Novels like The Sword Falls, the Story Begins
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as The Sword Falls, the Story Begins, best match first.
- 1 A Buddhist Disciple and the Successor of a Martial Saint 佛宗弟子与武圣传人 Du Minxuan was a lay disciple of the Buddhist sect. He descended the mountain to investigate the injustice done to his father, only to be deeply loved by a nobleman's daughter. Faced with the pursuit of this charming, playful beauty, can Du Minxuan keep his Buddhist heart and attain enlightenment, or will his mortal heart stir and lead him into love? As the heir to a Martial Saint, Lang Peilong hopes to join forces with Du Minxuan and make their names across the martial world. But a generations- 67Reads—Score—14d adds
- 2 Wuxia: A Soul-Reaping Yama Has Appeared in the Martial World 武侠：江湖上出现了一个索命阎罗 Written entirely by hand, with a slow build, no System, and pets. In the jianghu, everyone trembles at the mention of the life-taking King of Hell. Anyone he sets his sights on will be dead by midnight within three days. When the King of Hell says you will die at the third watch, he certainly won't let you live until the fifth. Rumor has it he's the disciple of Ghost-Fearing Sorrow, the king of assassins. Others say he's the young man in purple who uses the Reverse Sword Technique. Still more ru 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 The Legend of Dragon Scales and Phoenix Feathers 龙鳞凤羽传 During the Tianjia era of the Southern Chen, a meteorite from beyond the heavens fell at the foot of Mount Wuyi. The disciples of the Wuyi Sect forged it into two weapons. The dark meteorite became a blade of unparalleled hardness, its surface covered in stamped patterns and its form simple and archaic. It was called the Dragon Scale Blade. The white meteorite became a sword, sharp as a gleam of light. Though its metal was soft and pliant, nothing could withstand its edge. It was called the Phoe —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 4 The Chronicles of Chu Tie 楚铁记 A bloodshed sparked by a treasured sword. After an ignorant child falls into a mountain valley, one extraordinary encounter after another reveals the truth of his strange origins. Having endured life's vicissitudes and seen the depths of human treachery, where will he go from here? —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 5 The Dusty Stars of the Dao 道象尘星 On a great avenue, amid a sky full of drifting catkins, a solitary figure stood with his hands behind his back. The scenery around him was desolate, and an eerie wind slowly swept through. This was the first manifestation of a Dao Mark. The realms of martial arts were often distinguished by the manifestations of Dao Marks. The manifestation described above was the highest realm of martial arts, known as the Profound Yellow Realm. Over the past century, among the many heroes who had embarked on t 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 6 The Divine Constable and His Heroic Partner 绝迹江湖之神捕侠侣 Mu Qinniang was a mother of two, but her outstanding beauty brought her trouble. He Baiming, lord of Tai Sui Manor, is determined to force her into marriage. Faced with a powerful enemy, what should Mu Qinniang do? What path should she take in life from here? And what leads her to become a chivalrous hero? Their story is only just beginning... 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 Forbidden Arts: The Living Dead 禁术：活死人 The lost work of Hua Tuo, The Green Satchel Book, supposedly has the miraculous power to bring the dead back to life and restore flesh to bare bones. But why has it become a forbidden art among Hua Tuo's descendants? The Iron Sword Sect has stood tall in the martial world for decades, yet in a single night, its leader massacres every last member. What sort of conspiracy lies behind this? And what bitter suffering and bloodshed does it conceal? —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 8 A Record of Splendor and Misty Rain 风华烟雨录 [Historical setting + light wuxia + lighthearted comedy + political intrigue] A handsome pavilion master who hides his true abilities, an exquisite divine physician who plays the pig to eat the tiger, a righteous young gentleman, and a wealthy heiress who spends lavishly. Four young people from very different walks of life meet and, each pursuing their own aims, set off together on a journey of their own. One step across the land, one step through the martial world. Conflict rages throughout the 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 9 The Wu Family 武家 Before the Hundred Schools emerged, the Ten Thousand Schools all sprang from it. Yet the martial world regarded it as a public enemy, and the imperial court saw it as a grave threat, all because of its ideals. It began in the Eastern Zhou dynasty and has survived for over a thousand years. Many major events in history are inextricably tied to it. Across the centuries, it has endured countless calamities, risen and fallen, and survived the ravages of time. The Martial Sect. It... Though all the w 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 I Eat Wild Beasts