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Notes -
Maybe I should have mentioned what I have read so maybe we can get some wilder recommendations from everyone. My top tier list was pretty much mentioned by others but I'll put it here:
Er Gen was my gateway xianxia so his writing and tropes are very dear to me personally. Also I think he does world-building descriptions so much better than other authors and the semi-philosophical discussions just hits the sweet spot for me. I would rank his works Pursuit of Truth (or Beseech the Devil) >= Renegade Immortal > I Shall Seal the Heavens > the others.
I think the best power systems are from Cuttlefish Loves Diving, and that Embers Ad Infinitum is a way more complete work than LotM. But I think LotM moments are way more hype and satisfy more of the power-fantasy.
I think the best Xianxia's I've read is without a doubt either Tales of Herding Gods or Ze Tian Ji. I felt like I was becoming a better person reading those two works. Maybe the most contemplative is Pivot of the Sky though I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Some other good ones are like World of Cultivation or Top Tier Providence.
I actually don't like I-Eat-Tomatoes works, I think they're too repetitive.
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