a fixed date that keeps restarting indefinitely. He unexpectedly meets a girl who also retains her memories. The two test and compete with each other in the loop, while uncovering the strange secrets behind the city and fighting against an unknown entity that is eroding their consciousness.

11. 511 都 The Strongest Madman in the City 都市之最强狂兵 Great Fortune and Fame大红大紫Urban15.2M WordsOngoing A pillar of the nation, a fierce tiger unleashed! His destiny was never meant to be ordinary: a man who is both righteous and wicked, shackled yet wielding the power of life and death. He stands at the forefront of the age, singing a bold song throughout his life. His life is glorious, forged through sheer ferocity, as he dances beneath the vast sky! 83.9kReads7.1Score2.8kShelves

    Reader note

    I highly recommend these novels; they're all top-rated works by Tomato (a popular Chinese literary website). You definitely won't regret reading them. If you're experiencing a reading slump, check them out—they'll effectively solve your reading crisis.

12. 512 完 Perfect Revenge: Please Follow My Script and Die 完美复仇：请按我的剧本赴死 Fang Yebai方夜白Urban1.5M WordsCompleted What you see is coincidence. What I write down is inevitable. They think they won because they believe they’re clever, not knowing it was a plot I had written long ago. Every betrayal, every moment of triumph, was a script I handed them. Fang Wen has returned from the shadows for one reason: to invite his enemies onto the stage, one by one, and watch them laugh, watch them gloat, then watch them step toward the ending he has arranged. You think you’re in control? No, you’re just an actor. And th 16.4kReads8.3Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    Rebirth and revenge. Four chapters a day.

13. 513 逆 Against the Gods 逆天邪神 Mars Gravity火星引力Eastern Fantasy7.2M WordsOngoing 4.8kReads9.3Score331Shelves
14. 514 全 Everyone Is an Evil Immortal!!! 全员恶仙！！！ There Are Mountains Beyond the Heavens天外有山Eastern Fantasy3.8M WordsOngoing Also known as The Whole Cast Are Evil Immortals and The Whole Cast Are Evil Immortals: I Have a Temple for Cultivating Immortals [No Angst] [Unhinged] [High Stakes from Start to Finish] There is a rumor of a temple somewhere in the world, with a patch of magical soil inside. Just treat a person as a "seed" and plant them in the soil, and they can become an immortal. Li Shiwu has spent ten years seeking immortality. At last, he finds the temple and plants himself in the soil, but he never expecte 211.3kReads9.0Score20.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Struggling against fate and man is endlessly enjoyable! Is the Great Dao treacherous? Is human nature twisted? A game within a game, a game within a game, a game within a game! A top-tier game of strategy! The more you watch, the more thrilling it becomes! [Smirk]

15. 515 鬼 Ghost Belly 鬼腹 Scholar of the Pen Peak笔峰居士Mystery624k WordsOngoing [No brainless protagonist, no System, no harem, exceptionally high intelligence, utterly deranged.] This is an age of a hundred ghosts roaming the night. Countless vengeful ghosts have descended upon the world, and a bizarre giant baby has appeared in the sky, gradually taking the place of the sun and moon. Day and night rot together, and the stars collapse and fall. From this moment on, the world began to crumble. Civilization and order toppled like dominoes, and the evil in human nature surpas 290Reads8.3Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Hahahaha, an underrated masterpiece! The intelligence is fucking off the charts!!

16. 516 开EN Starting with a Street Stall Selling Super Strength Potions 开局地摊卖大力 Yi Qingfeng弈青锋Urban8.9M WordsCompleted [Qingfeng's new novel, This Player Has a Problem in the Head, is currently serializing and has plenty of chapters ready to binge] Earth enters an era of spiritual qi revival, and humanity begins awakening supernatural abilities! Jiang Nan awakens the strongest street-stall System from the start. Potions of Strength? Detoxifying Yellow Beans? Lucky Cherries? They're flying off the shelves! The world's top tycoons, richest man, popular streamers, and peak powerhouses all come to buy them. Jiang Na 336kReads9.7Score45.7kShelves

