Mo Xiang Tong Xiu: A Storyteller and Inspiration - Part 1 "Grandmasters of Demonic Cultivation"

There's no way to prepare someone for the slow-burning yet blistering romance between our protagonist, the downright naughty Wei Wuxian and his love interest, the sweet but silent Lan Wangji. In the novel, Mo Dao Zu Shi (MDZS), or Grandmasters of Demonic Cultivation in English, we get the chance to read Mo Xiang Tong Xiu’s interweaving tale of these two characters as they surpass even death to be together. However, I won’t give too much away. Just as I was thrown into the fantastical realm of “cultivation”, I want anyone else who is daring enough to take on the hearty 113 chapters and additional 7 side stories to be just as blown away. So, I'll take this time to rave about the incredible author, how much I love this story, and how it has greatly impacted me in such a short time.

Originally the story was written from October 2015 to March 2016 and released on Jinjiang Wenxuecheng (JJWXC), a Chinese website for online web novels. Mo Xiang Tong Xiu is the pseudonym of the author as her real name remains unknown. This is understandable as the content of her novels have been censored by Chinese censorship policies due to their LGBTQ themes. Her love for writing stemmed from watching anime in middle school, specifically D. Gray-man, and the idea for this particular novel came to her during a late night stroll. (If only inspiration came to me as easily!)

As much as I've dwelled in the world of Wattpad stories or fanfics in the past, I did not anticipate the high-quality storytelling or the depth of masterful fantasy world-building that I encountered with Mo Xiang Tong Xiu's web novels. To drive the knife even further, Mo Xiang Tong Xiu says that this story was mostly experimental! For such a breathtaking story as this to be considered experimental is nothing but shocking, especially considering how skillfully the plot unfolded.

As I mentioned before, in Grandmasters of Demonic Cultivation, we enter a world that I had never been introduced to before. A world of cultivation. To be more specific, this story is classified as a Xianxia Danmei mystery with Xianxia meaning cultivation. The genre of cultivation is based on the Taoist practice of martial arts and meditation that, upon vigorous practice, leads to an expanded lifespan and the acquisition of supernatural abilities. Danmei literally translates to “indulging beauty” (which I think is so fitting), but it refers specifically to stories featuring romance between male characters.

It follows the story of the orphaned Wei Wuxian (or tenderly referred to as Wei Ying) learning cultivation under the Yunmeng Jiang Clan, and Lan Wangji (also known as Lan Zhan) raised in the Gusu Lan Clan uptop a mountain at the Cloud Recesses residence. Wei Wuxian's adoptive family raised him mostly with love after a hard life on the streets during his youth and his personality remained generally carefree although highly mischievous. On the other hand, Lan Wangji, who was raised under strict rules and high expectations, is a stoic but gentleman and happened to be what I like to refer to as the “simp” of the relationship. The contrast of these two characters' clashing personalities create plenty of opportunities for awkward moments and, of course, undeniable attraction.

The integration of any romance into a highly fantastical world can be tricky as one must balance the sense of otherworldliness with the setting, and a gentle unfolding of a building romance. But Mo Xiang Tong Xiu's interweaving of a budding romance reaching its full bloom among magical fights, necromancy, and dense plotlines with dozens of characters is so fluid and seamless. Although the main focus of the story is Wei Wuxian and Lan Wanjing’s relationship, there are so many characters with their own side stories that contribute and intertwine with the main driving force of the story: revenge. Not only that, Mo Xiang Tong Xiu clearly cares for all her characters as each is given clear descriptions and fleshed out personalities. It's hard not to fall in love with all of them. There were times that the side characters' stories were so tragic, one couldn't help but cry and wish that almost all of them had a separate series of their own. However, because there are so many characters, I definitely had to create a chart to keep track of them all including the clans they were from and clues about their backstory. While that may be a deterrent for some readers, I think it makes the story all the more entertaining. I found myself invested even further into the plot since most characters stand as clues to the ever present mystery throughout the story.

As a person not really familiar with slow burns in literature, or real life for that matter, I was skeptical when the person who recommended this to me told me how long it would take for the characters to… be together. But after reading Grandmasters of Demonic Cultivation, now I actively search for novels with gentle build ups. Don't get me wrong, I still love a good BL with a very healthy dose of *cough* intimacy. However, it was actually refreshing to be forced through this delightful slow burn and to be at the edge of my seat as I waited for their love to be actualized. The intense stares, relentless teasing, clenched fists - GAHHHH when I tell you I lived for it all, I lived.

Through this book, I got to explore such an interesting genre that fulfilled not only my thirst for a good BL romance but also my hunger for an in-depth and complex fantasy story. Not only that, I got a glimpse into a culture I had yet to explore. Readers have the chance to learn about Chinese culture, language, and customs. My personal favorite thing I learned about was the use of formal names, courtesy names, and titles. I spent time learning about the different situations that each name is used in, who is permitted to call you what name, and the social implications it carries when one refers to you by a name too intimate. All the attention put into the names themselves as they are all so meaningful and fitting for each character.

As much as I've raved about this book, you may be shocked when I say, it's not even my favorite of the 3 books she's written so far. After reading all of them, I was left so heavily impacted by her work that I may or may not have even started writing a gender-bend fanfic about Grandmasters of Demonic Cultivation. That’s not even the most intense part. I got a set of double helix piercings in my right ear and named them after the famous duo, Wei Ying and Lan Zhan. I loved the story so much, I wanted to keep the characters with me forever.

Perhaps one of the best parts about reading all of Mo Xiang Tong Xiu’s novels has been witnessing her improvement as a writer. How each book became more and more compelling, chapter to chapter and also from novel to novel. It was refreshing and almost a huge relief to see how over time her storytelling skills, although already spectacular and clearly New York Times Bestseller worthy, were only getting better. As an avid writer myself, it was a small reassurance to see that there is always room for improvement and progression.

Getting the chance to experience this great story has never been easier as there has been an adaptation on Netflix titled The Untamed. It is also available as an audio drama, animation, and even a manhua, or online comic. There has even been news of a mobile game being developed! One can also purchase a paperback or kindle version of her novels in multiple languages. Join me in my obsession with the author and these outstanding stories, in whichever way you prefer!

Edited by Rochele King.

Netflix Show: The Untamed