MODAO ZUSHI
STATUS
COMPLETE
VOLUMES
Not Available
RELEASE
October 26, 2022
CHAPTERS
259
DESCRIPTION
Feared and hated for his sinister abilities, Wei Wuxian–the grandmaster of demonic cultivation–was driven to his death when the most powerful clans united to destroy him.
Thirteen years later, Wei Wuxian is reborn. Summoned by a young man who sacrificed his soul in a forbidden ritual, Wei Wuxian is now bound to seek vengeance on the stranger’s behalf or risk the destruction of his own soul. But when an evil entity emerges, a familiar face from Wei Wuxian’s past suddenly appears amidst the chaos–Lan Wangji, a powerful cultivator who will help shine a light on the dark truths that surround them.
(Source: Seven Seas Entertainment)
CAST
Wuxian Wei
Wangji Lan
Wanyin Jiang
Ning Wen
Sizhui Lan
Huaisang Nie
Yanli Jiang
Ling Jin
Xichen Lan
Jingyi Lan
Qing Wen
Yang Xue
Xingchen Xiao
Guangyao Jin
Xuanyu Mo
Ziyuan Yu
Mingjue Nie
Aqing
Fengmian Jiang
Lan Song
Qiren Lan
Zizhen Ouyang
Su Qin
Ruohan Wen
Ziyuan Mo
CHAPTERS
RELATED TO MODAO ZUSHI
REVIEWS
Alfredknight
100/100Oh my lord, simply one of the best pieces of fiction.Continue on AniListim gonna be honest as possible. mo dao zu shi is simply a masterpiece
i gave this a 10 out of 10, no hesitation. from the first hook to the last gut-punch, it holds you in that rare place where plot, character and emotion all line up and sing together. the story manages to be clever and tragic and funny all at once, and the characters are the kind you keep living with after you finish, which is the highest praise i can give anything. plenty of fans on forums and threads say much the same, it’s the kind of story that people keep coming back to and arguing about for months.
what sells it for me is how earned everything feels. the series does not hand you tidy explanations or easy villains, it gives you morally messy people making human choices, and those choices have consequences that ripple. the relationship dynamics are complicated and lived-in, not just romantic window dressing. conversations carry weight, and the comedy and grief both land because you actually care who is laughing or falling apart. reviewers who read the novel note the same thing, that the moral greyness and character work are the core strengths.
the adaptations only deepen the love. the donghua’s animation hits so many small beats perfectly, the scenes that are almost silent still speak volumes, and voice acting adds layers i didn’t expect. the audio drama fans swear it’s the next level for emotional detail, and honestly i get that — each format brings something delicious to the world. people in the fandom debate which medium is best, but almost everyone agrees the source material is special and the adaptations honor it.
i want to gush about the characters because they are the heart. wei wuxian is chaotic, hilarious and heartbreaking, and lan wangji is steady and devastating in his restraint, and the rest of the cast is full of memorable faces who each carry their own pain and loyalty. these are not background extras, they’re entire lives, and the way their histories and choices fold into the main arc feels meticulous. fan essays and long posts on reddit often point out the causality in the plot, how actions lead to real consequences, and that craftsmanship shows in the smallest choices.
i will say a few nitpicks, because i want to be fair even while i adore it. the worldbuilding assumes some familiarity with cultivation tropes, so if you are totally new to the genre there are moments that can feel dense or confusing, and you might need to pause and look things up. also, some middle sections slow down for exposition and layers of politics, which while important can drag the pacing for readers who want nonstop momentum. and depending on which adaptation you watch or read, some scenes get softened for censorship or format reasons, which can be frustrating if you wanted the rawer original text. none of these things makes the core worse, they just mean the experience is richer if you go in patient and open.
despite that, the emotional payoffs are monumental. there were moments that made my chest hurt in that excellent way where you laugh then you cry then you need to sit with it for a while. the humor and the tenderness balance the darkness so the story never becomes one-note gloom. readers and reviewers keep saying the same thing, that the book and its adaptations reward re-reads and re-watches, because clues, character beats and little callbacks keep revealing themselves.
in short, this is a story that means something. it’s expertly plotted, richly emotional and full of characters that feel unavoidable. i can be picky about pacing or wish every adaptation kept absolutely everything intact, but those are tiny quibbles compared to the way the work grabbed me and would not let go. if you like character-first fantasy, morally grey storytelling, and relationships that are messy and honest, you literally owe it to yourself to read or watch this. for me it’s a perfect ten, no caveats, the kind of story i’ll keep recommending until everyone i know has at least tried it.
masayoseto
98/100A carefully thought through danmei with lovable characters and a shocking plot.Continue on AniListThis review of Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu was published on August 20th, 2025 and is based on the English translated version published by Seven Seas Entertainment in 5 volumes. Please note, this review may contain spoilers.
Story & Plot
9.5/10 · Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation is a carefully thought through piece centered around ancient Chinese spiritual cultivation themes that manages to tie in many plots with characters committed to various agendas. Despite the many subplots, mysteries, and seemingly unresolved loose ends, Mo Xiang Tong Xiu ultimately brings it back to the core storyline in a considerate and planned way. At times, I do find myself going back to previous chapters to review minor details about certain characters and situations, but I believe this shows how much effort was put into forming such a complex, yet approachable work that reveals how essential all details are to form the larger picture. Generally, the story surrounds the political and martial environment formed around the Lan, Jin, Jiang, and Nie clans, but manages to incorporate a touching and invigorating love story between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. Despite holding opposing beliefs at times, their relationship provides a sweet relief as the story touches on betrayal, abuse of power, and other deep subjects.
Characters
10/10 · Overall, each of the characters had a thorough backstory with surprising connections intertwined between clans, families, and events. With a wide range of personalities, experiences, and principles held by all, clashes in ideologies were apparent, while showing hypocrisy and unreasonable compromise that are relatable to present day.- Wei Wuxian · Wei Wuxian appears to be arrogant, stubborn, and flamboyant with his actions and words, yet not unreasonably so because he indeed possesses great power and talent that proves his worth. Throughout Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, he is faced with many unfortunate circumstances, but still serves as a leading force for unconventional demonic cultivation methods.
- Lan Wangji · Lan Wangji is often portrayed as concealed, humble, and heavily guided by his conservative principles. Over time however, he becomes deeply engrossed by Wei Wuxian, eventually loosening his self-restraint in order to show affection towards him.
Art & Visuals
9.5/10 · In the English Translated version published by Seven Seas Entertainment, each volume included a cover by Jin Fang featuring a scene from the work, a colored illustration by various artists before the table of contents, and uncolored interior illustrations by Marina Privalova throughout the work, adding lovely imagery that aided readers in imagining scenes as they played out.
Enjoyment
10/10 · Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation is a great series of a reasonable length with characters that have depth to their history and personalities while also being enjoyable and fun to engage with. With many shocking plot twists, I could never predict what may occur no matter how much I analyzed what I've read, making this a page-turner fueled by turmoil and longing—in more ways than love.
Recommendation
I recommend Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation to readers who enjoy danmei with cultivation themes and characters that have wide ranging emotions and history. I also believe this work is great for those looking for shocking discoveries and a moderately explicit romance.
Thank you for reading my review!
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SCORE
- (4.2/5)
MORE INFO
Ended inOctober 26, 2022
Favorited by 1,096 Users