    Reader note

    [High-IQ Protagonist Recommendations! A Feast for the Eyes: Intelligence is Power in Action] ✨ Logic Overwhelming Type - Core Strategy: Use logical loopholes as weapons to shatter the villain's logic with a single sentence! - Framed for stealing a magical artifact? The protagonist immediately counters: "According to sect rules, those who steal magical artifacts have their spiritual roots destroyed—Elder of Law Enforcement, if my spiritual roots are intact, does that prove my innocence?" When the other party is speechless, the protagonist casually tosses out a monitoring jade slip: "Furthermore, I just sent the footage of you altering evidence last night to the sect leader." - During negotiations in the Demon Realm, the Demon Lord threatens: "If you don't hand over the city, I'll massacre it!" The protagonist smiles and shrugs: "If you massacre the city, I'll send the negotiation details to the Demon Cultivator Alliance—they'll wonder why you're taking all the benefits while they bleed?" The Demon Lord instantly breaks out in a cold sweat. 🔥 Interdisciplinary Dimensional Reduction Type - Breakthrough Formula: Laws of Physics + Laws of Cultivation = Dimensional Reduction Strike! - Using "fluid dynamics" to calculate the trajectory of sword flight, creating "spiritual energy vortexes" in aerial combat, sucking all the opponent's magical artifacts into the storm and shredding them; - Using "biological evolution" to improve the bloodline of magical beasts, turning the lowest-level fire lizard into an "Ancient Candle Dragon" that can breathe Samadhi True Fire, causing the Beast Tamer Association to collectively collapse: "Is this beast taming or gene editing?!" ⚡ The pinnacle of strategic planning - a thousand layers of trickery: planting pieces ten years in advance, using the villain as a puppet! - After being reborn, he deliberately exposed his "pseudo-spiritual root" and was expelled from the family. In reality, he secretly manipulated a fallen branch to develop an intelligence network. When the elders begged for his return, he threw out the "evidence of treason" he had prepared beforehand: "You think I'm a waste? Actually, you're just a pawn on my chessboard." - Foreseeing a calamity for the sect, he appeared to be indulging in pleasure and neglecting his duties. In reality, he planted "spatial anchors" at the nodes of the spiritual veins. When the calamity struck, he could teleport all the disciples of the sect with a single click. The elders were dumbfounded: "You're always visiting brothels, and you're actually calculating teleportation coordinates?!" 🌌 Rule-level Controller - Advanced Gameplay: Thoroughly understand the laws of the world and turn "settings" into weapons! - In a world governed by the "law of cause and effect," the "butterfly effect" creates a chain reaction: giving a beggar a copper coin → the beggar saves a future general → the general, to repay the debt, destroys the sect that was hunting him down—without lifting a finger, the villain dies from the karma he himself created; - In a cultivation world with a strict hierarchy, the "respect for elders" system forces a Nascent Soul stage monster to back down: "According to your sect's ancestral teachings, cultivators under a hundred years old must be treated with respect—this junior is ninety-nine this year, senior, are you sure you want to make a move?" The old monster is so angry that he goes into a demonic possession. 🌟 Quick keyword search: [Logic God of War] [Interdisciplinary Cultivation] [Thousand-Layer Routine] [Rules-Level Intelligence], see how the protagonist uses his brain to carve out a path to cultivation, turning a world where strength reigns supreme into a high-intelligence game, upgrading the thrill from "fist to fist" to "heart-wrenching"!

