Novels like Northern Horse Notes
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Northern Horse Notes, best match first.
- 1 Secrets of Spirit Mediums: Incense-Bearing Rituals and Journeys Between Worlds 出马秘闻：顶香出马，走阴串阳 Cultivating immortality requires a destined connection to the Immortal Path, and every immortal has a master to recommend them. Masters roam far and wide, and miraculous powers appear when one falls from grace and passes the imperial examinations. Born in the 1990s, I once thought I had a bright future ahead of me. But one strange thing after another began happening, and all my ambitions came to nothing. Then someone pointed out that I was meant to become a spirit medium and serve the spirits. F 12Reads—Score—14d adds
- 2 The Immortal Hall's Secret Records 仙堂秘录 The tales of the northeastern spirit mediums are widely known, but have you ever heard of someone serving as a medium for a “Dragon Immortal”? From childhood, I was a walking calamity, born under the sign of Yinghuo and beset by a fiery catastrophe. By a twist of fate, the immortals chose me as their medium. This immortal is not one of the “Five Great Immortal Clans.” She looks sweet and adorable, but she is actually a young dragon from the Heavenly Lake of Changbai Mountain! On the day we estab 111Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 A ’70s Housewife Unexpectedly Becomes a Spirit Medium! 一个70后家庭妇女竟然出马了！ An ordinary housewife steps out of her chaotic life with her child and into the mystical world of spirit mediumship. She opens the door to a whole new world. The author draws on her own experiences, sharing knowledge of spirit mediumship that she has understood and compiled herself. Some events in the story are fictionalized or exaggerated as needed. Part of the material is drawn from the internet. Please do not imitate anything in the story in real life. All names are pseudonyms. I hope we can 161Reads6.8Score—14d adds
- 4 The Fox's Allure on a Rainy Night 雨夜狐魅 Grandma said I was an orphan carried here by a fox twenty years ago. I didn’t see him again until the torrential rain from twenty years ago returned. A fox immortal led the way and helped me escape a deadly fate. He said I was the bride he had left in Grandma’s care for twenty years. From then on, I established my own spirit altar, welcomed supernatural patrons, and even fell in love with a fox immortal along the way. But little by little, I realized I seemed to have become trapped in a vast and 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 5 Spirit Mediums Beyond the Pass: Making a New World in the Internet Age 关内出马：互联网时代闯出新天地 The Hu and Huang spirits never cross Shanhai Pass, but I'm a spirit medium for the new era, and I'm going to venture out! So I crossed Shanhai Pass, stepped into the world of the internet, and entered a world unlike any other... A brave spirit medium fears no hardship! 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 6 Northeast Dragon and Phoenix Hall: This Spirit Medium Is a Little Unhinged 东北龙凤堂，这个弟马有点癫 The Ma family of the Northeast practices an occupation steeped in mystery. I've been at it from the age of fifteen to twenty-five: ten years honing my craft, though I haven't exactly honed it quickly. This book will be updated as things happen, and I'll share some of my experiences from these years. Discussion is welcome. Here's the important part!!! To anyone who wants to hurl insults: you definitely won't win that contest with me. To anyone who disparages the profession: go ahead. Things reall 190Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 Tomb Raiding with the Immortals at My Back 背着仙家去盗墓 A wild dog that fed only on corpses dragged me out of my grave and handed me over to the head of the “Southern Ma” tradition. The “Southern Ma” are an independent tradition that blends Southern Taoism with the Northern spirit-medium practice known as chuma. Its followers usually work alone, venturing into dangerous places. Each can have several spirit patrons with them at once, and they are not only partners but also the closest of allies. To survive, I chose to take over from my father and beco —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 8 Strange Tales from Northeast China 东北民间诡异故事 A demolished Changxian Temple, the eerie Little South Mountain, a great fox who came to visit, the person behind the resurrection of paper effigies, a wronged female ghost come to call, a full-term fetus dead in the womb. Tell me, am I the one telling the stories, or am I a character in one? 