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
One entry per line
Demonic Path Ancestral Master
EL GRAN MAESTRO DE LA CULTIVACIÓN DEMONÍACA
GDC
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation
Ma Đạo Tổ Sư
MDZS
Mo Dao Zu Shi
Засновник темного шляху
Магистр дьявольского культа
Основатель Тёмного Пути
ปรมาจารย์ลัทธิมาร
陈情令
魔道祖师
魔道祖師
마도조사
Related Series
N/A
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The Reader and Protagonist Definitely Have to Be in True Love (13)
Every Day the Protagonist Wants to Capture Me (10)
Pulling Together a Villain Reformation Strategy (9)
The Legendary Master’s Wife (9)
Recommendation Lists
  1. My Favorite Danmei MCs
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onepersonfandom
onepersonfandom rated it
September 14, 2020
Status: Completed
This is the OG of BL novels, idc what you say. This novel, donghua, and drama, brought BL into the limelight. It is wonderful and to this day I haven’t found a story quite like this one. I’m thankful everyday that I found this story and the fandom.
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StarPhia
StarPhia rated it
July 21, 2020
Status: Completed
This is my first BL novel haha. Anyways it is very well written, the characters are colorful and to die for, and the plot is incredible. I really gotta say, it is popular and it is very good.

This novel has many amazingly written characters. As those who are apart of the fandom or have read the other adaptations of this book, the other characters are very prominent and vibrant. Many books only focus on the main group, but this novel has like 20 characters (at least) that have some importance,... more>> and the fandom loves every one of them. Haha. Anyways the author does a very good job at writing truly amazing characters. Even the main characters, Wei Ying and Lan Zhan, don't fall short. I don't particularly like Lan Zhan, he ain't my type, but I can't deny that he is a very well done character. You want to cry for him because of all the emotional suffering he went through. Wei Ying is absolutely hilarious, but I always feel so bad for him. He even has a dark side, which he usually laughs away. He feels so bad about all the things he has done and I just want to hug him and tell him its not his fault. One of my other favorite characters is Nie Huaisang, he's hilarious as well and I love his idiotic personality. No spoilers, but I love the later stuff he does to. I also love the juniors, especially everyones favorite princess Jin Ling. The juniors are in general just a hilariously chaotic bunch.

THE PLOT IS AMAZING. The actual story is very good. The author tackles an interesting mystery and also weaves a tragic backstory with confrontations between old foes. I really appreciated the integrated flashbacks, although sometimes they were a bit much and I just wanted to get back to the main story line. I have little to complain about though. Everything is very interesting and the story is just incredible.

The romance is great too. I wish it was a bit more like Wei Ying always had a crush on Lan Zhan, he just never really though about it. Or like always held Lan Zhan above others in his heart. It almost feels like the romance came from nowhere, but I guess not really. I appreciate that it was almost 100% of the bottom doing all the work in getting the relationship together, even though he is a dense boy. Maybe he's a little too dense... Anyways I love Wei Ying, he is very funny. I don't really like reading smut... so I skipped it. But I love drunk Lan Zhan, IT IS SO FUNNY. 10/10 in the writing department for drunk Lan Zhan. I live for the funny moments in Mo Dao Zu Shi. I also just feel bad for Lan Zhan in having to wait a very long time for Wei Ying. I also feel that WY betrayed his trust before they got together, but at the same time I understand where the two were coming from, but WY was in the wrong on that one scene. Uh, I loved the ambiguous scenes between them, before they got together. Also just the chaos that is them after they got together.

This novel is a genuinely really good novel. I really deserves its praise. I also really like the other works of this author: SVSSS and TGCF. There really isn't much to complain about with this novel, the villain is impeccable and the main characters and side characters are great. Even the story is wonderful. Although I will say that this story isn't 100% my kind of story, I do love it, but its not my favorite. But I do completely recommend it to anyone who wants to read a dang good BL novel. It also has many adaptations, so you'll have a lot of content to explore if you so desire! <<less
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ForNovels99
ForNovels99
June 1, 2020
Status: --
My turning point in life. This book is my light and my heartache. I dedicated 1 hour daily to cry over everyday for a week. Peak devastation
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Kyria_Xia
Kyria_Xia rated it
April 19, 2020
Status: Completed
This is the first ever danmei I've read and it's absolutely epic.

It got me laughing, crying, screaming over every chapter and thinking what I'd do with my life when it ended.

