A Thousand Li: the First Step: Book 1 Of A Xianxia Cultivation Series

Let me preface this by saying I am a fan of this author's other works, but this is very different from the normal stories he writes. The quality, however, is the same and just as awesome in this book. If you enjoyed Tao Wong's other works (System Apocalypse, Adventures of Brad, Gamer's Wish, etc.) feel free to pick this up. I really enjoyed this cultivation story. And for anyone not familiar, a cultivation story is a story where the main character is focusing on personal growth and power in order to achieve goals - typically through hard work and effort - versus being awarded it for no reason. This is an example of that kind of story - a wonderful main character who is thrown into new situations and has to adapt to the world or die. I like that the story explains itself as it goes, some cultivation stories just make assumptions that the readers understand their "magic system" and that isn't an issue in this book. I also liked how it sets the tone for the rest of the series. This isn't necessarily an "overpowered" main character, this is a person from the world trying to go further than the people around him. Go ahead and give it a try! You'll enjoy it.

Starting a fairly standard xianxia story, the author skips standard plot elements of protagonist being outrageously fortunate in finding some supporting artifact/cultivation manual/inheritance which provides a deus ex machina for overcoming adversity. Instead, the main character has what seems fairly reasonable good (and bad) luck in background, friends, foes, mentors and opponents. Important events are detailed well, and training time is allowed to pass, without inordinate detail. Author doesn't seem to depend on reader having significant background in xianxia stories - cultivation basics introduced well throughout the story, without dense infodumps.

Thoroughly enjoyable, this book hits upon a great many classic elements: a low born protagonist a lifelong noble antagonist a school setting adventures a tournament and, of course, advancement The author takes care to add enough action and adventure to keep the story moving and adds the beginnings of a supporting cast. I expect more will be revealed as the books continue. The fight scenes are well-described and provide tension. The moments of growth the main character experiences during fights are particularly well-done and fit the genre.

Wu Ying is a 17 year old simple peasent with no talents or prospects. He is recruited into the army, nearly dies and manages to save a few important officers. As a reward he is allowed to enter a sect as an outer discipel. Here he gets into trouble because of his lack of curiousity and helpfulness. It makes him a good pawn in the politics of the elders. Wu Ying is a likeable protagonist. His naivity, lack of knowledge and curiousity make sense even it borders stupidity at times. The fact that the difference between ordinary and talent is not overly big, means that hard work and a bit of luck can overcome it. No weird gifts. No extreme lethalness, life is cheap, but not as extreme as in most cultivation novels. Pacing is relatively fast as well. As for the cons, there is no overall plot and the motivation of the protagonist is lacking. World building is a bit flat, mainly because the mc knows little, but it is similar to most cultivation novels. Side characters are flat as well. Still, I enjoyed reading it, especially for a cultivation novel. Looking forward to the next part.

I never heard of a "cultivation novel" before, so I wasn't sure what I was getting. Had they mentioned Kung Fu movies, lit rpg, and other Western cultural references to what is essentially an Asian genre, I would have understood better. Fortunately, Amazon kept shoving it in my face on their site. :) From my perspective, the character arcs are awesome. You care about the characters. The main character is not a "Mary Sue," who right away can do everything very well right away with no effort (the latest Star Wars trilogy?). He has to struggle to achieve what he wants. Review of second in series coming soon. :)

My biggest issue with most cultivation tales has always been that it becomes a tale of taking pills and potions and meditation/drill without any real human interaction. The characters become props for an endless recital of what path the "hero" is following. Tao manages to avoid that here, with a most unlikely of aspirants. Unfortunately there was a bit of a problem there with his hero entirely too cognizant about the peasant/noble divide and in truth all of the characters seeming interest in keeping the peasant in his place. it was a bit of a hard push to the tale. But the rest was exciting with the hero getting some good adventures and entertaining moments.

Okie, everyone has read the typical wuxia/xianxia MC where they find some artifact or suddenly get some cultivation method where they swiftly become OP and easily ascend into godhood. This series is not one of them. The MC here is no Mary Sue. He is barely above average. His cultivation method is the same given to every peasant, and he works hard and breaks through to new levels usually after his friends do. They are wuxia geniuses compared to him. However, he is young, eager, and charismatic. He likes to mission for his sect mostly by finding and collecting herbs for them, and practicing his family sword techniques as well as some unarmed stuff he picked up to close his weaknesses. After reading the entirety of "painting the mists" "king of Gods" "rise of humanity" and the Silver Fox/Western Hero series, I thought this was a bit too westernized for me to like. Yet, a few chapters in I started to get hooked, and really liked the series. Easy to relate to the MC, and he's a nice guy. Like a very good natured teen. Super world building, and everything seems to "realistic" *cough cough* for a fantasy world anyhow. Get them, they're great.

As I had never read a Xianxia book before, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I knew it was a form of fantasy based on Taoism, often set in traditional Chinese society, but other than that, I had few expectations about it. This exceedingly well executed book has convinced me to try more of it. Tao Wong writes in an easily accessible and smoothly flowing fashion, telling a story which on the surface is familiar (a peasant boy leaving home, having adventures), but quickly evolves into a universe where everyone is focused on self improvement. The book is well balanced, gives a good explanation of unfamiliar terminology, and can easily be read on its own. If I were to find a flaw, it would have to be that the book is a little weak on character development and heavy on technical exposition, but this is most likely an inherent trait of the genre. If you’re interested in trying Xianxia, but find the idea of starting with 600+ pages of fan translation a little intimidating, this book is perfect for you.

Very enjoyable Xianxia-style story. I've had several in that genre suggested by Amazon lately, but this was the first one with what I would consider professional-quality writing. The others have been interesting, but the writing was slightly awkward in English due to being translated from other languages, whereas this one kept the same semi-archaic feel to the style without the awkward translation wording when translating concepts.

I really enjoy Tao Wong other series' so happily jumped on this one. Sorely disappointed, slow, boring, set it down twice to read other books because i just couldn't force myself to trudge through this one. Finally finished it but not a good read at all.

Let me preface this by saying I am a fan of this author's other works, but this is very different from the normal stories he writes. The quality, however, is the same and just as awesome in this book. If you enjoyed Tao Wong's other works (System Apocalypse, Adventures of Brad, Gamer's Wish, etc.) feel free to pick this up. I really enjoyed this cultivation story. And for anyone not familiar, a cultivation story is a story where the main character is focusing on personal growth and power in order to achieve goals - typically through hard work and effort - versus being awarded it for no reason. This is an example of that kind of story - a wonderful main character who is thrown into new situations and has to adapt to the world or die. I like that the story explains itself as it goes, some cultivation stories just make assumptions that the readers understand their "magic system" and that isn't an issue in this book. I also liked how it sets the tone for the rest of the series. This isn't necessarily an "overpowered" main character, this is a person from the world trying to go further than the people around him. Go ahead and give it a try! You'll enjoy it.

Starting a fairly standard xianxia story, the author skips standard plot elements of protagonist being outrageously fortunate in finding some supporting artifact/cultivation manual/inheritance which provides a deus ex machina for overcoming adversity. Instead, the main character has what seems fairly reasonable good (and bad) luck in background, friends, foes, mentors and opponents. Important events are detailed well, and training time is allowed to pass, without inordinate detail. Author doesn't seem to depend on reader having significant background in xianxia stories - cultivation basics introduced well throughout the story, without dense infodumps.