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 9 Reopening the Dojo for Her | I Offer Immortal Blood to Save the World 为她重开堂口|我以仙血祭苍生 I’ll Reopen the Lodge for Her | I Offer Immortal Blood to the Common Folk —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 I Became a Spirit Medium in the Village 我在村里出马仙 At midnight, the incense ash at the village entrance always forms the two characters for “weekend.” Inside the yellowed notebook Grandpa left behind is half a bloodstained birth chart. He thought the village’s “immortals” were showing their power, until the kitchen cleaver sharpened itself and clawed shadows covered the window paper. Those so-called “blessings” were actually sacrifices meant to claim his life. 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 11 Autobiography of a Northeastern Spirit Medium 东北出马仙自传 A strip of red cloth, three chi and three cun long. The elders and immortals of the old shrine ride with us. One day, we’ll emerge from the mountains and make our name known across the land, passed down by countless families! A young Northeastern man devoted to the occult will open the door to its mysteries for you, and introduce you to the secret traditions of the Ma family and esoteric Buddhism. What? How did you know I belong to the Dragon-Phoenix Shrine? 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 12 My Cat Is a Cultivator 我家有只修仙猫 The older generation always says cats don’t live past six and dogs don’t live past eight. They say that once cats and dogs reach that age, they start exhibiting strange, supernatural behaviors. And the cat in my house... "Do you have any fava beans? I need eighty-one of them." "You can talk?" "I need eighty-one fava beans." Later, a wandering old Taoist priest said that my old cat had an affinity for immortality, and needed fava beans to cultivate... —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 13 White Mountain Mysteries: A Journey of Five Immortal Bonds 白山灵事：五大仙缘之旅 Synopsis of The Immortal Path Begins Amid the White Mountains and Black Waters In a mysterious region surrounded by the White Mountains and Black Waters lies the quiet village of Taiping. Young Zhang Yichen lost his parents early and lives with his grandmother. Kind and brave by nature, he is fascinated by legends of the Five Great Immortals of the Northeast. One day, a child in the village falls gravely ill, and the local doctor is helpless. Hearing that a fox immortal might be able to save the —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 14 The Realm’s Boundaries 域界之方圆 The path of cultivation has always defied heaven itself. As for the strange, unknown things encountered by spirit mediums, which science and the naked eye cannot explain, how can they be dismissed in just a few words? I’ve been reading the signs through incense for nine years. Along the way, I’ve tasted every kind of joy and sorrow, experienced the warmth and coldness of human nature, and seen plenty of scheming and rivalry. I’ve read so many stories that I’ve come to disagree with some of them, 33Reads7.1Score—14d adds
- 15 My Life as a Chuma Xian 我的出马仙儿生涯 In our vast land of China, the snowy black soil of the north is home to a strikingly unusual folk tradition: worshipping the “Immortals.” The Immortals do not appear in person. Instead, they possess their disciples, who are known as “spirit mediums,” serving as intermediaries between humans and spirits… A suspense masterpiece showcasing the very best of Northeast China's spirit-medium culture! 164Reads8.3Score—14d adds
- 16 The Last Spirit Medium 最后一个出马先生 For years, I went unnoticed amid the bustle of the city. Then one day, I made my debut, and the whole world knew my name. My name is Yan Youli, and I'm a shaman. Punishing evil, promoting good, cultivating myself, and helping others: those are my principles. Vengeful spirits, wicked fiends, ferocious beasts, and even beautiful women from the underworld: why are they all coming after me? The last shaman takes you into the wondrous world hidden behind traditional culture! 13Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 17 I Was Forced to Take the Spirit-Channeling Seat Too 我也被迫出堂了 The protagonist, Zhang Muchen, lives in a small county in northern China. His childhood is plagued by one disaster after another. His story isn’t exactly bizarre, but it is full of twists and hardships. After passing through trials of love, wealth, and life itself, he is eventually forced to open a spirit altar and read fortunes. He thought things would go smoothly from then on, but instead he faced one ordeal after another... This book is based on the author’s personal experiences. All names ha 494Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 18 Sun Wuji of the Northeastern Immortal Sect 东北仙门孙无极 The Northeast Ma Xian series: Sun Wuji, a disciple of the Immortal Sect, is born to face a tribulation and is the chosen one. He endures trial after trial, forging a path to invincibility and reaching the supreme pinnacle of the Immortal Sect. 15Reads—Score—14d adds
- 19 This Chuma Immortal Is Too Vicious 这个出马仙太凶狠了 My father had never once imagined, even as an adult, that he would have a child. Then one day, I came into the world and shattered that age-old belief for good. The thing is, I was born frail and sickly. It was only thanks to Chang Er Ye taking possession of me that I survived in this world. This is my extraordinary tale of spirit-medium tricks and supernatural dealings... 76Reads—Score—14d adds
- 20 I’m a Spirit Medium in the Northeast 我在东北当顶香师 “Heaven has thirty-three layers, Earth has three feet and three halls. I walk the yin road, descend to the Underworld, and am a spirit medium from Northeast China.” My name is Ye Ling. My life was ordinary until I turned twenty-one. Then my grandmother died of an illness, and I began having nightmares every night and seeing ghosts all the time. I even gained some kind of special ability. I went to see a fortune-teller, who told me I couldn’t leave this county for three years and had to sit in 242Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 21 A Practical Guide to Spirit Mediumship 出马仙实务手札 Dongshan, a former journalist, stumbles by chance into the fantastical world of Northeast China's chuma xian spirit mediums. Is it fate playing a trick, or destiny bringing things together? With an objective pen, he records strange and uncanny events as they really happen. Guaranteed to be true, this is a practical guide to understanding a parallel world. 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 22 My Rise to Immortality in the Mortal World 我在人间之出道仙 You think I’m writing a story, but what I’m really writing about is my own misadventures. A realistic, documentary-style novel about a spirit medium making their debut. This is not a wish-fulfillment story. The main plot follows the male lead as he undertakes missions, guides spirits to their final resting places, fights demons, and heals the sick and saves lives. The novel also introduces many disciples who are connected to the male lead… Every divination has a source. Realism + documentary-sty 454Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 23 A Modern Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio 现代版聊斋 [Anthology Stories] [Supernatural Thrills] [Folk Horror] [Mountain Spirits] [Rural Legends] No overarching plot + no transmigration + no System + a serious novel + perfect bedtime reading + every chapter is a standalone story, with eerie, gripping plots. The story is entirely fictional. Any similarities are purely coincidental. 17Reads—Score—14d adds
- 24 Grandpa Tells Me Ghost Stories 爷爷给我讲鬼故事 Child, are you really sure you want to hear it? Grandpa doesn't know any other stories. All I know are old tales from ages ago, and I'm afraid they'll scare a little kid like you. I really want to hear them, Grandpa. I'm not scared, so go on... All right, then. How about I tell you one every day from now on? Haha, if you're not scared, then Grandpa will tell you one every day. 14Reads—Score—14d adds
- 25 I Call You Dad, Do You Dare Answer? 我叫你爹，你敢答应吗！ [Two powerful leads, neither saintly nor self-sacrificing + Spirit-medium cultivation + No female lead + Suspense and the supernatural + Two male leads + A series of cases investigating the uncanny] As a child, Ni Die thought the words written in bold, flowing calligraphy above his family's spirit altar were incredibly badass: A body full of resentment becomes immortal might, Even underworld bailiffs dare not give chase. With the command seal, I can summon a thousand ghost soldiers, When the Kin 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 26 War God Di Xuan Helps the Dragon Clan Return to Its Peak 战神帝玄助龙族重回巅峰 The War God Di Xuan helps the Dragon Clan return to its former glory. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 27 Northeastern Spirit Medium's Journal 东北出马笔记 From the day I was born, vengeful spirits surrounded our gate. The old immortal said I had a spiritual altar within me and would have to survive three life-and-death trials. If I made it through, I could establish my altar and serve as a spirit medium. If I didn’t, I would be doomed beyond redemption. My fate had been sealed long ago… 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 28 Secrets of the Underworld 阴间秘事 Are you afraid of death? As the saying goes, when a person dies, their light goes out. But in truth, many people fear death because it is unknown. Li Damin and I were both intensely curious. One day, we went out of our way to visit a man who had traveled to the underworld. Afterward, Li Damin continued investigating to uncover the truth, but then he disappeared... A man surrounded by the aura of death, a mysterious spirit-caller, and the disappearance of my friend. In the end, I too set out on a 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 29 A Grim Reaper Works Part-Time in Showbiz 鬼差在娱乐圈打工 [Urban Supernatural + Metaphysics Expert + Showbiz + Sweet Romance] Lu Xuanzhen is a young ghost who is two hundred years old and belongs to Squad 18 of the Fengdu Special Operations Division. She is injured during an arrest mission. Wang Que, an unfortunate nobody who happens to pass by, has a secret identity: an heir to a wealthy family who must go home and inherit billions if he stops taking acting jobs. At the moment of danger, Wang Que is possessed by a sword spirit. He gains its power, —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 30 Chronicles of Peace in the Mortal World 人间太平志 Beasts from the Classic of Mountains and Seas, folk legends of monsters, sleeping gods, invading outer gods: so what? I swear here and now: my body shall be the key, my soul the lock. I make a pact with the tomb: in life, I will bury strange beasts and gods within it; in death, I will offer my soul as a sacrifice and guard its side forever, fighting until nothing remains... —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 31 Strange Tales of Spirit Mediums 出马仙异闻 In the lands of the Northeast, amid the dark forests, mysterious tales of spirit mediums have been passed down since ancient times. The five great spirit clans, the Hu, Huang, Chang, Mang, and Bei, have cultivated for thousands of years, choosing humans to serve as their mediums. Through mortal bodies, they walk the world, exorcising evil, upholding justice, and accumulating merit to become immortals. Those chosen by the spirits, known as spirit disciples, bear a fated burden. They move between —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 32 The Founding Ancestor of the Northeast Ma Clan 东北马家开山鼻祖 Legend has it that in the desolate days of Northeast China, bandits ran rampant, and people lived in constant fear. In that harsh, heartbreaking era, no one cared whether others lived or died, and no one spared a thought for the families caught in the chaos. At last, it all came to an end at the hands of a young man from the shamanic clan, who broke the grip of that savage, evil age. No one knew who he was. All they knew was that his actions brought shame upon his people and disgraced his family —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 33 Mythic Forbidden Zone 神话禁区 Beneath the firmament, divine treasures lie hidden and ghosts lie in wait. I stumbled upon the secrets behind the legends. I crossed the lands between the three rivers and six banks, stained the snowy plains of towering peaks with blood, and endured countless brushes with death as I fought against fate for my life. I survived, yet the world has no trace of me. 203Reads6.3Score—14d adds
