The Founder of Diabolism

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As the grandmaster of demonic cultivation, Wei Wuxian roamed the world, hated by millions for committing acts of necromancy. Overthrown by the powerful clans he had attempted to subjugate, Wei Wuxian is supposedly killed by his shidi in order to save the cultivation world.

Restored to life in the body of Mo Xuanyu, the local cut-sleeve lunatic, in order to exact revenge on his abusive relatives, Wei Wuxian quickly finds himself spiralling back into his old life when he’s taken away by the cold-hearted, stern, and ultimately quite boring Lan Wangji – who might be harbouring warmer feelings than contempt. Perhaps of the…romantic kind?

But despite his new beginning, Wei Wuxian begins to unravel a decade and a half long mystery that is set to undo the very fabric of the cultivation world as they know it.

A mysterious, action-packed thriller of a ride, this is a journey you won’t want to miss!

Associated Names
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Related Series
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Recommendations
Heaven Official’s Blessing (27)
The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System (25)
The Reader and Protagonist Definitely Have to Be in True Love (13)
Every Day the Protagonist Wants to Capture Me (10)
The Legendary Master’s Wife (9)
Pulling Together a Villain Reformation Strategy (9)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Highly Recommended Danmeis (Best Reads!)
  2. BL + GL
  3. Read it
  4. Plan to read
  5. "Vamos partilhar a vida boa juntos"

Latest Release

Date Group Release
02/06/24 Glows Flower Love c6
02/06/24 Glows Flower Love c5
02/06/24 Glows Flower Love c4
02/04/24 Glows Flower Love c3
02/02/24 Glows Flower Love c2
02/02/24 Glows Flower Love c1
05/23/17 enxiao c11
05/13/17 enxiao c10
04/26/17 enxiao c9
03/26/17 enxiao c8
02/28/17 enxiao c7
02/04/17 enxiao c6
01/23/17 enxiao c5
01/15/17 enxiao c4
01/08/17 enxiao c3
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540 Reviews sorted by


OverShelter
OverShelter rated it
November 6, 2023
Status: Completed
I'm going to start this one by being very honest and making it clear that it's been a long time since I read it, so most of it is already a bit blurry and lost in my memory. But I'll try my best!

MDZS is, without further description, a political journey with a certain romance. You'll find yourself in the middle of schemes, plots and some moments so gay that you'll want to punch a wall. I'm serious. The declaration scene still sticks in my mind to this day. I can't... more>> get over the fact that Wei Ying chose JUST that incredibly tense moment to finally spit out what we've been waiting for. The best thing about it all is the "villain", who just stood on the sidelines at that point and kind of encouraged the whole thing, as if he himself had had enough and wanted to get those two together at once, no matter what the cost or what. It really got to me.

Now, leaving that aside... MDZS also does an incredible job with all the description of the setting and the characters' emotions. The writing is very well divided at all times and you can clearly feel how much the author has put in along the way. Some people may end up feeling discouraged or even confused thanks to the amount of flashbacks. But please don't ignore them or just glance over them. Some may seem irrelevant, but in the end, you'll discover that everyone and everything in this story is there for a good reason.

Another attractive aspect of this reading was undoubtedly the characters. And I'm not talking about the main ones! Of course they're important and VERY interesting, but I really like how the secondary characters managed to hold my breath a few times. They also managed to stir my emotions too much, making me want to cry a lot and start a whole revolution because of them. Believe me, that's a real victory. I'm not one of the most emotional people, much less do I tend to feel a lot when it's nothing to do with the main characters, so it was quite curious...

In short, it's a great novel that I'd recommend to anyone. But not as a first read if you've never read anything like it. That's because you can easily end up feeling lost and discouraged by the amount of information, the courtesy names and all the cultivation baloney with the political bonus. You have to have some patience for these things. So it's good to have a certain determination or a lot of dedication if you want to read MDZS and it's your first contact with this genre.

I think I've said everything I wanted to.

I hope you read it and enjoy it! <<less
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cvct
cvct rated it
October 16, 2023
Status: Completed
I read the official English translation and it opened my eyes to a new world! Thank you to the translators, fans, and the whole community here!