The characters are well developped, almost feel alive while reading, each has their gifts and their flaws. I really liked the fact that the author gave background information on almost every single one of them, showing that no one is perfect for one and for two that the circumstances play a major role in growing a personality and behavior. I... more>> really couldn't hate on anyone in the end. Apart from Jin Zixun, he's a major as*hole who got what he deserved, which gets to my second point, that everyone gets what they deserve in the end as a result of their actions. Karma really is obvious in this book.

The romance is indeed slow but it's so worth it and the plot in overall is very well-thought and mesmerizing.

I literally loved this novel.

WWX and LWJ will always hold a special place in my heart. *Cries* <<less
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ayeduh
ayeduh rated it
February 19, 2020
Status: c126
I've finished this story quite some time ago, and then I went on to reading more danmeis. I have read the authors other 2 works, many other well-known authors of this genre, and checked out various other ones through recommendations. After these two years of immersing myself in the danmei world, I have to say MDZS is still my most favorite.

Previously, I have never found romance to be a must in any fictional work that I consume as it tends to be the factor that ruins the work overall, but... more>> this work is definitely an exception. Everything about this story and how it was written immediately grasped my heart in ways I have never felt before, but my most favorite aspect was the main character and the main lead, Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi. I have yet to find a CP of a work that I love to death nearly as much as WWX and LWJ. Each individual main is incredibly unique and fleshed out, and they both compliment each other so well. Like, yin and yang, these two individual characters fit each other so well and are yet so distinct.

I wish I could move on and find something new to pour this much love into, but alas, I don't think there will be another work that fits to my taste as well. After years and decades of reading so many different stories of other forms, MDZS has definitely engraved itself deeply into my heart. <<less
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clxndestinely
clxndestinely rated it
February 17, 2020
Status: Completed
This was my first MXTX book so I might be biased, but I love this story.

I love how all the side stories were, in basic terms, raw pain. I love how they all work together and meld with the original plot.

Romance factor:

... more>>
Spoiler

I love how Lan Zhan’s so dedicated to Wei Ying but isn’t obsessed. I love how Wei Ying gradually falls for Lan Zhan before realising his feelings are returned, and it’s not Wei Ying just accepting it for what it is, because that’s love: you feel confused at your own feelings.

[collapse]

I think that a few things could be improved, though:

Spoiler

Xue Yang’s alliance with Jin GuangYao was never fully developed much, and the Su Sue guy and wannabe Lan Sect could’ve been presented a bit more.

[collapse]

Also, like the rest of MXTX’s works, this story doesn’t give many hints. It’s mostly Wei Ying thinking “wait, what if...”, and then mentally explaining it to us readers.

Either way, I love the story and cried at the end, when the first song comes up. ;-; <<less
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YoriMei
YoriMei rated it
January 6, 2020
Status: Completed
Yes yes, it’s good, honestly if you haven’t heard about this already I’d be shocked because of it’s popularity. There’s nothing that hasn’t been said, but three things:

1. It’s flash back heavy, which some don’t care for

2. It’s very good, but be wary of hype. Sometimes furor can make it sound like the second coming of Jesus. Stick around for the first few chapters and maybe the first flashback, move on from there.

3. It can get grating to see this mentioned on other danmei pages, hell I like the story... more>> and I still roll my eyes when I see it mentioned on a series with no connection. That said, it’s a story that deserves a try at the very least. <<less
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Efu-sama
Efu-sama rated it
October 15, 2019
Status: Completed
I really dont need to write another review, cause there's already too many people wrote about it, LOL. But I will still write it cause it'd be such a waste if you dont give a good review to a truly good novel. and yeaah, basically I agree with the masses opinion. This is one of the best light novel or web novel i've ever read. And even more amazing is that this is a BL genre, where usually the BL novel category dont really care much about quality, and here... more>> it is, a top quality material for reading. Whether youre a rotten girl/guy (fujoshi/fudanshi) or not, this is a marvelous novel. Worth for being one of the top tier novel in this site. And I really understand why this novel popped up so much in many reccomandation reading list here and there.

P.S btw Lan Zhan really is the best seme/gong, the gentles, the coolest of them all, in every BL novels i've ever read and found!! Seriously, he's a prince among prince, and knight among knight in shining armor, the savior among savior to all uke/shou out there (though he's only devoted to one and only Wei Ying). Every scene where he come to save the day, it's always feel so natural, not forced at all to make a heroic scene. Sigh... Mo Xiang Tu really is doing her best here. I'm so glad he's not in the same troupe as the rapist and black bellied seme/gong LOL, instead he's in the tragic yet romantic seme troupe LOL LOL <<less
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Apheleia
Apheleia rated it
June 7, 2019
Status: c120
I hardly write reviews. But I have to, for this story.