in the Mountains 我在山里吃野兽 A new kind of wuxia, where every punch lands with bone-crushing force. A human beast driven mad, tearing off limbs with his bare hands and biting away half a head with his gaping maw. A murderous maniac who wields skulls as weapons. How can a sect with a century of history protect itself? Who says wuxia must always be about serving the country and its people? Open this story and step into a different kind of martial world! —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 11 Don't Let the Spring Thunder Startle the Wine 酒莫惊春雷 A low-budget version of The Blood of Youth + The Bad Kids, with tender jianghu romance and courtly intrigue. Tang Jinzhi only meant to wander the jianghu, but his wives push him step by step into inheriting the throne. Behind a shocking conspiracy lurks a mastermind he never would have expected. Who could it be? Let’s find out together! 80Reads8.1Score—14d adds
- 12 Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils: From the Start, I Saved Xiao Feng and Became Supreme in the Way of Freedom 天龙：开局救萧峰，逍遥独尊 (Wuxia, xianxia, traditional fantasy, transmigrate into a book, nonstop action, no harem, no mindless power fantasy, just a pure story) After Xiao Feng falls off a cliff, peace seems to return to the land, but undercurrents are churning. A sinister, tangled conspiracy is unfolding, and danger lurks everywhere in the martial world. The four factions of ghosts, demons, monsters, and heretics are poised to overthrow the realm. Dong An, heir to the Carefree Sect, must take on the mission of saving 259Reads—Score—14d adds
- 13 The Lonely Tower in the Cold Rain 寒雨孤楼 A return to traditional wuxia fiction. This isn't a power fantasy: there is no transmigration and ascension, no rebirth and comeback, no golden finger System, no endless harem, and no grand Myriad Worlds filled with gods and Buddhas. Here, there is only a small martial world, with all its intrigue, love, hate, and passion. Like the works of Jin Yong and Gu Long, though the quality of this story certainly can't compare with that of those two elder masters, and I wouldn't presume to set readers' e 188Reads6.3Score—14d adds
- 14 Pure Wuxia: The Greatness of the Uncarved 纯武侠：大拙无锋 A Martial God has emerged from the jianghu of Jiangnan. They say his inner energy has reached perfection, its divine radiance hidden within. They say he can pluck a flower or leaf and use it to wound someone. They say one move, “Shadowless Through the Flowers,” shattered the century-old reputation of Flying Star Hall. Sect leaders from every corner are entranced by his plainspoken words, while the daughters of prestigious families revere him as the true god of martial arts. But only Chen Zhuo 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 15 The Cultivating Swordsman 修侠 Book titles: Martial Arts: Sword, Cultivating the Way of the Sword (High martial arts, no System, not a wish-fulfillment novel, no tiered martial arts ranks, court and jianghu conflicts, a slow burn early on. If that's not your thing, don't read it. Criticism welcome.) What is a hero? One definition says: someone who stands up for justice, suppresses the strong, and protects the weak. A great hero says: The greatest heroes serve their country and their people. An immortal says: Kill a man within 8Reads—Score—14d adds
- 16 Chronicles of the Blade-Wielding Wanderer 风云刀客录 A world of traditional martial arts, where heroes and heroines navigate old grievances and tangled affections; defiance of the imperial court through forbidden uses of martial strength, stirring up storm and turmoil; and the joys and sorrows, laughter and tears, of growing through life. 60Reads—Score—14d adds
- 17 A Century of Life and Death 百年生死 This is the sequel to Peerless Finger, set in the jianghu a hundred years later. Some make the jianghu their foundation. Some weep for a dear friend. Some have plotted for a hundred years, hoping to become one with the Tai Sui. There are grudges and farewells, ambition and greed. A sword unveils an island that has lain dormant for years. Behind the bronze gates lie riches enough to rival a nation, wondrous martial arts, and a perfect reflection of the greed in people’s hearts. 22Reads—Score—14d adds
- 18 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—14d adds
- 19 The Heartburning Chronicles 焚心录 [Wuxia] [Ensemble Cast, Serious Drama] [Revenge, Political Intrigue, and Twists] [Mad, Cunning Characters] [Devoted Romantics] [Complete, With No Rushed Ending] On the day of the wedding, flames engulf the manor. The famed Xi Jian Mountain Manor is reduced to ashes overnight. A young man is forced to take up a sword, an orphan girl seeks vengeance in blood, and a mastermind behind the scenes stirs up the world. The fates of three people intertwine as the secrets of the battle in the Stone Fores —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 20 The Wrathful King! From Villager to Comeback Hero 怒王！