At first I wasn't sure I liked the story but as I read more it became deeper and more complex until I was totally enraptured. The characters are very three dimensional and the setting is unique and fun.
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Birbomaniac
Birbomaniac rated it
June 25, 2023
Status: --
I am reading this for the nth time now. This is a re-reader friendly book. There are so many easter eggs we would have missed during the first time reading. I love the dynamic between the characters. I go crazy about anything involving the duo. A fun activity: Count the times the phrase 'look at me' is repeated throughout the novel.
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A-Zedel-Zong
A-Zedel-Zong rated it
May 24, 2023
Status: --
Timeless novel. Yes this is my favourite mxtx novel from the lot. Svsss never seem to come out of the comedy phase, tgcf didn’t grasp me. This story did.

It grasped my attention due to being an absolute angst fest. Being the first danmei story I had ever read, looking back on it now, while I don’t feel the same rush of emotions, when I had first started the book, I was compelled.
‘Evil’ grandmaster of demonic cultivation, Wei Ying? Brought back into the body of a ‘simple minded fool’ as... more>> they call our poor mo, well isn’t that something?

Yes it really was. You are left to think for yourself with this story, assuming something before being overturned with some plot twist you wouldn’t think off. Yes I will say the MDZS start wasn’t as great as its end, but to be honest, I don’t really mind. The start was a nice refresher before being pushed head down into a sea of suffocating angst. Very painful especially for beginners unaware of the horror they’re going to have to endure.

Simply put, this review is very short. Not wishing to give away spoilers, really this story even if the thrill may have passed now I’ve read it once more, it really is a story every danmei beginner should know and have read. Bye. <<less
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UrAnUglySpecimen
UrAnUglySpecimen rated it
March 24, 2023
Status: --
Mo Dao Zu Shi (魔道祖师) is a popular Chinese web novel written by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu. It is also known by the English titles "Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation" or "Founder of Diabolism". The novel was first serialized on the Chinese website JJWXC from 2015 to 2016 and has since gained a huge following both in China and internationally. It has also been adapted into an anime and a live-action drama.

The novel tells the story of Wei Wuxian, a powerful cultivator who is known for his mischievous and carefree personality.... more>> He becomes embroiled in a conspiracy involving the cultivation world's most powerful clans, and he must use his wit and strength to unravel the mysteries surrounding his past and the current situation.

One of the most impressive things about Mo Dao Zu Shi is its worldbuilding. The cultivation world is intricately detailed and full of fascinating lore, including different cultivation techniques, magical items, and mythical creatures. The novel also explores the complex relationships between the different clans and sects, as well as the political maneuverings and power struggles that occur within them.

The characters are another strong point of the novel. Wei Wuxian is a charismatic and likable protagonist who is easy to root for. His relationship with Lan Wangji, a stoic and disciplined cultivator, is a major focus of the story and is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. The side characters are also well-developed and have their own distinct personalities and motivations.

The writing style of Mo Dao Zu Shi is engaging and immersive. The author has a talent for crafting vivid descriptions and emotional scenes that draw the reader in. The novel also incorporates elements of mystery, suspense, and horror, which add to the overall tension and make it hard to put down.

Overall, Mo Dao Zu Shi is an excellent read for fans of Chinese web novels, fantasy, and adventure. Its worldbuilding, characters, and writing are all top-notch, and it's easy to see why it has become such a popular and beloved series. <<less
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Naili210
Naili210 rated it
March 19, 2023
Status: Completed
In my opinion, I liked the drama much more better than the novel. One, in the drama it shows much more depth of the characters story (for example Wen Ning and Wen Qing) Both characters were my favorite and when I read the novel I was disappointed how their story wasn't really written more about their life. I just feel like they were just there for the character development of Wei Wuxian just I didn't really like. Second, I like how the drama just sums up the past in one... more>> ago with like 12-15 episode. Unlike the drama, the novel slowly reveal the past of Wei Wuxian in the chapters. I think MXTX (the author) slowly reveal the past instead of writing the past all together was to make the readers more interested as they do not know the past and that would make them be in suspense. It's a great idea but to be honest I didn't really like it... I think it was because I already watched the donghua and drama before reading the novel that's why I didn't like it because I know about Wei Wuxian past and know what's going to happen... I feel like if I didn't know about the plot and past then I would probably enjoy it more. Third, I didn't like how Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan didn't even know they like each other until it was almost the ending. I just felt like it would be better for them to confess their feelings earlier than when the story was ending. Oh well at least they now know that they love each other. Overall I like the the details about Wei Ying and Lan Zhan interactions moments and the well verse plot and storyline. The novel is really good and I would recommend but it's just that I prefer the drama. <<less
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BellsMoon
BellsMoon rated it
March 3, 2023
Status: Completed
This became my favorite fantasy book series and favorite novel. I've read all of the author and few others famous and not famous novels and this is still the best.

