Top Ten Most Loved Tropes from Chinese Fantasy Novels

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#wuxia #xianxia #Chinese

[@Deathblade]

Here's a link to the survey: forms.gle/cHyv67YjmJat5Wb37 And if you don't want to watch the whole video, check out the full comment for the top ten list. 10. Beasts and pets 31% 9. Immortal lives as mortal 8. MC cons people 7. Bloodlines 6. Shameless MC 5. Discussing the Dao 4. Foreshadowing or callbacks that span hundreds or thousands of chapters 3.Huge universe explored throughout the series 2. Clearly defined power levels 1. Alchemy/Crafting 57%

[@amadeux5471]

It's worth noting that most of the tropes that were voted are prevalent on the novels you've translated, myself included

[@Deathblade]

@@amadeux5471 Indeed

[@FunAtStreaming]

Since i see Call of Cthulhu in your shelves, have you ever read or played a Wuxia themed tabletop rpg? If so, which one and can you recommend it?

[@Deathblade]

@@FunAtStreaming I actually wrote one which was published by Osprey Roleplaying. You can find it here: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089QJBGBY There are quite a few others out at this point, and though I'm familiar with them I haven't played any of the others (except for Wandering Heroes of Ogre Gate)

[@arturcaetano6139]

Dude I was waiting for the "drunkard that's actually a master", can't believe it didn't get into the top 10 :( It's one of the best tropes in my opinion

[@NestedQuantifier]

I feel like the reason is that that is an older trope, and was so prevalent today that it could be expected.

[@djinn99]

As someone who voted for the bloodlines trope I interpreted it as some sort of power (dragon, phoenix, beast) rather than related to family

[@thunderthrust9273]

10) Beast and pet Companion 9) Immortal lives as Mortal 8) Mc Cons Enemy 7) Bloodline 6) Shameless MC 5) Discuss the Dao 4) ForeShadowing 3) Huge-Universe and interesting ones 2) Clearly Defined PowerLevel 1) Alchemy and Crafting extras:- MC outdoing his master but still respects MC going to zones to inherit Legacy

[@Halleck_Bilyeu]

I think part of why I like the alchemy/crafting so much is that it often relates to the protagonists understanding of the Dao.

[@magimondes]

What I loved about discussing the dao is when characters comprehend something, its always so eerie and philosophical. Its even better if there is a breakthrough following

[@KennethDu]

Bloodlines like divine beasts give few drops of blood to MC.

[@amadeux5471]

ATG in a nutshell

[@Matthew-li7we]

@@amadeux5471 I feel like the idiom, "In a Nutshell", fails to fully convey how true this statement is about ATG and bloodlines. Yun Che and Bloodlines are like two peas in a pod. It's raining bloodlines and women, hallelujah. Wait, is that last one a idiom? I mean, it sort of is. Raining cats and dogs... But then I added a hallelujah at the end making it a reference...

[@_Ekaros]

Also Warlock of the Magus World was a quite interesting take on this.

[@popoffrotmg981]

@@_Ekaros True. I thought it was really cool how bloodlines were used in that series, probably the most interesting way ghey've been used in any I've read

[@johnjiggler6172]

I love it when MC becomes an immortal and travels mortal world to comprehend the dao

[@joseloayza502]

Sun ''Stan Lee'' Wukong

[@dom3225]

For the Bloodlines I saw it as something the MC obtains (not born with) from a legendary beast or a powerful ancestors like in the "Martial Peak" peak novel or that other one where MC fell into a pond of dragon's blood and acquire the Dragon bloodline but I forgot the name.