从村民开始逆袭 Heaven and Earth undergo a cataclysmic transformation. Disasters run rampant, and the people are left destitute. To survive, powerful figures everywhere rise up in rebellion! Imperial authority crumbles, and martial artists rule the world. Great sects seize spirit-vein strongholds and dominate their territories. Everyone pursues martial arts, seeking the power to shatter mountains and split rocks, and the path to immortality! The protagonist starts out as a villager who gathers medicinal herbs. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 21 The Southern Realm's Oath 南域盟誓 A struggle for succession to the throne of the Far South Continent. The mystery of his birth father’s death eighteen years ago has a shocking answer: the mastermind was his adoptive father! Was it deep affection for the child he raised, or a hatred born of a father’s murder? But what if his birth father was not his real father, and the culprit was not the true culprit? One sworn alliance gives rise to countless conflicts… 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 22 The Young Man's Encyclopedia of All Things 少年万物志 Xiao Zhan is the Qingyang Sect’s most troublesome disciple. To keep him from causing trouble, Situ Zhuri has forbidden him from going down the mountain. But clever as he is, how could he be content to remain trapped in such a tiny world? What he thought was “standing up for justice” was really just “acting recklessly,” and he has brought trouble upon his sect. How can he stay there now? Cast out by his master, he wanders the jianghu in search of a place to belong. When light and darkness intertw —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 23 Snow Whirls Across the Rivers and Lakes 飞雪满江湖 The Martial World and the Realm I am a wanderer of the martial world, braving frost and snow on my way. At dawn, I dance with my long sword; at dusk, I return and take my leave of the grand halls. The flash of a blade startles swallows and sparrows; the shadow of a sword cuts down insects and snakes. In the end, white bones have no tombs. What virtue do generals and ministers possess? A tribute to Jin Yong, offered with heartfelt respect. I present this humble work and hope you will forgive it 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 24 Flowerfall Valley of Women 流花女人谷 Beneath the Yellow Crane Tower, a crowd had gathered to watch. They were a bunch of idle men, all there to see a man torment a woman. The Yellow Crane Tower was a grand building, with private rooms upstairs. Twelve men sat in one of them, so pleased and amused with themselves that they could hardly wait for the good show about to begin. Qian Buduo owned more than thirty women, each a beauty, all bought with the vast sums of money he had spent. But one woman had secretly been seeing another man. 3Reads8.8Score—14d adds
- 25 If I Become a Demon 若成魔 I picked up a sword from the start, and my life changed in many ways. I don't know whether I'll become a god or a demon in the end. Is there a clear line between gods and demons? And if there is, what will happen? —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 26 Strange People and Odd Tales of the Jianghu 江湖奇人怪事 Introduction to the martial arts novel Strange People and Curious Tales of the Martial World: Legend has it that the mysterious and wealthy City of Gold gave the map and key to its treasure to the famous figure Li San Lang. Before long, Sickly Beauty, Tang Da Peng, Jin Shao Qiu, Nan Gong Qiu Leng, Si Ma Chang, Dong Fang Ming, and others all stepped onto the stage, frantically searching for Li San Lang. As it turned out, Li San Lang had taken on the identity of the renowned constable Dong Men Cha —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 27 The Immortality Terrace 长生台 [Swordsmanship] + [Wuxia] + [Political Intrigue] + [Humanity’s Fight to Survive] The path to immortality has been severed, but the fortune of the mortal world is at its height. Martial prowess has reached its peak, and people use force to flout the law. As war ravages the land and turmoil spreads, the shattered Platform of Immortality appears, tempting all with the promise of eternal life. But beneath this conspiracy, decades in the making, another, even greater conspiracy may be lurking! —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 28 That Man Stormed the City 那人闯城 The Man Who Stormed the City —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 29 Gathering Hatred 拾恨 (I hope this book can awaken a few memories in you, and in me, of the wuxia stories of that year. That is all.) [Political intrigue + rekindled love + military life in ancient times + tragic ending after a falling-out + wuxia with a down-to-earth style] The Gong sisters lived at the bottom of society in the capital. After an accident took their mother from them, they were taken in by a wealthy household in the capital and forced to live under someone else's roof. Ten years later, an unexpected i —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 30 The Tale of Chongsheng 崇晟传 [No System, No Golden Finger, Not a Power Fantasy, Traditional Martial Arts, Mystery] He is the heir of the Southern Marquis, and should have grown up surrounded by wealth and privilege. But disaster strikes his family. His father is framed, his mother goes missing, and he