Best Cultivation Novels in English

Cultivation fiction — xianxia in its Chinese-origin form — is one of the oldest and most developed traditions in the broader harem and power fantasy genre. The premise is its own sub-genre convention: a practitioner cultivates their spiritual energy, refines their soul, and ascends through realms of power over decades or centuries of in-universe time. The journey is the point.

The genre's roots are deep in Chinese web fiction, particularly platforms like Qidian and its international counterparts. The English-language cultivation scene now spans official translations of landmark Chinese novels, fan translations, and a growing body of original English cultivation fiction from authors who grew up reading the translated works.

What makes cultivation fiction distinct from other progression fantasy is the philosophical weight it often carries — the idea of cultivation as a path to genuine enlightenment, not just power. The best cultivation novels use their system as a meditation on patience, sacrifice, and the cost of ambition. The worst use it as an excuse for infinite power numbers. This list focuses on the former.