Novels like The Contest for Supremacy
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as The Contest for Supremacy, best match first.
- 1 One Sword Stroke Across the Azure Waves 一剑点沧澜 Soul-Reaping Valley controls people’s spirits with soul-capturing arts and commits every kind of evil. Yue Bingfeng of Xiuwu County has a complicated past. He studies under Elder Beichen at Yunhai Temple on Mount Gushe, then comes down from the mountain and solves bizarre cases alongside his junior brother Huzi. He rescues the courtesan Wu Qian’ge and takes in two disciples, Sanqiu and Jiuyue. For Qian’ge, a woman who is neither wholly righteous nor wholly wicked, Bingfeng is willing to make an 1Reads—Score—Shelves
- 2 The Ashen Heavens: A Record of Slaughter 苍黄天杀录 [Plot-driven, with tightly interwoven, brisk storytelling. A fictional history of the apocalypse, with internal strife and external threats, a blood feud between the imperial court and the jianghu, dark secrets and dangers within the martial world, and warring nations in a chaotic age, all gradually unfolding after a sudden upheaval one night.] The Central Plains have fallen, the land lies in ruins, and foreign peoples invade the heartland one after another, proclaiming themselves emperors and f —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 3 Flower Breaker 花折 The Poison Valley case in Wuxi and the Tang family village case involving the Tang Clan stirred up turmoil throughout the martial world. As the children who survived the massacre grew up, the Jianghu gradually began hunting them down. The Tang Clan, guardians of the Longquan Sword, sought to uncover the truth and protect the children, igniting conflict throughout the martial world. Meanwhile, turmoil also began to stir at court. —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 4 The Sword Illuminates the World 明剑天下 With sword in hand at the end of the Ming, I tread a blood-soaked path and sing of slaughter. I kill the Tartars and wipe out the Japanese pirates, making my name resound across the seas and restoring the supreme glory of China. 206Reads7.5Score—Shelves
- 5 Chronicles of the Cold Fireflies at the World's End 天涯冷萤录 Back then, when she was trapped in darkness, a heap of rotting weeds that no one cared about or even noticed, she was like a firefly, bringing her light. Sixteen years passed, severing their connection. When they met again, she didn't recognize her, yet she still saved her. He was the object of countless young women's adoration, a beautiful fantasy and hope she had cherished while hidden away in her chambers. Who could have guessed that their meeting would be so awkward? He was a divine constab 3Reads—Score—Shelves
- 6 The Book of Swords 剑名录 This is a story about revenge. Hunted by his enemies from the moment he was born, the boy stumbles into the most difficult map in the entire book as soon as he sets out on his journey. After overcoming trial upon trial, he hones himself into a formidable fighter. When he returns to the human-world map, he is a max-level expert back in the beginner village. The boy launches his revenge plan. Not one person who ever harmed him will get away! No System, no transmigration, no special bloodline. Thr —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 7 The Brahma Sword's Heavenly Song: Turning Clouds and Cleaving Seas 梵剑天鸣之翻云斩海 A wuxia tale about the paths to adulthood taken by a poor boy and the son of a noble family. Their childhood meeting sets the story in motion. It follows the bond of friendship that will last a lifetime, and their determination to fulfill every promise they have made, as their story gradually unfolds. But keeping a promise is hardly as simple as a kiss, and nothing in this world goes smoothly. Can Jian Ming, born into poverty, break free of fate's chains and deliver a warning about the martial —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 8 The Legend of Guanshan's Heroes 关山英雄传 During the Wanli era of the Ming dynasty, the government was corrupt and the people lived in misery. Heroes of the martial world, unable to endure the oppression of tyranny, gathered at Guanshan to cross swords in the jianghu, uphold justice, and set in motion one gripping tale of vengeance and intrigue after another... 2Reads—Score—Shelves
