Great Books Vetted by the Most Veteran of Readers

I'm looking for a book like *Xuan You Lu*. You can tell it's a good book just from the title. The plot is witty and entertaining, the logic holds up, and it has neither brainless characters, a harem, nor a saintly heroine. The transitions between exciting action and everyday life are seamless, and the writing is nuanced and polished. It's absolutely worth following.