- 34 The Spirit Medium: My Altar Has Only Five Words 出马仙：我的堂单只有五个字 [Urban] + [Mystery] + [Supernatural] + [Comedy] + [Supernatural Mystery] + [Transmigration] + [Single Female Lead] + [Lighthearted] My master transmigrated, and I have to bring him back! After the college entrance exams, a farewell dinner landed me a shop for free. It also gave me a new goal: save my master! Did you know? Spiritual qi has revived. Becoming a spirit medium is a shortcut to cultivation. In an age of spiritual qi revival, it’s already too late to rely on your own cultivation. So, w 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 35 Can You Believe It? I Married a Demoness 你敢相信？我娶了个妖精 I must be going crazy! In my dreams, I can see good and bad fortune and tell whether someone will live or die. My aunt, who is only 1.3 meters tall and weighs over 150 kilos, gets run over by a car 800 times before my eyes. Her head rolls right up to me, yet she just stands there cackling coldly. Even stranger, I see my aunt and my cousin die one after another right in front of me. When I try to use this ability to save my family, I discover that I’m the next one to die. My dead relatives come t —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 36 The Last Horse-Riding Shaman 最后一个出马仙 A drought demon descends, throwing the mystic arts into chaos. Rumor has it that whoever obtains the Golden Pearl of Nüba can break through to the Celestial Rank and command the world. Before long, turmoil erupts. The five great schools of mystic arts descend on Yulin Village in search of Nüba. Five renowned, revered “hypocrites” from that era end up driving my grandmother to her death. To avenge her, I become the last shaman in the world! 121Reads8.3Score—14d adds
- 37 The Spirit Medium 通灵出马仙 Everyone knows that in the three northeastern provinces beyond the passes, people worship the “Five Great Immortals,” but few know that the “Outer Five Immortal Halls” also exist among the dark mountains and pale waters. The “Outer Five Immortal Halls” are the Bear, Tiger, Wolf, Eagle, and Centipede. They were once fierce and untamed wild spirits. Only after the Bear Immortal, “Black Mama,” attained the Dao at Jiuding Tiesha Mountain and was appointed “Grand Protector of the Northeastern Taoist 6Reads5.8Score—14d adds
- 38 My Strange Spirit-Medium Life 我的诡异出马人生 I'm Xiao Ming. I live in an ordinary family in Northeast China, where my parents run a business. I'm introverted, and because I'm overweight, my classmates mock and ostracize me at school. “Look at that fatso. What a freak!” “He's a loser.” Their words made me feel inferior and depressed. At home, Mom was gentle but controlling. After Dad got involved with Buddhist teachings, he was always lecturing us, and his temper was unpredictable. Their love left me feeling suffocated. I have a special sen 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 39 A Northeast Chinese Spirit Medium 东北一出马仙 Pangu split heaven and earth, dividing yin from yang. Nuwa’s great deeds shook the eight directions. Kuafu chased the sun and transformed the world of men. Gonggong, enraged, rammed into Mount Buzhou. Fuxi devised the Eight Trigrams. Shennong tasted every herb and flower. The Yan Emperor struck stone to make fire. The war god Xingtian brandished his weapons. The Yellow Emperor battled Chiyou, who fell in death. The gods knew of Jingwei, who filled the sea. Houyi drew his divine bow and shot down 4.2kReads8.8Score16614d adds
- 40 Notes from a Century-Old Spirit Medium’s Hall 百年堂口出马笔记 When I was seven, I accidentally discovered a secret that had been locked away in my grandfather's drawer for decades. From that moment on, my life was never ordinary again. The spirit hall passed down in my family for centuries chose me as its incense-bearing disciple. During those decades of silence, the world outside changed beyond recognition. But the story of me and all the immortals in the hall was only just beginning. How will these once-mighty immortals, with my guidance, accumulate meri 107Reads8.9Score—14d adds
- 41 The Spirit Medium's Revelation 出马仙启示录 I’m a shamanic practitioner from Northeast China, also known as a great immortal. These days, so many people get scammed and end up buried in debt, then go mad. It really worries me, though I also think they’re foolish. I’ll share my own experiences and stories from fellow practitioners to talk about Northeast China’s shamanic tradition, and warn people not to get scammed. (For special reasons, I can’t be too direct with ordinary readers, so I’ll express things obliquely.) 6Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 42 Northeastern Spirit Medium: The Yellow Weasel Mourns the Dead 东北出马仙：黄仙哭丧 My dad beat a weasel to death. That night, outside our house, ghosts wailed and countless yellow weasels mourned... A three-foot red sash draped over the body, four beams and eight pillars forming a ladder to heaven. Three great roads meet in the center; nine sticks of incense honor the immortals and gods. The sky grows dark, chaos reigns in every direction. Whenever an age falls into turmoil, demons and evil spirits emerge, wearing human faces and worming their way into the halls of power. Some 156Reads6.4Score—14d adds