17. 517 全 Global Slaughter: The God of Slaughter Goes on a Crazy A-Rank Rampage with Cheats! 全球杀戮，大杀神她开挂A疯了！ Winston温斯汀Modern Romance240k WordsOngoing With the spiritual qi revival, hundreds of millions of people around the globe awaken talents, and Blue Star becomes a slaughterhouse. Su Wuli, whose family was wiped out in a massacre, is inexplicably thrown into a nightmare-level instance... and begins a cheat-powered killing spree. When showing off her stats, she's always Lv. 1, with no awakened talent: a 24-karat useless nobody. When facing a powerful enemy, she always furrows her brows slightly and retreats behind everyone else. Her teammat 13Reads8.5Score—Shelves
18. 518 谁EN Who Taught Him to Cultivate Like This? 谁教他这么修仙的？ Ling Duoqing令多情Eastern Fantasy4.5M WordsCompleted [Blue Star, evil cultivators, no harem, invincible protagonist, comedy, goofball humor, transmigration. If that bothers you, don't read.] [An established author’s new book, backed by twenty million characters of experience. I like setting up plot threads, so if something seems unreasonable, give it a few chapters.] A new disciple who had just joined the sect rushed in, panicking: “Master, this is terrible! Big Brother robbed someone!” “Don’t make such a fuss. Your senior brother is securing bene 94.1kReads8.8Score8.7kShelves
19. 519 震 Shocking! My Boyfriend Turned Out to Be the Horror Dungeon Boss 震惊！男友竟是恐怖副本BOSS Tuoba Dumpling拓跋饺子Mystery1.6M WordsCompleted [Supernatural + Two powerful leads + Horror-game instances + Lighthearted and funny + Boyfriend is the BOSS + Devoted husband + Both are virgins] On her birthday, Shen Jiahe’s boyfriend told her that the number of players entering horror-game instances had surged, and as the instance’s big BOSS, he had to work overtime and couldn’t come home. Shen Jiahe laughed in anger. He could have just said he was cheating on her! Instead, he came up with such a ridiculous excuse! She dumped the scumbag that 51.4kReads9.2Score5.9kShelves
20. 520 异EN Another World: My Life Has Cheat Codes! 异世界：我的人生开了挂！ A Salty Fish c一条咸鱼cEastern Fantasy5.9M WordsCompleted [Vampires, werewolves, technology, potions, ghosts, biohumans, divination, puppets, and every terrifying element you can imagine: this world has them all.] Lin En transmigrated into such a bizarre otherworld and became an apprentice at a potion shop. "Something is wrong with that man! He never uses anesthetic when performing surgery!" "That shop is a scam! The moment you go in, they find a pile of illnesses even if you are perfectly healthy!" "But wait, isn't that shop supposed to be the bes 138.4kReads9.6Score16.9kShelves
21. 521 孤 A Solitary Seeker of the Dao 孤独的寻道 Egg Fried Rice Fried Rice Egg蛋炒饭炒饭蛋Urban3.3M WordsCompleted The Dao has died! The laws have begun to fade! Only techniques remain, reaching into every corner of the world. Ye Ming, the hated, ill-fated loner, suddenly discovers he has a grandfather. Then his grandfather takes him to a new world. His new book, Envying the Dao, is now online. 41.3kReads9.0Score3.4kShelves

    Reader note

    [Evil laugh][Evil laugh][Evil laugh]

22. 522 全 Global Game: I'm an Elegant Riddler 全球游戏：我是优雅的谜语人 A Real Master of Yin and Yang老阴阳人了Urban388k WordsOngoing [Riddle Master + Highbrow + Light Novel + Roleplay + No Heroine] After an accident, Mu Qing transmigrates twenty years into the past, to a time before the Game of the Gods descended upon the world and before the true gods made their appearance. The SSS-tier supreme talent known as “Prophet” comes back with him! He can see anyone’s future and the outcome of every game. From then on, Mu Qing sets out to turn himself into an elegant “riddle master.” What’s a riddle master? Someone who could speak p 3.5kReads9.3Score370Shelves
23. 523 五 The One-Fifth Death Game 五分之一的死亡游戏 Liu Hongchan柳红缠Mystery1.3M WordsOngoing [Clever mind games + deduction + all kinds of scenarios + no System + no harem + plot-focused] On a whim, Lin Shuo took part in a quiz show offering a cash prize of one hundred thousand yuan. And so the gears of fate began to turn, as one deadly game after another came his way. A hidden, lethal poison: how could he identify it quickly? A terrifying old building haunted by ghosts: how could he escape alive? An unsolvable locked-room mystery involving werewolves: where were they? A train trapped i 1.2kReads8.7Score137Shelves

    Reader note

    However, this is suitable for reasoning, as for the plot...

