Any Slow-Burn Novels Where the Protagonist Isn't Invincible and the Story Isn't Just Wish Fulfillment? 有没有那种不无敌不爽文，慢热的小说啊

1. 1 领EN Lord's Path: Starting from a Small Island 领主之路：从一座小岛开始 Three Cigars三杆烟枪Eastern Fantasy2.6M WordsCompleted What do you think nobles are like? Dignified, loyal, disciplined, brave? In reality, they're the filthiest maggots alive, bloodsuckers clinging to humanity. They're vile and despicable. They deserve to die, to be cast into hell and made to keep the demons company. But the tragic truth is that nearly every human on the continent of Shengnuo dreams of becoming a noble. The renowned scholar Santiago Trelleis died in his own home the day after making these world-shaking remarks. When Santiago wa 12.2kReads8.0Score1.1kShelves

   Reader note

   The first book tells the story of a man abandoned by his family, lacking talent, who, relying on a smart chip that has lost most of its abilities, gradually rises to power, navigating the complexities of international power struggles and surviving against all odds, until he becomes the ruler of an empire. The second book tells the story of a group of chip experts who travel back to 1989, to that turbulent era, starting with a VCD player, developing technology step by step, and helping their nation return to its former glory.

2. 2 重 Reborn in 1989: Building China's Technology Empire 重生1989：缔造华夏科技帝国 Thousand-Sea Guanyin千海观音Urban3.3M WordsCompleted Reborn from 2035 into the golden age of 1989, Xu Huasheng, a top Chinese chip expert, stands at the forefront of the times with a mind full of technological knowledge. He swears that this time around, he won't let himself be pushed around. Starting with the VCD industry, then moving into home appliances, pagers, mobile phones, chips, lithography machines, the internet, cars, drones, new energy, medical equipment, rockets, and satellites, Xu Huasheng begins with his own electronics factory and se 60.8kReads9.1Score4.7kShelves
3. 3 仙 Immortal Fields 仙田 Rampaging Watermelon暴走的西瓜君Eastern Fantasy7.8M WordsOngoing A mortal’s cultivation journey, no System, a farming novel. Carrying a mysterious three-acre plot of spirit farmland, he transmigrates to the vast and mysterious world of immortals and chivalry. Thanks to his second uncle, he begins his path to immortality and becomes one of countless rogue cultivators. The path to immortality is easy to enter but hard to travel. Only by facing hardship and enduring countless trials can one cultivate immortality for the long term. (Levels: Qi Refining, Foundatio 26.4kReads7.9Score2kShelves

   Reader note

   We can tell by their word count.

4. 4 欲 Yearning for Immortality 欲求仙 Han Xidi寒兮帝Ancient Romance3.1M WordsOngoing Something seems off about this transmigration? If you transmigrate into the cultivation world as an utterly ordinary passerby, get a golden finger in the form of a useless panel from the start, get sold to a talisman shop owner to work, and nearly starve to death while in seclusion, is there any hope for a life like that? And does being abandoned count as having your parents sacrificed to the heavens? By the time Fang Mingliao finally reached the Golden Core stage, she realized that ninety-nine 11.9kReads8.8Score957Shelves
5. 5 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 215.1kReads9.0Score15.3kShelves
6. 6 穿 Transmigrated to the Late Han Dynasty, I Cling to Liu Bei's Coattails 穿到汉末紧抱刘备大腿 Country Lane乡间小路Historical1.0M WordsCompleted Completed novel: Three Kingdoms: What?! Diao Chan Is My Older Sister! New novel: Guan Hai Entrusts Me with His Orphan, and I Lead the Yellow Turbans to Conquer the World (Set in the world of Romance of the Three Kingdoms) After transmigrating to the late Han dynasty, I'm all alone, with no connections, power, or influence. And now a chaotic age is about to begin. What should I do? Obviously, cling to a powerful big shot and do my best to stay alive. Of course, when I've got nothing better to do, 6.6kReads8.8Score659Shelves
7. 7 人 Everyone Gets a Planet: From the Start, Building a Zerg Civilization 人人一颗星球：开局打造虫族文明 Master Jieshan戒善大师Eastern Fantasy837k WordsCompleted Qin Tian transmigrated to a world where everyone was a Creator. Here, everyone had the chance to fuse with a planet and build their own planetary civilization! Some fused with savage beast planets to build beastfolk civilizations, where savage beasts roared and pierced the sky. Some fused with technological planets to build technological civilizations, where fleets of starships swept across the universe. Some fused with spirit-energy planets to build cultivation civilizations, where a single tho 1kReads8.7Score103Shelves

   Reader note

   I read the first one a long time ago, and it was alright. The second one was really enjoyable but slow-paced, and the protagonist wasn't invincible.

