Ze Tian Ji

Description

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To pick is to choose. This is a story about choices. Three thousand worlds full of gods and demons, with a daoist scroll in your hand, you are able to control the entire universe…

At the beginning of time, a mystical meteor came crashing down from outer space and scattered all over the world. A piece of it landed in the Eastern Continent. There were mysterious totems carved upon the meteor. Through viewing these totems, mankind comprehended the Dao and established the Orthodoxy.

Several thousand years later, the fourteen years old orphan Chen Changsheng left his master to cure his illness and change his fate. He brought a part of a marriage vow with him to the capital, thus beginning the journey of a rising hero…

Associated Names
One entry per line
Fighter of the Destiny (TV series)
Trạch Thiên Ký
Way of Choices
ZTJ
择天记
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
World of Cultivation (9)
A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality (8)
Transcending the Nine Heavens (5)
Nightfall (4)
Joy of Life (4)
Pivot of the Sky (4)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Novels That I Have Read Over The Years
  2. Novels I have read
  3. The Mt. Tai of Chinese Novels
  4. Light Novel list
  5. Timeless Masterpieces - the Best Novels Ever

Latest Release

Date Group Release
07/17/16 Novel Saga c196
07/10/16 Novel Saga c195
07/06/16 Novel Saga c194
07/02/16 Novel Saga c193
06/29/16 Novel Saga c192
11/27/15 Ze Tian Ji Translation c107
11/27/15 Ze Tian Ji Translation c106 part2
11/26/15 Ze Tian Ji Translation c106 part1
11/26/15 Ze Tian Ji Translation c105 part2
11/26/15 Ze Tian Ji Translation c105 part1
Write a Review
205 Reviews sorted by


kazzzz
kazzzz rated it
February 4, 2018
Status: c200
On the one hand, the author is competent with world-building and making his characters--both the MC and the antagonists--likeable, realistic and somewhat relateable. The plot evolves organically, even though it's pretty slow-going at the moment. What kills the motivation to read on for me that while the author definitely is competent in most regards, he's absolutely excellent in rambling. Sometimes the inner monologue and exposition of various characters that accompanies the MC or an opponent making a single move goes for 2 chapters or something and that's really getting annoying.
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trazer
trazer rated it
December 4, 2017
Status: c701
In the beginning, the story was good. MC is calm, composed and has a plan. The story was pretty enjoyable and carried a sense of mystery. The recent chapters though made me want to stop reading (I did stop reading the story for about 5 months). The story started to move so slowly from chapter 550 onwards. Like ridiculously slow. Many repeated things in consecutive chapters. Seemed like that arc would never end. Just picked it up to finish it and catch up to the story. The MC in the... more>> recent chapters is completely sidelined, has no idea what to do and just sulks his time away.

I think I will drop this novel now. Its a waste of time to read <<less
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Marim11
Marim11 rated it
March 13, 2016
Status: --
It's very very very slow pace.

MC is only good at negotiations but he never improve his strength. If this is the real situation, he may die in first few chapters.

There isn't any progress until ch.123

It's hard to bear reading a slow pace story like this but I still give 3 /5 point for this story because I like the way that MC reply to another.
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Andeetected
Andeetected rated it
January 24, 2018
Status: c560
There's definitely substance, but the author is CLEARLY milking this by putting way too many unnecessary stuffs. And by stuffs, I mean word count. It's almost like 50% of a chapter is used to describe insignificant stuffs. Describing the atmosphere is understandable if only there was a point... but there's none! And when the author finally gets the momentum going, a cliffhanger. 150 chapters later, there's still no climax or conclusion.

Because he's building the momentum again...

BUT the translation is really really good. Probably the only thing keeping me here..
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Infinitykaiser
Infinitykaiser rated it
March 13, 2017
Status: c389
I've heard people call it slow. I've heard people call it frustrating. I've read countless plenty of wuxia and xianxia novels, as well as physical beefy books. It wouldn't be accurate to call ZTJ just a slow novel.

The prose is excellent, the novel isn't just MC and 100's of arrogant elders trying to end the MC. He doesn't live in some puny world where cultivators are naturally weak, just so the author doesn't have to deal with enemies stronger than the MC.