24. 524 嗟 Alas, Immortal 嗟仙 Meticulous Cultivation精耕细作Eastern Fantasy1.4M WordsCompleted [The human side of cultivation, ensemble cast, no golden finger] Now that order has been established in the cultivation world, fighting and killing are no longer the norm. What matters more is navigating human relationships. Zhu Xiaosuo rises from an ordinary mortal to an immortal, one step at a time, in the name of “saving face.” 31.2kReads9.0Score3.1kShelves

    Reader note

    The first book tells the story of Zhu Xiaosuo, who unexpectedly transmigrates from a mortal background, starting as a mortal and outwitting constables and fighting alongside his brothers on the arduous path of cultivation. The path is long and fraught with danger; a single misstep can lead to utter ruin. Cultivating immortality is no easy feat! [Facepalm][facepalm][facepalm] The second book tells the story of Zhang Wu, who transmigrates to a cultivation world, starting as a prison guard in the Heavenly Prison. The end of being an official is imprisonment, the end of being a soldier is death on the battlefield, and the end of the martial world is also revenge killings—none of these lead to a good end. To survive, one must remain cautious and avoid recklessness, staying safely in the Heavenly Prison to earn money, learn cultivation techniques, and accumulate resources. [Cool][cool][cool] The third book tells the story of Gao Yang, who unexpectedly transmigrates to a misty world surrounded by man-eating beasts. Revealing his human identity means being devoured. Relying on his wisdom, courage, and a bit of lucky talent, he narrowly defeats various enemies. [Facepalm][facepalm]

25. 525 万 The Charismatic Villainess Has Turned Over a New Leaf 万人迷反派她从良了 Green Sea Cong Ning绿海从凝Ancient Romance574k WordsOngoing Gu Wange is a villain: vindictive, attracted to both men and women, and responsible for hurting countless people. Even Heaven seems to favor her, giving her chance after chance to start over no matter how recklessly she brings trouble upon herself. Fine! If Heaven is determined to make her a good person, what choice does she have? She'll turn over a new leaf! ╰(⇀‸↼)╯ 2.4kReads9.2Score213Shelves
26. 526 弹 The Second Book by Tan Jian Ting Chao 弹剑听潮的第2本书 Strumming a Sword and Listening to the Tide弹剑听潮Urban5.8M WordsCompleted In the world of fame and fortune, he keeps his resolve hidden beneath a steely exterior. He never compromises his principles, and every move reveals his true mettle... He plans before he acts, breaks deadlocks through hard work, and builds his reputation with foresight. Through the ups and downs of officialdom, he never forgets his original purpose. 127kReads9.4Score13.5kShelves

    Reader note

    Reborn as Liu Fusheng, I Will Reach the Pinnacle of World Power

27. 527 渎 Profaning Sin 渎罪 Dreams Without End梦未央Mystery2.1M WordsCompleted A notebook that teaches people how to commit crimes, four strange young people, and a leader with a split personality and a free-associating mind. A genius with sky-high IQ and zero EQ. A man with high EQ who seduces women. A master of old-school tricks with explosive fighting skills. Four orphans form a strange task force and begin fighting criminals. The four young people use bizarre methods to handle cases. They cry and laugh, joke and bicker, and somehow stumble into solving them. Whether by 674Reads7.8Score101Shelves

    Reader note

    It looks really good 😁

28. 528 反 The Villainess Kills with Her Beauty 反派她以美貌杀人 Shattered Starlight夜空碎光Ancient Romance355k WordsCompleted (The heroine is a true villain. If you prefer morally upright characters, read with caution.) She was the villain of a book, but she never knew it. But what did that matter? Her beloved was dead. How could those responsible for his death be allowed to live? She toyed with the world in the palm of her hand, laying schemes within schemes and concealing deadly intent at every turn. Her gentle nature and ethereal beauty were both weapons, and no one could stand in the way of her revenge. The person 4.2kReads9.4Score493Shelves
29. 529 末 Apocalypse Snail: A Little Conscience, but Not Much 末世蜗牛：有点良心，但不多 Uncultured, zz有辱斯文zzSci-Fi & Apocalypse1.1M WordsCompleted [No System or Superpowers] [Comedy] [Wild Ideas] [Plot Twists] [Light Novel] [Protagonist Fans, Read at Your Own Risk] [Bizarre and Explosive] [Not for the Straight-Laced] One day, snails poured from the sky in place of rain. Anyone bitten turned into a monster, and resources became scarce… You'll see a protagonist group that is selfish and self-serving, lacking in empathy, hypocritical, vindictive, fake do-gooders, arrogant, two-faced, all pretenses, and downright crazy... Every las 9.1kReads9.1Score1.2kShelves

    Reader note

    They're all protagonists with high IQs, super cool!