is forced to roam the martial world. As he searches for his family, his sword pierces the throats of one enemy after another. His sword is so fast that his opponents can't even see what it looks like. But this time, he isn't u 1Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 31 A Middle-Aged Man’s Wuxia Dream 中年大叔的武侠梦 [Traditional wuxia + no System + invincible hero + soul transmigration + mystery-solving + growth + no mindless plot] A middle-aged man finds himself in the body of someone with an innate martial physique from the start, and gradually learns all kinds of wondrous martial arts. Through one adventure and mystery after another, he reaches the pinnacle of martial prowess, founds the world's greatest sect, sweeps away countless scoundrels from the martial world, and brings balance between the martial 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 32 The Shadow of the Cangshan Swordsman 苍山侠影 A classic wuxia tale set against the backdrop of the Hongtong Great Locust Tree migration, with no fantasy elements. It begins with a bloody case and follows the protagonists’ experiences, choices, and growth against the backdrop of history. From the third year of Hongwu (1370) to the thirty-fifth year (1402) of the early Ming dynasty, Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang implemented a large-scale policy of migration and land reclamation. The Great Locust Tree in Hongtong, Shanxi, became the main gatheri 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 33 The Tale of the Chivalrous Thief 侠盗英雄传 In the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, the story unfolds in a small fishing village far from the noise and chaos of war. Zhang Caile is a country boy, born and raised in the village, who dreams of becoming a great hero. The story follows him from boyhood through youth, middle age, and old age as he pursues that dream amid turbulent times and the shifting currents of the martial world. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 34 Chronicles of a Hundred Lives in the Jianghu 江湖百生录 Conflict in the martial world has never ceased, and death is always close at hand. After each baffling incident, a trail of clues can eventually be found. Is it a blood feud? Revenge? Greed? Lust? Or perhaps a bid for the elusive title of the greatest martial artist in the land? In this era, as the older generation withdraws from the world, the new generation of young heroes is met with one terrible tragedy after another sweeping through the martial world. No one can stay out of it. You’ll never 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 35 The Heroic Chronicles of Jingming 惊溟侠记 In the final years of the Tang Dynasty, the Twelve Jingming Sacred Steles, which celebrated the empire’s founding heroes, were destroyed. A prophecy soon spread among the people: “When Jingming appears again, the Tang will fall.” From then on, the martial world of the Tang was no longer at peace, and the imperial court and the jianghu became intertwined through Jingming. The orphaned boy Jiang Yunque has no desire to enter the jianghu, but is swept into its conflicts all the same. At the Mount T —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 36 Wuxia: Slay Enemies to Gain Cultivation, and Get the Dragon-Elephant Skill from the Start 武侠：杀敌爆修为，开局得龙象功 [Revenge] + [Decisive and Ruthless] + [Rapid Leveling] + [Wuxia] + [Xianxia] + [A Touch of Mystery] Chu Sheng had barely transmigrated when his entire family was wiped out. Hunted by assassins, he awakened a System that rewarded him with cultivation every time he killed... Ding! Congratulations, Host, you killed a First-Realm cultivator and gained five years of cultivation. Ding! Congratulations, Host, you killed a Fifth-Realm cultivator and gained thirty years of cultivation... Thirty years of 1.1kReads5.5Score10614d adds
- 37 The Legend of the Icefire Golden Dragon 冰火金龙传 That year, he braved life and death and traveled across the martial world, all to save one person. That year, he was reborn in fire and returned to the martial world, all to kill one person. At the end of the Yuan dynasty, the empire was in chaos... 422Reads6.7Score10214d adds
- 38 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—14d adds
- 39 The Sword's Shadow Over Jianghu: Chronicle of Secret Orders and Turmoil 剑影江湖之密令风云录 The protagonist, Li Yunfei, has practiced martial arts since childhood and is driven by great ambition. In pursuit of higher martial arts mastery, he resolutely leaves home and ventures into the jianghu in search of legendary manuals. While searching for the manuals, Li Yunfei unexpectedly discovers a mysterious organization with secretive movements and grand ambitions. As he investigates its secrets, he meets a group of like-minded heroes of the jianghu, each possessing exceptional skills and a 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 40 Wuxia: One Sword, One Dog, Run If You Can't Win 武侠：一剑一狗，打不过就走 [Wuxia + No System + Not Invincible + Comedy] A young man named Lin Huai dies suddenly after years of working overtime and transmigrates to a wuxia world called Daxia. As a