We don't have a main character that's some hot... more>> blooded training freak. Rather his strongest attribute is his intelligence that comes from memorizing 1000's of books. What I'm trying to get at is that in a sea where every story has recycled plot elements, ZTJ is the bird flying over it. It does something different, and it does it well. Given, if you aren't a fan of regular old slow paced novels, and am only in it for the action, I'm sorry to say you're missing out. But if you're willing to sit down, grab a cup of tea, and thoroughly enjoy this story at your own pace, rather than skimming through until the MC gets another power-up, I cannot recommend this story more. <<less
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Cynical_Sir
Cynical_Sir rated it
February 7, 2017
Status: c349
Cons:
-slow
-writing style takes awhile to get use to

Pros:
+great/fun editors
+complex fleshed out characters
+great romance (doesn't start until well into the novel)
+imo BEST MC
+above average world building
+above average continuity

As negative reviews have stated, this novel is slow. The author loves embellishing details and events can drag on for seemingly excessive amounts of words/chapters. This is particularly evident up until the Garden of Zhou Arc, as it takes awhile to get use to the writing style. However, I must stress, while this writing style... more>> takes awhile to get use to, it is absolutely wonderful. I think a lot of it has to do with the expectations of light novels. Most light novels are extremely fast past - jumping from ability to new ability, location to new location, power up to new power up. They often feature an extremely domineering "manly" MC who takes no sh*t from anyone.

Ze Tian Ji is written more in a novel writing style, with fully fleshed out complicated characters (rivals, friends, and foes), above average continuity, and great themes. Unlike most light novels, characters aren't "disposable" - their unique perspectives and and desire add a level of intrigue and complexity that many other light novels lack. The writing style is also pretty unique - whereas other light novels clearly explain cultivation levels and legendary characters, ZTJ mostly ignores such details until necessary. This feels more "real" - the characters are more relatable as they have other thoughts and priorities in their lives.

The MC is amazing. Personally, I greatly dislike most other light novels, as the domineering MC just ends up shitting on everyone, regardless of how much struggle they go through. ZTJ's MC is different. He is humble and mostly reserved. And he ignores the insults/jibs/actions of others. While to some, this may come off as infuriating, I admire this attitude. He exudes a calm and collected persona, despite his internal strife. He understands the weight of his actions, and carefully considers them. ZTJ does a great job at considering his young inexperience whilst keeping true to his characters.

I really like the romance. I really really really like the romance. Doesn't start until the Garden of Zhou arc, but is great :). <<less
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G0nd0la
G0nd0la rated it
December 5, 2016
Status: c921
Spoiler

Nice novel, with a fair share of romance. No harem so far. FMC is a jealous type. The only thing that keeps MC alive is his latent talent and his luck. No OP gadgets or OP bloodline.

That said, the thing that made me like this novel is the brutality of the world. In most novels the brutality is only mentioned, rarely does the MC suffer from the said brutality. It feels heart wrenching when MC comes to know that his very existence is a play thing for those in power.

As the title says, this is a novel of choices. Of MC and of those around him. This is a novel where MC decides to go against his destiny not to become the most powerful, not to see the summit of Dao or such nonsense but to live.


You might not find substantial progression in each and every chapter but if you read after accumulating several chapters you will find that this is a top class novel.
[collapse]

I give this a 4.5
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Chaos8547043755
Chaos8547043755 rated it
May 7, 2018
Status: c200
I would say it is a good novel. Similarly, people say that Naruto is a good anime. But if we take out all the fillers we have an overall great anime. I feel that the same can be said for ZTJ.

The Author probably wants to be descriptive and unique (which he is) but it doesn't keep me hooked. People say it feels like a proper English novel but I doubt it will be properly published. Its too long and has way too many fillers. For example, I want to know... more>> what will happen the next day but I don't want to read over 20 chapters to find out. I would read if you keep me hooked for those 20 chapters but if not it just gets annoying.

That is the main problem with ZTJ: it is not a page turner. Correct that, you would want to read the next chapter but then you realize that what you were anticipating doesn't happen for an other 20 chapter. Learned helplessness sets in an your done by chapter 200. <<less
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Katsono rated it
September 3, 2016
Status: --
This Xianxia novel is really refreshing, something new and yet unseen among all the other translated novels. First of all, we have here something that's really pleasant to read and not just bland. The writing style is simple without being too short, and rich enough to be real light literature thanks to the detailed writings. This comes with a slow pacing and rich story telling with an excellent world building, which I can only say are welcome as they make the novel's quality.

The novel starts, unlike many other, with a... more>> really weak protagonist. But although he has no power, he's got a brain and, for once, a personality. Childish at times, smart at other, we see here a really detailed and complex character of fourteen years old evolving into a hostile world which might as well have been ours, as he's just a human being, a realistic one at that, and neither a twenty something transported to another world or the reincarnation of a mysterious elder. Not only is he great, but every other character around him is either likeable, be it his friends or his enemies, instead of being one-dimensional like many other novels, and this is what makes it really a worthy read.

