Novels like Unorthodox Arts of the Jianghu
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Unorthodox Arts of the Jianghu, best match first.
- 1 The Way of Yi: A Witch's Journey 易道巫途 [Heir to the Way of Change, accidentally uncovers an ancient mystery] [Master of the shamanic soul, who discovers his own path through enlightenment] [Born with innate yang energy, the power of the heavenly grotto in his belly] [The Demon-Slaying Ruler, able to capture every demon under heaven] But fate decrees that he will always be alone. For his loved ones, Zhou Qing explores the strange tombs of the Four Great Villains, battles with the arts of change atop Mount Tai, sets up a heaven-shaking 2Reads—Score114d adds
- 2 The Wicked Occult Path 邪门诡道 Ever since I ran into a van full of vengeful ghosts when I was twenty... encountering ghosts and running into demons has become part of my daily routine. To stay alive, I had no choice but to learn Taoist arts from an unreliable Taoist priest who was also a dried-out corpse... Of course, these demons and monsters aren’t the only ones who want my life. The Ten Kings of Hell are after me too. But... do you really think it’ll be that easy to take my life? 64Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 This Taoist Seeks No Good Deeds, Only Murder and Arson 道爷不修善果，只爱杀人放火 [“Do you think anyone Daoist kills is a good person?”] [“Life and death are nothing to me. If you won’t accept it, fight me.”] [Not an academy story] [“You cultivated from martial arts to become the Dao Ancestor?”] I’m Xu Le, a Daoist known as “the Depraved Taoist,” the biggest lunatic in the high-martial world and a scourge to the Daoist sects. After transmigrating for nineteen years, I finally awakened the [Cultivation Through Merit] System. But the System is strange: I can only earn merit by 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 4 An Unorthodox Path 旁门异途 My name is Han Yu. I was just an apprentice at an apothecary, but after my master was brutally murdered, I had no choice but to enter the martial world. This martial world is far more complicated than it seems. Behind the unorthodox arts banned by the imperial court lies a shocking secret. At least Mao Yao is by my side. I have a special constitution: transparent venomous parasites crawl out of my wounds and heal them on their own. That’s something I can count on as I make my way through the wor 3Reads—Score114d adds
- 5 The Left-Handed Celestial Master 左道天师 Feng Shui arts have existed since ancient times. Liu Xiu once summoned a meteor from the heavens, whose thunderous power wiped out an army of 300,000. Later, Zhuge Liang used the Eight Trigrams Formation to protect his descendants through the many upheavals of modern times. Yet in the world of Feng Shui arts, the Dragon-Tiger School reigns supreme. The arts passed down by smaller schools are all considered unorthodox. Those who master these arts are known as Celestial Masters. Even though smalle 174Reads—Score—14d adds
- 6 The Greatest Heretic 旁门左道第一人 The grand Dao encompasses every path, orthodox or unorthodox. Every technique is a form of cultivation. From taming beasts and refining Gu to mechanisms, calculations, and esoteric arts, watch how Lu Chen becomes the greatest person under heaven. Money, power, and beautiful women: he wants them all. 23Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 From the Start as Uncle Nine’s Abandoned Disciple: The Left-Hand Path to Immortality 开局九叔弃徒左道长生 Zombies: From the Start, Uncle Jiu's Abandoned Disciple Takes the Left-Hand Path to Immortality Lin Feng transmigrated into a zombie world. Abandoned by his parents, he was taken to Maoshan by an elder and hailed as a once-in-a-generation genius, destined to become its Daoist heir. He hoped to master the methods of a hundred schools and attain immortality. But Shi Jian feared that Lin Feng would succeed him as the new head of Maoshan. So he framed Lin Feng and destroyed his cultivation in one fe 523Reads—Score—14d adds
- 8 Unorthodox Paths: The Road to Immortality Begins with a Shaman 左道旁门，从巫祝开始的长生大道 Ye Feng, who can travel freely between two worlds, arrives in the strange realm of Yin and Yang. Here, people practice a unique form of shamanic cultivation. But Ye Feng soon discovers that something seems wrong with the way people cultivate in this world. “How can something as serious as cultivation be handled so carelessly?” “I thought I was the only one messing around, but the people of this world take things even further.” “Is my mission after transmigrating here to whip this ramshackle Yin- 17Reads—Score214d adds