[@nika7772]

I'm really glad that Alchemy is liked by so many fellow daoists. Anyways another guidance received from the Patriarch and your daughter was so cute

[@Drejzer]

Bloodlines... *points at D&D sorcerer* I think it might be about some distant ancestor's abilities being passed on to it's (since often it's some kind of beast) descendants

[@Drejzer]

"Arrogant Young Master" - The ultimate meh trope

[@Deathblade]

Haha yeah

[@358itachi]

Here's my breakdown of the list- #10: Beasts and Pets (I voted): Best ones I have read are from TCoSP, all of Chu Mu's pets had their own personalities and most of them had their moments in spotlight; Meng Hao's blood mastiff, Lord Fifth and Lord Third the Meat Jelly are eternal and finally Bebe from Panlong. #9: Immortals living as Mortals: Best one of this trope I have read is from ISSTH with Meng Hao's last incarnation as a blind person which really hit me in the guts with that life story as well as the emotional impact of it. #8: MC cons Enem;y (I voted): Both Meng Hao (ISSTH) and Bai Xiaochun (AWE) still make the comment sections of other novels even today whenever MC tries conning someone. Su Chen (from DTPB) did a pretty good job of this too. Right now Long Chen (from NSHBA) is leading the pack of conniving MCs. #7: Bloodlines: Not my favorite as most of the time it's used as a plot armor for AYMs. #6: Shameless Main Character (I voted): Everyone loves their anti-hero. As with #8 Meng Hao and BXC are past leaders and Long Chen is current leader of this MC pack. #5: Discussing the Dao: One of the best of this is in Perfect World (I still have to finish this novel though). #4: Throwbacks across hundreds of chapters: Only good when it's done right, otherwise feels like infodump in novels. #3: Huge Universe: I would like to take this as world building (I voted). For me though, this is just 'meh' factor. World building id done beautifully on a smaller scale in both DTPB (spanning just two landmasses) as well as in IDT (just three countries). #2: Clearly Defined Power Levels (I voted): This should be the norm. This is one of the factors where Sage Monarch betrayed my expectations. #1: Alchemy and Crafting: Surprised to see it as the #1 trope though. I loved reading BTTH for this as well as that alchemy testing arc in ISSTH was one of the best parts of that story.

[@delmattia96]

Bloodlines as in "Bloodline Abilities" and "Cultivation Arts you can practice/use only with a certain bloodline", I guess. I personally loved the peanut gallery scenes since someone in the comments of a Emperor's Domination's chapter (the arc is the one in the Secret Realm of his first sect that, now, everybody uses) said "These guys know everybody and what they did/can do, one day I want to see a MC kidnap one of them and just carry them around for knowledge". I recognize that the "know everybody" role is often that of the Fatty Friend, but, honestly, the Peanut Gallery seem to have some secret sources for every small thing.

[@5mavrick23]

The mosquito beast from renegade immortal was sick!

[@kopicat2429]

Nais. Been waiting on this since you put out the survey. Also, Lord Fifth! Have faith in Lord Fifth. The best beast companion :p

[@lordfifth3106]

Indeed

[@gelusvenn5063]

I'm amused at the top two, because they're basically exactly what I would've voted on myself. Alchemy in particular I just love, Western, Eastern, whatever it is it's so much fun and so cool.

[@voryoung]

The "surpassing master but still being respectful" thing for me, is more about how the best MCs all really cherish their relationships with true friends/teachers/relatives. This is actually one of the best aspects of Chinese novels in general (although some of the best also show how this type of feeling can be a negative thing too and you get the "spoiling is a kind of harm" arc, which leads into...). The Arrogant Young Master trope can be done well or badly, when it's done well it's both hilarious and good for character and plot development. When it's done badly...well. It can basically ruin everything, lol.

[@kensin3152]

I’ve always really disliked when main characters really care about their friends. It’s like “what! You’ve kidnapped person no. 721 for the 12th time after I hit your great grandson when he randomly attacked me on the street! How dare you.” *MC kills them all* Over and over again just slightly different each time. Nothing ever actually happens to them and it’s very predictable. Just the feeling that the Mc friends are going to be attacked just to cause a completely ridiculous and redundant conflict annoys me and makes me want to drop the series.

