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魔道祖师 [Mó Dào Zǔ Shī] #3
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel) Vol. 3
Shoot Down the Sun
The bloody war against the Wen Clan once led Wei Wuxian to seek power in demonic cultivation, and the dark acts he committed drove a wedge between him and Lan Wangji. Now, those old sins come back to haunt him as his reincarnated identity is revealed to the cultivation world. But even as the other clans call for Wei Wuxian’s death, Lan Wangji stands by him, making Wei Wuxian realize what he took for disapproval in the past might have been a much deeper emotion.
The bloody war against the Wen Clan once led Wei Wuxian to seek power in demonic cultivation, and the dark acts he committed drove a wedge between him and Lan Wangji. Now, those old sins come back to haunt him as his reincarnated identity is revealed to the cultivation world. But even as the other clans call for Wei Wuxian’s death, Lan Wangji stands by him, making Wei Wuxian realize what he took for disapproval in the past might have been a much deeper emotion.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
About the author
Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù
114 books5,075 followersAssociated Names:
* 墨香铜臭 (Chinese)
* Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù
* โม่เซียงถงซิ่ว (Thai)
* 묵향동후 (Korean)
* Мосян Тунсю (Russian)
* 墨香铜臭 (Chinese)
* Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù
* โม่เซียงถงซิ่ว (Thai)
* 묵향동후 (Korean)
* Мосян Тунсю (Russian)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 912 reviews
July 21, 2024
Casi todo esto ya lo había visto en el donghua, pero fue interesante leer (todas) las diferencias. ME ESTÁ GUSTANDO MUCHO, amo a Wei Ying 😭.
November 7, 2023
the slump killed me but ch 14 still slapped
_
Reading this book just after finishing the flashback episodes in The Untamed was a special kind of torture but in my defense, had I known this would mostly have the flashbacks, I wouldn't have started it so soon.thats a lie but lets believe it
The book started with the description of Yunmeng and you know what I was listening to that time? WWX'S THEME THERE WAS SUCH BEAUTIFUL PORTRAYAL OF LOTUS PIER AND I WAS LISTENING TO QU JIN CHEN QING AND I WAS ALREADY SOBBING IT WAS THE FIRST FUCKING PAGE
This was also the time when my religion, the song which keeps me sane (or is it the opposite?) WANGXIAN came into existence (lmaoo not really bcs maybe lwj composed it beforehand but it definitely was released to the target audience that time only soooo) Xuanwu Cave arc is definitely one of my favourite arcs especially bcs of that.
“What’s the name of that song?”
Lan Wangji seemed to murmur something under his breath.
Wei Wuxian opened his eyes. “What was that again?”
Imagine if WWX had actually heard the name 😭 We would've probably gotten WangXian wayyyyyyyy sooner. Not really tho bcs he's a dumbass but a bitch can dream.
Also, the scene when that ghost was literally kneeling near WWX and nuzzling him?? OHMG I DID NOT THINK I COULD BE JEALOUS OF A GHOST BUT HERE WE ARE. Good thing I wasn't the only one. 😌
Now see, when I said I'm a Nora Stephens kinnie I wasn't kidding bcs I actually do mostly go see the last page of a book and I did the same with this one too so I figured the whole book is only flashbacks.
But then a chapter called "Soft" literally smacked me in the face somewhere between and ahshajkakask the wangxian crumbsssss I ate them up. The way WWX got so flustered being near LWJ and him making LWJ hoist him up on the donkey while making him pull on the reins and wanting a little one bcs it reminded him of his parents and him being so happy of being the only one who's ever heard "wangxian" and him imagining all kinds of domestic fluff with LWJ when all the drama surrounding them finally ends.
AND THE TENSIONN OOOF PLSSSSS THE TENSION WAS SO THICK ISTG I WAS DYING.
“Boys always bully the ones they’re sweet on. They just want their undivided attention.”
Wei Wuxian’s smile froze at those words.
Three books later and he finally gets it, ppl. somewhat
“You’re the one who called out to him first, though,” Jiang Cheng pointed out.
“How do you know?”
“Do you even need to ask?” Jiang Cheng scoffed. “When have you ever not been the one calling out to him first? You’re a strange one. You always part on bad terms, so why do you work tirelessly to annoy him?”
WWX: fellas, is it gay to admire your bro's beauty every chance you get and pull his forehead ribbon the way you do with your crush's ponytail just to get him to look at you and to throw flowers at him along with his other fangirls bcs he's just so beautiful?
me, jiang cheng, and literally everyone: dumbass 🙄
I love the Yunmeng siblings so much. They have my whole heart pls they're so perfect and so precious. Their childhood scenes get me sobbing in every fucking adaption. It's the same with the scene when Jin Zixuan sorta confessed to Yanli. I wanted happy endings for every one of them pls. 😭
ALSO WE GOT WANGXIAN FIRST KISS OMGGGGGG ALONG WITH THE ART JAKSKAKKSHSHWUWJAKAK ISTG THE ART IN THIS VOLUME IS ONE OF MY FAVE IN ALL THESE BOOKS.
_________________
what can i say? 🤷🏻♀️ i cant stay away from them for too long
_
Reading this book just after finishing the flashback episodes in The Untamed was a special kind of torture but in my defense, had I known this would mostly have the flashbacks, I wouldn't have started it so soon.