Thoroughly enjoyable, this book hits upon a great many classic elements: a low born protagonist a lifelong noble antagonist a school setting adventures a tournament and, of course, advancement The author takes care to add enough action and adventure to keep the story moving and adds the beginnings of a supporting cast. I expect more will be revealed as the books continue. The fight scenes are well-described and provide tension. The moments of growth the main character experiences during fights are particularly well-done and fit the genre.

Wu Ying is a 17 year old simple peasent with no talents or prospects. He is recruited into the army, nearly dies and manages to save a few important officers. As a reward he is allowed to enter a sect as an outer discipel. Here he gets into trouble because of his lack of curiousity and helpfulness. It makes him a good pawn in the politics of the elders. Wu Ying is a likeable protagonist. His naivity, lack of knowledge and curiousity make sense even it borders stupidity at times. The fact that the difference between ordinary and talent is not overly big, means that hard work and a bit of luck can overcome it. No weird gifts. No extreme lethalness, life is cheap, but not as extreme as in most cultivation novels. Pacing is relatively fast as well. As for the cons, there is no overall plot and the motivation of the protagonist is lacking. World building is a bit flat, mainly because the mc knows little, but it is similar to most cultivation novels. Side characters are flat as well. Still, I enjoyed reading it, especially for a cultivation novel. Looking forward to the next part.

I never heard of a "cultivation novel" before, so I wasn't sure what I was getting. Had they mentioned Kung Fu movies, lit rpg, and other Western cultural references to what is essentially an Asian genre, I would have understood better. Fortunately, Amazon kept shoving it in my face on their site. :) From my perspective, the character arcs are awesome. You care about the characters. The main character is not a "Mary Sue," who right away can do everything very well right away with no effort (the latest Star Wars trilogy?). He has to struggle to achieve what he wants. Review of second in series coming soon. :)

My biggest issue with most cultivation tales has always been that it becomes a tale of taking pills and potions and meditation/drill without any real human interaction. The characters become props for an endless recital of what path the "hero" is following. Tao manages to avoid that here, with a most unlikely of aspirants. Unfortunately there was a bit of a problem there with his hero entirely too cognizant about the peasant/noble divide and in truth all of the characters seeming interest in keeping the peasant in his place. it was a bit of a hard push to the tale. But the rest was exciting with the hero getting some good adventures and entertaining moments.

Okie, everyone has read the typical wuxia/xianxia MC where they find some artifact or suddenly get some cultivation method where they swiftly become OP and easily ascend into godhood. This series is not one of them. The MC here is no Mary Sue. He is barely above average. His cultivation method is the same given to every peasant, and he works hard and breaks through to new levels usually after his friends do. They are wuxia geniuses compared to him. However, he is young, eager, and charismatic. He likes to mission for his sect mostly by finding and collecting herbs for them, and practicing his family sword techniques as well as some unarmed stuff he picked up to close his weaknesses. After reading the entirety of "painting the mists" "king of Gods" "rise of humanity" and the Silver Fox/Western Hero series, I thought this was a bit too westernized for me to like. Yet, a few chapters in I started to get hooked, and really liked the series. Easy to relate to the MC, and he's a nice guy. Like a very good natured teen. Super world building, and everything seems to "realistic" *cough cough* for a fantasy world anyhow. Get them, they're great.

As I had never read a Xianxia book before, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I knew it was a form of fantasy based on Taoism, often set in traditional Chinese society, but other than that, I had few expectations about it. This exceedingly well executed book has convinced me to try more of it. Tao Wong writes in an easily accessible and smoothly flowing fashion, telling a story which on the surface is familiar (a peasant boy leaving home, having adventures), but quickly evolves into a universe where everyone is focused on self improvement. The book is well balanced, gives a good explanation of unfamiliar terminology, and can easily be read on its own. If I were to find a flaw, it would have to be that the book is a little weak on character development and heavy on technical exposition, but this is most likely an inherent trait of the genre. If you’re interested in trying Xianxia, but find the idea of starting with 600+ pages of fan translation a little intimidating, this book is perfect for you.

Very enjoyable Xianxia-style story. I've had several in that genre suggested by Amazon lately, but this was the first one with what I would consider professional-quality writing. The others have been interesting, but the writing was slightly awkward in English due to being translated from other languages, whereas this one kept the same semi-archaic feel to the style without the awkward translation wording when translating concepts.

I really enjoy Tao Wong other series' so happily jumped on this one. Sorely disappointed, slow, boring, set it down twice to read other books because i just couldn't force myself to trudge through this one. Finally finished it but not a good read at all.

This book is a very enjoyable start to a series. It is set during a "warring states" period in a fantasy historical China, where the "chi energy" based system of magic/medicine is real, and codified in different methods, schools, and styles of development, and use. The story follows a peasant farmer who breaks out of the normal limits of achievement available to him, not through innate genius talent, but due to an unusual circumstance, followed by his hard work. I look forward to the rest of the series.

Thousand Li contains all the elements of a standard xianxia (immortal hero) novel, but tailored to a western audience. You won’t see here a genius protagonist with heaven defying powers, smaking faces of arrogant nobles and elders who have eyes but can’t see mount tai, all the while conquering the hearts of celestial fairies. What you will see is a reluctant protagonist going through the “Hero’s Journey”, using the stubbornness he learned in his farm, and a few chance encounters, to steadily progress in his cultivation. I read a lot of Xianxia, and this one is by far my favorite. Buy it, you will like it too.

I very much enjoyed this story. The MC has to struggle to get ahead. It's not all just handed to him. Internal fortitude based on life's struggles seems very believable to me. In addition, the story seems to go at a good pace. Enough detail so you appreciate the work and struggle to achieve. But still a good pace to make it feel like you are going somewhere. This is my first book I've read by the author, but it will not be the last if they are all this good. well done.

Like chinese light novels the English is partially broken. Rarely does dialogue contain articles, and the sentences are therefore fragmented. 4/5 on the story comparing it to similar on its genre.

I am a fan of both Tao Wong and Wuxia/Xianxia/Xuanhuan (yes there is a difference, no matter how minor) stories. I was really excited that Tao Wong has written a Xianxia novel. This is because all to typical of the genre some Deux Ex Machina or "heavenly luck" happens to other protagonist of those stories and they get stale fast. Tao Wong is not such a writer. This is a Well Written down to earth story about a plausible main character.

I'm not an expert in martial arts fantasy but this book makes me want to learn more. The story has many traditional peasant-overcomes-obstacles elements but.. some traditions really work! I enjoy the cast of characters and the growth they're showing. I wish the world hid its rpg progression-tree skeleton a bit better, but the people, situations, and action scenes overcome that small thing. Nnnnnext!

A well written Wuxia/Xianxia novel but a lesser(still good) Tao Wong novel. As someone who has read a few Wuxia novels I think Tao Wong would have benefited from pulling away from some of the stylings. The MC is not OP like most in these kind of novels, but the liberal use of Chinese measurements kept jarring me from reading by constantly having to convert the measurements. Still a well balanced novel

So I have just started reading Cultivation Novels, but I have already become painfully familiar with the obvious tropes. The author seems to avoid those so far. In addition the author's humor and fun writing this book really come through. By far and away best pure cultivation novel I have read and if you are interested in this genre I suggest you go here first.

