So I have been reading a lot of cultivation novels recently and goddam it majority of them have the same mc with a different name. If it’s not the same Mc then it definitely is his long lost brother.

Like seriously the Mc has to win every single time? Like no surprises there I knew he wont lose. Idk for me I feel that these novels could be so much better if they added that mystery feel to it. Knowing the mc will never lose a tournament or the side characters never dying makes me lose abit interest. After all I did come from game of thrones so I don’t mind majors dying if it helps the plot.

The cliche plot armor, the shitty harems where the mc flashes his dick size and the cold arrogant proud daughters of heaven flock to him just to follow him. Lol if a female is ever described with more than a few sentences I am certain they are either related to the mc or it is a future harem member.

i want to know why Chinese wuxia novels are all wish fulfilment ? Like these novels can have thousands of chapters yet they are still wish fulfilment. Like I don’t understand why people like wish fulfilment for very long stories. They usually become washed and repeat the same arcs where the mc lover is forced to marry a trash lecherous fella and the Mc comes to the rescue.

If someone could recommend me a novel that has hundreds of chapters without thick plot armor and identical cliche stories.

    When a Mage Revolts.
    Kingdom's Bloodline.
    That's it. Seriously, having finished 942 chapters of WAMR and up to date with the latest chapter 169 for KB, I can certainly say they are both a chinese novel, fantasy category, and with no harems or plot armor.

    They are not Wuxia if that's what you really want. I don't read wuxia trash anymore.

      elliptic

      I think what allows them to grow to thousands of chapters length is precisely the wish fulfilment.

      From the perspective of an author, trying to move into mystery/thriller territory (i.e. making it seem like the MC might lose or suffer, even if you turn it around later) is like walking into a battlefield naked. Prepare for many readers to get annoyed. I guess the thing is that these people read your novel every day looking to relax and have fun. If you succeed in this, they will come back. If they cannot derive wish-fulfilment from your novel, it will be dropped.

      I think this is just the nature of a web novel. Because it is released chapter by chapter, it is meant to be consumed in small bites, so each bit has to be satisfying enough to keep them coming back. This many repetitious wish-fulfilment chapters. Too steep a cliff will also aggravate them.

      In contrast, if they sat down with a book, they will treat it like a full-course meal. Because all the chapters are already there, the reader will be inclined to suspend their judgment and wait for the mystery to be resolved. The novel also only needs to keep them entertained for the couple hours it takes them to read it, unlike the months and years of a web novel. Wish-fulfillment is the easiest way.

      Well, these are all just my speculations but I do think there's a grain of truth somewhere in all the blabber I just typed.

          Lord_of_Potatoes I think he meant the translation novels not original webnovels. After all there isn’t any original Webnovel with thousands of chapters.

              Rextraos There aren't many wuxia novels translated in the first place. Most of them are xuanhuan followed by other stuff.

                Lord_of_Potatoes Yeah i meant xuanhuan translated novels. Original webnovels i completely understand them being wish fulfillment. But there should be a limit on the wish fulfillment. Im not really fond of novels that have everything falling into the lap of the mc without them working hard.

                  5 days later

                  I totally understand where you're coming from. I have had this thought once. I have read quite a lot of Chinese novels, even if it's not in the wuxia/xianxia/fantasy genre, those webnovels tend to have the protagonist having a 'sweet' life. I once questioned that, but once I read the comment section I understand.
                  The readers are all complaining once the author places a small 'hiccup' in the protagonist's journey. They complain when the protagonist faces challenges that last for more than 2 chapters. Sometimes, the authors even have to make promises in the author's note saying the protagonist's suffering will be gone in 2 chapters.
                  I totally agree with Lord_of_Potatoes answer. The target group of webnovel is slightly different. The readers want entertainment and maybe fulfilling a faraway wish and authors just cater to that.

                    elliptic because populism. I mean, face slapping IS a genre on this site.

                    It's all about the society the literature originates from. Isekai is popular in Japan because societal expectations make people want to run away to a place where they are "king", for example.

                    There are times when it's a little refreshing to see good and evil be so black and white though. I started reading some stuff here because I did miss simple stories like that.

                        I think read somewhere, mc is a slave, hardworking but never become OP, win sometimes, a lot lose when fighting, seen that novel 2-3 months ago, not my fantasy type, dropped, forget the tittle, sorry

                          I totally agree with MaryFord Yes 'faceslapping' is definitely a popular theme in Chinese webnovel. I found that readers especially love it when the protagonist has extraordinary power/super lucky, so the protagonist can 'faceslap' the so called 'antagonists'. If the authors do it nicely, the story'll be a quick easy read. But if the authors overdo it, the story'll become unreasonable, readers won't be able to connect with it and become wish fulfillment again.

                              The basis for most webnovels is to be wish fulfillment. Be it love life, money, strength, intelligence, etc. It is mainly for the fact that it tries to make up for what some readers lack that allows them to feel comforted. Add with some well use of written grammar, world building and character development doe it capture people's attention and become popular.

                              If I wrote a story about Joe who has passed his high school exam from Normal High School with Average friends would people read that if nothing interesting happened?

                              But because of this abundance has allowed for multiple novels that diverge from this path such as the aforementioned novels above my post.

                              Reverend Insanity tries to create a balance between the two and is quite satisfactory.

                                Write a Reply...
                                Web Novel Novel Ask