The book started with the description of Yunmeng and you know what I was listening to that time? WWX'S THEME THERE WAS SUCH BEAUTIFUL PORTRAYAL OF LOTUS PIER AND I WAS LISTENING TO QU JIN CHEN QING AND I WAS ALREADY SOBBING IT WAS THE FIRST FUCKING PAGE
This was also the time when my religion, the song which keeps me sane (or is it the opposite?) WANGXIAN came into existence (lmaoo not really bcs maybe lwj composed it beforehand but it definitely was released to the target audience that time only soooo) Xuanwu Cave arc is definitely one of my favourite arcs especially bcs of that.
“What’s the name of that song?”
Lan Wangji seemed to murmur something under his breath.
Wei Wuxian opened his eyes. “What was that again?”
Imagine if WWX had actually heard the name 😭 We would've probably gotten WangXian wayyyyyyyy sooner. Not really tho bcs he's a dumbass but a bitch can dream.
Also, the scene when that ghost was literally kneeling near WWX and nuzzling him?? OHMG I DID NOT THINK I COULD BE JEALOUS OF A GHOST BUT HERE WE ARE. Good thing I wasn't the only one. 😌
Now see, when I said I'm a Nora Stephens kinnie I wasn't kidding bcs I actually do mostly go see the last page of a book and I did the same with this one too so I figured the whole book is only flashbacks.
But then a chapter called "Soft" literally smacked me in the face somewhere between and ahshajkakask the wangxian crumbsssss I ate them up. The way WWX got so flustered being near LWJ and him making LWJ hoist him up on the donkey while making him pull on the reins and wanting a little one bcs it reminded him of his parents and him being so happy of being the only one who's ever heard "wangxian" and him imagining all kinds of domestic fluff with LWJ when all the drama surrounding them finally ends.
AND THE TENSIONN OOOF PLSSSSS THE TENSION WAS SO THICK ISTG I WAS DYING.
“Boys always bully the ones they’re sweet on. They just want their undivided attention.”
Wei Wuxian’s smile froze at those words.
Three books later and he finally gets it, ppl. somewhat
“You’re the one who called out to him first, though,” Jiang Cheng pointed out.
“How do you know?”
“Do you even need to ask?” Jiang Cheng scoffed. “When have you ever not been the one calling out to him first? You’re a strange one. You always part on bad terms, so why do you work tirelessly to annoy him?”
WWX: fellas, is it gay to admire your bro's beauty every chance you get and pull his forehead ribbon the way you do with your crush's ponytail just to get him to look at you and to throw flowers at him along with his other fangirls bcs he's just so beautiful?
me, jiang cheng, and literally everyone: dumbass 🙄
I love the Yunmeng siblings so much. They have my whole heart pls they're so perfect and so precious. Their childhood scenes get me sobbing in every fucking adaption. It's the same with the scene when Jin Zixuan sorta confessed to Yanli. I wanted happy endings for every one of them pls. 😭
ALSO WE GOT WANGXIAN FIRST KISS OMGGGGGG ALONG WITH THE ART JAKSKAKKSHSHWUWJAKAK ISTG THE ART IN THIS VOLUME IS ONE OF MY FAVE IN ALL THESE BOOKS.
_________________
what can i say? 🤷🏻♀️ i cant stay away from them for too long
Want to read
June 27, 2022I want this cover tattooed on my eyeballs please, thank you
August 18, 2022
I've lost track of how many times I'll read the same thing over and over again and still be enthralled by how good it is. MXTX you have my heart ♥️
July 7, 2023
2nd Review:
The story is told from the present day of that time period. She tells the story and will talk about something in Lan Zhan's or Wei WuXian's past that has impact on the current story and then she will do a flashback. It works. Still, I think I enjoy the show going with the mostly linear storytelling style.
The show didn't have the peony flower in it. We see Lan Zhan reading a book with a pressed flower as bookmark and Wei Ying comments on how pretty it is. Then we get to see where Lan Zhan got the flower from. It's from their first kiss. At this point, Wei Ying doesn't even know it was their first kiss. I still love reading that part, the first kiss. Such a good scene.
The raiding of Lotus Pier is still so heart wrenching to read. It's so sorrowful and grief heavy. It still gets me. I'm still loving this re-read and I just can't put the story down.
1st Review
I love this part of the story being told. Most of this is part of the flashback leading up to being in the present. All the characters get very complex and misunderstandings abound with almost everyone. Everyone seems cut off from what they know and trying to figure it all out on their own.
The Burial Mound scene is here and it's the only scene set in the present and it's one of my favorite scenes in the whole work. Everyone is coming to attach Wei Wuxian again at Burial Mound and he has been set up. He quietly stands before them and asks question after question that the mob can't answer. He completely has control of this mob in many ways. It's extraordinary bit of writing and it comes off about the same in the 'Untamed' show as well. The only problem here is that it cut off in the middle of it and the rest of the scene is in the next book. How could they do this too us.
It is amazing that most of the dialogue in the book is ripped right off the page and put in the show word for word and scene to scene. They change stuff that has to do with any kissing or overt reference to them being gay, but otherwise, they are true to the source material.
Speaking of which, the Night hunt scene is amazing here. In the show, Wei Wuxian doesn't stay blindfolded and he and Lan Zhan simply talk in the forest. The censorship did us so wrong. The scene in the book of Lan Zhan stealing a kiss is amazing and it should be on screen. It was so well done and it leads the drama so normally.