I enjoyed the book. However, I find myself hoping that someone more poetic, or stylistic, will be inspired by it to write their own, improved version. That said, the main character is a peasant. The character stresses that and perhaps that is empathized by the style. It wasn't what I was looking for though. If you don't care about scenery or beauty for its own sake, you won't be disappointed by the book.

I liked the story and the cultivation aspect of the story. I also liked the skill progression and the addition of support skills that was a great touch. One thing that I didn't like as much was how the story moves quickly from place to place. I now this was to keep the reader engaged and the story moving but I feel like it was forced at certain times. Overall great read.

Well written, can't wait to read the next one in the series. A good precursor for readers unfamiliar with eastern cultivation systems. Couldn't put it down once I started reading, characters are developing nicely. Protagonist is refreshing in not being over powered. Grateful for the appendix in giving concise definitions for unfamiliar weapons and Chinese language. A promising beginning, I highly recommend this book to other readers.

I love his other series. That's what brought me to this one. It's actually somewhat jarring to have no bad grammer, misspellings or horrible punctuation. I've gotten so used to it, I'm not sure what to do. Seriously though, I can see this turning into another outstanding series. Looking forward to the next installment.

This was a first experience into a new genre for me. It was full of unexpectedly fun moments. The story was completely enjoyable to read and was not predictable or boring. I recommend this to anyone looking for something new to read.

Not surprised that this was a well written and entertaining book, as this authors other series are also very good. Well written, fast paced, and likable characters. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

The story was great as well. Those fight scenes were quite a bit better than I'm used to seeing. Someone compared the beginning to Mulan. Yep it does seem similar. Good wuxia start. Looking forward to more. I'm interested in seeing how the personality of the MC progresses

I really loved this book! I am fairly new to the Cultivation/xianxia/wuxia genre, but Ireally enjoyed the main focus of the story. The main character was engaging and interesting, the story keep me wanting to keep reading page after page, and overall I was eager to keep following along on this cultivation journey and read Book 2

This is an entertaining cultivation book for an author new to the genre. It just runs a little slowly at times. Fights scenes are pretty good and the main noble v peasant plot line pisses me off because I buy into it so much. I hope there is more about battling beasts and doing something with beast cores in the sequel.

I really enjoyed this wuxia/xianxia novel. As the title indicates, this is the first step in our cultivator's path toward enlightenment and strength. It was well-conceived and the character is likeable and believable (within the confines of the fantastic nature of Eastern fantasy). I can't wait for the next book in the series!

Never read a book in this genre or style, but i loved it . i read it in one day , stayed up till 2:30 am to finish, then went to work at 6 am LOL!! i didn't wanna stop till i finished it. Great story Tao , keep them coming. I cant wait and , DUDE....i don't know how you keep up the pace, you rock !!

I truly enjoyed this book, this is a wuxian or typical Chinese cultivation style book. The MC is a peasant sent to war, and ends up in a Sect, much to his surprise. His growth in cultivation and understanding of his fighting style is well written.

Series so far is knifes edge between slice of life cultivation(every detail can get boring) and usual fast and vegue cultivation lacking just enough weight that it never slows to boring speed

A fast paced page turner with interesting characters that you can instantly root for. A lot of fighting a reasonable amount of cultivation. I will be getting more books in the series

Great book and there are more in the series: What more can you ask for? I'm already on the second one and the writing is just as good as the first.

Tao Wong continues the great writing from System Apocalypse, but is very true to this genre. The characters are engaging, and the explosive growth makes sense. Very well done.

Solid, interesting story. Not without it's flaws, but I'm sure next ones will be even better. Also, MC is a decent person, which is a plus.

I read the author's other series and took a chance the new genre that he is writing. It is really good and it does not just check off the boxes of these types of stories making it very predictable.

Thank you for being my first. Also, thank you for the footnotes especially! I love this book and will move onto the next.

I've been looking forward to this novel since Tao announced it on Facebook, and it doesn't disappoint. Well written, fun but quick read. If you like cultivation novels, you'll like this one. Definitely looking forward to the next one.

Best series I’ve read in a long time! Very cool concepts, world building was detailed, and the characters well-developed.

I enjoy cultivation style novels on occasion but am not die hard by any means so I don't forgive the terrible punctuation plaguing many of these works. This novel was a great story as well as not having many grammatical errors. Will be looking forward to the next in this series.

I really enjoyed this book. The glossary information leaves good context but the characters themselves bring this story to life. I would recommend this book as a good introductory to the Wuxia/ xanxia genres for westerners.

This is a wonderful story. I look forward to more of this tale. Wishing for it to have been longer, but it was a wonderful ending and it'll keep you in suspense...

Well written action scenes and good pacing, I couldn't put this one down. Well worth a read, especially for fans of the genre.

I really enjoyed this story. The characters are varied and believable, the plot is not overly dramatic, and the world the author has created is rich and deep. A great read and I have read the two squeals now and the story only gets better. Another step on the path towards enlightenment.

Ive read most of the books this author has written and this ranks as one of his best. The characters and storyline are unique and engaging.

Really nice, set in Wuxia fantasy of warrior monks (gender non-discriminatory) but seriously classist with a non-class hero.

Very good example of the genre. While the MC does have some luck most of his goals are achieved through hard work and perseverance. Too many of these stories the MC is overpowered due to some special circumstance but in this story it's a matter of will and drive.

Excellent story set in a very different culture than most. This is a cultivation or Xanxie novel. It is very well done and I enjoyed the traditional Chinese setting.

I enjoyed reading this one it is different from others I have read. I enjoyed the Chinese concept to the book and plot

This is an amazing new series by Tao Wong, like is other series is is written well and an amazing read. I cannot wait for the next one in the series.

I love the fact this stays so close to the genre while having the character development and story missing from so many in this genre.

There aren't too many Xianxia style books that you can go out to the nearby bookstore and pick up. So the advent of e-books allowed people who read the slew of cultivation web novels to think 'WOW! If there aren't any out there, I can just make my own!' Most of those books are pretty bad. This one isn't. If you know what Wuxia or Xianxia are, you should already be reading this book.

Less angsty than the System Apocalypse, a little less coming of age than adventures on Brad. An excellent afternoon read.

Great book with a good pace to the character. Love how thought out the world was with all the difference measurements and sayings. Just wish we had heard more about the war and family at the end but that could be because of the characters age and priorities.

I am already a fan of the author's other series but this is by far the best of them. Great character growth and the story was easy to follow. Can't wait to see the next steps.

I like the Wuxia/Xianxia genres and it's nice to find a novel that has not been translated from Chinese. The novel is well written, and greatly entertaining. I enjoyed it from start to end and look forward to the next.

This is good story, that develop the main character in letting us feel for the people in the story. I would recommend that you read this story.

great

I will eagerly await the next book of this series. The protagonist is common, humble and wont take flak from anyone. Well paced with moments of humor and an introduction to Chinese swearing to boot!

This is a new genre for me. The closest I’ve come is reading The Cradle series by Will Wight. I have to say that I was very engaged in this book and finished it in just a couple of days. I will definitely be keeping up with this series.

It is similar to other cultivation series but Tao does a great job telling this story

I think for me this book is a peek at what is to come. The things I like best in these styles of book, the fantasy elements, are not super prevalent in this one, but eludes heavily that they might be. And the excites me.

Solid action. Good reading.