The background is rich in details and tells of many stories, which later turn out to actually be part of the plot, or add deepness to already existing / new characters who are kept evolving alongside our main character. The plot is great, interesting and original, full of actions although not of combats, which are pretty rare but important and greatly detailed, often lasting through several chapters of fully explained although sometimes hard to comprehend battles.

Zetianji is, unlike many Xianxia novels, a work full of richness that's worthy of being a real book, and simply does not compare to his fellow fight grinding compatriots. It doesn't focus on fighting and cultivation but instead builds a world with its own issues, mysteries and characters which each have different goals and evolve along each other. Chen Chang Sheng is among if not the greast Xianxia protagonist and his evolution is certainly the most interesting, being a frail human with actual difficulties in cultivation instead of a lucky go happy finding treasures at every corner of a street. <<less
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1withdanerf
1withdanerf rated it
September 1, 2016
Status: --
This novel is very entertaining. The world building and cultivation method are solid, but where it really shines are the characterization and the character interactions. It's very satisfying to read a novel where the side characters are fleshed out. Often times, I find myself chuckling at the dialogue.

One demerit, if you go into ZTJ expecting the MC to from lvl 1 to 100 promptly, forget about it. Still, though he's weak, doesn't mean he's useless.

Overall, I heavily recommend this novel.
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IamNotShort
IamNotShort rated it
August 24, 2017
Status: c593
Probably my favorite cultivation novel. Chen Changshen is not the typical Chinese novel protagonist. He spent the first fourteen years of his life memorizing all 3, 000 scrolls of the Daoist Canon. Due to his severed meridians, his master tells him his fate is to die by the age of twenty. His goal is not to stand above everyone else, become a sword master, be surrounded by beauty's, take revenge on those who hurt him. His goal is to live. More than anyone else, Chen Changshen desperately wants to live.

He's... more>> a clean freak, his diet is strict, nutrition trumps flavor. He is calm and doesn't let anger, jealousy, or negativity rule him because it is bad for his health. He follows the Dao of his heart, he does what he feels is right and doesn't waste time worrying about what others think. He is a True person.

Despite Chen Changsheng's vast knowledge, he is very ignorant to the current state of the world. Politics elude him, he knows almost nothing about famous cultivators. All he cares about is reading and cultivating. Due to his ignorance, he falls into many situations where he makes people speechless or infuriated. A large part of his journey is learning about the world he is forced to be a part of.

The first step of cultivating is forming a connection with one's fated star, then purifying the body before beginning meditation. If one doesn't purify before entering meditation, their bodies will explode. However, Chen Changshen discovers that he can't purify despite easily connecting to his distant fated star. So, he is forced to risk his life by directly entering meditation, nearly dying before being saved.

At no point does he suddenly heal his meridians and escape the shadow of death. In fact, cultivating is difficult the entire time, he can't circulate his true essence freely so he can't use techniques as they are written. Instead, he relies on his extensive knowledge of the 3, 000 scrolls and the medical knowledge he has acquired due to his own illness to find alternative ways to cultivate. Even once he does, he is unable to display the attack's full potential, relying on his knowledge of nearly every technique to find the proper counter when fighting.

Chen Changshen never slacks, he does not rely on a heaven defying innate ability or some secret manual to be strong. Instead, he works diligently, always cultivating and practicing, trying to ignore the political tides churnings around him. His perseverance and comprehensions are the reasons for his achievements. At one point, his friend becomes angry with him for not understanding that he's a genius. However, Chen Changshen knows that he isn't. The reason for his growth is the shadow of death that has hung over him his entire life, his desperate will to survive.

The story is slow, there isn't much fighting, but the characters are all so well developed and their interactions so interesting that it doesn't matter. There are no throwaway antagonists, every character reappears and plays their role. No death is pointless, there is always a consequence.

The romance is great, I never expected it to happen the way it did. It makes you laugh, cry, hope, and despair all the way. There is much more I could say, but I will end it here. I highly suggest this book. <<less
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Crtcosmos
Crtcosmos rated it
February 28, 2017
Status: c369
The author has a very slow but polished way of writing, at times it feels like you're reading a long poem, but Where the author truly excels is at character developing and interaction, most characters, even minor always feel that they have substance and their own motivations.
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Em_Rez
Em_Rez rated it
December 24, 2016
Status: c262
I love this novel so much (it's close to my favorite). I'm actually kind of disappointed at the rankings... rating this below a lot of the repetitive brainless stuff on this website.

