What does xianxia mean?
I've read xianxia for a long time, and I've noticed that most stories focus on the immortal side of the genre, with very little emphasis on chivalry. If a story calls itself xianxia, how can it leave out the xia?
Immortals can take many forms: cultivators in the clouds and mountains, gods from the highest heavens, or strange and wondrous beings. There are too many interpretations to settle on one, so there's little point debating it.
But after all these years, people have reached a consensus about xia. As the sages said: A true hero serves the nation and its people.
When immortality and chivalry are joined, which should come first?
I believe immortal grace should be worn on the outside like a robe, while chivalrous virtue should be held within as one's backbone. Only then does a story live up to the spirit of xianxia.
[All the books recommended below are xianxia, mostly new releases, with a special focus on stories of steadfast chivalry.]
[Three things I won't read]
[No wish-fulfillment power trips]
[No formulaic stories]
[No harem stories]