- 9 Three and a Half Moves to Conquer the Martial World 三招半式闯江湖 An ordinary boy from a mountain village studied martial arts under seven masters for eight years, painstakingly training in three moves. He ventures into the martial world, makes a group of friends, and is accompanied by confidantes. Watch as he rises to the top and fights bloody battles on every front. A tribute to traditional wuxia novels. 388Reads7.5Score—Shelves
- 10 I Have a Progress Bar for Martial Arts 我习武有进度条 [Muscle-bound domination, no female lead, decisive and ruthless] In the final years of the dynasty, natural disasters and human calamities run rampant, and the people are plunged into misery. Warlords carve up the land, factions clash, and foreign enemies gather at the borders. The world is in chaos. In these troubled times, some dream of upholding justice and saving the people from suffering. Others, driven by ambition, seek to claim territory and found their own dynasties. This is a world of m 24Reads8.0Score—Shelves
- 11 High Martial: From the Start, I Discover My Sister Is the Future Empress! 高武：开局发现姐姐是未来女帝！ [Lottery draws · high-martial arts · female emperor · one heroine · decisive and ruthless] Gu Qing transmigrates into a high-martial-arts game world called Great Martial Arts. To his surprise, his own sister is the future Female Emperor, a supreme powerhouse who will rule the world and dominate the martial world! But according to his memories, the Female Emperor’s game profile doesn’t mention having a younger brother. That means he’ll probably die before his time! Faced with the threat of death, 11Reads—Score—Shelves
- 12 Xiao City 萧城 No System + thoughtful protagonist + wuxia + one heroine + medicine + the martial world Far from court, he finds refuge in Shu, where everyone follows their own dreams. At summer’s end, a westerly wind rises, and intrigue spreads throughout the martial world. What? I’m a genius? You want to pass on a peerless martial arts manual to me? Only if I become the disciple of a woman I’ve never met? And you’re going to teach me your secret hidden-weapon techniques too? The old doctor gives me a pill w 1Reads6.3Score—Shelves
- 13 The Seven Wonders of the Jianghu: Blood Shadow 江湖七绝技之血影 All the famed swords are broken. Where are the heroes now? How long will this splendor last? I ponder rise and fall, and sorrow fills my heart. One house rises while another falls; the world changes like clouds in the wind. In triumph, the world grieves. In defeat, the world grieves. A lost martial art has resurfaced in the martial world. Is it a blessing or a curse? Who will rule the dust of the jianghu this time? 65Reads—Score—Shelves
- 14 Riding Through the Rivers and Lakes of Zoumachuan 走马川行江湖中 [Traditional wuxia + ensemble cast + martial world + imperial court + factional strife + unification of the realm + Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms + swordsmanship] The martial world of this age belongs to: The boy who declared, “Letters have no place in the martial world, and martial arts have no place in the imperial court”; The madman who proclaimed, “With a flask of wine at my waist, the celestial officials and the Lady of Heaven are no better than dogs”; The woman who wrote, “The martial wo —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 15 My Clan Sacrificed Me from the Start, in Exchange for My Rise to the Peak of Martial Arts 开局家族祭天，换我问鼎武道巅峰 [Self-interest above all] [Decisive and ruthless] [Pinnacle of martial arts] Yu Wen Du wakes to find that he has transmigrated to a world of advanced martial arts, and become the second son of the Yu Wen family, one of the three great clans in Anzhou Prefecture of the Great Yu Dynasty. He had planned to take it easy and enjoy life, but his elder brother’s faction fears he will compete for the position of clan head and plots to kill him at every turn. With no other choice, Yu Wen Du allies with o —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 16 The Hero Chu Mohan 大侠楚墨寒 Set during the reign of Emperor Wuzong of the Ming dynasty, this is a traditional martial arts tale with no System or golden finger. A young man carries a marriage contract, only to be beaten half to death and thrown out of the Su residence. Will he ever be reunited with his beloved? He enters the martial world in search of a lost treasure, wins the hearts of a bevy of beautiful women, and faces thrilling adventures, peerless martial arts, love and hatred, and feuds between nations and families. 3Reads—Score—Shelves