It has everything in a good amount. There's war and politics, but not too much to be boring or hard to understand. There's horror and gore but not too much to be hard to read. There's crime investigation, humor, mystery and romance.

The romance is the best slow burn romance I've seen. Is organic. It has that feeling of first love. Of... more>> falling in love in a very natural manner. Is sweet. Doesn't focus too much on it enough to you get bored but is always there enough to you feel it and don't miss it.

The characters, the mainly and secondary are all very humanized. They have qualities and flaws, they make mistakes and do right things. They have layers and complexity. If you join the fandom you'll see fans fighting over the characters, even the secondaries, exactly cause of this. Cause some forgive their mistakes and like them because of the right things they did and their qualities, some don't, some are the contrary. They're really well developed. That includes the villains, that can make one feel complex feelings about them.

The plot is amazing. And kinda angst. Everytime I'll rewatch, re read I feel an ache in my heart already expecting all the pain. To me the romance is the only light in here. What give us that bitter sweet feeling. You'll laugh, but you'll also cry and feel pain. But it will be healed next because of some sweet interactions between the couple.

There's one explicit s3x scene in the end, but is not that heavy. The others are in the extras, so even people who don't like explicit can still enjoy this, just skipping the extras.

Theres one or two extras or element in the extras that I don't like, and one or other thing that bothered me, like I wished I had see the MC death in the past (this is not a spoiler, is in the first line of the novel and in some synopsis lol) but to me, I was able to ignore and pass those things. The good things are bigger than the bad. That's why to me it deserve 5/5 stars.

There's many lessons behind, like follow your heart, your conscience, do what you believe be right. It talks about the hypocrisy of people and the ambitions. And lot more.

Honestly, it deserves be famous and be well known. Is really well written. All the adaptations is really good too. Nothing compares to this. Is not perfect, but get close. <<less
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Pandaisanerd
Pandaisanerd rated it
January 7, 2023
Status: Completed
mo dao zu shi will always have a special place in my heart since it was recommended to me by a friend and it introduced me to web novels but I have to be realistic and just say that objectively it's not the best thing I've ever read but the world of it is still magical for me because of that sense of nostalgia.
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tangtangzi
tangtangzi rated it
January 5, 2023
Status: Completed
This has some really good ideas but is severely lacking in execution. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji are great characters that just need to be fleshed out more, and although their romance makes sense, it suffers from being too tropey. There are also a lot of inconsistencies and things that were never really explained regarding the way the Golden Core (in this particular novel) works. Like why was Wei Wuxian able to unsheathe Suibian even when he was in another person's body?
Spoiler

There's also the implications of Jiang Cheng being able to use Zidian even after the Golden Core transfer. Does that mean Yu Ziyuan gave Wei Wuxian permission to do so? But the fact that it was never brought up makes me think the author simply forgot.

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What I do like about this webnovel is the complexity of its themes. Every character, no matter how little they appear in the actual text, all have an important role to play when it comes to Modao's themes about war, politics and conflict. For example, the character of Wen Qing, a character that appears only towards the middle of the story and dies not much later, raises a lot of questions about what makes a person good or evil. Whether the fact that she never participated in the atrocities of the Wen sect justifies her silence while she also passively benefited from her rank by playing safe. (The Untamed pretty much botched this character by wiping away all the nuance and moral complexity of her character, but ofc people ate that sh*t up and called it feminism because they think more screentime automatically makes a character better)

Overall, I like it a lot and it has a fairly tight narrative and consistent themes. Every single scene is important and every character has a purpose. But it feels bare, like a first draft of a story that is yet to be fleshed out.
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Winterrz
Winterrz rated it
November 27, 2022
Status: Completed
For an over hyped novel this is actually good. Over hyped novels are usually balls, in my experience.

This however is a great read. I'm a little stingy with my stars so 4 stars is a really high rating for me. still I think the legendary master's wife is better...😙

But yeah this novel is quite entertaining. Slow burn but the romance really is there; and it doesn't seem forced like in those other novels I won't mention. The MC is claimed to be funny and if you actually read the novel... more>> he really is funny, it's not a case of the author forcing stunned reactions from the other characters to make the MC seem fun.

As a matter of fact I'd read this novel before but dropped it, and I'm just realizing now why. These cultivation novels aren't that easy to follow and enjoy and understand all at once, especially if you're a beginner in this genre. So yeah I was confused at first; but after reading novels like The legendary master's wife, copper coins, the villain has something to say... I now find cultivation novels easier to understand and love. So yeah.