Excellent character development and world building. Looking forward the next books in the series

I really enjoyed this book. No doubt about it. I will buy the next one (s)

5 Stars

Very enjoyable!

Great new series from a reliably good author

I like Tao Wong's other books. So I grabbed this one, figuring I'd like it, too. I didn't. Don't get me wrong: I don't *dislike* the story. It's just that there's a lot of words, but not much story in them. Our hero gets his start the way the blurb says. Then he stumbles into an invitation to join the only sect in town, which it turns out is filled with politics (just like every other cultivation story). Then he has one mini-adventure, makes a friend, levels up, and has to compete in the year-end tournament. (Surprise!) He does better than expected, so he gets to advance in rank. That's it, book's over, see you in volume 2! The mini-adventure is about the only part worth reading. And it's really well done! Tao Wong is still a good author, and this book gets good technical marks. But I hope this series goes on the back burner and never gets an update, because it doesn't begin to compare with Wong's other stories. My advice: don't pay money to read this. And don't read it free if you can't read quickly, unless you're sure you won't miss the lost hours.

I want into this book excited to read the first book of a new series by Tao. I have some complaints about the progression of his stories, but the first books are usually 4 star good. This one just isn't. First off the plot is super trope-y. You can read the first chapter and know exactly what the entire story is going to be. There's not a single episode that happens that feels original or compelling. Stories like this can still be good, but they need to shine somewhere else, usually in character development. We don't have that here either. There's nothing interesting at all about any of the characters (except maybe the enigmatic supermonk... which is a trope in-and-of itself). What I found particularly frustrating is the "hardworking commoner faces irrational spite from lazy nobility" element that is implemented without nuance and pervades every part of the story. Give me a break.... 1.5 stars because it's at least professionally edited.

The writing is very good as well as the grammar, but the story it's self is so lackluster I am unable to finish. The MC education of how to become a cultivator all the way through learning styles is very poorly done. This for me completely detracts from any real good the story has. The sect is supposed to be a place of learning but the school fails epically in this to the point the MC is just stumbling along w/o a clue and no help of any real consequence. Normally I would give this book a 2 stars but it is still written well enough and easy to follow to earn 3 stars.

Well I have generally enjoyed other works by this author, this book is mediocre at best. The majority of the fight scenes are barely described with fanciful names given to what is happening but not actually telling us what is going on. And through it all the plot of the story is just that Nobles and those with money are bad and peasants who work hard or good.

This is a story about a boy drafted into the kings army but due to circumstances ends up joining a sect where nobles will do anything to push him down. I gave this book 2 stars because the MC is the most bland character I have ever read. He has no power, no strength, no mystical objects that will aid him, he has nothing at all. As for the story it started of amazing where he gets drafted and is marching to the camp but that only lasts for a couple chapters. After that he is in his new life being picked on by nobles while training. The author did try to spice up the story with a very short adventure but it can’t fix a character you don’t ever bond or care about. No sex, drugs, alcohol very pg for kids

This was an awesome read and appropriate for all young adults and above. It is told in a third person point of view with a few rare instances of third person omniscient. It is done so smoothly that it does not feel like head hopping when and almost transparent narrator lets you know something that goes on beyond the point of view character. Not sure how much that makes sense but this was a very easy read that pulled me in all the way and all the way through. I can't really complain about anything there was a couple anything mistakes that are very minor, for example use the word " hour " instead of "hours." There will be more editing errors in my review thent was in the book.... That's not saying much though lol. This was a very solid book. Heading out the park in terms of character world building and plot. There was a confusing appearance of a magical ring, and the purchase special Jade bracelet that's never mentioned again but it was easily forgivable. The latter I am unsure if it will appear but it might and the former being an interesting addition to the world. What I enjoyed most about this story is that it is very familiar yet unique for me at least in that it is a fantasy set and built around an Asian culture. I absolutely loved it and yes the names of moves every once in awhile would be a bit unwieldy but it carried me along and made me want to read the next sentence paragraph page and chapter. it is a sad fact that it's easier to say more in a review about little annoyances or readers speed bumps in works then it is to praise a work that goes so smoothly. Part of that is by praising the work it's easier to spoil things. Letting a reader know that a work might be a bit bumpy in a way prepares the reader to be more forgiving. Honestly in this work though it goes smoothly and any real complaints would be nitpicking to an extreme degree. There is some light language mostly in the glossary explaining what certain words are meant. And the way the author linked some notations within the text to explanation footnotes at the end of the book was interesting but may be distracting to some readers. It's particularly annoying if it set your bookmark or placement at the end of the book if you're switching devices. It did not do that to me thankfully but I could see it happening. I will certainly be adding this work to my library as well as keeping and I on this author. Even though the series is completely different it does give me that same feeling of enjoyment when I read the cradle series by Will Wight. I guess being both forms of martial art fantasy and being new to me has peaked my interest.

The book takes quite a while to get going, but improves toward the end. There's a lot of dry cultivation "theory" about pushing through meridians and so on, but it's never really clear what the criteria are for advancement. Sometimes the main character cultivates, and sometimes he suddenly breaks through one (or more!) boundaries for advancement all at once. For me, the biggest problem with the book is the footnotes. This is a novel. This is a novel about magic and spirit beasts and chi. I don't want or need footnotes about the author's choice of authentic Chinese insults, or about how long a li is, or how much a unit of weight is. These things completely took me out of the story. Tell me IN THE STORY if I need to know how far a li is. If something is 10 li away, say it will take an hour to walk there. Don't tell me that it's a third of a mile in a footnote. Otherwise, don't tell me at all. No footnotes! It's like the author has convinced himself he's writing actual history, which he is not. The story is also lacking a Moment of Awesome at the end, which it sorely needed. I want to cheer the protagonist on in his victory, not be beaten down by it. I want to look forward to what he will accomplish in the next book instead of feeling that nothing will be fair and why should I hope. This isn't A Series of Unfortunate Events. Those things combined make this about a 3.5-star book, but I did get into it in the second half (roughly when the journey started), so I'm rounding up.

What I would have liked to know before I bought this book. 1. What type of book is it: adventure, action, drama, etc? This is a Cultivation Fantasy book focused on the system of cultivation and basic world building with a little adversity thrown in to mitigate the slow pace. 2. What is the story about, in general? The story is about Wu Ying and thematic struggles brought about by social stratification, the paths of cultivation, and minor sect policies. 3. What/Who is the target audience? Young adult to adult males with the patience to read cultivation, technical minutia. 4. How is the editing and proofreading? Moderate quality editing. A. Extensive overuse of as/while/when conjunctions in many scenes creates boring prosody that grates on the mind. The tendency increases in action scenes to the detriment of the narrative. B. Many punctuation errors. C. Bloated paragraphs. 5. Is there character development or exploration? The protagonist develops well. The book is about his cultivation journey and myopically focuses on him. Secondary characters are somewhat interesting, if light on the background and thin on depth. 6. Are the characters likable? Yes, if somewhat dull. 7. Do you have to suspend disbelief? Given the type of book, no not really. It’s well within the margins of the genre. Kudos on this. 8. Does the story keep its pacing? In a minimal sense. This is the first book, and as such, the world building and cultivation are somewhat necessary to understand the mythology involved. 9. Is the book worth the asking price? At $4, it is a solid price for the length. In conclusion: A somewhat interesting cultivation fantasy book focused on the personal struggles of the protagonist, technical cultivation aspects, and sect-life. The protagonist is believable, almost like a freshman dealing with the changing world of university. Antagonists are flat and one dimensional in their roles. Supporting characters are a little less flat, but likable. The overuse of as/while/when conjunctions is extremely detrimental to the pacing and action scenes. The price for the novel is solid. 3.4 stars

I !liked this book but didn't love it. I'm not a cultivation fan but have found some series that are good or great. This book is in the good catagory. The cultivation aspect here is typically weak. No framework to it just charging a generic battery. The skills derived from the cultivation are typically vague or non existant. The non other skills like his sword form are also unstructured as the MC is learning an advanced rare sword from without having owned a sword before arriving at the sect. Don't know how you do that with no trainer. However not all is lost as the battles and adventure are entertaining and descriptive. The MC is moving around the country and interacting with many aspects of the culture providing much world building. At this point I see no overarching quest line other than survival and growth. I hope the second book provides more detail in the cultivation mechanics and a major plot. Will see.