An absolutely beautiful subtle romance underneath the action plot. Their relationship isn't forced like most BL (whereby it's borderline glorified r*pe), and each always waits for the other's approval before doing anything, and willing to back off if the other rejects them. That is VERY important and the difference between r*pe and consensual s*x. That is true love. That was what I admired in their relationship, the mutual respect and trust that most BL lacks in all types of media.

The... more>> characters aren't flat. Each has a reason and you can understand why they do the things they do, although that doesn't mean they should be forgiven, you can understand where they come from. Of course, there are a few flat characters the author throws in here and there to prevent the reader from getting tired.

The MC has a past that can really make you feel despair. It's not something super unrealistic and extreme like revenge dramas (torture etc). It is something that given the circumstances, may happen to you. Like I said, you can understand where the characters come from, and that includes the 'villians'. They aren't even really very 'villian-like', which corresponds to people irl. And you can really feel the despair by the MC. He's unable to hate anyone cuz of their reasons, and you as the reader is also unable to really hate any character. You basically feel like how the MC does, although you might not behave the same way (If it were me I wouldn't have trusted Jiang Cheng since their teenage years, lol).

The love interest is patient and content with having MC back to life. He just wants to stand by him and not leave him again, so he can intervene if anything goes wrong. Before, the MC was utterly alone and never knew that someone (love interest) cared for him, so in his second lifetime, the love interest makes sure to let the MC know he always has the MC's back. Unconditional trust. Willing to give up anything just to stay by him. The MC sees that and is touched, and gradually falls. You can really feel the regret the love interest had and how he learns from losing the MC, and now did all he wanted to do last time without holding back (NOT sexual).

Very moving, poignant writing. The author is indeed gifted with words and extremely hardworking with rounded characters. Beautiful. <<less
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chenjiayi
chenjiayi rated it
March 31, 2019
Status: Completed
I can't imagine ever liking anything more than this. Although it isn't perfect, it's wonderful, dynamic and has everything I like in a series from pacing, romance, plot, characterisation.
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Thwon
Thwon rated it
January 3, 2019
Status: Completed
Seriously, this novel allowed me many things. First : I discovered danmei (耽美) novels, and I'll always be grateful for this. It showed me a new world, literally. Second : it allowed me to learn Chinese and thanks to it, I improved a lot. And last : it made me dream. Really, it was really a marvel to read!

First, the characters. They're all so good and developed! You think you know perfectly this character? BAM, in you balls, it was in fact this and this and this. Second, the plot.... more>> I live this plot. So much twists that'll make your head spin (in a good way). And lastly, THE COUPLE DAMNIT. Really, LWJ and WWX and so cute. Their history is something, made me cry and laugh at the same time.

This novel is a master, a work of art. Sadly, the novel hasn't been published in paper but it is available in Chinese (I have the books at home, so happy (͡° ͜ʖ ͡°))

Anyway, if you haven't read it, you definitely have to. Really good. <<less
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IamBuzh
IamBuzh rated it
August 28, 2018
Status: c64
This is so far one of the best BL novel I've ever read, starting from the characterization, story plot, humor, angst and even small details. The development of the story is really good (though for some it might be confusing :p), the author also very smart to place humor at the perfect timing that made me as reader laughed hard and cried soon after that x'D The angst itself is so heavy that made my heart ached from it T_T

Also this is one of very few novel where I could... more>> not hate even the villain (err.. except for Wen Chao + that Jiao2 b*tch and his allies :/), since all of them have their own stories and past and damn... it's so beautiful even though it hurts ;; <<less
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YuYao
YuYao rated it
April 12, 2018
Status: --
I have the same problem with anyone who confuse about the names and sect names. There are so many names even the MC has 4 names (or more?) Buuuttt I really like the story. And the translator do a great job, they even make a section for names and sect guide.

MC has interesting personalities and abilities (I kinda wish the author explain the details of his ability, such as why the corpse hear his command, why his flute and command can control corpse). As for ML..... the typical strong and... more>> cold ML. So yeah MC's charm definetly stronger (for me).

Another reason I like it because it contains slightly horror. I love to imagine the horror and thrill feeling. <<less
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mustafu
mustafu rated it
July 31, 2024
Status: Completed
Honestly torn since I wanted to place it down as a 4.5 but I think a flat 5 is well-deserved.