[@AnishTSP]

i have a love-hate relationship with alchemy and crafting, since if done properly, it could really take the enjoyment of the series to the next level (like in ISSTH) but most of the time, alchemy is just used as plot armor for MC to be OP. i could live with that if they actually showed the MC's journey from a novice to expert in the field of alchemy, but unfortunately, not many series do that

[@Kenmanhl]

I also have a love-hate relationship with alchemy and crafting. Everyone wants better pills but the plant based ingredients are too rare because they all get harvested without a chance for it to be replanted. Crafting materials are too rare as well because once old weapons are broken, they suddenly lose all valuable minerals that went into crafting it so it can't be recycled. For once, I want to see those super rare plants be mass farmed, and if it requires special environmental conditions that's beyond the capabilities of immortals to create, then build the farm in the part of the world where that ingredient is supposed to be found.

[@Lemarous]

For bloodlines, I agree with some of the commenters that what comes to mind isn't a "main line" vs. "branch family" sort of thing, but is instead more about a mystical element in your blood that comes from a certain ancestry or perhaps some ancestor has a special technique that they used to assimilate special blood into their own bloodline. There's this story that turned me onto the idea in particular called Divine Throne of Primordial Blood, where the main character ends up finding a cultivation method that eventually leads to him (some spoilers here, obviously) taking the blood of a magical serpent and refining it to a more pure and "ancient" form, then assimilates that into his own body to gain characteristics of that serpent. Later on down the line this turns out to be a very big deal, and it has ramifications that spans for most of the story and eventually makes you feel like "wow, he's really come a long way from his beginnings as a weak nobody, and this blood thing was a big reason why". Other stories I've read also touch on this kind of thing, but maybe don't make it quite as much of a focus, but it's always cool. Dragon blood, Phoenix blood, etc. Entire sects can be based around cultivators who were either born with or are granted some "blood essence" that contains mystical powers of a mythological entity and that's the basis of their entire cultivation manual that that sect practices. Of course, within all of that there is also usually a drama between outer/lesser disciples coming into conflict with core/main disciples who have a more direct connection to the mystical bloodline, or something to that effect. Often times, the main character comes across some lucky find or gimmick that increases the potency or "density" of this bloodline inside of them that puts them at a higher level than these core disciples and grants them access to more of those powers. Then the core disciples make angry screeching noises and fights the main character, because how dare they be more dragon-y or phoenix-y than them.

[@Azoolag]

I think the young master trope falls in line with basically all other tropes in general. Other than *blatantly* abusing plot armor, there is no real bad trope, just overused tropes. Young masters are annoying, but now and again for a little spice is how face slapping or any trope should be used. Too much spice ruins the meal.

[@bobbiusshadow6985]

The meal is bland without enough spices and herbs.

[@dncgame2092]

I really like the "Butt face" in Ultimate Scheming System, he is a shameless dog that join MC team for benefit, sometime he helps MC but sometime he ignores MC and run for his life.

[@AnishTSP]

ye, he's pretty good, but the dog in dragon marked war god is better imo (yeah, i forgot his name, gimme a break)

[@LoztDaze]

I voted bloodlines because it is the lineage of the OG powerhouses. The progenitor of the bloodline had reached the apex for their time. They were respected by other rival powerhouses and had built something grand. They then passed down their power to their heirs in the hopes that they they would in turn be surpassed. "You have eyes, but can't see Mt. Tai" is a reoccurring saying and I feel that this encompasses the older generations making way for the younger. While other bloodlines have stayed in power, a diminished bloodline that rises to the top and then surpasses others who may have become stagnant can be exciting.

[@julioduan7130]

I think you have a misunderstanding of you have eyes but can’t see Mt. Tai.

[@aniketmani7502]

My favourite trope is when the enemy outsmarts mc and later on mc outsmarts the outsmarting of the villain. Like take an example Lord of the mysteries- Amon- He is one of the best, true to his nature and cunning villain. He can literally outsmart anyone. He even fools himself to fool others. So yeah the best trope for me is when the enemy is cunning.

[@Ariel_Lord]

I most like Discussing the Dao trope when our MC discusses it with the main female lead. Of course at that time she's his Senior Sister and it's more like *teaching* than discussing, but it also deepens their relationship and makes for some much needed romantic moments. I think it happens a lot in Desolate Era in beginning. BTW at the moment I'm reading A Thousand Li by Tao Wong and it has taken me by surprise since I didn't think any Xianxia novel on Kindle could be that good.