- 9 The Unorthodox Path to Immortality: Ancestor of the Yin Sect 旁门登仙：阴门道祖 The righteous sects choose disciples by talent, the demonic sects by character, but the unorthodox sects are a chaotic mix of people from every walk of life. Jiang Feng transmigrates to the Three Wonders Temple of the Unorthodox Sect with the Yin Book. By offering up resources, he can derive cultivation arts, master divine abilities, and forge magical artifacts. In an age teeming with prodigies, he will carve out a path to immortality! 1.8kReads8.0Score17414d adds
- 10 Unorthodox Rogue Cultivator 旁门散修 [Unorthodox Methods] [Decisive and Ruthless] The clash of cannon fire and blades The interweaving of old and new ideas What are called unorthodox arts are also the arts of the left path. Blazing Sun Fire Talismans Tiger Summons the Heavenly Ghosts Great Art Northern Lodging Demon-Slaying Qi Formula Those who follow unorthodox methods may not belong to the orthodox Daoist schools, but their path can still lead to the Great Dao. The methods are the foundation, the techniques the nature. When natur 540Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 11 Heterodox Arts: Beginning My Cultivation by Refining the Entire Village 旁门左道：从炼化全村开始修行 I'm working on a new novel in the same genre. My grand goal for 2026: finish my first million-word novel. Longtime readers, stay tuned. [Corpse Control, Cursecraft, Raising Little Ghosts]+ [Eight Hundred Schemes Up His Sleeve]+ [Master of Disguise]+ [Sneaky Schemer]+ [Voldemort] My name is Chen Xiu. If you become my enemy, it's to the death. That's why people in the business like to call me “Daoist Wuyou.” I always say: pay me, and I'll solve your problems… A child lights a lamp, a vengefu 3.9kReads7.2Score25014d adds
- 12 I Worship Ghosts, Not Gods; I Honor Evil, Not People! 拜鬼不拜神，尊邪不尊人！ (The prequel to Ye Ran is coming soon) [Evil Cultivator with No Bottom Line] + [Unorthodox Methods] + [Supernatural Power Fantasy] + [Decisive and Ruthless] + [No Female Lead] + [Corpse Refining and Ghost Controlling] + [The writing may be disturbing, and the protagonist is no hero.] When the justice people believe in cannot be served, unorthodox methods find their way in. “Unorthodox methods” has always been a derogatory term. They may not deliver justice, but they can soothe the anger burning 8.3kReads8.4Score69114d adds
- 13 Two Mouths, One on Each Side: I Am the Immortal Who Devours Demons 左右两张口，我乃食妖仙人 [Unorthodox cultivation + no female lead + xianxia treasures] I may be a transmigrator, and before I transmigrated, I might even have been descended from an immortal or a god. I was born with a supernatural gift, but my natural talent is mediocre. So I resolve to hunt demons. In doing so, I lose an eye and an ear. A left-handed cultivator saves me and takes me on as his disciple. Later, he dies... upholding the principles he believes in. As he lies dying, I ask, “Could you just not save people?” 2.5kReads8.5Score22314d adds
- 14 Practicing Heretical Arts on the Unorthodox Path, I Refine Longevity with the Dao Fruit 人在旁门修邪术，我以道果炼长生 [Classic Xianxia + Xian Hu Style + Unorthodox Cultivation + Taoist Style + Strange Tales Style + Primordial Spirit Cultivation + Ruthless and Decisive + Steady Cultivation] Thanks for asking. I’m in the unorthodox cultivation world, and spiritual energy is running dry. Taoists herd the masses, devour souls to refine qi, and great cultivators treat their disciples like sheep. The land is steeped in blood and filth. Young Jing Yuan is an aspiring cultivator who dreams of flying swords, spirit p 35.5kReads7.7Score3.7k14d adds
- 15 I Cultivate Immortality Through Unorthodox Ways 吾于旁门，左道成仙 Reborn in a parallel world, Chen Feng joins the Daoist sect as a practitioner of the Left Path after catching a dead fish. At a certain gathering, the sect leaders discuss whether to let rogue cultivators leave the assembly. “I am Daoist Fengdu. Who says practitioners of the Left Path cannot ascend to the Heavenly Gate?!” ...The Soul-Taming Umbrella (Merit Umbrella), the Hundred-Soul Banner (Human Emperor Banner), the Gu-Refining Basin (Treasure-Gathering Basin), and the Spine Sword (Xuanyuan Sw 5.5kReads8.9Score40414d adds
- 16 I Perform Exorcisms in a Strange World 我在诡异世界跳大神 My name is Chen Ping'an. I’m a con man, and not a very good one. I broke my neck while performing an exorcism. When I opened my eyes again, I was in a terrifying otherworld overrun by strange creatures, where night itself claimed lives. From the start, I had only an oil lamp on the verge of going out, the “Yin-Guarding Lamp,” and a cold number on the back of my hand: [Remaining lifespan: 50 years]. It wasn’t until I was backed into a corner that I awakened my ability to “summon gods by spending 540Reads6.0Score10314d adds
