The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (魔道祖师 , Mo Dao Zu Shi) xianxia, danmei novel by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (MXTX) is licensed by Seven Seas Entertainment, which is publishing it under its danmei label.
The Mo Dao Zu Shi novel is part of the publisher’s MXTX Collection, which also includes the author’s remaining two danmei novels Heaven Official’s Blessing (天官赐福, Tian Guan Ci Fu) and The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System (人渣反派自救系统, Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong).
As of December 2, 2022, there are three Mo Dao Zu Shi novel volumes available. The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation Volume 4 will be out on December 13, 2022, and Volume 5 — on May 2, 2023.
The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi Donghua, Manhua, and Live Action Web Series
The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation is a hugely popular title with a cult following. Naturally, the main story has been completely adapted into a donghua series (three seasons and a chibi series) and a live-action web series (The Untamed, available on Netflix).
All The Founder of Diabolism donghua seasons (subtitled in English) are available on Tencent Video (WeTV).
READ: You Should Be Watching: The Founder of Diabolism (Mo Dao Zu Shi)
To get an idea of the quality of the donghua adaptation, take a look at the Mo Dao Zu Shi Season 3 trailer PV:
What’s missing from the donghua series and The Untamed are the rather explicit extra chapters, which are included in the English translation of the Mo Dao Zu Shi novel.
Each adaptation centers on different details and subtle hints of the budding romance but if you think The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation lacks a deeper, profound plot, think again!
The plot centers on Wei Wuxian — the titular demonic cultivator — and Lan Wangji — a study in decency… or so it would seem at first!
The plot is rich in Chinese cultural references and depicts complex matters and hierarchies of cultivators (yes, Daoism yet again). The story isn’t linear, so those attempting the donghua adaptation may get confused at times, judging by numerous reviews.
Personally, I think the donghua series is stellar but there are many fans who think the Mo Dao Zu Shi manhua adaptation is even better. Each to their own!
Seven Seas has also licensed The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation manhua; Volume 1 will be out on March 7, 2023.
The Mo Dao Zu Shi novel was serialized on the Chinese online platform Jinjiang Literature City from 2015 to 2016. It became popular overnight, prompting several full-scale fan translation projects, which brought the novel international fame.
Thus, even before the novel has been licensed, the novel already had a steady fan base. The translation groups that were sharing free translations of the novel brought them down when The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation was licensed.
READ: The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi English Manhua Licensed
Mo Dao Zu Shi has proved an international success. The novel has received multiple translations in some ten languages, including English, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, Burmese, Russian, Hungarian, Portuguese, and German.
A Mo Dao Zu Shi mobile game has also been announced but as of December 2022, there are no updates.