I also love the ML's character. Really this is a couple match made in heaven!! And the author even blessed us with them E rated scenes; what more could a rotten auntie wish for?!🤭🤭🤭🤭

Aight that's my thoughts... It's amazing that China turned this into an actual series that aired though... I hope this becomes a thing so I can watch more Chinese bl's in the future 🤭🤭🤭🤭 <<less
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Poorxiaxini
Poorxiaxini rated it
November 15, 2022
Status: Completed
I actually read this around 2021 which was a year ago. Before this novel I didn't know danmei existed (yeah mxtx is my danmei recruiter just like most newbies 😁). I just hopped today in the pretense of leaving some footprint.

Now that I've read too much of this genre this is actually still one of the best novel I've read, no wonder too many bookworms discover this gem. It deserves it's popularity.

I still can't recover from shock since I've discovered LWJ's incense burner scene. The scream which I wanna screamt... more>> lasted an impression on me. This novel definitely raised the standard.

Anyway, WWX still is my favourite MC, I like him despite his shortcomings and I'm forever a sucker for LWJ's rabbits.

Byeee. <<less
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LH_12
LH_12 rated it
November 12, 2022
Status: Completed
This was my very first xianxia (and BL too) novel, and I was amazed. I thought that this was the best novel I have ever read, and after 2 years and many other Chinese xianxia and wuxia novels, I still think this is a masterpiece. This novel is so unique; the writing is wonderful; the story is brilliant; the plot twists are unexpected, sometimes even shocking; and the characters are so real. I absolutely love how shameless Wei Wuxian is or how stern, cold, and unaffected Lan Wangji seems; they... more>> are so different but somehow perfect for each other. Other characters are so interesting and complex, too. Their background stories are complicated and sad. MC encountered too many unjust things; reading about them was hard, but nevertheless, I couldn't put it down, even when I was reading it the second time. Sometimes the story is too sad, but sometimes it's really funny, and the extras are so sweet. I just love this novel so much. Its high ratings are well deserved. <<less
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Akime yuko
Akime yuko rated it
August 23, 2022
Status: Completed
I want to slap Myself for not rating this sooner but anw here iam! This is the first novel that I've ever read In this genre and from a Chinese author which open me a to new world and that is the best thing to ever happened to me. I decided to read this cos I felt unsatisfied after watching the untamed so this novel is very special to me and I believe is the same for most ppl like I can't put it into word of how much I... more>> love this novel and wangxian... I was literally obsessed with 2 yrs go and still iam <<less
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onlylily02
onlylily02 rated it
August 5, 2022
Status: Completed
MDZS is the first danmei novel that I have read and it has such a special place in my heart.

The writing and the flow of the story is a little confusing from time to time because it constantly switches between the past and the present so watching "The Untamed" first definitely helps.

I love everything about this novel. It's entertaining and heartwarming. The MC is the most shameless person ever, in a good way of course, which makes him my favorite person in this novel. I am so attached to his... more>> character that even 3 months after I have finished this novel, I still often think of him. I wish the novel was longer, I could not get enough of the interactions between him and the ML.

The ML loves the MC so much that sometimes, I wonder if I could ever get someone like him haha : (

MXTX has done such a great job writing this novel. I was unable to dislike any characters because of their stories. Anyway, 3 weeks of constantly reading this novel while drowning in tests and assignments in school is definitely worth it:D. <<less
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rereya
rereya rated it
July 16, 2022
Status: Completed
I loved MDZS. This book has essentially everything I look for. I fell in love with WWX and LWJ, both as individuals and as a couple. Their love story, in my opinion, is incredibly satisfying to read. I'd go so far as to say that at the moment, they may be my favorite couple in fiction. As for the other characters, even when looking at characters I didn't like, I can appreciate their writing and their purpose in the narrative. The story itself, while straightforward in the whole scheme of... more>> things, was a joy to read.

With this being said, I do think it's important to list some things I didn't particularly care for.

-I didn't like most of the Yi City arc (excluding the pre-flashback bits), nor the 3zun flashback. I also did not care for much of the Lotus Pier flashbacks/storylines.

-There are somethings I would've liked to read more about, i.e., more on the Sunshot Campaign, JYL and JXZ's relationship, life at the burial mounds, etc.

-There are some storylines I wish were a tad shorter (predominately the arcs I've previously mentioned).

There are aspects that others may not care for, such as some of the extras and other dub-con scenes. I did not mind these scenes at all (I thought they were quite tame?) and would go so far as to say these scenes
Spoiler

in particular, the non-con/dub-con kiss

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, were necessary for highlighting some of the story's overarching themes.