- 17 I Began Immortality by Using My Disciples as Corpse-Refining Fodder 从把徒弟当做练尸耗材开始长生 [Handcrafted from scratch + self-interest + no brainless protagonist + definitely not abandoned midway + decisive and ruthless + no saintly heroine + dark style + multiple female cultivators as pawns] Qin Yu transmigrates to the cultivation world and becomes a rogue cultivator who barely survived a body-snatching attempt. But this is a world that devours people. As long as saints live, thieves will thrive; mortals are like grass, and cultivators are no different. Fortunately, he has an Eight Tri 1.5kReads6.0Score11514d adds
- 18 Hong Kong Crime Saga: Dark Refinement of the Heavens from the Start 港综开局，邪炼诸天 Meng Chuxing gazes into the heavens, searching for his own path to destruction. But the Great Dao stretches on endlessly. When will he ever reach the end? As for his own creed, it goes like this: Within the Myriad Souls Banner, ten thousand ghosts wail in sorrow. Passersby hear them in terror. Go forth to exorcise demons, and return from death with your life restored. With an evil treasure in hand, I wield its fearsome power. Fellow Daoists, do not rush. I shall ensure you all come here for a li 3.1kReads5.6Score19914d adds
- 19 From Minor Unorthodox Cultivator to Primordial Spirit Dao Lord 从旁门小修到元神道君 [Overpowered protagonist + ordinary mortal's journey + ruthless style + Immortal Gourd style + Deep Blue stat boosts + decisive and merciless + cautious cultivation + unorthodox methods + steady and prudent + cultivation + Daoist priest + Strange Tales + longevity + Primordial Spirit] In an immortal world, what could be better than being a young Daoist who admires beautiful women, loves flying swords, raises venomous insects, draws talismans, refines pills, and enjoys a long, carefree life? Unfo 15.5kReads8.3Score1.1k14d adds
- 20 Fifty Years in the World of Traditional Chinese Medicine 中医江湖五十年 For historical reasons, most people know little about traditional Chinese medicine, and some are even prejudiced against it. Yet firsthand medical experience is undoubtedly the best way to understand it. The author recounts his own journey studying medicine, as well as those of his master and grandmaster. In particular, he tells the story of his master, known as “A Heart Devoted to Medicine,” who began studying medicine at the age of eight and has now practiced for fifty years. The book offers r 6.6kReads9.5Score1.3k14d adds
- 21 The Charlatan 神棍 A fortune-teller, one of the oldest professions. An ancient name for a fortune-teller or feng shui master. Knowing the stars above and the earth below; the five elements of yin and yang, the eight trigrams and nine palaces. Physiognomy and feng shui, defying fate and changing one’s destiny: nothing is beyond their power! Huang Zheng, a modern-day fortune-teller. Born under the influence of yin and yang, with the canopy star at his back. With extraordinary skills in reading fortunes and feng shui 1kReads8.7Score12914d adds
- 22 Blood Ancestor's Path 血祖道 [A traditional cultivation story about an ordinary person. No transmigration from Earth, no System, no golden finger, and no heaven-defying treasures!!!] The struggle between outsiders and the clan: if you are not a direct descendant of the clan, you cannot establish a foundation. The struggle between lower and upper sects: if you are not a Golden Core cultivator of the sect, you cannot form a Nascent Soul. The struggle between humans and demons: if you are not a living being of the same race 491Reads—Score—14d adds
- 23 The Mortal Immortal Who Defies Fate 逆命凡仙1 Heaven has forsaken me, so I shall defy fate! Even an ordinary mortal can shake the path to immortality! In this vast world, where immortals and gods stand tall and countless races vie for supremacy, fate is determined by Heaven, and one’s spiritual roots dictate one’s destiny. Chen Xiao was born with the “Root of Annihilation.” Spiritual energy shuns him, and the Great Dao rejects him. He is a cultivation failure, worth less than an ant. His family looks down on him, the world scorns him, and 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 24 The Star Gate Divine Disk: The Hidden Laws of Heaven's Order 星门神盘，隐藏的天道运行法则 In the vast universe, might there be an invisible, intricate web governing the laws of Heaven? In the bustling mortal world, might there be an ultimate secret path of cultivation connecting Heaven and Earth with body and mind? The timeless masterpiece The Star Gate Divine Disc: The Hidden Laws Governing Heaven will reveal all these mysteries. This book is the first to put forward the grand central idea that “the universe is a divine disc, and the human body is a star gate.” It explains in depth 98Reads—Score—14d adds