- 17 The Realm Is at Peace, the General Retires 山河稳，将军隐 (Content warnings: no golden finger, no wild fantasy, no transmigrate, no rebirth, no palace intrigue. A pure wuxia novel.) Lin Yuanyi thrives in the Embroidered Uniform Guard thanks to her unique skills, becoming, for a time, the man most feared in the Kingdom of Xiyan. Unfortunately, she falls for a man she shouldn't have. She uses every means at her disposal to win him, hoping to soften his heart with a lifetime of tenderness. In the end, however, they part ways, and their story ends in heart —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 18 Sword Void 剑虚 A young man steps into the martial world for the first time. He likes to mistake irreverence for carefree abandon, and chew up his sorrow before swallowing it, savoring it like a rare delicacy. The martial world is not so vast, the imperial court not so imposing. How far can a wandering hero get on horseback? As the saying goes: only here in this youthful martial world do we yearn to roam the world freely, seizing our youth to settle old scores, with a swift sword and a fast horse. With the mort 26Reads5.4Score—Shelves
- 19 A Sword Across Chang'an 一剑长安 The curtain rises. Behold the jianghu, where blades flash and old grudges and passions run deep. Behold the young wanderers, full of spirit and ambition; Behold the aged and frail, still every bit as dignified; Behold the wild scholars, free of all restraint! I have a sword that journeys to Chang'an, bringing lasting peace to the realm! Ladies and gentlemen, now… behold! 6Reads5.8Score—Shelves
- 20 Wuxia: I Kill People for Rewards 武侠：我杀人爆奖励 Xu Qingfan unexpectedly transmigrates to an unfamiliar ancient world, only to find himself in a hellish situation from the start. His family is buried in gambling debts, their entire estate has been repossessed, and he looks like he has only a few days left to live. Xu Qingfan decides to kill the thug who came to collect the debt, then discovers that killing people actually earns him rewards. 118Reads—Score—Shelves
- 21 The Lotus Heart's Funeral Record 莲心花葬录 He hopes to break free of this world and find his closest family. He hopes to break free of this cycle and reclaim the one he loves. How can he mend the leak in the heavens, take the lotus as his heart, and face the apocalypse? When one day all the flowers are buried for him, will he be able to find what he seeks and win back what he has lost? 78Reads6.3Score—Shelves
- 22 The Book of Wishes 如意经 A manual said to contain peerless martial arts has become the object of everyone’s desire. As schemes and treachery spread through the martial world, a thrilling tale of the martial arts world unfolds... 1Reads—Score—Shelves
- 23 The Ultimate Hero 极品侠客 Not a wish-fulfillment novel... Not brainless...! A martial arts manual from a century ago, a blunt-edged sword forged over a lifetime, twenty-four stone paintings concealing the secrets of the martial world, and an inscription on a jade stele along with martial arts mastery left behind by a Taoist who lived for over five hundred years... Hidden in the shadows, mysterious organizations such as Heartless Valley, Greenwood Palace, and the Longevity Sect vie for the Longevity Formula, weaving a sti 2.3kReads7.2Score261Shelves
- 24 The Sage of Daxia: Peerless in Letters and Arms 大夏圣人：文武无双 In my previous life, I had just been named the top liberal arts student in the national college entrance exams. Unexpectedly, I transmigrate into a feudal dynasty and become the eldest son of the Prince of Zhenxi. This is a martial arts world, where experts can scale rooftops and leap over walls, the powerful can pierce the armor of three thousand soldiers with a single sword, and enlightened masters can ride their swords through the air... The Great Xia Empire has endured for hundreds of years, —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 25 I Can Actually Change the Plot of TV Dramas 我居然能改变电视剧剧情 Everyone thinks they’re in control of their own lives. But have you ever considered that your own thoughts might actually be a program written by the Creator? The story follows programmer Jin Zhenyu, who is transmigrated into all kinds of TV dramas by a mysterious force. He suffers through each plot from the start, pushing the storylines forward. 6Reads—Score—Shelves