8. 8 重 Rebirth as a Demonic Cultivator: Starting with a Zombie Planet 重生魔修，开局捡到一颗丧尸星球 The World Is Ink天下墨矣Eastern Fantasy4.9M WordsOngoing This novel has been adapted into a comic. Chu Xuan transmigrates to the Cangxuan World and becomes a demonic cultivator in the Wuji Sect. To cultivate the demonic path is to seize the essence of heaven and earth and take the finest of all things. Slaughter countless millions, and you can become a supreme Demon Venerable. But killing is forbidden by the Heavenly Dao of the human race. The righteous sects also wiped out the Wuji Sect. Just when all seemed lost, Chu Xuan happens upon a blood mirror 15.6kReads9.1Score1.2kShelves
9. 9 生 With the Zodiac Talismans in Hand, I Sweep Through Eerie Dungeons 生肖符咒在手，我横推诡异副本 First Month, Eighth Day正月十仈Mystery611k WordsCompleted [Twelve Talismans + Absurd Comedy + Surreal Humor + Meme References + Infinite Flow + From Underdog to Overpowered] My name is Jiang Liu. By the time you read this, that guy surnamed Yang should already be dead. A bizarre game has invaded the real world. Players are granted all kinds of cheats by the gods. And I have twelve of them!!! 1kReads5.0Score102Shelves

   Reader note

   The title says "Invincible," but aside from the first dungeon, he's not invincible after that. The comments are all criticizing the author for using a misleading title.

10. 10 你 You Let Your Ex Sleep in My Bed? Why Are You Crying When I Kick You Out? 你让前任睡我床？让你滚蛋哭什么 Wangcai's Grilled Lucky Carp旺财烤锦鲤Urban211k WordsOngoing The rating has just opened, so it will go up later. [Divorce, No Forgiveness + No System + One Female Lead, and She Fights for What She Wants] In his previous life, his wife said she and her ex were just like brothers now, and that she only saw him as a younger brother. She stayed in a hotel with her ex, claiming it was just more convenient for gaming. When Lin Feng was sick in the hospital, the two of them drank at his home and even slept in his bed... Lin Feng swallowed this bitter pill for te 3Reads6.0Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It's definitely a slow burn and definitely not invincible, but it's a comfortable watch to enjoy.