- 25 The Supreme Profound Heaven-Burning Art 太玄焚天诀 The Supreme Profound Sky-Burning Art In a world newly formed from primordial chaos lies a fantasy continent where cultivating inner qi reigns supreme: the Sky-Burning Continent. The land is filled with powerful figures, and mysterious cultivation techniques emerge one after another. The most mysterious and powerful of them all is the legendary Supreme Profound Sky-Burning Art. Protagonist: Ling Tian was an ordinary young man from a small town on the outskirts of the Sky-Burning Continent. By a 153Reads—Score—14d adds
- 26 The Mysteries of Chess: A Six-Dimensional Guide to Chess Strategy 弈道玄天：象棋心法六维通解 [The cosmos as the board, six dimensions as the game] The chessboard is a miniature cosmos, and the boundary between Chu and Han echoes the divisions of the celestial equator. This book innovatively combines six dimensions: military strategy, psychological manipulation, astronomical laws, philosophical inquiry, Qimen Dunjia, and feng shui energy, elevating Chinese chess into a model of cosmic contest. By analyzing the arrangement of the Twenty-Eight Mansions in Hu Ronghua’s endgame Seven Stars G 100Reads—Score—14d adds
- 27 Ancient Cultivation Records: The Qi Refining Ways of China's Ancestors 上古修真录：华夏先民的炼气之道 Over the long course of Chinese civilization, the ancient Qi-cultivators of the pre-Qin era had already developed a complete path to self-cultivation and well-being. They observed the movements of heaven and earth, imitated the forms of birds and beasts, regulated their breathing in harmony with yin and yang, and guided the flow of qi and blood in pursuit of unity between body and spirit and a long life. These ancient practices not only laid the foundations for later Daoist health cultivation, m 61Reads—Score—14d adds
- 28 Immortal’s Hand on My Crown: I Break Through Even While Lying Down 仙人抚顶：我躺着都能突破 Does the path to immortality mean you have to sever all attachments and give up love? Does cultivation mean you have to let the whole world down? After Lin Feiyu was hit by a dump truck, a mysterious stroke of fortune chose him and sent him to the final era of the cultivation world. He didn’t need to cultivate: simply staying alive raised his realm, though the time required to break through doubled with each advancement. He thought fate had granted him a priceless opportunity, but he had no idea 179Reads—Score—14d adds
- 29 Chronicle of All Laws Returning to the Void 万法归墟录3 This book gathers an extraordinary range of wondrous techniques from across the world. At one end are ancient immortal arts from primordial secret realms, revered as legends, whose every move seems to contain the immense power to create heaven and earth. At the other are unique secret arts passed down through generations by hidden martial sects, each carrying the blood, sweat, and wisdom of countless cultivators. It covers everything in detail: external cultivation methods renowned for their fie 88Reads—Score—14d adds
- 30 High Battle Clouds: Heroes Languish in Solitude 阵云高：英雄寂寞 Genius protagonist, no System, ruthless and decisive. Li Chengfeng, a genius formation master, uses formations to cultivate all kinds of mutated spirit insects. At last, he achieves a first-grade Golden Core. Just as everything seems to be going his way, he encounters a genius of the Ghost Clan. After a fierce battle, the Ghost Clan Golden Core cultivator dies, while Li Chengfeng, gravely wounded, is swept into a spatial black hole. A new legend is about to begin. 1.2kReads—Score14914d adds
- 31 Tales of Strange Happenings in Snow City 雪城志异 A collection of short tales of the strange and supernatural, including ghost stories and even stories about aliens! Each story is only a few hundred words, so you can finish one in no time. Strange happenings and supernatural tales, demons and ghosts, tree spirits and fox fairies! Let your imagination run wild! Everyone is welcome to read! 29Reads—Score—14d adds
- 32 The Bizarre Art of Cultivation 怪诞修仙学 (No heroine, Eastern cosmic horror, no System, not invincible, grotesque aesthetics, not a rules-based horror, science and cultivation) The old man once said that cultivators, demons, and evil spirits turn into a pile of ash when they die. This is called tainted ash. Tainted ash contains all the energy they accumulated in life. Eat it, and you can kindle your life lamp and extend your lifespan. Leave it alone, and it will give rise to a tainted-soil resurrection! But there is one exception: bein 45.7kReads9.1Score6.9k14d adds