- 26 A Dream of Rivers and Mountains 一梦江山 During the Zhengtong and Xuande eras of the Ming dynasty, Xu Jingnian was born into a family of martial artists in Changshan. When he was young, his entire family was massacred. Daoist Ciyun later took him to Bazhong, where he spent ten years cultivating before venturing into the world and heading to the capital. It was just after the Tianshun coup that seized the throne, and the capital was rife with intrigue. Xu Jingnian rose and fell amid the treacherous currents of court politics. He threw h 3Reads6.5Score—Shelves
- 27 The Legendary Heroes of the Central Plains in Wuxia Novels 武侠小说中原侠侣传奇 Introduction to Wolong Sheng's wuxia novel, The Legend of the Heroes of the Central Plains: The Legend of the Lovers of the Central Plains: Ximen Yushuang, leader of the evil martial arts sect Plum Blossom Gate, intends to unite the martial world, but is thwarted by Bai Xixiang, a brilliant young woman suffering from a terminal illness. Ximen Yushuang hates her to the core and wants her dead, yet Bai Xixiang's cleverness fools her time and again. The two women match wits across the martial world 26Reads—Score—Shelves
- 28 You Said You Were Invincible 你说的，你无敌 One heroine, also known as You Said You’d Stay by My Side What is the jianghu? Deceit and betrayal, stumbling along, facing everything together, or… you said you’d stay by my side. To break free of the shackles around him, Ding Yuewu, who suffers from a hidden ailment, unexpectedly meets Yang Ruoxue, a merchant’s daughter whose family has fallen on hard times. By helping each other, one gets to see the jianghu he has always longed for, while the other fulfills her dream. Shanghui, an adviser in —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 29 The Nameless Famous Sword 名剑无名 He was a once-in-a-century genius of the Sword Gate. But after his master died a gruesome death and the evidence pointed to him, he was branded a patricide. He concealed his identity and became a tavern waiter, believing his sword heart had died for good. Then a heretical cult slaughtered the town. The tavern keeper he’d spent every day with was cleaved in two, and the blood of a flower girl splashed across his numb face. With a fire poker, he swept through the demons, leaving the tavern floor a 2Reads—Score—Shelves
- 30 A Chronicle of Jianghu Romance, Feuds, and Revenge 江湖风月恩仇录 A martial arts novel, written in an accessible style that’s easy to follow. There are no long, drawn-out fight scenes, so read with confidence. Stick with it through the first three chapters, and you’re sure to find a pleasant surprise. The plot is intricate, full of twists and turns, and fast-paced, with no dragging things out. It mainly follows the story of Chen Qinglin. When he is young, villains murder his parents. After a series of strange adventures, he learns powerful martial arts and set 10Reads—Score—Shelves
- 31 The Chicken Slayer: The Last Emperor's Life as a Martial Hero 杀鸡重重：末代皇帝的武侠人生 [Wuxia] [Transmigration] [History] [Lighthearted] [No System] [Comedy] [Foodie] He transmigrates as Chai Xun, the young emperor of Later Zhou, only to have Zhao Kuangyin seize his throne in the Chenqiao Mutiny. He gets unwillingly caught up in a conspiracy, as princes, royal brothers, ministers, eunuchs, and the entire martial world gradually unfold before him like a painted scroll. The neighboring Northern Han, Southern Tang, Dali, and Khitan all eye the Central Plains and the Song dynasty with —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 32 A Dream of Jianghu 一梦江湖生 The dragon roars and the phoenix sings; Xuanlong and Yunwu emerge. Another storm of blood and slaughter sweeps through the martial world. Zhao Qian, the surviving heir of the fallen Southern Zhao royal family, conceals his identity and rebuilds his forces. Together with the righteous sects and chivalrous heroes of the martial world, he punishes the wicked and fights evil, bringing peace to the common people and clearing away the murk that has clouded the jianghu. 1Reads—Score—Shelves
- 33 The Border Moon Fills the Western Hills 边月满西山 In this age of rule by the Five Kings, every trade is flourishing. When you have nothing to do, head to a pleasure boat on the Taishang River, pick a courtesan, and share a cup of wine; if you get carried away, sleep at the Xiangteng Inn until noon the next day. If you're pleading with a stubborn face to get a seafood delicacy from Yuntai for your sweetheart, be sure not to discuss court affairs in the bedroom. The barbarians of Monan prize loyalty above all, while the people of the grasslands a —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 34 The Greenwood Paths of the Jianghu 江湖绿林道 Driven mad by love, he flew into a rage and robbed a golden carriage. Fleeing to the mountains of the south, he became entangled in yet more love and hatred. When the Southern Heavenly Kingdom rebelled, Di Qing led a southern campaign and the young generals of the Yang family went to war. Tens of thousands clashed, leaving rivers of blood and mountains of corpses. After the battle, just as he was about to return home, he was beheaded... 1Reads—Score—Shelves
- 35 Storms Sweep the Martial World 风雨江湖 The first volume of The Stormy Martial World: Storms in the Capital. The second volume: The Liangshan Upheaval. In the early Song Dynasty, a village hunter is caught in an accident and forced to carry someone's remains a thousand miles. This sets him on the path into the martial world. Volume One: Storms in the Capital. By a twist of fate, the hunter Chu Fengyu learns superior martial arts and arrives in the capital in the early Song Dynasty... Volume Two: The Liangshan Upheaval. A hundred yea —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 36 The White-Browed Hero of Great Song 大宋白眉 This story continues the first three books. This is the fourth and final installment. After achieving his goal, the Great Song's White-Browed Hero retires from the world of martial arts. After the assembly of the Sages of the Three Teachings, Xu Liang stays home to teach his disciples. Xu Fang, the Silver Halberd Marquis, and his disciples come seeking revenge, while Xu Liang wins over Guo Tianju, the unrivaled master of Xuantian. Little Sword God Cheng Ruoyong joins forces with the twenty-two s 1.9kReads7.0Score100Shelves
- 37 A Long Song for a Broken Sword 折剑长歌 The jianghu is a great dream you long to wake from, yet never can, trapped within it, sinking and crawling. It is also a poem, with every person a character in its verses. A thousand words and ten thousand voices come together to tell a single story. 256Reads8.0Score—Shelves
- 38 Swordplay in the Misty Rain 剑走烟雨 During the Northern Song dynasty, a young man carrying two sharp swords emerges from the misty rain of Jiangnan. Bearing a blood feud, he ventures alone into the martial world. One sword splits mountains and rivers; the other brings order to heaven and earth... 1Reads—Score—Shelves
- 39 Dawn's Sword Rainbow 破晓剑虹 When Li Qiuhong came to his senses, the boy stood right in the center of his field of vision. The boy looked a little unusual, though Li Qiuhong couldn't say exactly what was off. He wore a felt hat at a slant. He was fairly tall but thin, with a willowy waist and shoulders. His face was only palm-sized and covered in dust, though his eyebrows were fine and well-shaped. His dry, pale lips were small, but a date-stone-sized mole at the corner caught the eye. The most astonishing thing about his f 1Reads—Score—Shelves
- 40 The Bloody Fist of Shanghai 神拳喋血上海滩 Shanghai in the 1930s: a city battered by storms, where warlords rise and fall in the foreign concessions and foreign aggression runs rampant. It is an adventurer’s paradise. A passionate young man arrives with a dream, making his way from the shantytowns to Avenue Joffre. With nothing but his iron fists, he conquers Shanghai, ultimately turning his personal ambition into a greater cause... 908Reads—Score104Shelves
- 41 Linghu Chong’s Junior Brother Gave Me a Copy of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer 令狐冲之师弟给了我一本笑傲江湖 If Linghu Chong had a copy of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, would he still have been expelled from his sect? Was Yue Buqun really not a good enough master to Linghu Chong? Which matters more: powerful martial arts, or the people who practice them? Does being part of the martial world mean you can ignore the law and do whatever you please? Could Linghu Chong, so reckless and headstrong, really not change? This book will show you a very different Linghu Chong. 198Reads6.3Score—Shelves
- 42 The Vast Jianghu of Wuxia Novels 武侠小说浩荡江湖 The wuxia novel "Vast Jianghu" Zhao Yufei, a supreme master of the Shaolin Sect, uses the Buddhist “Great Golden Bell Divine Skill” to break the “Seven Demonic Notes” of the Water Immortal Palace at Water Immortal Boat No. 3. His peerless bearing wins him the heart of Wu Xianke, its hostess. Later, at Water Immortal Boat No. 1, Zhao Yufei elopes with the hostess Yu Biting and steals the “Sound Measuring Device,” throwing the Water Immortal Palace into chaos. To save a beauty’s life, Zhao Yufei b 9Reads—Score—Shelves