Otherwise, this part of the story is very PG, well, even the kiss is PG. Of course there is language that is adult that the show doesn't air. The characters use FU often.
There is still plenty of blood and gore here and lots of tension. I believe this is a work of genius - really. It's simply so well done. I still can't fathom that this came out of China and it makes me happy to see that they are so normal there.
I can't wait for the next volume to come out. I want the rest of it. I don't like having to wait to read the whole story. It reminds me of reading Stephen King's Green Mile as it came out and we had to wait a whole month for the story. This has been every 3 to 4 months which is even worse.
I have watched the whole 50 episode show about 6 times through now - I love it. They did so many things so well, but the source material is better. This volume is also much better than the last one as well.
The story is told from the present day of that time period. She tells the story and will talk about something in Lan Zhan's or Wei WuXian's past that has impact on the current story and then she will do a flashback. It works. Still, I think I enjoy the show going with the mostly linear storytelling style.
The show didn't have the peony flower in it. We see Lan Zhan reading a book with a pressed flower as bookmark and Wei Ying comments on how pretty it is. Then we get to see where Lan Zhan got the flower from. It's from their first kiss. At this point, Wei Ying doesn't even know it was their first kiss. I still love reading that part, the first kiss. Such a good scene.
The raiding of Lotus Pier is still so heart wrenching to read. It's so sorrowful and grief heavy. It still gets me. I'm still loving this re-read and I just can't put the story down.
1st Review
I love this part of the story being told. Most of this is part of the flashback leading up to being in the present. All the characters get very complex and misunderstandings abound with almost everyone. Everyone seems cut off from what they know and trying to figure it all out on their own.
The Burial Mound scene is here and it's the only scene set in the present and it's one of my favorite scenes in the whole work. Everyone is coming to attach Wei Wuxian again at Burial Mound and he has been set up. He quietly stands before them and asks question after question that the mob can't answer. He completely has control of this mob in many ways. It's extraordinary bit of writing and it comes off about the same in the 'Untamed' show as well. The only problem here is that it cut off in the middle of it and the rest of the scene is in the next book. How could they do this too us.
It is amazing that most of the dialogue in the book is ripped right off the page and put in the show word for word and scene to scene. They change stuff that has to do with any kissing or overt reference to them being gay, but otherwise, they are true to the source material.
Speaking of which, the Night hunt scene is amazing here. In the show, Wei Wuxian doesn't stay blindfolded and he and Lan Zhan simply talk in the forest. The censorship did us so wrong. The scene in the book of Lan Zhan stealing a kiss is amazing and it should be on screen. It was so well done and it leads the drama so normally.
Otherwise, this part of the story is very PG, well, even the kiss is PG. Of course there is language that is adult that the show doesn't air. The characters use FU often.
There is still plenty of blood and gore here and lots of tension. I believe this is a work of genius - really. It's simply so well done. I still can't fathom that this came out of China and it makes me happy to see that they are so normal there.
I can't wait for the next volume to come out. I want the rest of it. I don't like having to wait to read the whole story. It reminds me of reading Stephen King's Green Mile as it came out and we had to wait a whole month for the story. This has been every 3 to 4 months which is even worse.
I have watched the whole 50 episode show about 6 times through now - I love it. They did so many things so well, but the source material is better. This volume is also much better than the last one as well.
September 6, 2022
For the uninitiated: I'm so jealous you get to experience your first time reading Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation with the official English translation!! You will need to start from book 1: Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel) Vol. 1.
For those who's already read the series, here are some random thoughts on this volume in particular: oh the pain!! My heart breaks every time I read what happened to Jiang Cheng's parents 😞. But being this is my fourth (fifth???) time reading this series, I found that I was able to appreciate all the nuances in a much deeper level. For instance the brash way that Wei Wuxian acted when meeting with Lan Wangji at the inn, or why he refuses to carry his sword with him. Everything hurts so good! 💀
Well, now that I'm done devouring this book. There's no more pain. Only memes. 😞😞😞
For those who's already read the series, here are some random thoughts on this volume in particular: oh the pain!! My heart breaks every time I read what happened to Jiang Cheng's parents 😞. But being this is my fourth (fifth???) time reading this series, I found that I was able to appreciate all the nuances in a much deeper level. For instance the brash way that Wei Wuxian acted when meeting with Lan Wangji at the inn, or why he refuses to carry his sword with him. Everything hurts so good! 💀
Well, now that I'm done devouring this book. There's no more pain. Only memes. 😞😞😞
October 21, 2023
Reread review (BR w/ Rosa, Teal, Ele, Xia and Moony)
I feel like we're making good headway on coming up with theories about some of the things we're not told too much about but which drive so much of the book's plot. Like Mo Xuanyu. I'm pretty happy with the theory we have for who he was and what he was doing prior to the start of the book. We could be way off base, but I don't feel the need to go and confirm any of it, lol. And where found the arm. And what JGY knew and when.