Yes, this novel is slow. But it is not repetitive, and everything in each chapter is meaningful (unlike IET...). Although it may be frustrating that the novel has such a slow pace, the author's style is to slowly introduce concepts, characters, and foreshadow subtly as he is an actually accomplished writer. He introduces the world in awesome detail in... more>> a "show don't tell" manner. You get a much better feel for the world in this way. This means that he doesn't rush through stuff and doesn't introduce stuff like IET does in one chapter and it feels rushed and forced.

Everything is masterfully set up and planned. You can tell that the author had already planned for things to happen long, long in advance. For example, the thing with stars and how "the positions are relative."

This novel is really really beautifully poetic. It often centers around the MC's thoughts and moral dilemmas, and it isn't contrived like every other xianxia, in which it's an excuse to slaughter wantonly or s*upidly gain power or whatever. The only thing that comes close is ISSTH, and honestly, it pales in comparison to Ze Tian Ji.

Although, one thing that I don't like about the novel (one of the only things) is how the people in the crowd always look at Chen Changsheng "with disdain" and "with scorn" and always think he's tr*sh. It just doesn't make any sense and pisses me off. At a certain point, it's literally impossible to not see that Cheng Changsheng is the real deal. So, I will count off that. But it's still an insanely good novel and that part is only a really small part of it.

I think one of the reasons this novel is not as liked is that in its core, it's really not about being the strongest and getting revenge or getting girls or all that. It's about understanding yourself, surviving, peaceful living etc. The main character (which is one of my favorite main characters on this website) is calm, collected, and doesn't care about what others think. He is fair to everyone and isn't an as*hole like many other MCs on this website who claim that they're righteous as they literally massacre an entire group of people.

Anyways, please read this! It's really good! But if you're someone who likes stuff like "peerless martial god, " turn away not because I can tell you're gonna hate this one. <<less
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THE MAN
THE MAN rated it
June 22, 2018
Status: --
Unnecessary descriptions consists more than half of the story. Author tended to avoid the main topic and focused on giving long tiresome descriptions of unnecessary things. In each and every chapter I had to skip through paragraphs filled with unwanted descriptions.

MC was genius in cultivation but a complete moron in every other aspects. He was surrounded by politics but how he stayed totally oblivious is beyond my comprehension. At starting it was fun to see a youngster with zero political awareness, but when he remained this way and... more>> didn't grow up with time, it became truely annoying. Author constantly used MC's idiociy in the name of naivety to deliberately create problems just for increasing word-count and as the novel progressed this problem got worse.

In starting 100+ chapters, he was a nobody and I was endlessly annoyed by the fact how he made such a big farce about a marriage deal (this farcical marriage deal even continued at 500+ chapters) which nobody liked including himself. But he had his twisted logics and pathetic sense of pride. The fact that this pathetic youngster didn't die and emerged as the MC shows how unreal and illogical the novel is.

People say this novel got good romance. This was the only reason I decided to still bear with it. But after reading the novel, I cannot help but think that this is probably one of the most annoying, s*upidly over-dramatic romance I have ever seen.

While fighting in a life and death battle, MC severely lacked killing intent which is seriously s*upid. Most of the time he was full of reverence or sympathy towards his enemies who were trying to kill or harm him endlessly. It's only by huge plot armour, he managed not to die.

Way of Choices? It's more like "Way of BAD Choices" which MC cultivated and the author of this novel cultivates " Way of dragging".

Right from the starting and throughout almost the whole novel, I had to force myself to read it. <<less
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neri21
neri21 rated it
May 13, 2018
Status: c840
The novel is slow-burn because it takes a while to get to its destination. Along the way, it makes you think as you gaze at the snow, the rain, the ramshackle hut in the middle of a great forest, the undecipherable face of a monolith worshipped as a manifestation of the word of god. The main character has a rare disease which we know nothing about. He will not reach beyond 20. He goes to the capital to rescind a marriage vow to a girl which deep in his heart... more>> he is really curious about. But he cannot think of such thoughts, such yearning for he is dying so he represses his desires and decides to let her go. In the meantime, despite his wishes, the world embroils him in its clutches. The clamor is so strong he is forced to reach into the deepest corner of his will to find courage, bravery, the audacity to find a cure. In the great monolith arc he finds it but is stunned at the ruthlessness and evil at its core. He can change his fate if he moves his fated star from its current position. Failing that, he can sacrifice lives, as many as he wants, to attain fame, power, longevity.

The novel is not for everyone. It is slow, meandering, and characters pop out of nowhere but rarely forgotten. Chen Chan Sheng is a 15 year old unformed scholar. He is politically naïve, not really interested in worldly matters besides his own, and a great doctor. That talent of his has already won him friends and followers. His tenacity, the mockery and contempt of the entire universe.

