Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel) Vol. 04 – NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER! Also known as MDZS, the blockbuster danmei/Boys’ Love novels from China that inspired comics, animation, and the live-action series The Untamed–which amassed billions of views, including on Netflix!
THE LONG WAY HOME
History stands poised to repeat itself as Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji are besieged by walking corpses atop the Burial Mounds. It is here fate offers them a second chance to protect their loved ones and unmask the true instigator of this grisly onslaught. As shocking revelations shake the cultivation world to its very core, the unlikely couple becomes preoccupied with other matters–like an evening of drunken impulse that may push their budding relationship into bold new territory.
The novel series that inspired the live-action drama, The Untamed!
Wei Wuxian was once one of the most powerful men of his generation, a talented and clever young cultivator who harnessed martial arts and spirituality into powerful abilities. But when the horrors of war led him to seek more power through demonic cultivation, the world’s respect for his abilities turned to fear, and his death was celebrated throughout the land.
Years later, he awakens in the body of an aggrieved young man who sacrifices his soul so that Wei Wuxian can exact revenge on his behalf. Though granted a second life, Wei Wuxian is not free from his first, nor the mysteries that appear before him now. Yet this time, he’ll face it all with the righteous and esteemed Lan Wangji at his side, another powerful cultivator whose unwavering dedication and shared memories of their past will help shine a light on the dark truths that surround them.
This Chinese xianxia fantasy novel series built around the romanticized love between two men (danmei) has been translated into numerous languages and spawned a multimedia franchise that has taken the globe by storm, including the massively popular live-action series The Untamed available now on Netflix, YouTube, and more. The Seven Seas English-language edition will include exclusive, all-new covers from Jin Fang (jinzillaa), interior illustrations from Marina Privalova (BaoshanKaro), and a translation by Suika (yummysuika) with editor Pengie (pengiesama).
Biographical Note:
Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (MXTX) is a globally renowned and New York Times’ bestselling author whose works are often cited as the most well-known of the modern danmei genre. Originally self-published in Chinese via the novel serialization website, JJWXC, her current novel series include The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System, Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, and Heaven Official’s Blessing, all available in English from Seven Seas. Her titles have enormously popular multimedia adaptations and have been published in numerous languages around the world.
Title notes:
NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER! Volume 1 debuted at #9 on the NYT Best Sellers list for Paperback Trade Fiction, Volume 2 debuted at #8, and Volume 5 (the finale) debuted at #4.
This deluxe paperback edition features 11 black and white illustrations alongside the prose, 4 color pages (including a bonus illustration), character and term guides, and a beautiful cover with French flaps and spot gloss effects.
The three novel series by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, also known as MXTX–Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, Heaven Official’s Blessing, and the original debut The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System–have turned into multimedia franchises driving the huge popularity of the danmei genre throughout China and the world. All three series will debut in Dec 2021, with one volume of alternating series pubbing per month (starting in Feb) until the final volume in 2023. The series are in the same genre, but do not cross over.
This fantasy novel series has been published in numerous languages and inspired a comic, animated and live-action adaptations, spin-off movies, audio dramas, and more.
The 2019 live-action series The Untamed, inspired by these novels, was one of the most popular dramas in China with over 9 billion views on Tencent Video, while also gaining a huge global fanbase. It was released in English on Netflix and YouTube to wild success (125+ million views on YouTube).
This beautiful, large-trim English edition will include exclusive color art from a popular fanartist, as well as B&W internal illustrations licensed from the Russian-language edition of the novel.
Due to Chinese laws and standards, most of the multimedia adaptations have had to downplay the romance between the male leads, but the original novels contain the uncensored romance, including sexual content.
Although the multimedia adaptations are available in English, this will be the first official English release of the original novels–sure to be one of the highest-profile publications in Seven Seas history.
Known by the English title The Founder of Diabolism, the third and final season began airing/streaming on August 7th 2021, with a new episode every Saturday.
The translators and artist were carefully chosen from a pool of well-respected fans for this global franchise, and are helping with promotion.
This title is perfect for fans of Chinese fantasy (xianxia), historical fantasy from China focused on martial artist heroes (wuxia), Boys’ Love/romanticized love between two men/danmei, action-fantasy, manga and anime, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and other Chinese danmei franchises that are on the rise thanks to the popularity of MXTX’s works, like The Husky and His White Cat Shizun (2ha).
More details on Mo Xiang Tong Xiu: