High Quality BL: Recommendations and Rising Stars (Ancient/Cultivation Setting Ver.)

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High Quality BL: Recommendations and Rising Stars (Ancient/Cultivation Setting Ver.)

Part 2: https://www.novelupdates.info/viewlist/73430/

Ancient or Cultivation BL reads that will make you feel you didn't waste your time. This list is apart of a series classified by genre; other lists of this series include Thriller/Action, Fluff, and Modern/Transmigration novels. I tried to include both known and unknown novels to give more diversity to the reading list. Honest note--not a big fan of ancient settings. I've judged quality by reviews and seeming plot.

So what is my subjective version of a quality BL of this list?

-No/little plot holes & well developed plot

Capable MC and ML (not aggravatingly s*upid and knows when to respect each other but also put their foot down at the right moments).

-Lasting impression. I made this list by memory so if it's not on here...Chances are it's not worth remembering for the list.

-Makes me think--especially applies to this genre since I usually read this genre for the court schemes and palace intrigues.

-Make me cry, laugh, yell or gasp. Perhaps all at the same time.

*****I have also included BL novels that have high expectations from me. The higher the expectations, the higher the stars. Hence, "***, **, *."

PS. Novels I've read are the only ones rated according to number. The rest (unread) are just listed randomly.

PSS. There are always exceptions on this list that don't fit the requirements.

5 27972 98

181 Followers

Kyaaaaaaaaa

Created: Aug 17th, 2021, Updated: Jun 30th, 2023

Created Aug 17th, 2021

Updated Jun 30th, 2023

CN (4.3)

#51My Junior Still Hasn’t Killed Me

35 Chapters Every 109.7 Day(s) 7213 Readers 95 Reviews 03-19-2021

Completed Adult Comedy Mature Romance Xianxia Yaoi

Summary:... more>>

CN (4)

#52Post Training Notice: National First-Class Registered Exorcist

0 Chapters Every 2000 Day(s) 1716 Readers 6 Reviews N/A

Completed Action Adult Comedy Fantasy Romance Smut Supernatural Yaoi

*... more>>

CN (4.4)

#53Ghost Bridegroom

97 Chapters Every 8.7 Day(s) 1834 Readers 9 Reviews 04-17-2025

Completed Adventure Fantasy Mystery Romance Supernatural Xianxia Yaoi

**... more>>

CN (4)

#54Junior Brother Always Wants to Bend Me

31 Chapters Every 64 Day(s) 1429 Readers 7 Reviews 07-12-2025

Romance Xianxia Yaoi

**This one is a little out there. It's more of a sweet ancient setting than anything. It's one of the exceptions I talked about. ... more>>

CN (4.3)

#55A Hundred Ways To Kill A Heartthrob

180 Chapters Every 1.8 Day(s) 4896 Readers 72 Reviews 08-11-2025

Adult Drama Fantasy Mature Psychological Tragedy Yaoi

*This one for the masochists out there. ... more>>

CN (3.6)

#56Bat

0 Chapters Every 94.9 Day(s) 1043 Readers 5 Reviews N/A

Adult Martial Arts Wuxia Yaoi

**I tell this too many times but ignore NU rating if reviews are low. I think this looks good. ... more>>

CN (3.8)

#57But Shixiong Doesn’t Want To Be A Villain!

105 Chapters Every 28.5 Day(s) 3234 Readers 16 Reviews 08-25-2024

Completed Action Adventure Romance Xianxia Yaoi

*Reviews seem good. ... more>>

Summary:

Bai Fanlu transmigrated into an immortal cultivation novel as a villainous demon lord.

In the original novel, the demon lord was originally in the ranks of the immortal class and had a promising future. Unfortunately, he fell in love with the male lead, became a villain for his sake, and ended up with his soul disintegrated.

Bai Fanlu objected to this idiotic plot. The reason for the demon lord to become a villain was not the least justified. He was obviously a decent gentleman! The most important reason, of course, is that the demon lord and him share the same name.

System: [Giving you a chance to prove yourself.] Bai Fanlu: [?] System: [Persevere and do not become a villain to the end, and you can return home when the male lead is done with saving the world.] Bai Fanlu: […What if I become a villain?] System: [Then of course you will end up as cannon fodder.]

Bai Fanlu has a plan. In order to not become a villain, he has to adhere to three principles:

Do not have any physical contact with the main lead.

Do not have any grudge entanglement with the main lead.

Do not have any emotional interaction with the main lead.

However, nothing went as planned…

1. The first day Bai Fanlu escaped from the mountain, he was carried back to the Sect by the main lead in full view of everyone.

All the female disciples: “Sect Leader is so considerate to Shixiong.”

Bai Fanlu: “…”

2. When Bai Fanlu was about to go out of control with his cultivation, the male lead risked his life to unblock his meridians to keep him from harm.

All the male disciples: “Sect Leader was willing to sacrifice his life to save another, such a righteous man and deserving of our admiration.”

Bai Fanlu: “…”

3. The cliff below was an endless abyss, and according to the original plot, he will be pushed down into the 10,000-feet deep demon pit.

Bai Fanlu thought to himself, ‘Am I doomed to become a villain?’

As he was getting desperate, a figure descended from the sky, throwing out a long, colourful damask to him, snatching him out of the red lotus fire and carrying him up into the sky.

Under the divine tree, above the sea of clouds and mountains, the young man forcibly trapped him, with a darkness swirling in his eyes he said, “Shixiong…are you trying to leave me? I will not allow it.”

Bai Fanlu: “…”

Bai Fanlu: “So, who exactly is becoming the villain in the end?” <<less

CN (4.5)

#58Cold Sands

46 Chapters Every 250.5 Day(s) 5009 Readers 82 Reviews 08-08-2015

Completed Drama Mature Romance Tragedy Yaoi

**Part two for the masochists out there. Wait...isn't this list basically--nvm. ... more>>

CN (4.3)

#59Cultural Relics Are Not To Be Messed With

10 Chapters Every 158.9 Day(s) 2313 Readers 10 Reviews 03-09-2025

Comedy Fantasy Romance Supernatural Yaoi

**Ayo... more>>

CN (4.4)

#60Rebirth: Degenerate S*ave Abuses Tyrant

487 Chapters Every 30.1 Day(s) 6040 Readers 70 Reviews 05-20-2024

Completed Adult Drama Historical Romance Tragedy Yaoi

***... more>>

CN (4.2)

#61Encountering a Snake

120 Chapters Every 11.7 Day(s) 3955 Readers 10 Reviews 03-06-2025

Completed Mature Romance Slice of Life Smut Supernatural Tragedy Yaoi

***Awwww... more>>

CN (4.3)

#62Everyday, the Demon Lord is Escaping His Marriage

112 Chapters Every 27.2 Day(s) 5314 Readers 43 Reviews 07-10-2024

Completed Fantasy Romance Shounen Ai Xianxia

***lmaoo... more>>

CN (4.2)

#63Jia Mo

46 Chapters Every 56.7 Day(s) 1574 Readers 6 Reviews 04-11-2024

Action Adventure Comedy Shounen Ai Xianxia Yaoi

**Since you all know me well I ain't gonna try to tell you why NU ratings mean nothing when there are few reviews. This one looks like an underdog.... more>>

CN (4.4)

#64Cherry Blossoms Upon a Wintry Sword

100 Chapters Every 91.8 Day(s) 6465 Readers 66 Reviews 11-12-2021

Completed Adventure Comedy Shounen Ai Xuanhuan Yaoi

***... more>>

CN (4.4)

#65Faraway Wanderers

115 Chapters Every 29.1 Day(s) 13435 Readers 107 Reviews 01-23-2022

Completed Action Comedy Drama Martial Arts Mature Romance Shounen Ai Wuxia

**... more>>

CN (4.2)

#66Stigma (Yi Cong Yin)

56 Chapters Every 13.1 Day(s) 2056 Readers 11 Reviews 08-07-2025

Drama Historical Psychological Romance Yaoi

*Warning tags: ain't sweet love. Lots of healing but worth the read apparently. ... more>>

CN (3.9)

#67The Demon Lord Is Fleeing For His Life Again Today

12 Chapters Every 51.8 Day(s) 1529 Readers 0 Reviews 01-04-2024

Adventure Comedy Romance Xuanhuan Yaoi

*If ya'll don't follow my other lists, you'll be like why did she add this if it has no reviews? Summary looks like it has the potential to be a good novel. I usually ignore ratings when there are barely any reviews to look at. ... more>>

CN (4.5)

#68The Demon Venerable’s Wistful Desire

100 Chapters Every 15.5 Day(s) 8268 Readers 62 Reviews 10-31-2024

Completed Comedy Mature Romance Xianxia Xuanhuan Yaoi

Summary: ... more>>

After transmigrating, Chi Muyao was locked in a ‘small dark room’ aka a cave, with the main villain Xi Huai. The demonic cultivator’s body was chained up and his spiritual energy sealed.

Chi Muyao’s situation was…awkward to say the least. He needed to dual cultivate to the Foundation Building Stage in order to lift the restriction on the cave so they could be rescued.

However…he’s a male disciple of the He Huan Sect ahhhhhh! Who was he supposed to cultivate with, the main villain??

Everyone who’s read the book he transmigrated into knew that the cannon fodder who used Xi Huai to dual cultivate died an exceptionally terrible death.

Run! He had to skedaddle as soon as the restriction was lifted!

***

Xi Huai seemed to go mad after being rescued. He scoured the three realms, looking for a certain person.

He didn’t know that person’s name or what he looked like. He only knew that person was a male disciple of the He Huan Sect.

Everyone thought he would slaughter the guy who used him as a cultivation furnace for three years.

2. Chi Muyao entered the cultivation world’s most useless sect, the Yu Chong School, with a third-rate waste spiritual root to boot.

Everyone said that he was a beauty without strength, unworthy of being referred to as the number one beauty of the three realms.

3. At the Grand Immortal World Conference, the demonic cultivators invited themselves in.

A young man cloaked in demonic flames stood before everyone. He was rumoured to be ill-tempered, violent and unrestrained. Now, he had become the nightmare of the renowned righteous sects.

Everyone tensed, ready to defend themselves at any moment. Yet they saw Xi Huai suddenly approaching Chi Muyao.

With slightly narrowed eyes, he commented, “Your cultivation hasn’t made any major breakthroughs. Is it because I wasn’t there to help?”

Chi Muyao played dumb. “Cultivator friend, what do you mean by that?”

4. The lunatic of the cultivation world, Xi Huai, suddenly settled down. He was busy ‘tormenting’ Chi Muyao at his residence.

At night, Chi Muyao could only bitterly plead, “No more cultivating, please… My cultivation has almost surpassed the Sect Master…”

5. I thought I was marked for death, but I somehow became the demon venerable’s white moonlight?

Extremely possessive and stubborn demon venerable gong x Former only male disciple of the He Huan Sect shou <<less

CN (4.1)

#69The Sword Named No Way Out

100 Chapters Every 35.2 Day(s) 4356 Readers 53 Reviews 03-22-2024

Completed Action Adventure Mystery Romance Smut Supernatural Xianxia Yaoi

***Oooh? ... more>>

CN (4.5)

#70The Tyrant’s Beloved Empress

146 Chapters Every 4 Day(s) 8886 Readers 64 Reviews 07-23-2025

Completed Fantasy Historical Mature Romance Yaoi

**... more>>

CN (4.1)

#71A Sword of Frost

20 Chapters Every 133.7 Day(s) 2763 Readers 11 Reviews 08-22-2021

Completed Comedy Historical Martial Arts Mystery Romance Yaoi

**... more>>

CN (4.5)

#72After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine

254 Chapters Every 16.1 Day(s) 14271 Readers 134 Reviews 12-20-2024

Completed Adult Drama Fantasy Historical Mature Romance Yaoi

*Summary:According to a popular legend, the famous God of War of Great Liang, Huo Wujiu, was once captured by an enemy country. He had his... more>> meridians severed and both his legs broken before he was thrown into the prison. In order to humiliate him, that incapable ruler of the country gifted him to his cutsleeve brother as a concubine.General Huo suffered a great deal of humiliation. He laid in wait for three years before he shed his cicada skin and returned to the Great Jing. He treated his crippled legs, and three months later, he led his army to storm the enemy’s capital. He slaughtered the emperor, razed the capital, and finally beheaded that tr*sh of a cutsleeve, displaying his head on the city’s walls for the next three years.Since then, the world has been united.——A certain university’s history lecturer received a graduation thesis depicting the legend of Huo Wujiu, and he wrote a full page of criticism for the student.Then he blinked, and he was transmigrated into the body of that cutsleeve prince.There were lanterns and decorations everywhere. A man came, sending word that the disabled general of the enemy state had already entered the manor in his wedding sedan.As he looked at the General Huo in front of him, taking in his malicious gaze, his tortured state, clad in a red wedding gown, Jiang Suizhou realised that even legends can come true.This legend could even cause him to be beheaded in public in the future, with his head hung on the city walls for three years.Jiang Suizhou’s only option was to take good care of General Huo.In spite of the hidden arrows of the court’s political agendas and the incapable ruler’s endless attempts to humiliate him, he could only bite the bullet and bear the brunt of it; his only wish was that after three years, he could protect his own head.Of course, he didn’t dare to even dream of asking this 3 meters tall “concubine” to serve him.However, before the three years was up, General Huo’s legs recovered on their own.He didn’t just slaughter the incapable ruler and unite the land under the heavens, but he also climbed into his own bed and pinned him down with a heated gaze, stubbornly wanting to establish his status as a concubine. <<less

CN (4.5)

#73Joyful Reunion

240 Chapters Every 68.3 Day(s) 5057 Readers 49 Reviews 01-06-2023

Completed Action Adult Adventure Drama Martial Arts Mature Mystery Tragedy Yaoi

**... more>>

CN (4.4)

#74Jun You Ji Fou

167 Chapters Every 15.2 Day(s) 4289 Readers 40 Reviews 01-03-2025

Completed Action Adventure Comedy Drama Historical Romance Yaoi

*Tentatively going with user Suigintoh review for judgement because well, they seemed very passionate in refuting the few bad reviews. Plus premise seems super interesting.... more>>

CN (4.7)

#75Married Thrice to Salted Fish

152 Chapters Every 53.8 Day(s) 11901 Readers 168 Reviews 07-06-2024

Completed Comedy Drama Fantasy Historical Romance Yaoi

***... more>>

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Comments (5)

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Kyaaaaaaaaa· Author · Dec 26, 2021 08:47 PM
Novels taken off the list you may have seen previously:
-You’ve Got Mail: A Cautionary Tale- erm. This novel is something I read but can’t say it’s the best. The MC (not really special other than his le*d body and his naïveté at moments) and ML (just pure scum) don’t really add a great highlight to this story. So I’m forced to look at plot…but erm the plot is the MC and ML mostly. It’s not plot rich and mostly focuses on the romance and smut but the smut is disconcerting to say the least at times. So I don’t really feel all that ecstatic about this novel, but y’all are free to disagree.
-I Personally Survived As A Villain: felt that it relied on misunderstanding and sudden drama to push the plot forward. One reviewer mentioned it was like a fast-food novel—I agree. It also lacked logic as well, so I’m not particularly motivated about putting it on this list now I’ve read it.
Reply · 1 Like · ·
Kyaaaaaaaaa· Author · Nov 26, 2021 04:16 AM
Ok fair warning here (just in case you don't read list descriptions smh): I include novels that don't have a high NU rating sometimes. Mostly because the summary is interesting and there are barely any reviews. So I can't trust the rating at that point. So when you see a low-rated NU novel, instead of skipping it (I used to do this a bit), give it a chance!

Also, I've updated all my genre lists! Took me a bit but it was completely worth it since it was constantly on the back of my mind. You all now have mostly full lists to refer to. See you all!

Reply · 1 Like · ·
AmNut Obcess· Nov 2, 2021 11:13 AM
Great list!
Reply · 1 Like · ·
- Kyaaaaaaaaa· Author · Nov 20, 2021 08:38 PM
  Thank you!
  Reply · 1 Like · ·
17_rj17· Aug 29, 2021 03:02 AM
Such a beautiful list OMG.
Reply · 1 Like · ·

High Quality BL: Recommendations and Rising Stars (Ancient/Cultivation Setting Ver.)

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