First off, I adore the chemistry of the main pairing here, and even if the dynamic development in the past wasn't up-in-your-face or too obvious except for the part with the obvious shift in one of them during a critical point of the background, the shift/parallel of the dynamics from the past to the present is both sweet and bitter. I liked a lot of characters here, especially a handful of... more>> side characters, and even if I was already spoiled about some details before I actually got to read this properly, experiencing it with my own eyes was a ride that I enjoyed all-throughout. There were times when I was too riled up and excited to read about what's going to happen next before a flashback slams into my face like a sledgehammer, and that can be jarring, though the flashbacks weren't useless and added a sense of loss to highlight how things were, and just how much was lost for these characters to come to this point in their lives. If I could wipe my memories just to reread this with fresh eyes, I would so I can experience it all over again.

extremely subjective rating:

main characters → ★★★★★ (my kink is shameless but hypercompetent people being badass, and imo both WWX and LWJ had no shortage of coolness in stock the entire way)

side characters → ★★★★★ (i love side characters!! Sometimes, side characters make or break my immersion in media. It just so happens that I'm invested in a couple of side characters here— from jiang cheng to lan jingyi, to nie mingjue, and the other more covert ones who operate behind the veil. Good sh*t 👍)

plot → ★★★★★ (man, imagine starting off the story and being met with someone with an epithet as cool as 'Yiling Patriarch'!? Almost the same as Yiling Daddy, amen. No, but fr, I was really invested in each arc and the arching mystery on who, why, and how that strung the story alone, without getting bored.)

dynamic investment → ★★★★★ (idk, I think my eye might be a bit unrefined around the time I read this and since I was more used to heavy-handed up-in-your-face romance, the subtle shift in their dynamic that led to
Spoiler

WWX reciprocating properly

[collapse]
sorta left me ??? But at the same time I'm not really complaining because their interactions were funny at best. pacing → ★★★★☆ (flashbacks were jarring but still entertaining sooooo)

overall satisfaction (aka how willing am I to reread this, consume fanworks, or actually keep the characters here and their world in my brain not as a stain to sneer on but to fondly recall?) → ★★★★★ <<less
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Mochirily
Mochirily rated it
June 15, 2024
Status: Completed
Deserves all its praise and more. Your heart will break for both the MC and ml, and for many side characters too. Every character lovingly written, with good and bad sides, ambitions and mistakes. I could read the small extra adventures of Wei Wuxian and Lan Wanji forever.
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ggyida
ggyida rated it
March 31, 2024
Status: --
I had had expectations for this novel. The fanbase is huge. There are so many adaptations (manhua, live action). This couple pairing is mentioned in every thread and comment.

So, I put it off. When I was first interested in reading this, I had not even begun to read webnovels yet I picked up my first webnovel December 2022, more than a year prior to today. As I became more enamored by webnovels, I was hesitant to start this one, as I could only find the EXR translation. I was not... more>> entertained with the idea of spoiling a long reading experience with subpar translation.

I even considered buying the actual, physical copies before I finally found a resource of pirated, official serializations. I hunkered down for the long run and started reading.

Good points:

  • Intense world-building. The deepest of any webnovel I have read so far. I was so confused by the relationships and timeline I had to make my own chart. The only other time I resorted to making a chart was for Mo Du part I.
  • Intricate story-telling. The weaving in and out of past and present events was complex and an integral part of the story.
  • Dirty talk and creative s*x.
Bad points (the rest) :

