I read a lot of fantasy fiction, and a lot from Asian authors, and one common thread among stories about age progression and fast character growth is this silly idea that a 6-year-old to a 10-year-old kid would behave like an adult or act like someone a lot more mature than a pre-pubescent kid. This author cleverly solved this by using reincarnation as a reason for a child acting mature.

This author brings a lot more to the table than just reincarnation; he creates a whole alternate world with animals that have strong spirit power and the people that hunt them for this power. There are kingdoms, clans, churches and schools all caught in a power struggle, over who is stronger.

The main protagonist is Tan San, who after reincarnation brings his knowledge of martial arts, weapons crafting and qi cultivation to a world of magic users. He is strong, intelligent, and loyal, he will protect his friends and family with his life, has great manners, is very humble, secretive, and will kill without the slightest hesitation if provoked. I have to say I like everything about his character.

The story focuses on Tang San’s growth and the relationships he develops as he grows.

This has been a fun read and I am only half way through reading it.

Update the more I read, the more l like it. This is hands down the best web novel of this genre that I have read so far.

... Last updated on May 25th, 2015, 9:36am

From my point of view this novel is a masterpiece, on par with Coiling Dragon and even a little better than ST. So it's definitely in my Top 3.

I love the originality of the power ranking system and also how the MC having a previous life actually has a great deal of influence in his future development unlike most of the reincarnation novels where the MC is like "I was a piece of shit in my previous life, but I swear I'll be better this time around."

Also, Tang San is the type of MC I like the most: very smart, strong but not arrogant, talented but still hard-working, loyal and caring with friends but ruthless with enemies. It nice to see a character that actually has some balls to do the right choice

I'm at 130th chapter and I can barely stay still waiting for the next chapter to be translated. This novel is addicting. Why can't people in my country write awesome novels like asian writers?!

... Last updated on August 19th, 2015, 8:23am

I will keep this short and simple since everyone before me already said what i wanted to say

Tang San is the best Male lead ever! Pure badass+cunning+soft hearted+decisive = Perfect MC imo

Side characters are wonderful and have their own Traits which makes the conversation among them a joy to read

Great power structure, this has the most unique power up (rings) 100 points to the author for his creativity

100 times better than the Manhua version BELIEVE ME!

Incest, gang, vicious?? Did we read the same novel? Sorry to tell you that but there isn't any incest in this novel because she isn't his sister. Moreover it's the first time i heard that the " the women in the gang being especially brutal and vicious". If you want to add a comment about something at least read the novel a little bit and try to be objective.

The funniest thing is that aphaGulp modified his comment to match his way of thinking. The first time as i quoted he said that " the women in the gang being especially brutal and vicious". It's true that Xiao Wu is quite violent but it's a classic example of a tomboy( or tsundere character). About incest part, it's true that often law prohibits marriage of cousins about it depends on continent( it remains relatively common in the Middle East). Moreover there are a lot of mangas or animes with plot about sibling love so it doesn't shock me that much. About them castrating the old man, there is a good reason why they did it ( he was more or less an old pervert and rapist so yes he should be happy to stay alive). Moreover the world they live in is a brutal one so it's normal it's better to kill your enemies ( it's not a modern world but the world where the strong survives). About the sect problem, i got a feeling that you didn't understand the word sect, in wuxia novel it means a clan or martial artists' community not a modern sect as scientology cult. And about killing animals, these animals also kill humans ( a modern man kills pigs or cows to eat), moreover i have a feeling that Xiao Wu is a spirit beast so it's normal why she doesn't like to kill them ( even if i didn't get a feeling she is opposed to kill them but i could be wrong). Finally about level problem, in all shounen manga you have a hero who fights against enemies of his own level( or a little bit stronger). It's normal because in another case he would be killed in the first chapter. I'm not trying to be mean AlphaGulp but your comment is quite ridicilious( as thesshadowbow5678 said are you a troll)?

... Last updated on April 11th, 2015, 10:09am

[RANT]

I find it funny how recently the troll base have jumped onto the "Get the job done MC's" Hate wagon

what do you guys want ? A nose picking ret@rded male lead? whose actions lead to the death of his loved ones ? Spouts cocky lines but nothing to back that up and ends up embarrassing himself ? Wins by Luck and somebody saving his A$$ everytime ? And when he finally reaches a dependable stage after 300-400 chapters audience had already lost interest looong ago (aka Naruto, Kateky hitman reborn, HSDK etc etc) like seriously is this what you all want ?