11. 11 追 The Husband-Chasing Crematorium: Reborn, She Clings to Me, Kissing and Begging for My Love 追夫火葬场：重生后她缠吻求撩 Cool Night, Fluffy Ice夜凉绵绵冰Modern Romance914k WordsCompleted > Just as Gu Xian was about to propose to Su Hanyan, he found her with her arm linked through that of a man who looked almost exactly like him. > “He’s a good friend of mine,” Su Hanyan said with a smile. “I hope you two get along from now on.” > In the restroom, the man whispered to him, “Thanks for being my replacement all these years. The real deal is back now.” > Gu Xian was reborn ten years in the past. This time, all he wanted was to repay his debt and get out. > But Su Hanyan started acti —Reads—Score1.4kShelves
12. 12 夭 She's Dead! My Wife Is Actually the Big Bad 夭折了！我老婆竟是大反派 Little Assassin Seven刺客小七Historical701k WordsCompleted She unexpectedly transmigrates into the world of a romance novel and, from the start, marries Jiang Heyan, the story's vicious female antagonist. The catch is that this antagonist is in love with the protagonist, the Sixth Prince, Gu Tianming. Gu Chen, who has transmigrated into this world, is at a loss. He promptly asks Jiang Heyan for a divorce, determined to keep his distance and avoid getting dragged into trouble. But just as Gu Chen is ready to let go, Jiang Heyan gets anxious instead... 24.7kReads8.1Score1.4kShelves
13. 13 长 After Eight Years Together, She Runs to Her First Love at Their Wedding 长跑八年，婚礼现场她奔向白月光 Super-Cute Samoyed超萌萨摩耶Urban1.7M WordsCompleted [A Wife Chases Her Husband After Losing Him (She Can’t Win Him Back) + Second Female Lead Takes Center Stage + Male Lead Is Born with Superhuman Strength] After eight years of pursuing her, Ye Ling finally got his wish and married Su Yan. At the wedding everyone had been waiting for, Su Yan heartlessly left him behind and ran to the man she had always loved. Ye Ling didn’t cry or make a scene. He announced their breakup in front of everyone, saying they had nothing to do with each other anymore. 11.2kReads6.6Score980Shelves
14. 14 退 After Breaking Off the Engagement, I Married My Fiancée’s Aunt 退婚后，我娶了未婚妻她小姨 Pickled Cabbage and Beef Soup酸菜牛肉汤Urban520k WordsCompleted [Rebirth + Yandere Romance + Dating-Show Love Triangle + Winning Her Back After a Breakup + One Heroine] In my previous life, you looked down on me. Now that I'm reborn, I'll become your uncle-in-law. On the day of his engagement party, his fiancée vanished without a trace. Just reborn, Zhuang Yan knew that Xia Wan was at that very moment fussing over her one true love. Remembering how, in his previous life, he had ended up with terminal stomach cancer and everyone turning against him, Zhuang 47.4kReads8.8Score2.3kShelves
15. 15 不 After I Quit Being a Substitute, I Eloped with My Ex's Sister 不做替身后，和前任她姐闪婚了 Pickled Cabbage and Beef Soup酸菜牛肉汤Urban432k WordsCompleted [A short drama adaptation is available. Search “Lin Che Qin Zhi” to watch] [Older sister steals her love + younger sister chases her husband after losing him + love triangle + married first, love later + one heroine] [Why does the newcomer come out on top? Because big sister fights for what she wants] After five years together, Qin Wei has grown used to Lin Che’s thoughtful care and endless compromises. She thinks Lin Che is her loyal dog, someone she can abandon, but who would never leave her o 40.5kReads9.3Score4kShelves
16. 16 三 The Three-Foot Heavenly Abyss Sword, the Blind Man, and the Heartless Killer 三尺天渊剑，瞎眼男子，无心狠人 Actor in Red戏子红衣Eastern Fantasy1.7M WordsCompleted [Decisive and ruthless + play the pig to eat the tiger + no System + cold and merciless] Xiao Luochen transmigrates into a world of political intrigue written for female readers, becoming the disowned son of a declining family. From the start, his cultivation is crippled, and his childhood sweetheart, the heroine, kicks him out of the house. Then the vicious villainess snatches him away, intent on abusing and tormenting him? This crazy, vicious villainess is completely unhinged! What? The heroin 12.2kReads8.6Score1.6kShelves
17. 17 是 You Chose to Stay with Your White Moonlight. Now You Regret the Divorce! 是你要陪白月光，离婚又悔疯了！ Not Even for a Panda小熊猫也不换Urban135k WordsOngoing Once upon a time, Su Qingzhe thought he had a perfect, happy marriage. His wife had been a child star from a young age. As an adult, she was hailed as the nation's goddess, and she had given him an adorable, well-behaved daughter. In the eyes of countless people, he was living the dream. But when his wife's old flame returned, everything changed. The perfect marriage developed cracks. His wife demanded to know why Su Qingzhe had changed. Why didn't he trust her at all? Every time Su Qingzhe gave 3Reads5.5Score—Shelves
18. 18 地 The Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends Transformations 地煞七十二变 Wine Priest祭酒Mystery1.5M WordsOngoing The seventy-two transformations of the Earthly Fiends each grant a supernatural ability. A mysterious book with a yellow cover sent Li Chang'an back to the ancient world. Every demon he killed earned him a new ability. Painted-skin ghosts, zombie kings, spider demons... one after another fell beneath his sword. Communing with the netherworld, swordsmanship, demon-slaying... one supernatural ability after another emerged from the book. After he wiped out a hundred ghosts and looked around with hi 37.7kReads9.3Score4.5kShelves

    Reader note

    Three cups of wine and a promise is made; the Five Sacred Mountains are as light as a feather. The novel has a unique subject matter and a good entry point, drawing heavily on classical supernatural tales from the eerie book "Youyang Zazu." The writing is excellent, the plot flows smoothly, the atmosphere is well-developed, the imagery is superb, the pacing is above average, and the plot is meticulously crafted. The protagonist is very well-developed; although his martial arts skills surpass those of ordinary people, he still walks the mundane world, acts with principles, and is decisive in killing, but without malice or indiscriminate killing. He is not "dark" for the sake of "darkness," but rather like a normal person.