[@jaybuck4951]

great content man. thanks for taking time out to make these cool videos.

[@Dusxio]

The key factor to all these is of course how it's put together, of course. For bloodlines, I think it's the nonstandard aspect of the MC's cultivation it brings, and the somewhat more acceptable Eleventh Hour Powerups it allows for.

[@brackkusamaz4015]

Another great video. Please send my greetings to young mistress deathblade

[@Deathblade]

Will do! Thanks!

[@Krelen107]

I like bloodlines because it can lead to investing and unique abilities that can grow and is something owned by them or that they mold. When done right. Not like martial god asura.

[@voryoung]

bloodlines for me is like an inheritance either from ancestors or from a legendary animal (or best: both an ancestor and legendary animal) that gives their bloodline to the MC

[@arifulislamjubaer]

Favorite pet is definitely Lord Fifth!

[@fatball9084]

The best pet is and will be Mo Xie from Charm of Soul Pets. T_T (Maybe because the novel just ended its translations) And bloodline I interpreted for power in your blood. like Coiling Dragon and it's dragon warrior blood. And talking about Coiling Dragon, I liked a lot how they explained the "Dao" or laws and how one levels up by comprehending them.

[@bringthepain742]

My greetings to Princess Deathblade👑 ❤️❤️❤️

[@AnishTSP]

when i voted for it, i interpreted bloodlines as both family bloodlines, each having unique powers (like in peerless martial god and immortal and martial dual cultivation) and divine beasts giving MC drops of blood (like in martial world, against the gods, etc)

[@davidgribble6313]

I think what they mean by bloodlines is that you get special powers from the blood like in divine throne of primordial blood or like the sharingan in Naruto.

[@sikaru9113]

Power level in Desolate era is so good

[@raphaelpraxedes4569]

The Little Thieving Cat is the best pet i ever read

[@flying_horse]

Alchemy and crafting is indeed great. As good as it is for MC to find a legacy and find a weapon , it's better to see them create something by themselves. Stories where the MC only receives and find techniques and stuff always feel hollow.

[@SpiraSpiraSpira]

I like when the MC cons the enemy but it is hard to pull off without making the enemy seem stupid, which is a very big downside. But if it is done right it is amazing. One of the worst tropes in Chinese novels (and this is sometimes true in Western novels too) is where the enemies are so stupid that you can't believe they even reached the heights that they did before the MC came around, so that's a risk. As far as bloodlines I was thinking more along the lines of things like King of Gods and similar novels where the main character or side characters might be descended from powerful beasts or divine entities or even like Desolate Era where if you reach a certain level of cultivation you might start your own unique bloodline and your descendants would inherit some sort of magical power that is based on your own fighting and cultivation abilities, that sort of thing. I'm not sure why but I liked Sage Monarch better than A Will Eternal or even I Shall Seal The Heavens.

[@69Kazeshini]

Bloodlines seem to be not just hereditary but also obtain powers via mutations like drinking dragons blood to obtain dragon powers/techniques, or cultivating a rare phoenix feather to obtain phoenix abilities.

[@schmoogle7853]

I know it's a cheesy scenario and done to death, but I somewhat like the peanut gallery/arrogant young master gets beaten up scenes. "oh look it's the trash with the fried dantian" "he dare challenge the young master of the "X" clan?" "This brat is looking for death, the young master is about to break through into Nascent Soul" "Alas this isn't going to be pretty" "What? Impossible!" "this is..." "The golden fire of godly punishment!" "No way, he beat the young master" "genius" "a genius is born"

[@Komatorijum]

Bloodlines as described in Warlock of the Magus World - Sure it has to do with divine beasts and such, but that one had the most impact to me.

[@sankit2386]

People trust me sage monarch is sick! It's the best novel out there if you have patience at some point in novel. It should be as popular as awe and issth

[@Deathblade]

Glad you're enjoying it!

[@Matthew-li7we]

The peanut gallery is the BEST! As long as it isn't the peanut gallery CONSTANTLY trashing the MC.