- 43 A Family of Spirit Mediums 出马仙世家 A small suggestion from Zhang Xin, the 26th-generation heir of a family of spirit mediums: before opening the door when you get home at night, choose one of these three things to do: “Spit three times behind you,” “Flick the hem of your clothes three times,” or “Tap your heels together three times.” 60Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 44 Horse-Riding Immortal: My Years as a Spirit Medium 出马仙：我当大仙的那几年 Since ancient times, the line between the southern Maoist tradition and the northern Ma family tradition of spirit mediums has been drawn at Shanhai Pass. The spirit mediums inherited the legacy of the ancient shamanic religion and worship fox, yellow weasel, long, and python spirits, the wild immortals. Names like Third Grandpa Hu, Third Grandma Huang, Chang Xiaopao, Huang Xiaohua, and Mang Tianlong, the immortals of the northeastern spirit shrines, may exist only in legend. Wang Mofeng has a s 362Reads—Score—14d adds
- 45 My Grandma Is a Spirit Medium 我的奶奶是个出马仙 Ever since I can remember, I would mysteriously fall ill. The adults would put me in a little room at my grandmother’s house. The walls were covered with yellow paper charms, and the table was lined with incense burners. I had no idea what any of it was, but in that room, I felt as if many people were keeping me company, and the pain would ease. It wasn’t until I grew up that I learned my grandmother was a spirit medium from Northeast China. I’ve collected some of her experiences and brought the 108Reads—Score—14d adds
- 46 99 Short Ghost Stories 99个短篇鬼故事 Tang Cheng is an ordinary young man fascinated by supernatural events. He loves seeking out ghost stories to satisfy his curiosity. He sets out on a journey to find 99 terrifying ghost stories, gradually uncovering the strange conspiracies and mysterious events hidden behind them. As he investigates further, Tang Cheng begins to notice that some things are connected to him. Before the final mystery is solved, he must piece together all the clues and uncover the truth. The story explores the comp 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 47 Strange Tales of Northeast China's Spirit Mediums 东北出马诡闻录 Ever since I inherited Grandma’s old incense lineage, I’ve encountered far too many supernatural incidents. I don’t just help the living with their problems, I also help the dead and the ghosts... People say ghosts are terrifying, but they’re the ones with true feeling. They repay kindness with kindness and settle grudges in kind. They’re far better than people. Then, as my cultivation grew stronger, I saw the true face of another world, and what I witnessed left me deeply shaken. Do you want to 152Reads6.9Score—14d adds
- 48 Don't Chat with Strangers 别和陌生人聊天 A collection of suspenseful, horrifying, mind-bending mystery stories that expose the greed of human nature. People lose their reason to satisfy their selfish desires, plunging into an abyss of sin and causing innocent people to suffer, sometimes losing their precious youth or even their lives. The stories in this book are based on real cases, and all the names have been changed. 97Reads6.9Score10714d adds
- 49 Memories of Life and Death 忆生死往事 Written from my own true experiences, this is about becoming a spirit medium and the various supernatural encounters that have brought me face-to-face with life and death. The main figure is my mother, who has been a spirit medium for thirty years and has spent all that time reading people’s fortunes. Everyone has their own fate, and every family has its own rules. I hope you enjoy it, and you’re welcome to share your thoughts. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 50 The Northern Horse Immortal Venerable 北马仙尊 [Supernatural]+ [Demons]+ [Immortals and Spirits] In Northeast China, there is a group of extraordinary people. Because of their own origins and family ties, they are chosen by spiritual beings cultivating deep in the mountains. From then on, their fates change, and they are destined to follow an extraordinary path. They often walk between the worlds of yin and yang, resolving people's troubles in exchange for nothing more than an honest fee. The world calls them spirit mediums. Those who serve 1.1kReads7.8Score10114d adds