But this book is still a hard one to get through. So much heartbreak and so much disaster hit our guys and then the punches don't stop. 😩
But damn, that kiss is still hot. 🥵😆
Reread review 2023 (BR with Teal):
I can only blame the fact that I read this a month after vol 3 and that vol 4 was months away from publication for giving this such a low rating (3.5 stars) the first time around. Plus, now that I have the full story in mind, I can better see where this is all going and what this volume was doing, which was doing a hell of a lot of character development in amongst the humor, adventures, sadness and creepiness, and that one weirdly wholesome burial scene. And, looking at my original review, I'm happy to say the Kindle version seems to be a lot more clean than the print version I read earlier.
This volume is a rollercoaster, lol. We spend the majority of it in flashbacks, but those provide so much necessary background detail and finally bring in some characters who are going to be important going forward. (I do like that the show allows much more time with Jiang Yanli, Wen Ning and Wen Qing than the book does.)
Onto volume 4!
Original review:
I'm still really enjoying this, but as interesting as all the episodes are, I am getting a little impatient for the "present day" story to get into gear. People who don't like non-linear stories will really get annoyed with this and with HOB for all the time jumps. This volume started off in the past, and it took me awhile to switch gears and get into the story, since I was expecting something else.
But I am invested in learning more. Each piece of the past is another piece of the puzzle, and it's becoming more and more clear how, why and when things went so askew between Wangji, Cheng and Wuxian. We get more background on the Wen clan and their doings, and finally get some hints as to why Wuxian started practicing demonic cultivation. We also finally get to see Jiang Yanli after hearing a little about her here and there in the last two volumes, and she's a sweetie.
That hunt for dao in the hills was so vivid, and we finally see Wuxian doing something other than teasing Wangji all the time. It's also starting to make more sense why Wangji puts up with Wuxian like he does, since Xichen explained about their mom
And holy crap - that kiss! Now this is an author who actually understands what slow burn means. Stop teasing us, you monster!
I have no additional theories at this time. Everything's moving along at its own pace.
One gripe: there were quite a few typos in this volume, and I don't remember seeing any in the previous two. Misspelled names, missing spaces and words, and other such nonsense that should have been caught before this went to print. There were also a few less illustrations in this one too. I hope this isn't a sign that the publisher is getting sloppy and/or lazy. I've gotten used to the odd translation choices, but there's no excuse for this many typos from a professional publisher.
I feel like we're making good headway on coming up with theories about some of the things we're not told too much about but which drive so much of the book's plot. Like Mo Xuanyu. I'm pretty happy with the theory we have for who he was and what he was doing prior to the start of the book. We could be way off base, but I don't feel the need to go and confirm any of it, lol. And where found the arm. And what JGY knew and when.
But this book is still a hard one to get through. So much heartbreak and so much disaster hit our guys and then the punches don't stop. 😩
But damn, that kiss is still hot. 🥵😆
Reread review 2023 (BR with Teal):
I can only blame the fact that I read this a month after vol 3 and that vol 4 was months away from publication for giving this such a low rating (3.5 stars) the first time around. Plus, now that I have the full story in mind, I can better see where this is all going and what this volume was doing, which was doing a hell of a lot of character development in amongst the humor, adventures, sadness and creepiness, and that one weirdly wholesome burial scene. And, looking at my original review, I'm happy to say the Kindle version seems to be a lot more clean than the print version I read earlier.
This volume is a rollercoaster, lol. We spend the majority of it in flashbacks, but those provide so much necessary background detail and finally bring in some characters who are going to be important going forward. (I do like that the show allows much more time with Jiang Yanli, Wen Ning and Wen Qing than the book does.)
Onto volume 4!
Original review:
I'm still really enjoying this, but as interesting as all the episodes are, I am getting a little impatient for the "present day" story to get into gear. People who don't like non-linear stories will really get annoyed with this and with HOB for all the time jumps. This volume started off in the past, and it took me awhile to switch gears and get into the story, since I was expecting something else.
But I am invested in learning more. Each piece of the past is another piece of the puzzle, and it's becoming more and more clear how, why and when things went so askew between Wangji, Cheng and Wuxian. We get more background on the Wen clan and their doings, and finally get some hints as to why Wuxian started practicing demonic cultivation. We also finally get to see Jiang Yanli after hearing a little about her here and there in the last two volumes, and she's a sweetie.
That hunt for dao in the hills was so vivid, and we finally see Wuxian doing something other than teasing Wangji all the time. It's also starting to make more sense why Wangji puts up with Wuxian like he does, since Xichen explained about their mom
And holy crap - that kiss! Now this is an author who actually understands what slow burn means. Stop teasing us, you monster!
I have no additional theories at this time. Everything's moving along at its own pace.
One gripe: there were quite a few typos in this volume, and I don't remember seeing any in the previous two. Misspelled names, missing spaces and words, and other such nonsense that should have been caught before this went to print. There were also a few less illustrations in this one too. I hope this isn't a sign that the publisher is getting sloppy and/or lazy. I've gotten used to the odd translation choices, but there's no excuse for this many typos from a professional publisher.
August 29, 2024
this was so gory, gruesome, and detailed. since the donghua and live action are insanely censored, i completely forgot about how dramatic everything is. but i loved it. all the trauma that this gave. i'm accepting all of it with open arms. it was also a little silly. i forgot about how many flirty moments they have. i was giggling one moment and then reading about torture in another. amazing.
October 22, 2023
Yep, this one gets 5 full stars.
If you want to know why, you’ll have to read the book, read somebody else’s review or wait until (if) I write one once I finish the series. There’s no way I’m waiting to start the next part of the story.