Chinese xianxia fantasy continues to make inroads into English audiences with Tao Wong’s A Thousand Li: The First Step. Like many series before it, A Thousand Li follows the life of a young boy into manhood as he struggles to master the intricacies of chi cultivation, the internal martial arts, and the world around him. Tao Wong brings some Western sensibilities to the genre that make this fantasy more accessible to Western readers unfamiliar with the legends around Chinese internal martial arts. The growth in cultivation levels, and thus in hero Long Wu Ying’s magical and martial abilities, are tied to concrete achievements, such as clearing chi meridians, instead of random increases in levels of chi. This sense of accomplishment carries over into Wu Ying’s personality and story arc. Many xianxia fantasies are power fantasies, with arrogant heroes effortlessly surpassing the conflicts in their path through natural talent. Wu Ying starts as a disgraced peasant of above-average ability, and is repeatedly thrown into perils where he must either adapt and overcome or die. This gives him a sense of accomplishment and humility that many of his peers lack. Wu Ying’s adventures through the Chinese magical academy make for an excellent introduction to the xianxia genre.

4 stars is given to recognize and applaud the authors attempt at this wuxia novel, a difficult genre to convey in English due to the numerous cultural references that would be lost in translation. These cultural references are critical to understanding wuxia but so so so difficult to convey because a typical non-Chinese reader would miss most of them. For example, the author uses many swear words that are used today but I find hard to believe was used in a historical times. Thus the English reader would accept the footnote whereas someone like myself would spot the irregularity which would cause my subconscious to interrupt the flow of the book. There are many such examples when the author attempts to use Chinese terms (with footnotes) to help convey the setting, expressions, and fights scenes. Overall I think the author did a good job of including all the elements we expect, has an excellent understanding of the culture and wuxia (despite my negative comment about its application), but lacks the masterful storytelling that would successfully translate this genre to the English audience. No fault of the author as this is so so so difficult to do.

Amazing what a difference it makes when a professional author takes the genre on, without translation. Great we'll written, entertaining work. A Little reminiscent of some of the great 70s/80s China inspired novels, but more up to date. The author shows both great authentic knowledge of Chinese history and culture and the self control to know how much to share at once to a avoid exposition overload. I really enjoyed the System Apocalypse series by the Author, but was kind of sceptical of a cultivation novel at first, but I'm so glad I gave it a try. Similar slow growth of a principled "salt of the Earth" everman, with a good balance of adventure, fight scenes, humor, grinding, and power ups. Honestly this might be a bit better than the John Lee stories - the author is leveling up too! I highly recommend this series to fans of Chinese folk stories, fans of Chinese history "as it should have been", progression fantasy, or anyone who enjoyed the authors other gameLit/litRPG works.

Really enjoyed this as an introduction into cultivation novels. Not going to lie, I found out about Wuxia, Xanxia novels from Danmei *cough* The Untamed anyone?* and wanted to know more about the genre in general, outside of BL. I haven't read outside of A Thousand Li, but from my research the themes found by Wong are very on brand for the genre. Our protag is relatable and focused, the side characters are fun enough on their own that what they add to the story is what keeps it rolling along. Even though this first novel, really is the first step, it's immersive in the process of how we get to the other steps and I love that. It reminds me of anime, sometimes you get the characters that disappear and reappear stronger than before in 3 days (Ichigo!) and then you get characters that you watch at every step (Gon! Killua!) and this is more of the latter. We're there every step of the way, and every misstep.

For some reason this book didn't appeal to me when it was first released. Then I noticed that the second book had been released and bought them both, reading them in a weekend. The Good: the MC is very relatable. He faces many common issues as well as some China specific ones, dealing with them all as they come. It's well known now that this isn't a LitRPG or gamelit book, but who cares? The writing is excellent, the plot line interesting and engaging, and while there are no real antagonists it moves along at a steady pace. I enjoyed it the most when the MC is sent off on a fetch quest, killing demon beasts along the way. The fights at the end were fine (no spoilers) but felt a bit pre-ordained, which is why I'm docking the book a star. A lot of books with arena fights face the same problems, so it's not unique to this book. The not quite so good: there really isn't much. I am certainly not an expert on Wuxia or Xanxia stories, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Overall, it's a great read if you want a fun book that takes you into a different world. 4/5*

I’m late to the game on this series, but I’m glad I finally made it here. This novel is well written, has a solid story and plot, gives you relatable characters, and leaves you interested in the next volume. Also, as a huge bonus, the footnotes are genuinely amazing. I’ve been reading in this genre for a couple of years and mostly learning the style by context. Having an actual definition of the unique terms and expressions has added layers to my enjoyment and expanded my understanding and insight. It’s as if I’m cultivating knowledge right along with Long Wu Ying. I’m certain this feature will also expand my enjoyment of other works in this genre as well.

Ever since reading Tao Wong's Life in the North and the Apocalypse series, I had been wondering if he was ever going to write wuxia or xianxia. And here it is! This book was written in a way that bridges the literary conventions of xianxia with something that makes more sense for Western readers. Terms taken from Taoist cultivation methods are explained without getting too technical. The attitude in which the main character approaches his training feels more Chinese gongfu -- plodding along, working hard, "eating bitter", and not the more punkish, cheat-the-system. There's also that cynical reflection on that very system. No ruminations on "I got special powers, why me?". In other words, it is a really good blend of both Chinese and Western sensibilities. I also appreciate the author's experience with martial arts shows up in the story. I enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to the next book in this new series.

The MC is a young man, coming into his new powers. He outworks his peers who are lazy nobles that are used to taking shortcuts. They are in for a rude awakening when they find out hard work and callouses is better than soft hands and shortcuts when it comes to beating your adversaries in melee. He has no time to fall head over heels for some floozy. He has no time to think about taking it easy on his adversary, because Micky Mouse would be upset. He's trying to earn money for his family, and make sure he is set. That means hard work, dedication, and finding ways to defeat the elite. If that doesn't sound like Daniel Boone to you, then you just ain't Kentucky.

I have to be honest and admit that I did not care for the author's other series. This book, however, had me add him to my "follow" list. The book takes a normal guy with normal amounts of luck with normal amounts of motivation and puts him on a path to power. While he's on this path, the advancements he gains make sense within the context of the story. Everything feels earned. And while he definitely shows talent, it's not to the levels of godlike prodigy that you often find. Further, the author does a great job of introducing this style of story to a western audience along with explaining things from a Chinese perspective without ever feeling like he's holding your hand. The footnotes, honestly, are fantastically placed, brief, and informative. Overall a really good book and I'm glad I gave it a chance. I look forward to the next.