Here's a hint for you guys: MC never dies whether weak or strong...whether they get the job done in few chapters or dragged out 30-40 chapters (weak mc) the RESULT WILL ALWAYS BE THE SAME!!! MC lives !!! Atleast it makes the whole process looks badass(Strong mc) and not solely reliant on Plot armor(weak MC)

and for those throwing around terms like Mary sue Gary sue etc....you guys need to look up the actual defination for it and realise how loosely the word is being thrown around without the actual context.... instead of just pillaging your time reading 4Chan trolls

[/RANT OVER]


Now for the reasons why you should read this novel

- Team Battles and strategy
- Great MC who relies on both his Mental and physical fortitude to turn the tide rather than be a annoying lucky twat (Shonen jump MC's)
- New Level up system, Rings and added souls to it is a very unique concept
- Budding Romances
- Structured Plot with heavy world building hinted for the future
- Characters with Personalities

... Last updated on July 5th, 2015, 1:03pm

The Spirit Master system is very interesting. It is also quite comprehensively presented without getting too complicated. The MC is also decent, different from the usual stereotypical ones. The author does a good job of keeping the reader interested in the characters' future growth. The characters are unique and memorable given the steady pace of the story.

EDIT: As the story goes on and the world gets developed further, endless possibilities for the future are opened up. The MC's "badassness" only rises in level with every single chapter, I kid you not. The Bagelson engine keeps the hopeless addicts from going into withdrawal. All Hail Bagelson.

... Last updated on February 9th, 2015, 7:41pm

MC is perfect, almost everyone else is perfect. Every threat gets eliminated pretty quickly and no real sense of danger. If someone gets poisoned by an ultimate incurable poison the mc will cure it pretty much next issue. Everything is a "super legendary never seen in 100,000 years" special item/ability. Reminds me of how un-fun cheating in a video game can be.

... Last updated on December 29th, 2016, 5:35am

xainxai-type stories that don't have a harem, at least one rape, and an arrogant Jerk MC with a hair trigger temper are very, very rare, and the lack of those here makes me like this story even more.
tang san is calm (unless xiao wu gets hurt), smart, and has a pretty easy-going personality most times. he's a very likable MC.
the ring system for cultivation is intriguing; a nice change from the typical level-up systems and the side characters are quirky and interesting. i enjoy the team set up. the parts where the shrek seven devils are together are some of my favorite scenes.
the story is entertaining and doesn't make me roll my eyes with a gazillion "it cannot be!" and "how is it possible?" type statements that repeat over and over again in every chapter that has a fight.
can't ask for much more from a web novel.
if your looking for typical xian xai like martial god ashura or against the gods you probably wont like this one. if you want a break from the usual, then it makes a nice change.

for those of you wavering between the novel and the manhua, i recommend reading the novel.
the manhua is terrible and it cuts out a lot of important scenes or adds some that make no sense.

I really liked how everything was managed up until the seagod island .

After that the MC suddenly turns extremely arrogant (he suddenly masacres loads of high level beats and gets exposed / saved from apparently imposible situations that could've perfectly been avoided without giving him absurd power ups) and the author messes up with the power levels .("the bad" title douluos are supposed to have incredible amounts of experience go full retard whilst all the good ones have self made techniques) .

It almost feels as if any non main character is completely passive on large scale battles suicide against the main cast whilst they (the main cast) are in peak condition and retreating when they go out of fuel .It is really frustrating seeing how the all survive after having shown the weakness of boost powers against actual power in a battle of attrition (it's not as if an encounter with a random in 1minute would take the same time as a large scale battle that is supposed to be fought in days…).

... Last updated on December 8th, 2020, 2:14am

A premier example of a xuanhuan novel: a fantasy story infused with Chinese elements. Much of the setting are typical of a Chinese novel, but there are elements of ‘foreign’ influences like angel wings and Romanized names. Written by the veteran TJSS, you can see many of the elements that appear in his other works: great fights, humorous dialogue, emotional writing (Feeling like reading douluo dalu novel too much these days), very long winded narrative; all around an interesting premise of a world of spirit summons and martial arts.
Douluo Dalu’s key strength is in its characters. In too many stories the supporting cast are often relegated into the background, demoted as cheerleaders or forgotten entirely. In Douluo Dalu, the supporting characters are important. Each friend has role and they all work together as a team which is constantly emphasized by the author, all given their notable characteristics and dialogue to make them stand out from each other. The love interest of the main character is perhaps one of the better ones in this genre, as she is not just a pretty face. Indeed, she grows to be the focal point of the MC’s life and her destiny becomes the story’s plot later on.
The translation is top notch and the translator can be an example for the community.
Once the reader gets past the verbose style of writing, he or she can discover a story that has action, camaraderie, romance, struggle and tragedy. A very good first choice for someone who wants to start reading Chinese novels. For seasoned readers, it remains a well written story that has the usual elements of the genre.