- 33 Cultivating the Demonic Path, Building My Foundation Through Slaughter 修魔成道，杀生筑基 [Demonic Cultivation] [Cold-Blooded and Ruthless] [Decisive and Merciless] [The Dark Side of Human Nature] [The male lead is an ordinary man. There are women, but no female lead.] Consume treasured elixirs to gather qi and improve your cultivation and spells. Xu Sanyan was born among bandits and knows that human life is as worthless as grass: if you don't kill, you'll be killed. To stay alive, he severs the compassion in his heart and unleashes the evil within. To obtain a cultivation manual 21.3kReads8.7Score1.6k14d adds
- 34 The White Bone Daoist Court 白骨道庭 Cultivate true energy, build the foundation of the Dao, and manifest the Yin Spirit. The unorthodox path makes seeking the Dao difficult: refine baleful energy, taint the soul, and seek freedom for a fleeting moment. The heterodox path is arduous too: evade earthfire, dodge astral winds, and give birth to the Yang Spirit. A master of the unorthodox path is reborn. In this life, I will establish a Dao lineage, nurture Dao artifacts, and suppress an entire age. 15.5kReads8.9Score1.1k14d adds
- 35 Even Ghost Messengers Say the Hotpot at My Restaurant Is Delicious 我开的火锅店，鬼差吃了都说好 Low-key version She dropped out of school at thirteen and worked as a chef until she was nineteen. With the savings Lin Ye had scraped together over those six years, he opened a hot pot restaurant. Who could have guessed his venture would get off to such a poor start, with business so slow the place was about to close? Just as he was wondering what to do next, two customers showed up on the restaurant's final night and changed his life... Grim Reaper: “Boss Lin, your hot pot is so spicy. It 31.6kReads9.1Score2.8k14d adds
- 36 The Taoist Exorcist 道门驱邪人 Where there is evil under heaven, there are all manner of wicked things, and so there are Daoist exorcists. He travels between heaven and earth, yin and yang. He ventures deep into the hundred thousand mountains of Miao territory and far away to the borders of the southern seas. Head-dropping curses, gu raising, black magic, and all the world's fiends and spirits of darkness. He has exorcised countless demons and ghosts, only to discover in the end that nothing is more evil than the human heart. 2.6kReads9.1Score39514d adds
- 37 Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio: I Asked You to Repay Your Debt, Not Paint Skins and Ghosts 聊斋：让你还债，没让你画皮画鬼 [Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio + Bizarre Cultivation + No System + Subverting Expectations + Folk Supernatural Tales + Becoming a God Through Painting + Dark Tone + Lovecraftian Horror + Clever Protagonist + Decisive and Ruthless + Not Mindless Wish Fulfillment] Transmigrating into Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, I find myself trapped in the deadly predicament of The Painted Skin from the start, and saddled with an unpayable debt to the dead? Don't panic. I have a White Bone Brush tha 849Reads—Score—14d adds
- 38 Strange Tales from the Civil Affairs Bureau (Complete in 8 Volumes) 民调局异闻录（全8册） The Strange Tales of the Bureau of Investigation series creates an entirely new world of suspense: a mysterious organization dedicated to uncovering the truth behind bizarre, uncanny, and supernatural events, and the world it faces. The stories are wildly strange and utterly captivating, with a witty, playful style and one suspenseful twist after another. Once you start reading, you won't be able to put them down. Throughout history, strange cases and evil monsters have always been dealt with by 37.4kReads9.6Score5.8k14d adds
- 39 Learning Feng Shui from Third Grandpa 跟着三爷爷学风水 Born into a family of Feng Shui practitioners, I became someone who defies fate the moment I entered the world of Yin-Yang Feng Shui. As one strange event after another unfolded, I learned to recognize fortune and misfortune, ward off disaster, and handle everything with ease. To all the brothers, sisters, uncles, and aunties passing by, please leave a book review here! Remember to comment, too! Thank you! If you like learning, remember to bring your brain along. There’s plenty of useful informa 34.1kReads8.8Score2.9k14d adds
- 40 Fellow Daoist, Why Is Your Human Emperor Banner Belching Black Smoke? 道友，你这人皇幡怎么冒黑烟啊？ Even unorthodox paths can lead to Heaven! This poor Daoist has always been a bit timid. If I don’t pull up the roots after cutting the grass, I won’t be able to sleep at night! Heh heh heh... I, He An, am your great calamity! 81.8kReads9.3Score7.3k14d adds
- 41 EN Ten Days to the End 十日终焉 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 1.7MReads9.9Score206.4k14d adds
