English Title: The Founder of Diabolism, Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation
Original Title: 魔道祖师
Author: Mò Xiāng Tóngxiù (墨香铜臭)
Status: 113 Chapters + 13 Extras (Completed)
Translator: K of Exiled Rebels Scanlations (full book), enxiao and niiselin (few early chapters)
Link: https://exiledrebelsscanlations.com/novels/grandmaster-of-demonic-cultivation/
Translation status: all completed
Story:
====WARNING: THIS IS BL (BOYS LOVE) NOVEL ==== (although you probably already know that since this currently very popular)
Wei Wuxian (Wei Ying) is an orphan kid raised by JunmengJiang Sect leader alongside his daughter Yanli and his son Jiang Cheng. He's opinionated, have strong principle, strong sense of what he deem right or wrong, a little mix of arrogant, flirty and shameless (in endearing way imo). Sadly his different way against the World bring him disaster and lead him to his dead.
Years later he comeback to living world inside the body of Mo Xuanyu. An illegitimate son of LanlingJing Sect's leader who is abused by his family, homosexual and a little bit crazy. Mo Xuanyu use soul sacrifice curse to summon Wei Wuxian and in return WWX has to fulfill Xuanyu revenge or he will perish at his second life as well. In his journey Wei Wuxian meet his old friends and foes also Lan Zhan.
Lan Zhan, the cold expressionless young master from GusuLan Sect. From the very first time Wei Wuxian saw him, he never stop bothering him, teasing him and do many things just get a reaction from him. And only to WWX, that Lan Zhan show the side of him that others never see.
What I like :
Weiying & Lanzhan. Both main characters are lovable. Period.
There are many relationship I like: Weiying & Wen Ning, love & hate between Weiying & Jiang Cheng, Weiying and his shijie (which probably more obvious in the drama), Jin Guangyao and Lan Huan, later on: the kids.
Romance aside, I like that the story has multiple enemies, some obvious and some hidden. But the main enemy is mob mentality. AvenueX on youtube explain it better. (Contain spoiler ofc). How people can praise you when it's advantageous for them then curse you at the next moment without caring to find out the truth or just stop for awhile to think for themselves.
What I don't like :
I got overwhelmed with the amount of characters and their multiple names/titles to remember at the beginning. Lol
I read this after I watch the drama so I can reference back to the drama whether the event happened in the past or at the present. In the drama the past event presented as long flashback (could 30 episodes still can be count as flashback?), while in the book past and present events presented at small portions so sometimes I got confused while reading.
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This is probably the first wuxia, with self cultivation element and various sects, I read in a very long time. It's not the genre I usually choose. I prefer xianxia which has more fantasy elements and immortals (& gods). I read this right after I finished the drama The Untamed. I just can't get enough of Weiying & Lanzhan. IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCH THE DRAMA PLEASE WATCH IT AND READ THE NOVEL TOO. Both are complemented each other. I'm glad the drama add more portion to Wen Qing & Yanli and give us visual details that didn't get mentioned in the book, for example moments Jiang Fengmian & his wife's death.
The BL part is very subtle both in drama and in the novel. You only got steamy part almost at the end of the novel & extra chapters so if you're not willing to read BL, it still safe to enjoy this.
Hmm but maybe I think it's depend on your view. I read comments about drama, that they see WYLZ relationship as brotherhood. I can't see that. They are obviously in love like how they notice everything, every little expression changes. Their longing for each other.
Anyway it made me want to read another BL. I got recommendation The Legendary's Master Wife and I'm interested in Feng Yu Jiu Tian too. Maybe next after I finished reading Mo Dao Zu Shi's manga and watch the animation version. I STILL NOT GET ENOUGH YET!