    • Lame relationship origin story. Despite the constant juxtaposition between present "this relationship is vaguely intimate and not sure why" to past "when they were children they had adventures, developed an interest, should now be consummated, " I still ended up scratching my head at this coupling.
        • Apparently LWJ had an intense, s*xual attraction to WWX since the aggressive bullying WWX would perform during his punishment studies with LWJ in the library at Cloud Recesses (LWJ's home) in their "young disciples studying" arc, which is crazy because WWX came off as a prick who had little respect for others. Appropriately so, LWJ was constantly a prick towards WWX. -&Gt; This is so lame. Emotionless guy secretly liking the annoying love interest for no good reason.
        • LWJ almost always acted cold towards WWX, even in the Xuanwu arc he didn't show any overt change of character to WWX, IIRC, not even checking up on him after WWX returned to Yunmeng (home). -&Gt; No overt signs of affection. What good did WWX see in this guy when considering the past?
        • When WWX lost control of his powers and self (and eventually died of it), LWJ was devastated and received whippings, branded himself and was isolated partly as a result of his own actions and on his own volition.
        • When WWX reincarnated, he did not know of LWJ's actions and ostensibly obvious intent of romantic attraction towards LWJ. So, when they got together as Bonnie & Clyde, I suppose LWJ thought this was an overt rejection by WWX of his romantic feelings.
        • What's the point of getting together when you were blatantly rejected? Also, maybe it would make more sense to work so closely when you were good friends to begin with, but they were hardly even acquaintances pre-WWX's death. They literally met each other once every few years, by chance, and had a half-day together at most before splitting again for a long time. Each meeting was usually just passive aggressive chit-chat too.
        • So, as they continued a books-long duo-vigilante journey. Then, for some reason, WWX fell in love with LWJ. They have a SUDDEN consummation (of-the-moment s*x, reconciliation during the climax of story with WEIRD PDA in a life-or-death situation in front of everybody, consummationconsummationconsummationconsummation (pure filth).)
        • I just don't understand why and how their relationship suddenly became so passionate. The buildup was very slow, and the romance very abrupt. They also don't feel very compatible, or aligned with each other. Also, LWJ entire upbringing (and current home) is quite chaste. Somehow, he is a monster in bed, and very coy/mischievous. And WWX is absolutely enthralled in this marble quarry of a man and becomes a quivering woman with no evidence of his supposed ruthlessness and cunning from before. Complete character switch. The romance was very strong, but it didn't make sense.
    • WWX is rude. Always tr*shing on LWJ's upbringing and home. How LWJ has no qualms is weird, and he is even accommodating to WWX's churlishness. Ex. Bringing him outside food after WWX couldn't finish one meal at an important event at LWJ's home.
    • Unsatisfying arcs. Almost all the stand-alone arcs feel like something was missing, or the stories felt too simple. Even the main story's ending was very rushed.
    • Important events and figures didn't feel important.
I was going to expand on my last two points, and a lot of what I want to say is going unsaid, but I can't be bothered to continue. The premise and the outline of the story is very interesting and creative, but the execution is quite weak. The relationship and prose might be more appealing to middle schoolers or locals, but not a more experienced audience.

How this could've been improved

  • Incorporating more of LWJ's point of view, or writing in his perspective of the same events
  • More mind-reading. I think more inner dialogues/thinking would've helped established motives more (ex. Jin Guangyao, Xue Yang).
<<less
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JuneV
JuneV rated it
October 16, 2023
Status: Completed
I have read this novel and watched the drama countless time and cried countless times.

Let me tell that this is not your typical BL story. Even without the BL part, this novel's plot is worth reading. But love is the essence that makes the characters livelier.

Don't expect fluffy MC and domineering ML CEO plot. I do love these plots, but this story is not one of them.

The stories of Main characters as well as the Other Characters are equally heart wrenching. There are more than what eyes see and ears... more>> hear. This one line can sum up the whole novel.

If you looking for some story that can probably by chance change your perspective of life and learn a lot along with a legendary love story, please do read this novel. <<less
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gnnnicole
gnnnicole rated it
September 18, 2023
Status: Completed
This is so good! Especially the...
Spoiler

s*x scene (⁠~⁠ ̄⁠³⁠ ̄⁠) ⁠~

Yazzzzzzz *smirks* Everyday means Everyday

[collapse]

I love how...
Spoiler

Lan Zhan protects his husband. He's so head over the heels to Wei Wuxian, he won't leave his wife alone

[collapse]
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Lala.Lala
Lala.Lala rated it
August 21, 2023
Status: Completed
I've read this novel during the peak of pandemic after watching the 1st season of the anime and the live action. This is also my first bl novel.

This novel has almost everything that I could ask for: action, comedy, drama, fantasy.

This may be a bit confusing if you are reading the novel first without prior knowledge because of the flashbacks here and there. Since I've watched the drama first, I was not an issue.

All in all this novel is great.
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Djie
Djie
January 16, 2023
Status: Completed
im going to reread this. For the third time.

very nice characters, no insipid or bland and flat. All round, some shows improvements while others are better left alone. This is one of the few danmei I've read that other characters, not the protagonist or antagonists, affects the story so much.

Reasons to read:

  1. Many hidden lessons in life, since there are a lot of issues that gets resolved.
  2. Very likable MC. At first, ML was just good but after he matured he was gold. Very nice Character progression.
  3. Heavy read, emotional and educational? Or inspiring. Idk what word to use just know that its time consuming and worth while.
  4. Many stuffs were implied, hidden in context so its making me anxious reading this coz what if I missed something? Really improves your reading comprehension if you're not biased.
  5. WWX.
save the best for the last.
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