This is "wire-fu" at its finest. I've read many authors who have tried (and mostly failed) to capture the mythos of samurai and ninjas, but this is the first time I've seen anyone take a stab (hehe) at the Chinese martial arts lore of qi-gong. And I have to say, I think Wong nails it. He captures all the best parts from the legends, while leaving behind the horrible acting and worse dialogue of the HK movie renditions. It will be interesting to see if other writers climb aboard this bandwagon, and whether this genre will take off. It is very much a niche market, one that requires some dedication to appreciate. Wong clearly understands the high cultural barriers of entry for anyone to enjoy this series, as evidenced by his inclusion of footnotes, the first time I've seen any in a fantasy story. But for those who have seen at least a handful of such movies, this book will be a delight.

Let me just say that I deeply appreciate the protagonist of this story. In creating the character Wu Ying, the author has achieved that sublime balance of the admirable and the relatable. Wu is no Mary Sue. He has no outstanding abilities - no amazing intelligence, no superhuman strength, no riches, and no ridiculously good luck - none of the overpowered special advantages that appear with annoying abundance in the wuxia genre. Wu Ying is also not an idiot (cough, cough, Naruto!). Sorry! I must have taken a stray rasengan to the throat! On the contrary, Wu Ying moves forward through sensible decisions and diligent effort. He's smart enough to recognize the opportunities he encounters, savvy enough to predict some of the accompanying challenges, and brave enough to try anyway. He's a guy trying to do the best he can with what he has, and I admire that. Oh, and his motivation isn't a burning desire for vengeance motivated by a tragic backstory. Nope, he just wants to make life a little better for his parents and survive the unscrupulous scheming of his enemies. Don't we all? I had a lot of fun following Wu Ying's adventures in "A Thousand Li" and look forward to the continuation of this series.

...right from the beginning! If you love to read books with different cultures, history, and a captivating system of "magic," then you'll find this book just as interesting as I did. The author incorporates many salient features of history in mainland China as well as the extant myths of the culture. The story gripped me from the beginning as the author doesn't drag his heels in getting the protagonist into action. From there, the interest in the culture and the background information just kept me rolling along. No one should find the time invested in reading this book a waste.

This was a very good first book in a cultivation focused story. The main character, Wu Ying, is someone who isn't the biggest genius or blessed by the heavens or all the other ways protagonists magically advance leaps and bounds within Xinxia stories. He works hard for everything he gets, and while he is lucky in certain encounters, he deals with a good amount of misfortune. This is great, as everything that Wu Ying achieves feels earned and a natural outcome of his hardwork and ingeniuity. Overall, the novel seems to focus on the class struggle between noble and commoner, and this struggle is an important reason for how much of the story is developed. Overall, it was decently done, and the author had explanations as to why this is the case, but I think there is room for adding a noble character that is more nuanced, and less of being stuck up brats. Basically an interesting play on the Young Master troupe often found in Xinxia and Wuxia stories. Overall, I enjoyed the novel, and look forward to the next book in the series.

I liked the story. It took many things already done and put a new spin on them. I like the Far East setting. I enjoyed the LItrpg style that still maintained a non-computer environment. The main character isn’t Overpowered which is nice. His fatal flaws are his kindness and naivety. He spends a lot of tome near death. In the end it makes sense why, but waiting to the end to see it is tough. My one major critic of the book is the dialogue. Not much dialogue and what there is is superficial at best. Though I was able to continue on reading just on the strengths of the world building and novelty of the story.

I've read a large number of Wuxia and Xianxia novels online, and this is one of the few that leaves me feeling satisfied. It's well written, with developed characters and plot. I won't say I love every aspect of it, but even the parts I don't necessarily like are well written. Highly recommend for anyone who likes Wuxia or Xianxia, and if you've never read either, then this is a great novel set in a "medieval" Eastern fantasy setting. Rather than the Western style Sword and Magic fantasy, it's chi cultivation and martial arts (and of course, Chinese swords as opposed to European swords). It's a unique type of fantasy novel if you've never read something like it. Definitely give it a try.

While I really enjoy your litrpg, I am so enthused about this new literary undertaking of the great Tao Wong! You have no idea, well you probably do, how refreshing it is to find a well written xianxia novel! Between most other examples if this genre which feature bad translations, poor grammar, and the page after page of repetitive paragraphs where all they do is say the same thing as many ways as possible, this story novel is the golden wheat in a field of dross! A compelling, determined, and realistic main character, exciting adventures, and excellent world building while remaining true to the archetypal xianxia details and storyline make A Thousand Li: First Step a must read for any enthusiast and newcomers alike!

If you ever wondered how the Kung fu movies had heroes and villains jumping along the tops of bamboo trees or young martial arts students winning battles against martial arts masters; this story helps answer those questions. Truly, how can a person get their ribs crushed and still win a fight? Cultivation of Qi (Ki for Japanese martial artists) is the answer. Read this series, if you grew up watching Kung fu movies or followed Mushashi Miyamoto as a kid.

I liked it, haven't read too many of these type stories, my main gripe is kinda silly, but names, being unfamiliar are hard to keep track of, even now having just finished I couldn't tell you the names of the mc his friends or the bad guy, the story is good and I'll read another, but it would be easier to read and immerse yourself without the difficulty of trying to keep track of who everyone is which would be much easier with simpler names.

This story was a breath of fresh air. I've enjoyed all of Tao Wong's work but this is my favorite by far. In modern fantasy we're drowning in characters that were born with insane gifts or huge powers and their only struggle is learning how to control them. This is about a character who comes from nothing and through hard work earns a place. The character develops friendships naturally and goes through a variety of believable scenarios with a well-crafted cast of support and opposition characters. You can really see Tao Wong's development as an author. I'm very much looking forward to reading these and recommend the story without reservation.

Picked this up a free read from my Kindle Unlimited subscription. Overall it wasn't a bad beginning. Definitely and interesting alt-history of China with Chi/Qi-magic. I would have like to have seen more development of the supporting characters and a bit more explanation of the world-building through the characters viewpoint, but given the background of the main character the limitations are understandable. However, I thought more could be explained to the reader as the character learns aspects of his world. Still, a good tale and worth reading. I am interested to see how future novels develop.

This is the first cultivation novel I've ever read. I avoided them, previously, because I never got into Anime and thought, somehow, that lack of familiarity would hinder my enjoyment. Or something like that, I don't know, just resistant to new things, maybe. Anyway, I have really enjoyed Wong's System Apocalypse books and for that reason gave this one a try. I'm happy with that choice. Now I've got two series by the same author for which I'm not so patiently waiting for next installments. #1stWorldProblems

Extremely heavily China-flavored, which is a detraction from the story in the current geopolitical landscape. Also, leaned very strongly into providing footnotes, even for things that do not need footnotes (Ex: when leaving through the east gate of a briefly-visited and not-returned-to city, a footnote explained that old Chinese cities had gates at the cardinal points). Despite the above points, the writing was good, and I can't detract stars for setting. -1 for the crazy footnotes though. If a concept is not understandable to the average reader, refine it until it is, or don't use it-- footnotes break flow and immersion!