Overall, it's a personal 5/5 for me. <<less
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sissyphus93
sissyphus93 rated it
June 25, 2022
Status: --
My first danmei/bl/xianxia/Chinese web novel. Mo DAO zu shi took a lot of my firsts for danmei and I couldn't be any more glad about it. After multiple adaptation including manhua donghua LA audio drama, translated in so many different languages with an official English language adaptation, I don't think it needs any introduction. If I had a choice I wish I could have wiped my memory so that I can read and experience this wonderful story all over again because that is an unforgettable experience.
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Azla7MC
Azla7MC
May 29, 2022
Status: Completed
LOVE, LOVe, LOve this! The only novel I read 3 times and will read again! Together wth the anime, manga and ofc The Untamed it has opened my life to a whole new wonderful world! This author is amazing - what a brilliant mind! I bow down to the translator - without you I would never have been able to have this. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the hard work!
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Mydernum
Mydernum rated it
May 2, 2022
Status: Completed
I'm very greatful for this novel, it gave me a severe obession with bl novels.

Haha but seriously it is a good story.

It dosen't amaze me as Heaven's offical blessing but it has heart and MC is such a tragic and loveable characther.

... more>> The romance between MC and ML felt pure, bittersweet and you could feel that yearning comming from ML, just how much he bottled up his emotions for MC.

I do give a warning, MC goes throug lot of tragic events that will just tear your heart to pieces and his actions sound understable as well, while you will also see just how broken ML becomes when those actions happen but you will also see both of them grow their love for each other as well.

The villains were written really good, you will maybe feel pity for some and you will hate other one (it depends on your viewpoint).

The one thing which I just feel utterly sad about and which nobody metions is the the body which MC got control over (the previous body owner sacrifaced his life so that MC can take revenge and take over his body but doing so he basically can't be reincarnated anymore and poor guy suffered so much bullsh*t as well from everybody and it just makes me sad how he is not mentioned in the story).

Overall, it's a good story and I recommend it and for lot of people this novel was an introduction to the bl novel genre in genral (for me it also made me fell in love with historical cultivaton novels too). <<less
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Kurtzin
Kurtzin rated it
April 18, 2022
Status: Completed
I am truly disappointed with this novel. When I saw more than 20k readers, my first thought was that this novel must be as interesting as ISSTH, TSCG, ATG and many others real 5 star novels.

I really dont care if this novel is danmei or whatever. What I really care is if the story is interesting or not, and this one is definitely NOT. It's a very common story with a few highlights of a good story.

Anyway, I wouldn't recommend it unless you really want to read something, anything at... more>> al.. <<less
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thousand blooming flowers
thousand blooming flowers rated it
April 3, 2022
Status: Completed
Like many other readers, this was also my first ever danmei novel!

The story was very entertaining, but most of the angsty stuff that made me bawl my eyes out were from the donghua, visual presentation and all... The novel was told through the eyes of the MC, which is why certain misunderstandings were bound to have happened since we're seeing everything through his perspective. The MC's thoughts are also our thoughts, if you get what I mean.

The MC is your typical fun character who's good at a lot of things... more>> (if not all). He's smart, adept in the four arts, he's a smooth and honey-tongued youngster, but it's a pity that he turned to the dark arts - something like that from the perspective of someone who doesn't know the full story in the jianghu (you know, because he IS a demonic cultivator who was once a promising young lad, in everyone's eyes).

The ML is your typical cold, pristine, and untouchable character in white. His face is like jade, he's as tranquil as clear stones in flowing rivers, but his heart is like a bright flame, like surging waves... Ah, the more direct, single-word description is that he's a kuudere.

The side characters are nice and well-written, they're very 3D in terms of personality and characterization, some of them are pretty gray too. There are some mysteries that aren't fully spoon-fed to us and some issues between the characters that aren't really resolved, but I think that's where the realistic charm comes from. Not everything would have a definite answer, and if there was an answer given, it's not like it'll satisfy everyone.

Also, the past and present get a bit confusing if you don't pay attention to the narration's change (believe me, I was confused at first too XD). There are some sentence indications by the narration to tell the readers which is a backstory and which is the present story, but it gets too sudden sometimes that my brain couldn't process it as quick as it had read through the paragraphs.

I toned it down a lot, so it's up to the newcomers to actually see the complexity of the plot and the characters.... All in all, MDZS is a really good story to read! <<less
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