19. 19 诡EN The House of Dread 诡舍 The Sound of Wind and Rain at Night,夜来风雨声丶Mystery2.1M WordsCompleted [Infinite-flow + Mild Horror + Survival + One Female Lead] A driverless bus carried a group of cursed people to a strange black lodge… Inside the lodge stood a door stained red with blood. At regular intervals, the cursed were forcibly dragged through the blood-red door and into terrifying worlds, where they had to complete horrifying events… After Ning Qiushui survived one bizarre and terrifying story after another inside the lodge, narrowly escaping death each time, he discovered that none of 707.4kReads9.6Score103.9kShelves

    Reader note

    A clear mind and invincibility

20. 20 十EN Ten Days to the End 十日终焉 Pest Control Team Member杀虫队队员Mystery3.2M WordsCompleted 2024 Tomato Novel Annual Peak Rankings TOP 1 | 2024 China Online Literature Influence List | 2024 China Good Novel Award | Over 2 million copies sold (No harem, no formulaic tropes, no invincibility, no System, no mindless antics, no wish fulfillment. Read with caution if these bother you.) Just when I thought it was an ordinary day, I discovered I had been captured and taken to the End. Just when I thought I could escape by continually taking part in death games, people began awakening supernat 1.7MReads9.9Score207.7kShelves
21. 21 网 Three Kingdoms Online: The Battle for Supremacy Begins in Hanzhong 网游三国：争霸天下从汉中开始 I Love Bean Sprouts我爱黄豆芽Sports1.5M WordsCompleted [Lord] [Civil Officials and Military Generals] [Conquer the World] [Not Mindless] [Not a Beginner's Novel] [A Treat for SLG Fans] Blue Star is desperately short of resources, and its reserves are nearly depleted. Then the world government discovers a planet suitable for human habitation, and humanity enters the age of interstellar migration. A few years later, an online game called New World appears. At the same time, the world government announces that people's living quarters aboard the starsh 3.7kReads8.4Score227Shelves
22. 22 求 Survival: Defending My Cabin Against the Cold Wave 求生：从小木屋开始抵御寒流 Shan Xun山寻Sports3.5M WordsCompleted [Survival] [Shelter Building] [Disasters] [Stockpiling Supplies] Everyone transmigrates. When Qi Yuan wakes up, he finds himself in a fog-shrouded world full of danger. Cold, hunger, wild beasts, and torrential rain become the daily lot of everyone. Rising with the sun and resting at its setting become the way of life for all! 119.2kReads8.2Score8.4kShelves
23. 23 神 Divine Pet Evolution 神宠进化 Wind Knocks on Bamboo风敲竹Eastern Fantasy1.1M WordsCompleted Reborn in a world of beast tamers, he gains the Magical Pet Evolution System. Others: After a month of hard training, their spirit beasts finally level up once. Han Feng: After sleeping in for a month, his spirit beast reaches the max level. The lazier he is, the stronger his spirit beast becomes. His very existence proves one thing to the world: true geniuses don’t need to work hard... 554Reads6.2Score—Shelves
24. 24 从EN Once Upon a Time, There Was a Demon-Suppressing Pass 从前有座镇妖关 The Cat from the Xu Family徐二家的猫Urban3.0M WordsCompleted Once, there was a pass like this. Once, there was a group of people like this. Every inch of this pass was stained with blood. These people would not return until they were dead. All so that, amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood, in their final moments, they could turn around and see the lights of countless homes shining behind them, with peace and safety year after year. 160.1kReads9.6Score18.1kShelves
25. 25 恐 Horror Tavern: I Only Raise the Most Ferocious Creatures 恐怖酒馆：我只养大凶之物 Lord Salted Fish咸鱼君Mystery1.6M WordsCompleted Tucked away in a quiet alley is a strange tavern that can grant your wishes, as long as you’re willing to set up a terrifying idol in your home... 6kReads9.4Score804Shelves
26. 26 我EN Learning to Slay Gods in the Psychiatric Hospital 我在精神病院学斩神 Three Nine Sound Domain三九音域Urban4.3M WordsCompleted A must-read hit on Tomato Novel | Original novel of the hit anime Slay the Gods | IP influence on the China Online Literature Influence List | 2023 China Good Novel Have you ever wondered whether monsters from ancient myths lurk beneath the neon-lit city? Have you ever wondered whether gods stand watch over humanity atop the moon hanging high above us? Have you ever wondered whether extraordinary people walk among us in our bustling modern cities, acting in the gods’ stead? In the society ruled 995.7kReads9.9Score158.5kShelves
27. 27 药 The Scent of Herbs on a Sword Tassel: The Physician Who Saved a Swordsman 药香染剑穗：医女救下执剑客 Nameless Son无名之子Ancient Romance147k WordsOngoing I was an apprentice at a small clinic in Jiangnan when I rescued a masked man covered in blood on a rainy night. The sword wound at his waist was deep enough to expose bone, yet he clutched a carved wooden box protectively. “Don’t open it,” he said, grabbing my hand before he passed out. “You’ll die.” Three days later, soldiers surrounded the clinic. “Hand over the former dynasty’s treasure, and we’ll spare your life.” I was trembling as I brewed medicine when I heard him chuckle from the inner —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The book's concept is about ordinary people gradually becoming stronger, without any cheat codes, only through down-to-earth and hard training.