Starts with farmers son being drafted into the army and getting recruited into a sect. This causes him to be mucked in sect politics and nobles scorn. Wu Ying is an ardent cultivator with a powerful will to live. While most of his actions come somewhat begrudgingly, he still tries hard and takes any benefit he can find wholeheartedly. Good book, slightly tame in comparison to other cultivation novels, definitely Wuxia and not Xianxia. This may change as the book progresses but so far good start. I can’t wait to see more.

Predictable, riddled with mispellings, just a generally uninspired story. Characters are barely fleshed out and show little growth. Main redeeming factor is that it seems to have been edited, albeit poorly.

I found many things about this book refreshing. The lack of the constant duplicity of characters, in particular. There are many tropes of fakeness that pervade Hollywood and western fiction in general and this just felt like fresh air. I very much enjoy the cultivation style of fantasy where the hero improves through work vs. Deus ex machina typical in western fiction. The main character was well written and supporting cast entertaining. I enjoyed the world quite a bit as well. Definitely looking forward to another.

I saw this book coming out, and waited a bit to pick it up based on my previous experience with the author's work. I have only read the System Apocalypse series, and have kind of a love/hate with it. From not being able to put the first book down, to struggling to make it through some of the later ones. The pacing is a real problem, from slow to much too fast, I wonder if it's the case of Tao Wong not realizing the potential popularity of his series and not having it planned beforehand. The characters in SA also felt somewhat like cardboard cutouts the MC interacts with. This book blew my expectations away. Even with some of the same themes from SA (lucky break is lifechanging for MC, social class war) a book about a young not genius cultivator making his way through a sect is just so interesting. Something different from the norm where every cultivator has to be something special (though he is just a little bit special). I already like his friends better than most of the SA characters, I'm curious if they are fleshed out further in later books. I'm also a bit afraid that making the MC not that interested in girls is a way to avoid writing romance, when it doesn't make a ton of sense to me based on what was written about the MC before.

Normally finding a decent English translated Wuxia novel is a bit of a struggle. Oftentimes I feel like it comes down to whether you are okay with grammatical errors or poorly written stories. This has none of those problems and many of the positives. The character is practical and doesn’t benefit from some magical ring or item that makes him super talented. Instead he is a grinder from the lowest rung of society who works his way up to stand on par with people who had every advantage of wealth or genetics. The world has enough magic to be interesting but not so much that things feel ridiculous. I like the simplified and dare I say realistic presentation of martial arts. I love the less philosophical focus of the character on the “great truths” of the universe and more of the very real dangers of his present. I can’t wait to see where this goes!

Really good story. Perhaps needs a little more world building and development of the secondary characters, but it's still very good. The main character, through some fortunate circumstances, ends up in favor of a sect Elder and he's taken as a new outer sect member. He has no special talents and has to work harder than the rest to advance (although it's a common enough story line, it's still my favorite). I will buy the next one for sure.

I loved this book enough that once i started reading i could not stop. There were one or two things I did not like but that would be my idea of culture clashing with that of the mc's. I did however love the fact that the mc didn't start out as some overpowered hero who beat everyone with a single flick of his wrist.the charecter progress and the down to earth attitude of the mc has me salivating at the prospect of reading each new book of this series as soon as they are written and released. To summarize this is another great book by a exceptional author.

I have read the author’s other major series and found it entertaining. This started very slow and I was wondering if I was going to complete it. However at some point I got invest in the MC’s journey to enlightenment and his tribulations and successes. It’s is a masterful work following to an adventure but the life of Our sometimes unfortunate MC. It’s also refreshing to not have an OP character that always wins. Love the series. Awaiting book 5

The author does an amazing job of casting the setting both as an excellent world building and the land viewed from someone who is brand new to it. Part of my great enjoyment with this story was the city mouse/country mouse feel to the story as the protagonist lets himself revel in the new wonders he sees accepting that he is a farmer's son and this should be impressive to him. Very refreshing, very well told.

Xanthia is my comfort food, and this is a good one, nothing utterly ground breaking, but has all of the excellent fun one gets in the genre with none of the head scratchers. Especially interesting is a slightly more Western take on the "spoiled Noble son" where actual class inequity is reflected upon somewhat. I feel comfortable that we won't have a surprise "required, Noble, rape" any time soon.

An entirely respectable cultivation series with a "normal" (as these things go) main character. He has no overpowered gifts, he has to work for what he gets. The novel is written in English and the grammar and prose are clean. This doesn't feel like a Western xianxia novel to me, as the author is of Asian background. Especially recommended if you are using Amazon Unlimited. Read them all and enjoy!

My first introduction to xianxia genre was through the travelers gate series by will wight while great it has a western flair. A thousand Li is more traditional and explains everything very well. The main character has a humble and pragmatic personality that I enjoy and the action is both fun and poetic to read, big fan and will be reading the others in this series as well

Fun characters and an MC who is not amazing, or born special or finds a special something. He works hard to get there and doesn't rely on luck. Also the combat is explained very well, gives you a good feel for what is going on and people get injured easily (no armor will make that happen). The only real critique I have is that the grammar is awkward at times and it feels like English is not the authors first language.

I'm a fan of the authors work. I like this type/genre to an extent. But sadly I personally did not find this interesting. I gave up on the story early.

Most of the time, wuxia novels have this weird way of writing that often would got lost in translation. This novel is written in the ways western readers of epic fantasies could easily enjoy, both in form and structure, while staying true to the motifs and themes of wuxia stories. This is a great way to introduce the genre, with a relatable main character and conflicts that is very common in the genre.

Yeah, I was hoping that Mr. Wong would "play to stereotype" and write an wuxia series, or a wuxia-xianxia cross-over in this case since it has the fundamental elements of xianxia w/o the overblown abilities. Truly, it's a nigh on perfect fusion of Western writing style and expectations and the than 2,000 year-old Chinese history of youxia -> wuxia -> xianxia.

Really enjoyed listening to this on Audible. In some respects the story reminded me of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and I really enjoyed how the author interwove martial arts into the story. It is nice to have a story that is not the "classic" western style of gamelit, e.g. elves, dwarves, etc.

This is a standard no frills eastern fantasy cultivation book that has a poor peasant that constantly works hard and is always looked down upon by the nobles. Although the mc has some fortuitous encounters they are minor and it's a constant uphill battle for the mc. This book was well written and had good fight scenes, I just wanted the mc to have more of an advantage and maybe be a little op, but I still want to read more.

The English grammar is infinitely better than most of the translated works. The antagonist is a little unbelievable and the pacing slows way down at points of the book, but it's a solid read for those with Amazon prime. Probably worth the price of admission even if you don't. I don't know why Amazon makes you write so much to be able to submit a review, it's annoying.

I haven’t hated the other 2 or 3 things ive read from this guy but it seems to typically have minimal dialog and sorta feels dry with under developed side characters to me. This style book of book tends to focus on personal growth and is internal in nature so my complaints about this guys work doesn’t apply here since side chars aren’t as critical. This book was quite enjoyable

I liked the story, and the main character, you wanted him to win, and he and his friends had a good start being developed, the rivalry was very thin, but was set up decently enough , with the peasant vs noble vibe going on. The only thing I didn't like was that he alsalways won, there was never really any set b

A lowly peasant rises the first few steps through grit and determination, and despite the ill-will of those who think they are better. A fun fantasy story that uses the idea of inner cultivation (fantasy Chinese meditation) as a growth mechanism.