If you want to know why, you’ll have to read the book, read somebody else’s review or wait until (if) I write one once I finish the series. There’s no way I’m waiting to start the next part of the story.
October 22, 2023
After the ending of volume 2
I can't wait to read volume 4.
I can't wait to read volume 4.
June 16, 2023
My personal feelings for the story has not changed but still I feel rather let down. Was it that at that time I was still not aware of better Danmei books out there and blindly gave better ratings?
July 14, 2023
I loved this volume. It’s escalated my fascination with Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù’s construction of this non-linear narrative to a mind-consuming intensity. I’ve moved past bewilderment and entered into a feeling of curiosity and burgeoning awe. Once I can see the whole vision, I assume I’ll either achieve enlightenment or my mind will shatter under the pressure. Exciting!
The thing about the flashbacks is that they don’t happen in time to provide the emotional weight of context to most of the events in the present timeline. So much passes us by while we don’t really know the people we’re watching. I felt a little cheated by this, early on. But in this volume, I really started to enjoy how every time we come back from a dip into the past, their configuration in relation to each other has completely shifted, the web of their connections re-spun, new facets added to their figures. It’s a repeated exercise in recontextualization, wherein MXTX asks, “What did you think you knew? Was that the truth? How does the story look different to you now?” Which, in a novel centered on characters peeling back layers of narrative distorted by public opinion and secrets and miscommunication to arrive at the truth of a history they already lived but must rebuild their understanding of, is kind of mind-blowing, actually. The narrative form pulls the reader through that core thematic journey right alongside the characters.
And the specific mechanics of how MXTX connects the present and past have also taken on so much meaning for me. This 3rd volume is like an epiphany, I swear. It opens cold on an expanse of bloody memories we don’t learn is a nightmare until we wake from it with Wei Wuxian. The dream is the flashback’s framing device, but the way it frames only the tail-end means the grief Wei Wuxian has thus far been stubbornly repressing invades the narrative uninvited, just as it does his unguarded mind. Looking back, the previous framing devices, too, echo the histories they reveal. Wei Wuxian’s baffled reminiscence tracing the irony of his origin story with Lan Wangji. A spell that literalizes the empathy and trust he alone extends to the resentful dead (!!) unearthing the sorrows of Yi City and Nie Mingjue. Form mirrors theme! Form mirrors theme!
The ultimate thing non-linear form does in this book, though, is take me to absolute pieces. I’m talking disassembled like lego, emotionally speaking. Because what do you mean you’re gonna fold spacetime back in on itself at joining places where the past and present sketch symmetrical images in opposite directions? What do you mean I have to hold grief and healing in each palm like two stones of equal weight? Each of Wei Wuxian’s old memories comes stitched into a scene from the present that remakes its story in the image of kindness. The tender juxtaposition of loss to new love, regret to hope—god. I don’t know what I can say. Maybe change is both possible and good.
The thing about the flashbacks is that they don’t happen in time to provide the emotional weight of context to most of the events in the present timeline. So much passes us by while we don’t really know the people we’re watching. I felt a little cheated by this, early on. But in this volume, I really started to enjoy how every time we come back from a dip into the past, their configuration in relation to each other has completely shifted, the web of their connections re-spun, new facets added to their figures. It’s a repeated exercise in recontextualization, wherein MXTX asks, “What did you think you knew? Was that the truth? How does the story look different to you now?” Which, in a novel centered on characters peeling back layers of narrative distorted by public opinion and secrets and miscommunication to arrive at the truth of a history they already lived but must rebuild their understanding of, is kind of mind-blowing, actually. The narrative form pulls the reader through that core thematic journey right alongside the characters.
And the specific mechanics of how MXTX connects the present and past have also taken on so much meaning for me. This 3rd volume is like an epiphany, I swear. It opens cold on an expanse of bloody memories we don’t learn is a nightmare until we wake from it with Wei Wuxian. The dream is the flashback’s framing device, but the way it frames only the tail-end means the grief Wei Wuxian has thus far been stubbornly repressing invades the narrative uninvited, just as it does his unguarded mind. Looking back, the previous framing devices, too, echo the histories they reveal. Wei Wuxian’s baffled reminiscence tracing the irony of his origin story with Lan Wangji. A spell that literalizes the empathy and trust he alone extends to the resentful dead (!!) unearthing the sorrows of Yi City and Nie Mingjue. Form mirrors theme! Form mirrors theme!
The ultimate thing non-linear form does in this book, though, is take me to absolute pieces. I’m talking disassembled like lego, emotionally speaking. Because what do you mean you’re gonna fold spacetime back in on itself at joining places where the past and present sketch symmetrical images in opposite directions? What do you mean I have to hold grief and healing in each palm like two stones of equal weight? Each of Wei Wuxian’s old memories comes stitched into a scene from the present that remakes its story in the image of kindness. The tender juxtaposition of loss to new love, regret to hope—god. I don’t know what I can say. Maybe change is both possible and good.
October 8, 2022
The Yiling Patriarch is scary.
Great slow burn. Well, one-sided slow burn; Lan Wangji was completely lost to Wei Wuxian’s charms right from the very irreverent beginning.
Wei Wuxian is finally letting himself acknowledge he has a true (alive) ally and friend, whatever the danger he is in. And that kind of partnership is so new to him that how could he not fall in love too? Lan Zhan will support him no matter what.