30. 530 震 Shocking! After I Transmigrated, the System Said It Bound the Wrong Person? 震惊！穿越后系统说它绑错了人？ Liu Qian六迁Ancient Romance779k WordsCompleted [No CP + not a power fantasy + unorthodox cultivator (neither wholly good nor evil) + not invincible + slow burn + unconventional cultivation] Lang Yue transmigrated into the cultivation world and got a golden finger riddled with bugs. She almost died from the pain the moment she arrived. After barely being rescued, she thought she would finally get to see all the rare and wondrous creatures of the cultivation world. Instead, she was shocked to discover she had landed in a den of unorthodox cult 1.4kReads9.1Score201Shelves
31. 531 我 I'm a Tailor Who Can Sew Anything 我是个裁缝，什么都缝 A Black Cat Is Still a Cat黑猫也是猫Mystery277k WordsOngoing [Ensemble cast + expansive worldbuilding + mind-bending twists + folk customs + breaking the fourth wall] Have you ever doubted, even for a moment, whether this world is real? If one day you discovered the truth about this world, what would you choose to do? Qin Yu made his choice. Once a Yin Courier who spent his days sewing clothes and his nights stitching corpses in a small two-story house, he embarked on a one-way journey bearing the fate of humanity on his shoulders. It all began with the T 2Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Have you ever had a moment when you felt this world wasn't real? If one day you discovered the truth about this world, what would you choose? (Mind-bending plot + ensemble cast + no female lead + inadequate folklore synopsis, please proceed to the main text.)

32. 532 凤 Phoenix Game 凤凰游戏 Touching the Stars手触星辰Urban40k WordsCompleted Bu Fan, an ordinary office worker, was framed at work and fired. Faced with the pressure of daily life, including his mortgage, he sank into confusion and despair. By chance, he came across a money-making competition called the “Phoenix Game.” The winner would be reborn from the ashes and reach the pinnacle of life, while the loser would fall into a bottomless pit of debt. To build a better life, he chose to take part in the Phoenix Game and embarked on an epic gaming adventure… (I’m a student, —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The male protagonist is highly intelligent and skilled in strategic thinking.

33. 533 仙 Above the Immortals 仙人之上 The Cat from the Xu Family徐二家的猫Urban1.5M WordsCompleted (No harem, no formulaic plot, no invincible protagonist, no System, no brainless characters, and no wish-fulfillment. Read at your own discretion.) The ancient Immortal Court had crumbled into ruins, and the immortals of old had fallen into slumber. The world changed with every passing day, and seas became fields. All that remained of ancient times existed only in myths. Thousands of years later, the ruins of the Immortal Court once more rose above the nine heavens, and the sleeping immortals be 61.7kReads9.3Score5.7kShelves

    Reader note

    High IQ, super handsome! [Sending heart]

34. 534 恶 Demon Game: Playing a Demon from the Start 恶魔游戏：开局扮演恶魔 Butterfly of the Gods神之蝶Mystery1.3M WordsCompleted [Mind-bending + Mystery + Battles of wits + Dungeon game + Main plot + Twists + Slow burn + No harem + No clichés] On his way to class, college student Qu Jing was inexplicably dragged into a demon game. There, he saw a hideous demon acting as the game’s referee. The demon referee could do anything within the game’s domain, even things that defied common sense. The players had no way to fight against such an unnatural creature and could only take part in the game by force. The first game was sim 2.3kReads8.7Score235Shelves
35. 535 通 A Wanted Criminal Sneaks into My House, Then Gets So Scared He Calls the Police 通缉犯潜入我家，却被吓到报警 George Talks a Big Game乔治侃大山Urban534k WordsCompleted [High-IQ plots: staged accidental killings and locked-room murders] [A satisfying high-IQ story with logical twists] Ye Chen transmigrated to Blue Star and obtained a Screenwriter System. And so, one screenplay after another became reality: “Headless Yaksha Serial Murders,” “The Butterfly Effect: Staging Accidental Killings,” “The Fourteenth Perfect Locked-Room Murder,” “Using Natural Phenomena to Design the Perfect Accidental Killing”… Every one of these was a high-IQ perfect crime, imposs 2kReads8.5Score256Shelves
36. 536 皇 The Emperor’s Favorite Minister? No, I’m Rebellious to the Bone! 皇帝宠臣？不，我一身反骨！ Lun Dong伦东Historical1.5M WordsCompleted [Power Struggles] + [Political Scheming] + [High-Stakes Play] + [Not Mindless] The great clans grew powerful and took control of the imperial court. The emperor wanted to use me as a weapon to reclaim imperial authority, but he devised countless ways for me to die. Once he realized how useful I was, he even wanted to castrate me and turn me into a eunuch, so I could continue serving as his blade. The Left Chancellor, head of the great clans and a man of unfathomable depths, pointed to the fish 7.5kReads9.0Score695Shelves

