a small tip!

I second this suggest! Although I read the novel first (on the website of the scanlator /translator team ~ which did and awesome job), I still read this manhua. Yes, some parts/scenes aren't included in the manhua, and you can actually read the whole story, since the novel is finished, with extras included! (i've reread the novel on their site multiple times... and will probably do so again)

thank!!

I fully agree! the novel is the best and was first. people should read it first before any other version that took after the novel story.

you got link for the LN?

I think everyone can decide for themselves.. ╮(￣▽￣)╭
I started with the donghua, then the manhua, I loved the shit out of the live drama, and then I read the novel. I still enjoyed it equally, and I still think that the live drama is a masterpiece. There are some things I'm not agreeing with, but the actors did an AMAZING job.

May I suggest registering to become a member on their website? It's free, rules are simple ~ respect their works, no uploading without consent (they really put alot of effort in all their translations, so please, a little appreciation and respect!).
Here's the link (the may pages look different if you aren't logged in)
https://exiledrebelsscanlations.com/novels/grandmaster-of-demonic-cultivation/

Btw... there's several other awesome novels too!

I wish I could read the original, in Chinese. ╥﹏╥

well if you could, the original novel in the Chinese language is absolutely gorgeous. there is some part that been beautifully written and the author description of lan wangji was so

I don't agree, it's not a matter of decision. what come first, you should read first from the simple fact it is the original story with no cutting scenes or the romance. I can argue a against the live-action and how much OOC they are, but well it doesn't really matter.
the novel is still the best out of everything!! you can't argue against it, the novel is cannon and the best, no matter which version you like.

I agree that the novel is canon, but if you say that the actors are ooc then you are simply just too blind to notice the small signs they send to each other. You know that china has strong censorship, right? I think they really pushed the limits with the drama.

And one more thing, I'm not that fucking dumb that I won't know which is the original story even if I don't start with that one

true! its better to read the original source of the story first but thanks to the donghua i can picture their faces hahaha coz its kinda hard to imagine what they looked like.
how i know mdzs:
donghua then manhua, novel, audio and last is cql. i prefer the novel if you want a full-course meal ε=ε=(ノ≧∇≦)ノ

I personally would recommend reading the novel first because apparently many ppl get confuse when they just watched the donghua or read the manhua. (I've seen real comments) If someone want to start with cql, that is cool too. Though they do have to note that many scenes have been altered, and certain cp (looking at JC and WQ) are nonexistence. By now, I honestly see MDZS and CQL as 2 different universe (does this make sense??). So yea, definitely team starting with novel first since it really fills in a lot of the missing scenes in donghua and manhua, and of course the papapaლ(´ڡ`ლ)

The actors in CQL definitely did an amazing job to bypass censorship. Their acting conveyed perfectly WWX and LWJ's love, their deep feelings for each other. But that's not really the OOC that people talk about.

In the novel, audio drama, donghua, and manhua, WWX and LWJ are not exactly close... In CQL, they have a much better relationship in the past, very much like childhood sweethearts. On one hand, it's great because dynamics are explored, but it's the outcome of it that makes people wary and think that it's OOC. LWJ is too... for lack of better word, obsessed with WWX. LWJ, from start to finish, is a righteous character with a very strict moral compass like WWX. That is why they clicked. But in CQL, the script made LWJ seem too in love, too obsessed. Saving people, being wherever chaos is, this is because he is a good person. Furthermore, he is not one to be involved with politics. Honestly, his personality is the worst, and least capable to deal with politics.

Honestly, I don't know how to explain myself clearly, but basically CQL is not OOC in regards to portraying the deep love between WangXian, but OOC in character traits/development.

BUT, CQL is definitely appreciated for amazing actors, attempts to stick close to original novel, and a happy ending that reunites WangXian.

"In the novel, audio drama, donghua, and manhua, WWX and LWJ are not exactly close" ????
What do you mean?? cql definitely follow the novel so how?? is cql potray things better than novel??? when the novel actually explain a lot more than cql?? and audio drama actually done by the author, mo xiang tong xiu, herself... the yunmeng date by wangxian just released last week.... and in the donghua, we ACTUALLY see that wsngji know Wei ying since he was a child...... and manhua also follow the novel???

not that I'm saying cql is not good. cql is so FCKIN GOOD. I'm still impressed by how xiao zhan perfectly potray wei ying personality but that doesn't mean cql is better than the original resources??? that's basically saying the original work, where we actually got wangxian MARRIED isn't better than the adaptation that been changed.

Oh no no, you misunderstood me. I apologize for my phrasing. The novel is definitely the best when it comes to portrayal and everything. In fact, CQL is probably my least favorite adaptation. But what I meant was that WangXian’s relationship in the past is not exactly close. In the past for the novel, WangXian was more like... acquaintances who failed to connect because different responsibilities. But in CQL, from the get-go, WangXian were basically childhood sweethearts. This change in their relationship of the past in CQL makes their character development seem somewhat stale and not as impactful compared to the novel and the other adaptations where they started off as not very close and mere acquaintances to a very trusting relationship between lovers.

Am I making sense to you? Is my phrasing still confusing? Basically, I’m not saying that CQL is better than the novel, because seriously, it’s not. Nor is it better than the other versions. That CQL’s changes were a double edged sword, interesting character relationship dynamics explored, but at the cost of the character development themselves.

And I forgot to mention that the changes in CQL also resulted to many plot holes and weird outcomes. But yeah. CQL is not bad, in fact good compared to many other danmei adaptations, however it cannot compare to the original novel and the other adaptations.

god oh god IM SO SORRY i got bitter ╥﹏╥
it's just, I've seen too many people complaining about how cql is way better than the novel when novel was basically the original work of mxtx. I got tired with that kind of people smh

and yeah agree, cql is good but there is no way it's better than the manhua or the audio drama. Once again, i apologize i misunderstood you （/TДT)/

It’s fine it’s fine! I can definitely understand those feelings of yours! In fact, I got pretty bitter myself when I found CQL fans saying that the donghua was based on CQL and that it wasn’t as great as the drama.... Smh. Like, they totally ignored the credits when they said “original novel by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu”.

And once again, no worries! I’m just glad the misunderstanding got cleared up! ^^