I love both versions of Lan Zhan. The angry boy, clueless and scare of his own feelings; and the older and surer man that knows this second time nothing will come between himself and what he wants.
The stolen/secret kisses!❤️. Every MXTX’s love interest/co-protagonist must at some point loose their cool to mindless passion and “attack” their secret love. So tropey and so good, haha.
I’m not entirely satisfied with Madam Yu’s story. I loved her character in the donghua and the live action series The Untamed, so I was hoping for more details and scenes with her here in the books.
She is an amazing character, her sharp tongue is unrivaled 🙈. But I can not make peace with her story:
Jiang Yanli, how the f@ck was that girl so sweet and calm with that disastrous family that never payed any attention to her? Her parents were truly the worst with both their children. Or at least the books never showed me otherwise.
(And as her mother, it seemed Yanli also had bad taste in men 😖. I hope to read some kind of mayor groveling from certain peacock in the next book).
I’m now ready for Lan Zhan to SPEAK and clearly explain to Wei Wuxian how he has no choice but to accept him and live happily ever after together. Key word: Happily! 😭
🐇
Great slow burn. Well, one-sided slow burn; Lan Wangji was completely lost to Wei Wuxian’s charms right from the very irreverent beginning.
Wei Wuxian is finally letting himself acknowledge he has a true (alive) ally and friend, whatever the danger he is in. And that kind of partnership is so new to him that how could he not fall in love too? Lan Zhan will support him no matter what.
I love both versions of Lan Zhan. The angry boy, clueless and scare of his own feelings; and the older and surer man that knows this second time nothing will come between himself and what he wants.
The stolen/secret kisses!❤️. Every MXTX’s love interest/co-protagonist must at some point loose their cool to mindless passion and “attack” their secret love. So tropey and so good, haha.
I’m not entirely satisfied with Madam Yu’s story. I loved her character in the donghua and the live action series The Untamed, so I was hoping for more details and scenes with her here in the books.
She is an amazing character, her sharp tongue is unrivaled 🙈. But I can not make peace with her story:
Jiang Yanli, how the f@ck was that girl so sweet and calm with that disastrous family that never payed any attention to her? Her parents were truly the worst with both their children. Or at least the books never showed me otherwise.
(And as her mother, it seemed Yanli also had bad taste in men 😖. I hope to read some kind of mayor groveling from certain peacock in the next book).
I’m now ready for Lan Zhan to SPEAK and clearly explain to Wei Wuxian how he has no choice but to accept him and live happily ever after together. Key word: Happily! 😭
🐇
February 11, 2024
This is by far my favorite volume!!! The angst, the pain, regrets and the LOVE OMG!? I am basically eating this UP! And yk who else ATE ofc its LWJ! He was soooo hungry, MAN! What am i going to do i’m so close to the end…😭
August 31, 2024
Relationships can be complicated for the people in the relationship, but they become seriously tangled when the timeline includes one of the people in the relationship being reborn while the other retains the memories of the intervening years. The third volume of “Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation” by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu sees the relationship between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji slowly develop while both are entangled in a web of clan politics in two separate timelines.
The adventure of the Xuanwu of Slaughter, which is a giant tortoise-like beast, is both fun and allows the relationship between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji to develop some closeness in the earlier timeline. The beast is described in detail with lots of description of horrid smells and half-decomposed bodies in its belly. The description shows a nasty creature that needs to be vanquished by the two young men, but the beast never exudes malice or evil. They eventually defeat the creature by working together and grow closer because of their cooperation but also because they were trapped in the cave together for days.
For much of the book Wei Wuxian seems oblivious of his feelings for Lan Wangji or in the earlier timeline he perhaps has not developed any conscious romantic attachment yet. There are many psychological layers beneath this behaviour, but on the surface it creates a situation where it is almost impossible for their relationship to move forward in a mutual way. This creates an internal conflict in their nascent relationship, which creates a real risk that they will never find a way to be together.
This difficulty in finding a suitable life partner is mirrored in the arranged marriage that Wei Wuxian’s sister, Jiang Yanli, faces. Her mother had arranged a marriage for her with Jin Zixuan, but initially he seems uninterested. Jiang Yanli seems timid on the surface but her love for her brothers makes her strong in a quiet way and she diplomatically pushes back on Jin Zixuan’s bad behaviour at the Night Hunt scene. She manages to pacify both sides of the conflict, because she actually does harbour feelings for Jin Zixuan, despite his uncouth behaviour.
So, within the intricate net of clan politics and the machinations of various unpleasant characters, there are several examples of couples trying to find a way to love each other in unusual circumstances. Lan Wangji’s parents are another example as are Wei Wuxian’s adoptive parents. All these couples are trapped in the expectations of their society and in the dynamic of their own creation. The recipe for a successful relationship is not a cookie cutter solution where love leads to marriage, which leads to happiness and then a family.
Perhaps the most surprising scene is in chapter 15 when Wei Wuxian is sitting in a tree with a blindfold, because he agreed to handicap his archery skills by wearing a blindfold during the hunt. He had wandered off into the woods on his own and as he was drifting off into sleep he was suddenly kissed, first gently and then intensely. The kiss comes out of nowhere and is therefore a surprise to both the reader and Wei Wuxian. The difference is that the reader knows that it is Lan Wangji doing the kissing. The blindfold gives Lan Wangji the courage and the cover to act on his feelings but it also hides who is doing the kissing. As such this kiss is a metaphor for the state of their relationship at this moment.