    Reader note

    In the grand game of global power, regardless of strategic planning or cunning, tracing the game back to its starting point reveals the unity and support of the people. Even as adversaries, mutual respect is shown. A positive spirit and a clear purpose are essential. This is a valuable article that allows readers to examine their own perspectives and understand the power of even the humblest gestures.

37. 537 十 Ten Days to the End: Qi Xia and I Storm the Haunted House! 十日终焉，齐夏带我闯诡舍！ Rob the Rich to Help the Poor劫父济贫Mystery219k WordsCompleted [Mystery + wild imagination + a brand-new story] [First, all my instances are brand-new, and they're definitely mind-bending. I'm completely confident they can measure up to The Haunted House.] [Second, I hope you enjoy reading. Please consider giving it a five-star rating!] [Finally, this story is a little scary. Minors, please watch it together with an adult. Thank you.] Qi Xia transmigrates into The Haunted House and must open nine blood-red doors to return to the real world... 3.2kReads—Score236Shelves

    Reader note

    I haven't seen these two books, and they even had a son! I'm so upset! The writing style of the person sitting down isn't bad either; it's very much like the son of the two of them. I seriously suspect the author is their son.

38. 538 天 Heaven Above 天堂在上 Daytime Werewolf白日人狼Urban2.5M WordsOngoing [Fictional World + A Touch of Lovecraftian Horror + Infinite-Flow Style] [Not a Transmigration Story + No System + Developing Protagonist] [Not a Power-Fantasy, Read at Your Own Discretion] On Xia He’s sixteenth birthday, his cousin gave him a special present: he secretly took Xia He to a video hall to watch a dirty movie. Having seen so little of the world, Xia He’s mind was shattered after watching the whole film, and a fat man appeared in his head. On Xia He’s eighteenth birthday, he made a w 15.3kReads8.5Score1.7kShelves

    Reader note

    It's a great show! The protagonist was set up by the angels from the very beginning. The illogical events and hardships at the start were all traps set by the angels. Being blessed was also predetermined; a blessing is a curse.

39. 539 穿 After I Transmigrated, the Chosen One of the Plane Tried to Kill Me 穿越后位面之子竟要杀我 Cigarette Between the Fingers指间香烟Eastern Fantasy439k WordsCompleted [Fantasy + System + subverting expectations] After transmigrating, Ye Chengan starts at the peak: he's the family's young master, handsome, and talented. But at the family tournament, he spots someone who might be the chosen one of the world. Just as Ye Chengan thinks he's reached the peak of his life and has nowhere left to go, the Destiny System appears. But the very first warning the Destiny System gives him is that the chosen one will kill him three years from now... 159Reads6.6Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I finished reading this novel, and to be honest, although it's not very popular, the content is truly excellent. Most of the time, the protagonist achieves victory through intrigue and cunning; there's very little hand-to-hand combat, and they mostly use others to do their dirty work. It's very well written; perhaps it's just the cover that makes it so popular.

40. 540 走 Why Have the Side Characters Following the Plot Turned into Such Goofballs Again? 走剧情的配角们怎么又沙雕了？ Little Leaf Chong虫小叶Ancient Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [No CP + infinite-flow + group transmigration + absurd comedy + a little mind-bending] A crisis strikes! People who fall into a deep sleep are randomly dragged into illusions. If they can’t get out, they die! Qin Qing never expected that staying up late to binge a show would lead to her closing her eyes and waking up in a completely different world. What the heck! Did I transmigrate? To return to their bodies in the real world, a group of equally unlucky people chosen by the illusions are forced 3.8kReads9.3Score436Shelves

    Reader note

    The first book is thrilling and mind-bending, perfect for those with high IQs. The second book blends madness and reason, showcasing an absolutely elegant mastermind. 🌹_(°ω°"∠)_