transmigrator, Lin Huai has no System, no cheat, only an unnamed inner cultivation manual passed down through his family. He had enough hardship in his previous life. All Lin Huai wants now is to farm in peace and stay alive amid the chaos, living a quiet, ordinary life. But in a martial world full of change and uncertainty —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 41 Zhou Zhiruo: The Sword of Mountains and Rivers 山河故剑周芷若 Based primarily on the serial version of The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, this story reimagines that world with Zhou Zhiruo, daughter of Zhou Ziwang, as the protagonist. Many plot details have been changed, and the changes are substantial. If you’re deeply attached to the original novel, please read at your own discretion. The story begins when Zhou Zhiruo encounters Zhang Sanfeng on the Han River. Things get a little angsty at first, but the further you read, the more satisfying it gets. 12Reads—Score—14d adds
- 42 Great Swordmaster: Thunder-Viewing Sword 大剑豪：观雷剑 This is an unconventional novel about a System. Swordsmanship + slow-paced storytelling + traditional wuxia in the first half + fantasy elements in the second half + mystery + current affairs What would you do if one day you transmigrated into a martial arts world, only to discover that every enemy around you had transmigrated from the modern world and possessed a “System”? How would you face them? On a summer night filled with cicadas, a meteor shower suddenly streaked across the sky. Along —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 43 A Lone Leaf on a Boat as a Thousand Sails Fade Away 一叶孤舟千帆尽 (One female lead, no harem, no System + no dumb decisions + not a beginner's novel. Traditional martial arts are dead, so proceed with caution if that bothers you!) I thought the jianghu was just the jianghu. I thought revenge was just revenge. As citizens of Daxia, we must strive to become stronger! 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 44 Hong Xiguan’s Battle Against the White Lotus Cult 洪熙官力搏白莲道 After Hong Xiguan, an heir of Southern Shaolin, bathed Mount Emei in blood and avenged the great wrong done to his masters, he returned to Guangzhou and set about rebuilding Shaolin Temple. On the day it was completed, Hong Xiguan invited Monk Qingcao to serve as abbot, while Zhang Meng, the Crossing-the-River Dragon, became a monk and head instructor of the Thirty-Six Chambers. At that time, the Lin and Zhao villages at the foot of Jiulian Mountain were fighting over farmland, and a brawl broke 65Reads8.8Score—14d adds
- 45 Fangzi's Story 方子的故事 The Story of Fangzi 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 46 A Sense of Happiness 幸福感 A Sense of Happiness —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 47 The Lone Disciple of the Immortal Way 仙道独徒 A celestial abode sparks a bloody scramble among powerful factions. Everyone thinks they are fighting over an unparalleled opportunity, unaware that all living beings are merely bait. He is a pleasure-seeking rogue, drifting from one flower boat to the next. Then he meets the daughter of an old friend, Chu Zhao, and is forced into the game. The moment his memories return, Shen Du realizes with a start that he, too, is bait, but also the one moving the pieces. 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 48 The Three-Five Tower, Wandering the Jianghu 云游江湖三五楼 In the martial world of ancient times, no weapons inspired more fear and renown than the Dragon Spring Blood Blade and the Wild Goose Feather Frost Saber. Heroes from across the land met in bloody struggles for fame and fortune, their flesh torn apart and their lives lost to the Yellow Springs. Why can the most ruthless and deranged villains repeatedly escape danger and continue to wreak havoc in the martial world, despite being hunted by so many righteous masters? What mysterious force helps a 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 49 The Twin Heroes of Sword and Chess 棋剑双侠录 Yin Zixiang, from the twenty-first century, accidentally transmigrates to the end of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty. According to rumors in the martial world, a certain endgame can grant command over the martial world and the power to claim the empire, if only someone can solve it. He meets Xiao Meng, a refined young woman from a renowned orthodox sect, and they fall in love at first sight. Meanwhile, Leng Qixian, a descendant of the Mongol royal family, has spent years mastering martial art 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 50 The Snow Blade Seals the Shadow 雪刃封影 An uncompromising wuxia epic set in a completely original world. The martial world is divided anew by the Cang River, running north to south, and the Bai River, stretching east to west. Martial arts evolve in distinct styles and schools across the four regions of Dongchuan, Xiling, Nanye, and Beiyuan. There is no Shaolin or Wudang here, only the Zhi Ge Society, the Qianji Tower, and the Baimai Hall, each with its own radically different ideals. The Eighteen Linked Strongholds control the lifebl —Reads—Score—14d adds