It will be interesting to see how their relationship in particular and the external conflict between the clans in general unfold in the future …
The adventure of the Xuanwu of Slaughter, which is a giant tortoise-like beast, is both fun and allows the relationship between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji to develop some closeness in the earlier timeline. The beast is described in detail with lots of description of horrid smells and half-decomposed bodies in its belly. The description shows a nasty creature that needs to be vanquished by the two young men, but the beast never exudes malice or evil. They eventually defeat the creature by working together and grow closer because of their cooperation but also because they were trapped in the cave together for days.
For much of the book Wei Wuxian seems oblivious of his feelings for Lan Wangji or in the earlier timeline he perhaps has not developed any conscious romantic attachment yet. There are many psychological layers beneath this behaviour, but on the surface it creates a situation where it is almost impossible for their relationship to move forward in a mutual way. This creates an internal conflict in their nascent relationship, which creates a real risk that they will never find a way to be together.
This difficulty in finding a suitable life partner is mirrored in the arranged marriage that Wei Wuxian’s sister, Jiang Yanli, faces. Her mother had arranged a marriage for her with Jin Zixuan, but initially he seems uninterested. Jiang Yanli seems timid on the surface but her love for her brothers makes her strong in a quiet way and she diplomatically pushes back on Jin Zixuan’s bad behaviour at the Night Hunt scene. She manages to pacify both sides of the conflict, because she actually does harbour feelings for Jin Zixuan, despite his uncouth behaviour.
So, within the intricate net of clan politics and the machinations of various unpleasant characters, there are several examples of couples trying to find a way to love each other in unusual circumstances. Lan Wangji’s parents are another example as are Wei Wuxian’s adoptive parents. All these couples are trapped in the expectations of their society and in the dynamic of their own creation. The recipe for a successful relationship is not a cookie cutter solution where love leads to marriage, which leads to happiness and then a family.
Perhaps the most surprising scene is in chapter 15 when Wei Wuxian is sitting in a tree with a blindfold, because he agreed to handicap his archery skills by wearing a blindfold during the hunt. He had wandered off into the woods on his own and as he was drifting off into sleep he was suddenly kissed, first gently and then intensely. The kiss comes out of nowhere and is therefore a surprise to both the reader and Wei Wuxian. The difference is that the reader knows that it is Lan Wangji doing the kissing. The blindfold gives Lan Wangji the courage and the cover to act on his feelings but it also hides who is doing the kissing. As such this kiss is a metaphor for the state of their relationship at this moment.
It will be interesting to see how their relationship in particular and the external conflict between the clans in general unfold in the future …
September 17, 2024
ساعت ۱ و نیم بامداد تموم شد. ساعت یک و سی یک دقیقه کتاب چهارمو شروع کردم.
January 28, 2023
“But … Wei Wuxian looked slightly to the side. He saw Lan Wangji, who stood beside him, without any hint of hesitation, any thought of withdrawing … this time, he wasn’t alone anymore.”
DAMMIT I WASNT TRYING TO UGLY CRY BUT HERE I AM BALLING MY LITTLE HEART AWAY ｡゜(｀Д´)゜｡
WANGXIAN COME ADOPT ME NEEOOOWWWWWWWW
DAMMIT I WASNT TRYING TO UGLY CRY BUT HERE I AM BALLING MY LITTLE HEART AWAY ｡゜(｀Д´)゜｡
WANGXIAN COME ADOPT ME NEEOOOWWWWWWWW
August 9, 2022
Ughhh I hate how the battle scenes are always skipped. At least we get them in the drama though😩
*Fan English Translation*
*Fan English Translation*
September 10, 2023
I feel like every mxtx book deserves 5 stars. I'm so glad I stumbled upon her *sobs*
I was kinda worried about the flashbacks because ppl complained that this book was way too boring because of them but i LOVED THEM. They explained so much and a lot of characters and the story itself gained more depth. WEI YINGS HEAD LAYING IN LAN ZHANS LAP?????? WEI YING BEING A TOTAL BADASS AND TORTURING THAT FUCKER WEN CHAO? WANGXIANS FIRST KISS? WEN NING? THAT CUTE LITTLE STORY ABOUT WEI YING, JIANG YANLI AND JIANG CHENG AT THE VERY END??? What's not to like?
Also: Why are Wei Yings „Pranks“ just him being super romantic towards Lan Zhan? lmfao Like damn i told some girls to give him flowers, uhhh lets take our clothes off while he sleeps so he thinks we fucked or like what if i tell him to lift me up my donkey so we can recreate this lovely childhood memory of my parents LMAOOO THE CLOSET IS GLASSSSS AND YOURE STILL IN DENIAL
I was kinda worried about the flashbacks because ppl complained that this book was way too boring because of them but i LOVED THEM. They explained so much and a lot of characters and the story itself gained more depth. WEI YINGS HEAD LAYING IN LAN ZHANS LAP?????? WEI YING BEING A TOTAL BADASS AND TORTURING THAT FUCKER WEN CHAO? WANGXIANS FIRST KISS? WEN NING? THAT CUTE LITTLE STORY ABOUT WEI YING, JIANG YANLI AND JIANG CHENG AT THE VERY END??? What's not to like?