41. 541 暗 Shadows All Around 暗影重重 Revelry Before Dawn黎明前的狂欢Mystery777k WordsCompleted [Criminal Investigation] [Mystery and Deduction] [Murder-Mystery Game] [Romantic Suspense] [Strong Leads Clash] [Social Realism] [A Cross-Section of Humanity] Some lose the love of their life. Some commit murder in a fit of passion to protect the person they love. Some hurt everyone around them in the name of love. Some are willing to give up everything in pursuit of a little light and warmth! This is a tribute to Keigo Higashino. The writing is delicate, the emotions profound! The plot is tight 701Reads8.4Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    All those murdered deserved to die. Someone meticulously planned this, aiming for a "traceless murder"! A high-IQ game of suspense, mystery, and crime-solving—a murder mystery novel! The mastermind behind the scenes is driven by revenge; he has connections everywhere, committing countless murders, yet never leaving any concrete evidence of his involvement at the crime scenes. Will he ultimately escape unscathed? This is a clash between a detective and the mastermind. Some lose the love of their lives; some commit crimes of passion to protect their loved ones; some harm everyone around them in the name of love; some are willing to give up everything to pursue that one warmth! This is a tribute to Keigo Higashino. The writing is delicate and deeply moving! Beneath the rigorous logical deduction and investigation, the struggles of humanity and the different fates of the characters brought about by different value orientations are the highlights of the novel!

42. 542 抓 You Got the Wrong Person! I Don't Sell Drugs, I Sell Rock Candy 抓错人了，我没贩毒我卖的是冰糖 Li Ju Loves Potatoes An李巨爱吃土豆安Urban1.1M WordsCompleted “You can call Uncle Dong. Uncle Dong is happy about that, but he doesn’t like the way you just spoke to him.” Li Yaodong transmigrated to a parallel world and became a contestant on the show Career Challenge. On the show, he had to keep adding drama to his role to stand out. But the first job he drew was a villager, a role that didn’t leave much room for theatrics. Then, just as he was wondering what to do, a notification sounded: [Ding! Occupation detected: Villager. Drama-Adding System activat 6.2kReads8.4Score533Shelves

    Reader note

    The first book is for highly intelligent people. [Smirk]

43. 543 朋 My Friend Borrowed My Car and Wouldn’t Return It, So I Handed Him Over to Spend Time in Jail 朋友借车不还，我转手送他吃牢饭 Li Ju Loves Potatoes An李巨爱吃土豆安Urban1.1M WordsCompleted A friend borrows his car, then totals it while driving drunk. But his braindead friend has the nerve to say, “You’re a terrible friend! I’ve just been in an accident, and you still expect me to return the car?” “I’m not giving it back. Go ahead and call the cops if you can.” Li Junyao awakens a Choice System and immediately calls the police, claims compensation, and gets the guy sent to prison, completing the whole assembly-line process. With the System’s help, Li Junyao becomes a streamer who s 9.7kReads8.5Score1.2kShelves
44. 544 蝉 Cicadas Sing as the Sun Sets in the West 蝉声且送阳西 Rain Falls, Bamboo Turns Cold雨落竹冷Eastern Fantasy2.6M WordsCompleted [Wuxia + swordsmanship + political intrigue + scheming protagonist + comedy + multiple leads] The world’s great currents form a chessboard, and all living beings are its pieces. One player commands the black pieces, another the white. One person has double pupils and looks down coldly on mortal life, overturning heaven and earth with a single gesture. Another is refined and graceful, laying schemes one after another, each linked to the next. Another, though only at the second rank, takes one ste 7.5kReads9.3Score748Shelves

    Reader note

    Believe me, it's truly mind-bending. The difference between player and pawn lies in a single thought. One may believe themselves to be in control, unaware that everything is within someone else's calculations… Falling leaves herald autumn's arrival, cicada songs bid farewell to the setting sun.

