The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (魔道祖师, Mó Dào Zǔ Shī) is a Chinese danmei (耽美) web novel by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, originally published on the Chinese web novel site JJWXC from October 31, 2015 - March 1, 2016. The revised version of the main story was later published online until September 7, 2016, and additional side stories that were released sporadically until 2018.
Synopsis[]
As the grandmaster who founded the Demonic Path, Wei Wuxian roamed the world in his wanton ways, hated by millions for the chaos he created. In the end, he was backstabbed by his dearest shidi and killed by powerful clans that combined to overpower him. He incarnates into the body of a lunatic who was abandoned by his clan and is later, unwillingly, taken away by a famous cultivator among the clans—Lan Wangji, his archenemy. This marks the start of a thrilling yet hilarious journey of attacking monsters, solving mysteries, and raising children. From the mutual flirtation along the way, Wei Wuxian slowly realizes that Lan Wangji, a seemingly haughty and indifferent poker-face, holds more feelings for Wei Wuxian than he is letting on.
Versions and Translations[]
Four paperback volumes in traditional Chinese was released on December 12, 2016, published by Taiwan's PINSIN STUDIO (平心出版). The first of three planned volumes in simplified Chinese, titled Untamed (无羁, Wújī) was released in 2018, but release of the following installments stalled after the locking of the novel on JJWXC in January 2019.[1]
An audiobook was released by Himalaya FM from July 2019 to November 2019, encompassing 175 episodes. Actor Zhang Zhen, who also voices Jiang Fengmian in the Audio Drama, was specially invited to read the novel.
At present, Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation has been officially translated into Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Russian, Japanese, Burmese, Hungarian, English, German, Brazilian Portuguese, and French. Italian and Spanish translations have also been announced.
English Translation[]
The first volume of the official English version published by Seven Seas Entertainment is now available, with four additional volumes for preorder here. Previously, there were a number of valuable fan translations; the ones that were used by this wiki are listed below.
Complete[]
- Exiled Rebels Scanlations
- The first completed English translation. Most of the phrasing on this wikia is taken from Exiled Rebels Scanlations.
Incomplete[]
- Taming Wangxian
- "In our MDZS translation, we aim to capture the original essence of the text so hopefully you’d be able to enjoy it just as a native Chinese speaker would."
- Fan Yiyi's
- "The idea behind this translation is to render Mo Dao Zu Shi into idiomatic English, while preserving some of the features of the prose of the original text."
Awards and Recognitions[]
In February 2020, Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation was awarded the 'Rising Star Award' (뉴 스타상) by its South Korean publisher, Ridibooks. Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation was the only foreign work among the thirty novels to receive the award.[2]
Upon its release in English, Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation debuted at #9 on the New York Times bestseller list for Paperback Trade Fiction.[3]
Adaptations[]
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation has received multiple award-winning adaptations, including a Manhua, an Animation, an Audio Drama, and a live-action Web Series, The Untamed. A Mobile Game is also in development.