If you like stories that actively engage in slaughter every two pages then this is not for you. It is very contemplative, very slow and at its core is a bitter sadness hard to define. Powerful people have reached their pinnacle of power but finds the everyday humdrum-ness of their lives empty. Some seek the philosophy and vastness of knowledge but died never grasping even an inch of its meaning. Failure is bitter, as heartbreaking as the sight of white silver hair flowing amongst the black of a once promising youth who became a hermit.

The novel, after all, is about the consequence of choice. And choice is destiny. There are many pathways to greatness but each one is fraught with unhappiness, destruction, war, loss of self. Which path will our hero choose and what happens to everybody in his universe when he decides to finally make it?

I'm familiar with the almost rat-tat-tat ferocity of other web novels that burns hell at the first chapter to attract readers. I am very fine with that. There is nothing wrong with gore and face slaps but once in a while as a reader, I want to be engaged not in uncontrolled mayhem but in silence of the heart and mind. I want to go along with the hero's journey, not anticipating his every move but rather contemplating his actions without judgment or the need to criticize.

I savor the wine and I am satisfied. <<less
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fatguy
fatguy rated it
December 4, 2016
Status: c252
The novel is beautifully paced. To others, it feels like a grind and is slow, while others get overly emotional and passionate about the events that take place. The main character takes the road to his own choice. When a door closes, he leaps to a window. If that window is force ably shut, at this dead end, finds a chance and took it. The themes of life is one's own choice, death is unavoidable but not yet arrive. The small events and details leap to help with how the... more>> world is built. Contrasting the emotions or even the rational decisions of others, the main character leads the story in direction one would not think of. I have seen people hate how he is treated at the start, yet compared to how someone might be treated in real life, it becomes just a bit more believable, as if a beggar came up to you and said he was a better lover than you, or and poor man walks into a business and says he was the new ceo. The reaction of the people is justified, yet they are also furiously unjust. <<less
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Tiranu
Tiranu rated it
September 9, 2018
Status: Completed
deleted
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andymochi
andymochi rated it
August 3, 2018
Status: c1114
"My heart aches and my eyes bleed when I see 3 stars or lowers ratings." ~Lazybum0. This is by far my favorite webnovel, though it wasn't at first.

It feels more mature than many other webnovels. It's very much about the world and the characters, and less about the MC on a vengeful rampage. Give it a shot if you're looking for something better, longer and slower.

Its definitely for people who are looking for:

  • Character development and interactions (and not just the MC)
  • Beautiful writing and prose
  • MC isn't OP
  • Incredible world building
  • A little bit of philosophy/choice
You probably won't enjoy it if you're looking for a daily dose of adrenaline where the MC does something OP. That feels like most of the webnovels I've read (even WoC which is the closest I've read in... more>> character development + world building).

From the other reviews it might sound like it's Lord of the Rings level repetition and description but I assure you it's not. To me, the author often recaps content in ways that add to the story - either to remind us about a complex relationship between barely mentioned characters or to set the stage for something to happen.

Also I want to give special kudos to the translator for preserving (or even enhancing) the amazing writing and prose.

My background: (ISSTH, WoC, WDQK, TDG, Zhu Xian, Demon Diaries, and probably a few more) <<less
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Projektnaga
Projektnaga rated it
July 15, 2018
Status: c1100
This novel!!! Arrghhhh!!

That's how I felt reading it! Everytime I think about this novel I feel everything in SUPERLATIVES!!! NEGATIVE SUPERLATIVES!! So, how does a novel I rated 5* around chapter 500 become 1* near the end? Well, convulted plotlines, absolutely no character growth - the MC starts a naive youth, and ends a naive man! And the romance? It was cute in the beginning, then it became unbelievable. But the most important reason is the AUTHOR !!

I bloody hate him for wasting a novel that had such a good... more>> start and in a great premise. I understand and know that most of the Chinese web novels got shitty endings but this one takes the cake!! Never ever reading any work from this author again. EVER!!! <<less
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Khuzy724
Khuzy724 rated it
January 9, 2019
Status: c886
Man, I'm almost 100 chapters in and I really hate the novel right now. I thought this was supposed to be a cultivation novel. So far theres been maybe 3 full chapters of actual cultivation. The rest of the novel is random political garbage. I understand that its one of the key points of the story, however the same lines and paragraphs explaining the political climate of the novel are repeated over and over and over again to the point that it gets frustrating. If any new developments do happen,... more>> the politics in the novel are recapped again just to fill space. There has been very little story development or any other development so far. Disappointing.
EDIT: Now at chapter 886 and absolutely no difference so far. If I had to break down this novel it would be 85% politics, 5% cultivation, and 10% repetition. Nothing different.

<<less
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