28. 28 雾 The Fogbound District: The World Beneath the Fog 雾行区：雾下的世界 Yue Jing月惊Sci-Fi & Apocalypse126k WordsOngoing A coming-of-age story, no System, not a power fantasy, ensemble cast, a somewhat slow burn, lighthearted, joyful, healing everyday life, with a touch of mystery. When the fog came, no one asked whether anyone wanted it. Some became Fogwalkers, risking their lives to hold it back. Others were just ordinary people, listening to a song beneath the glow of everyday life and saying “Take care on the way” when they parted. This world disappeared a little more every day. But some things always last lon 3Reads—Score—Shelves
29. 29 末 The Apocalypse: Eternal Life 末世永生录 The Heartless One忘心人Sci-Fi & Apocalypse3.0M WordsCompleted [Dark-leaning + Villainous Male Lead + Not a Power Fantasy + Fictional World] Some say I'm a devoted son... sending my old man on to the other side... Some say I'm the greatest actor... honoring the craft of a veteran thespian and playing out every facet of life... Some say I'm the greatest philanthropist of the apocalypse... giving millions of people, rich or poor, the chance to be treated as equals and ascend together to the heaven they've dreamed of... Who am I? I am the Eternal Night! I am e 2.7kReads8.1Score281Shelves

    Reader note

    The protagonist is extremely dark, not a saint, and not a wish-fulfillment story. The style leans towards older post-apocalyptic novels. If you enjoy older post-apocalyptic stories, keep an eye out, as this book isn't very popular and you might miss it and find it hard to find again. As for whether it will be abandoned, the author has already written over 2.7 million words, so it's unlikely to be abandoned. This book not only embodies the style of older post-apocalyptic novels, distinguishing it from the currently popular system and mindless wish-fulfillment stories, but also demonstrates the author's perseverance. For seasoned readers of both older and current post-apocalyptic novels, this book is truly a breath of fresh air. Highly recommended for those looking to revisit older post-apocalyptic novels!

30. 30 觉 Awakened the Worst Talent? My Clones Can Simulate! 觉醒最烂天赋？我的分身能模拟！ Who Says I Can't Do It?谁说我不行Urban1.0M WordsCompleted [Wish fulfillment + mastermind behind the scenes + thrilling!] What would it be like if you awakened a clone talent, and your clones were bound to a simulation System that could give them the strength an ordinary person would gain over a lifetime, all in just a few minutes inside a simulated world? Lin Ke glanced at his pitifully weak stats panel. Then he looked at the dazzling figures before him, his clones who had already become the Grand Marshal, Prime Minister, and Great General of the Human 586Reads8.8Score104Shelves

    Reader note

    Doppelganger, villain, simulation, inhumanity, no female lead

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