[@Deathblade]

Good point lol

[@delmattia96]

Also, for my favourite Beast, I'd like to distance myself from your works and go to some other novels. While Cai Lin (from BTTH) is incredibly interesting, given the double nature of the beast, I have to say that trustworthy beasts like the Tiger from WDQK or Ah Man from LLS are my favourites. Taking LLS as a choice feels a bit like cheating, given that every beast becomes a waifu, but, hey. Going to CoSP is another way to find a good choice, given my standards. While I feel that Mo Xie could be an easy, almost cheating, answer, I have to say that Ning and the Battle Tree Soldier are my favourites.

[@ashwardh4283]

I liked all the beast companions in Ancient Strengthening Technique, he had quite a lot.

[@Bakeshop88]

Mad respect for Su Ming's bald crane

[@dsodragon8152]

I think the bloodlines part is the MC getting some type of "blood essence" or "heart blood" or "dragon soul" when he's downtrodden, he's made fun of but when he comes back, he stirs up everything!! Although my favorite trope, which surprisingly didn't get mention here was.... REVENGE.... when the MC gets back to fuck literally everyone that trod upon him... I am just a fan of EDGELORD comebacks.... I suppose that's why my guilty pleasure is Against The Gods.... XDXD

[@pablotomasllodra4423]

I bet those who voted for bloodlines are familiar with Naruto.

[@Matthew-li7we]

Wait... Princess Deathblade? I haven't been keeping up since the end of ISSTH ended, but I just started AWE and found your links to some of these videos... Is that baby #2 or a niece? Edit: Oh and the SPOILER about the turtle in AWE... Not that I didn't see it coming...

[@js.5655]

Bloodlines: WMW and CoS

[@calebbritannia6283]

Wow you mention AWE and forget Bruiser? :(

[@Deathblade]

Ah. Good point!!!

[@dsodragon8152]

little snow from NSHBA and Xu liguo from Renegade Immortal...

[@vinaykumar-dn5ep]

Maybe try (Eternal Reverence) which shows what bloodlines can do.. gives a new perception on Bloodlines and female leads.. best xianxia novel i've read(so fun) contains every tropes but right amount.. even ISSTH i stopped reading after some chapters after meng hao got trapped with a lady for escaping.. very boring.. but ER is very engaging even though OP from chapter 2

[@voryoung]

You forgot Bruiser from A Will Eternal!

[@explorerdelicate5519]

Rebirth of the mad immortal.

[@Dusxio]

Ah Princess Deathblade~ Sweet child :D

[@sikaru9113]

I really want to know what realms means like those in Stellar Transformation and RMJTI In those realms, are there planest and stars too, like real world universe stuffs or only those mortal and heaven realm?? Thanks

[@lokeranerup5834]

I was thinking bloodline as in certain blood has certain qualities eg. ancient gods in RI

[@adammcelroy3143]

I don't like how alchemy is shown in I shall Seal the Heavens. It only took one book for Meng Hao to reach the pinnacle of alchemy. It had a lot of potential by showing different paths that you can take upon the road of alchemy but it was dissapointing to see Meng Hao become a Pill Grandmaster so quickly.

[@zac21558]

Just recently I was looking to purchase the Er Gen novels in paper form, but could only find ebook versions. So do the paper form novels exist or is there only the ebook versions available for purchase? I haven't been following to closely so I'm not sure what the edited version I keep hearing about is, ebook v2 or a published novel?

[@Deathblade]

Wuxiaworld doesn't own the print rights. The edited version will be coming out on Amazon fairly soon. You can actually get the audiobook version, which is the edited version, on wuxiaworld right now. It will be on amazon/audible soon as well.

[@noahg1678]

What's your favorite part of the novels? Pharmaceuticals.

[@katakana1]

wow i didn't know i would be 1st

[@sikaru9113]

Considering those aspects, can anyone recommend me some good novels😊

[@johnjiggler6172]

In cultivation 1. Warlock of Magnus world (just wow) 2. Lord xue Ying Other types 1. The boss behind the game 2. My house of horrors(best thing ever)

[@turtleslw1279]

Lord Fifth is the best