- 43 Diary of a Godhood Ascension 成神日记 Su Luo, an unlucky young man from China, is accidentally struck by a brick and sent to another world, a place with gods, immortals, and Buddhas. There, he gets a Great Villain System. Martial arts manuals? I’ll take them to the Transcendent Realm! Divine weapons? I’ll blow them away! When in doubt, put points into the System. Su Luo blazes his own trail through the martial world, and by the time he looks back, he has reached the summit. It’s just a little hardship, that’s all. 5Reads—Score—Shelves
- 44 The True Forms of the Five Sacred Mountains 五岳真形传 If I'm going to write about the jianghu, I won't write only about the jianghu. I'll write of lonely lamps on rainy nights in the jianghu, and a decade of old wine at Xinting, of grudges, debts, love, and hate. Who, high in the imperial court, will recite a century of Confucian righteousness and summon the dragon's cry and crane's song from the nine heavens? Who, far away in the jianghu, will charge against the Guangling River with a spear, splitting its waters for eight hundred miles? Come, come —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 45 Mist? 迷雾？ Synopsis of Mist?, a wuxia novel by Gu Long: Through the voice of the protagonist, Li Shiba, the author repeatedly ponders whether he, as a killer, is the hunter or the hunted. The author never gives an answer, even at the end. But the moment Li Shiba kills Qian Tong, the “Fifth-Watch Rooster,” I understood: he was both hunter and prey. A killer was lurking in the shadows. He sent messages to those pursuing Li Shiba and had tracked Li Shiba himself, yet he never showed his face. Who was he? Lik —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 46 Dragon Horse Jianghu: A Wuxia Novel 武侠小说龙马江湖 Introduction to Dragon Horse Jianghu: Tang Ying points to a small boat and tells Xu Jingwei to sneak behind the other vessels alone. She plans to cross around the left side of the wrecked ship and reach the dock directly from the front. That way, the pirates on the dock will focus all their attention on Tang Ying. Xu Jingwei will have a much better chance of seizing a boat. 25Reads—Score—Shelves
- 47 A Survival Guide for the Ice-Cold, Disgraced Heroine 高冷失格女侠生存指南 Su Ling’er saw that her junior granduncle’s aura had completely changed. He was no longer icy and aloof, but full of carefree swagger, as if he’d thrown off all restraint. Sword intent surged around Lin Wan. With one move, “Stars Hang Low Over the Plains,” even the night breeze fell still. Qin Guang was curious, too. In a scene like this, what kind of stirring poem would the famed young prodigy, Cold River’s Lonely Moon, recite? “I’m usually support, but tonight I’m going into the jungle.” Lin W 4Reads—Score—Shelves
- 48 A Chef's Broken Blade 一个厨子的残刀 He was a cook, a taciturn cook in the inn's back kitchen. His job was to cut meat and vegetables. There was always more meat and produce to chop, just as the sorrow in his heart was endless and impossible to untangle. He was skilled with a knife. Everyone who had seen him wield one said so. His knife was a butcher's cleaver, its edge already full of nicks, much like his life. His life had always been incomplete. But his hands were terrifyingly perfect: broad, rough, with prominent knuckles, and —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 49 The Legend of the Heroes of Ming Pavilion 名阁英雄传 A wuxia novel infused with patriotism and the spirit of chivalry. Set during the Jiajing era of the Ming dynasty, it builds a vast martial world that stretches from street-side arenas to military life on the frontier, and then to the feuds of the jianghu. 2.2kReads—Score449Shelves
- 50 The Legend of the Golden Jade Swordsman 金玉奇侠传 [Wuxia, in the style of a storytelling performance, suited to listening] [Inspired by The Legend of Tong Lin] During the Shunji era of the Great Yan, the street thug Shi Jinyu joined the Boundless Sect by a twist of fate and learned astonishing skills. On his first trip down the mountain, he struck an Arhat with his palm and swept away a Vajra with his staff, earning the fearsome reputation of the "Sea-Calming Hero Who Shakes the Blue Seas"... [I'm a huge fan of The Legend of Tong Lin, which is —Reads—Score—Shelves