Detailed, vibrant descriptions of fight scenes. You can tell the author knows what they are talking about. The key arcs of the MC are internal, his journey from rice farmer to cultivator (the metaphor of meridians as dammed rice fields functions extremely well), and external, the battles with his nobleman rival contrasting and always pushing him forward. Both are well done with satisfying conclusions.

Surprisingly good, I picked this up because I finished reading Will Wight's Cradle series and wanted more like it. This book hooked me in. A compelling main character, writing style that is easy going and natural, and a fleshed out progression plotline that wasn't overly trope-y or saccharine. All in all, not as good as Cradle but good enough to scratch that itch and make me want to keep going to the next book in the series.

This was interesting I've read the cradle series, sufficiently advanced magic, and a few other xanxia books and this was a good read. It was well written but I felt the names were to long ( I get its Asian cultural names) but it gets hard to read a sentence with two and three word names. Another thing was character interaction was a bit weak nobody was developed. I hope the author continues and moors in the next!

This was a refreshing read, most Mc’s in cultivating books tend to have something significant happen that allows them to cultivate or increase power at an otherworldly pace, while this Mc has a significant event happen to him, it was still a massive struggle. He kept his underdog status and for me, that made all the difference

The characters are excellently fleshed out and entirely relatable in their beliefs actions or motivations and the main character is not perfect or a genius fighter. The fights are excellent and serve to further the plot instead of distract us from a lack of one i'd give this a ten out of ten of that was an option

Tao Wong's tale is well written with interesting characters and adventures. It is based in Chinese lore which to me is always interesting and incorporates many legends featured in ancient Asian stories handed down through the ages. It is well edited with much care taken to present a finished product.

I have been following a few web translations of Xanxia / Chinese Cultivator stories, however A Thousand Li beats them hands down. Excellent writing and engaging characters and a plot line that actually holds together rather than having big Deus-Ex leaps in implausibility. Looking forward to the next book

This is the first true “cultivation” book I have read, so I can’t say how it compares to others. I can say I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be reading the rest of the series! I look forward to the genre as a whole, and Tao Wong wrote an excellent book with plenty of explanation of the world, without harping on things. Very good read!

I don't want to delve too deep here, but Tao Wong has assembled a well-paced and intriguing story that hints at the larger plots that drive the world around the main character. But he's also kept the story focused closely on the main character's personal struggle, creating an intimate experience in the process of introducing a wider world that has clear echoes in the Water Margin and, looking forward, possibly Journey to the West as well. He understands that the audience needs some explanation of the denizens' beliefs, but not so much that it might ruin the readers' own discovery of the world.

This was a great start to the series!plenty of action and development with a few twists and revelations thrown into the mix. Didn't want to stop once I started. The story picks up speed about a quarter of the way through and keeps you engaged. I'm looking forward to the next book!

I enjoyed this book as I have enjoyed most cultivation novels I have read. While I can't point to much that is truly original, it does all the tried and true tropes well. I hope in the future for more in depth descriptions on the cultivation and advancement process and challenges.

I read this book because I enjoyed other books by this same author, despite not usually reading books in this genre. The book was well written, with a good story, believable main character, and was engaging from start to finish. I hope to ready more in this series in the future and would recommend anyone considering this book give it a read.

Manages to be good instead of entertainingly dumb like his popular LitRPG series. Being set in actual (if fantastic) China was a nice change compared to other works in this particular subgenre, as was it being written by a Chinese speaker. Hope he continues it.

One thing that's always bothered me about wuxia stories is that the main character never really seems to struggle with their fights. Cultivation is hard, but when fighting they will either win everything with ridiculous ease, or be so outmatched they can't do anything. This book has fights that actually feel impactful, like fighting is something you actually need to work at. So, all told good book.

A little too culturally steep a climb for me. Very difficult to get into the story. Seems well written but just can’t identify with the characters. Only made two or three chapters. Maybe I’ll try again. Usually I really like this author

I have read one of the author's other series otherwise I doubt I would have read this one. I know almost nothing of Chinese culture so I was a little hesitant to read it. The author did a great job of explaining what was going on and my lack of knowledge did not hinder my enjoyment at all. The story was great and I am glad I gave it a chance.

I am new to this kind of book, but I love Tao Wong's System Apocalypse series so i decided to try it. Well worth the read as the story was a lot of fun. The footnotes make it very accesible if you are new to the genre.

This was a good book, well written, compelling, and with a great MC. The motivtions of the antagonists could be better explained. Why do these idiots hate our MC? We dont know, and it goes beyond all reason. Elder Ko is so petty and cruel that it boggles the mind that he could have reached the level that he has.

While some elements are predictable (our hero isn't actually going to die when surrounded), this story is very well told, has some interesting and novel fantasy elements, and a very sympathetic protagonist. I am looking forward to the next in the series!

The hero is not all powerful . He is not arrogant . The fights are well described down to individual moves . It is a great start to a series I am buying the next now . Do not pass this up.

This is an amazing example of how Eastern fiction should be written. All the tropes were there. And somehow, they turned into an interesting story of smarts, hard work, and humanity struggling against ...normal life. It was refreshing, wonderfully interesting, and I can’t wait for book 2.

for the most part I liked almost everything in the story the fight scenes, characters and the creatures in the book. I really like how not every fight is won and the hardest fought were the most entertaining. The only thing wrong and potentially deal breaking in witch Ill be doing my best to get my money back is if the author cant keep the sexual deviancy out of this book series I'm not reading this series for lgbtq adult content. the MC is hetero its established very early in the book. however its up to the author if he wants to shrink his audience and have less customers.

I like System books better. I think this is a good example of the genre, and the author always writes well. I would have liked it if the villains were more complicated, I think the author has the ability to do that. But that's how the genre goes.

Really liked that the protogonist was not overpowered or have any massive cheat like ability . Sure he had a few fortunate encounters but that is to be expected . Also like the near death brushes with no failsafe . Great start to this tale . Looking forward to the next one .

It's a great start to what I'm confident is going to be an amazing cultivation series. The book feels much more authentic than many of the cultivation books I've read due to the usage of Chinese words and a very helpful set of footnotes. I hope this continues in the next book.

God Damn It. I usually read this kinda thing as web novels where there are chapters released ever so often, and I can stock pile them and binge when I'm in the mood. Now I have to wait for the next damn book... It's a very good start to a cultivation series. Hits all the elements you need, all the characters are likable and have a bit of depth. I just hate the fact that it's only book one, and everything has just barely been introduced, and now I have to wait for more.

I'm loving this story so far, I only have problem with names, I'd have loved this series more if the MC wasn't another swordsman ... WHY writers love sword there are so many other weapons ,anyway can't wait for the next book

This book is really good especially considering it's the first in a series. Didn't take long to get addicted. Love number two is already here!

The book was very well written just like al his other novels but I felt there was no real plot to go along with the cultivation. **Edit** changed my review from a 3 to a 4. While I feel the lack of overall plot was a negative it is likely just because I have read to many and am getting tired of the genre. However, I always come back to Will Wights Cradle series which manages plot and growth together.

Liking the slightly different take. Next to no privilege, next to no specialty or skills. A real work from the ground up. Gonna keep reading