45. 545 规 Rule Horror: I Can See Hidden Clues 规则怪谈：我能看到隐藏提示 Xing Wuchen星无辰Mystery2.3M WordsCompleted The world of supernatural tales has arrived, and everyone must follow the rules! After hundreds of years, the world of supernatural tales has appeared once more. Sun Kai accidentally transmigrates into it, becoming one of the first contestants representing his nation’s fate. They carry the fate of Xia Nation on their shoulders! If they win, they survive, Xia Nation’s fortunes rise, and its people all benefit. If they lose, they die, the nation’s fortunes fall, and supernatural tales invade the 4kReads9.0Score518Shelves

    Reader note

    There's mystery and plot twists; both of the 45 simulated novels feature multiple transmigrators with varying abilities, some even having their memories erased and being reborn to scheme against others. If you're interested, you can check them out.

46. 546 昭 The Chaos of Zhaohua 昭华乱 See Fortune at First Sight, Meow一见生财瞄Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Available in print. Search "Zhaohua Rebellion" on any platform to purchase.] [Strong female lead, satisfying revenge, high-IQ palace intrigue, the heroine schemes against the entire harem, a dangerously unhinged antagonist] Song Zhao has always been a woman who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals, and she has always seen the world more clearly than anyone else. From the moment she learned that Xiao Jingheng had chosen her to enter the palace as a consort, her goal was crystal clear: "I en 88.6kReads9.5Score9.7kShelves

    Reader note

    The first book's quality speaks for itself; it's a top-ranked book, so its quality is undeniable. The second book is truly excellent, highly recommended. The third book is by the same author as "Ten Days' End," which speaks to its quality. The fourth book starts as a lighthearted read, but the protagonist becomes intelligent later on, making it equally mind-bending. The fifth and sixth books are palace intrigue novels, devoid of other elements, all intricately plotted schemes (you mentioned any genre). The author's writing style is bold, and each character is portrayed with remarkable detail. What truly amazed me was the male author; they are truly captivating. These two books are by the same author. These six books are highly recommended and treasured by me.

47. 547 错 The Wrongly Placed Murder Case 错位追凶 Yao Miao遥淼Mystery338k WordsCompleted Lawyer Shi Yi takes on a death penalty review case and meets Ting Fang, a condemned prisoner in the twilight of her life. To his surprise, Ting Fang seems to know him. She not only asks him to retrieve something from a certain place, but confidently insists that they will be in touch again. Not long afterward, Ting Fang is executed. Shi Yi intends to put the matter behind him, but somehow he still goes to the place she mentioned. There, he finds an old music box and a notebook Ting Fang left fo 12.5kReads9.3Score1.7kShelves

    Reader note

    I personally think it's pretty good, judging by how long it took me to read it.

48. 548 杀 The Assassin's Throne 杀手王座 Shi He Isn't Suitable矢禾不是适合Mystery293k WordsCompleted If killing someone could change your fate, would you do it? The gods have given everyone this chance. KILLER, WARRIOR, MAGICIAN, ALCHEMIST, LUCKY: different people are assigned different classes. Only by killing can they climb the steps to godhood, one at a time, until at last they take the throne. Qin Ye is an ordinary teacher. His older sister was exposed as a murderer and sentenced to death. After she was gone, society began to take revenge on Qin Ye. While sorting through her belongings, he 139Reads7.1Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    These…

49. 549 却 Yet You Betrayed the Spring's Grace 却负春恩 See Fortune at First Sight, Meow一见生财瞄Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Print edition now available. Search for Ascending to the Clouds on any platform to buy] [Original titles: Ascending to the Clouds / Loathing the Vermilion Walls] [High-IQ Palace Intrigue + Pure-Hatred Heroine + No Disposable Characters] [No transmigration, no rebirth, no golden finger] [The blurb doesn’t do it justice. Please go read the story] How do you become an emperor’s favorite concubine? A prestigious family? A good education? A gentle, respectful, modest, and accommodating nature? Unfor 25.3kReads9.2Score3.1kShelves
50. 550 亚 Abaddon 2 亚巴顿2 Nauseating for Years作呕经年Sci-Fi & Apocalypse396k WordsOngoing The zombie outbreak has begun. How can Guan Bei escape alive from his university dorm? In this cannibalistic apocalypse, surviving takes cold-bloodedness, ruthlessness, violence, and slaughter. Maybe it takes a little ridiculous kindness, too? Humanity is twisted, morality has collapsed, zombies roam everywhere, and the world lies in ruins. Run! Escape the jaws of the undead! [“Ordinary people.” I believe those three words are enough.] 13.1kReads8.7Score1.3kShelves

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