Also: Why are Wei Yings „Pranks“ just him being super romantic towards Lan Zhan? lmfao Like damn i told some girls to give him flowers, uhhh lets take our clothes off while he sleeps so he thinks we fucked or like what if i tell him to lift me up my donkey so we can recreate this lovely childhood memory of my parents LMAOOO THE CLOSET IS GLASSSSS AND YOURE STILL IN DENIAL
September 14, 2022
4.25/5stars
*Punches a wall*
*Punches a wall*
January 27, 2024
OH MY GOD THEIR FIRST KISS OH MY GODSJJSJSJSJ !!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2023
i can't count the amount of times i was ugly crying while reading this
March 23, 2024
After how frustrated I was with volume 2, I didn't think I'd return to this story for a while, but I couldn't stop thinking about what was going to happen next and didn't even make it a full day before starting this. 😅 I'm glad, though, because I'm actually invested in the story now. After the halfway point, I could hardly put it down 3.5 stars, rounded up.
August 25, 2022
En este volumen continuamos explorando y disfrutando el pasado y presente de la vida de Wei Wuxian, algo que debo resaltar es a la autora y su facilidad de intercalar estos escenarios, mxtx logra que conectemos con cada escena, con cada historia y con cada personaje. Lo hace tan entretenido debido a que mientras más avanzas el pasado, se puede ir conectando los hilos con el presente que desde el inicio se nos muestra, vas descubriendo como pasaron en realidad las cosas, vas enterandote del porqué del actuar de muchos de los personajes llegando a empatizar e incluso a amar a alguno de ellos.
Mo xiang tong xiu hizo este libro con mucho amor y dedicación, llegándose a apreciar leyendo cada una de estas páginas de este magnífico libro que nunca me cansaré de recomendar.
Mo xiang tong xiu hizo este libro con mucho amor y dedicación, llegándose a apreciar leyendo cada una de estas páginas de este magnífico libro que nunca me cansaré de recomendar.
August 18, 2022
I'll give a lengthy full review when the main story ends, so for now I'll just point out the best parts of this volume. Most of the content here are flashbacks before Wei Wuxian's death, both before and after the war. One, we get to see the minidrama that is the Jiang family story. Madam Yu and Jiang Fengmian get very little screentime in the grand scheme of things, but those brief moments, particularly their arguments, say so much about their marriage, their insecurities, and how their behavior has mutually created insecurities in their son Jiang Cheng. Once again, MXTX masterfully weaves such realistic characters in small amounts of dialogue and casual narration. Two, these parts kick off the messaging of how war robbed Wei Wuxian's generation of their childhood, forcing literal teenagers into war leadership positions and into making extremely difficult decisions (like choosing to use ghost cultivation, though this wasn't the only reason, of course..). Three, we get the juxtaposition of how the public treated Wei Wuxian as a ghost cultivator during and after the war - during the war, because his power helped the Sunshot Campaign, he was venerated as a hero. Afterwards, when there were no threats from the Wen Clan anymore, he was rebuked, being looked upon himself as a major threat. The winds of public opinion are so fickle indeed...
August 9, 2023
—— 4.5✰ stars.
➼ SCREAMING AND SOBBING. I loved this volume so much, I don't know if its because its better than the previous two or if it was because I finally understood the story more, I almost didn't need to check the guides hehe hurray for me ^^.
➼ I loved finally reading about how Wei Wuxian finally became a villain, I guess we will get more of it on the fourth volume, since we only got to see how he destroyed the Wens clan. This is not spoiler because its said on first volume :)
➼ I don't really have much more to say, read this, love this, cry about this, and be happy with me. Also pray for our dense and chaotic gay king Wei Wuxian.
➼ SCREAMING AND SOBBING. I loved this volume so much, I don't know if its because its better than the previous two or if it was because I finally understood the story more, I almost didn't need to check the guides hehe hurray for me ^^.
➼ I loved finally reading about how Wei Wuxian finally became a villain, I guess we will get more of it on the fourth volume, since we only got to see how he destroyed the Wens clan. This is not spoiler because its said on first volume :)
➼ I don't really have much more to say, read this, love this, cry about this, and be happy with me. Also pray for our dense and chaotic gay king Wei Wuxian.
November 17, 2022
Obsessed with them!!! That is all!!!
January 23, 2023
From the moment I started reading this volume of Mo Dao Zu Shi I was drawn into the plot and the characters straight away. I could not put it down, I throughly enjoy every moment of reading this volume. It played with my emotions and left me wanting more. Can't wait to get my hands on volume 4!!
October 25, 2023
this book had the flashbacks I have been waiting for!! Young Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji are so cute and we finally get glimpses of Wei Wuxian's descent into madness using his demonic cultivation.
August 19, 2024
Update 2024 Buddy (re)read with Em! 🌟
_________
I'm not easily affected by cliffhangers, yet this one really got me. It's not that anything major happens, but it ends on a question to which I can't even begin the guess the answer and it's left me a little desperate to read the next volume.
This volume had a stronger focus on the past chapters which I really appreciated. The two time lines are slowly coming together and the links between events are becoming clearer. The highlight was no doubt all of the interactions between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji - both in the present and past time lines.
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