Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, Vol 3     

Author: Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Publisher: Seven Seas

American release date: August 16, 2022

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/LGBTQ+/Fantasy Romance/416 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

The Wen clan of Qishan have grown too big for their britches. They send an envoy to various clans whom they believe to be incompetent demanding they send at least twenty sect disciples to Qishan within three days for indoctrination. No one likes this but everyone obeys, including the Jiang clan, who send Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng among the others. Things go wrong from the beginning when, upon arrival, all the disciples are forced to give up their swords. Then there is Wen Chao, the youngest son of the clan leader, who is a nightmare of a different sort – an arrogant, spoiled bully who has probably never heard the word no in his life.

The disciples’ so-called education comes from one book in particular – Quintessential Records and Quotable Characters of the Illustrious Wen. As the name suggests, it’s all about the Wen Clan. They are told to read it, memorize it, and be able to quote it on command. To add insult to injury, the disciples are fed sparingly and forced to listen to Wen Chao make a speech every day, which they are required to applaud. He even rigs the Night Hunts to make himself look brave, taking credit for the work of the others.

Early one morning, the juniors are driven out of bed and pointed toward the location of the next hunt – Mount Muxi. They are told they are looking for a cave. Well-hidden, they finally find the cave and Wen Chao orders the juniors down first. He is accompanied by his “personal attendant”, Wang Lingjiao, who also thinks too much of herself. And by “personal attendant”, I mean mistress. Because of her relationship with the brat, she gives herself airs and feels she has the right to boss the others around. If the others don’t obey, there are consequences.  However, Wei isn’t just anyone and he doesn’t feel compelled to respect her.

At first the cave feels empty, but they quickly discover this is not the case at all, and they are all in danger. The cowardly Wen Chao and his subordinates quickly exit the cave – but when they reach the top, they cut the ropes they climbed up on, leaving the others stranded! Jiang Cheng discovers a possible exit, but they need to get past the beast. Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan battle the creature while the others make their escape, but then find themselves unable to use the same strategy and can only sit hopelessly and wait for help to arrive.

Of course Wen Chao takes credit for the subjugation of the beast. But things go from bad to worse. One day the junior cultivators of Lotus Pier are flying kites when one is arrested. Who by they want to know? By the obnoxious one herself, Wang Lingjiao, who then descends on Lotus Pier with her entourage and demands Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng be punished. Madame Yu, Jiang’s mother, is polite at first, but when the girl goes too far, she puts her in her place and unleashes hell on earth. The frightened and cowardly girl summons Wen Chao’s personal bodyguard, Wen Zhiuliu, known as Core-Melting Hand. Madame Yu goes toe-to-toe with him, but not before sending off her son and Wei Wuxian – with whom she has always been at odds – off to safety. They can’t do anything and helplessly witness the destruction of Lotus Pier from their boat.

Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng take refuge for a few days under the noses of the Wens, with the assistance of Wen Ning and Wen Qing. Jiang Chenge is in a bad way, as his core has been melted, and he becomes despondent. Wei promises to help him and takes him to the mountain where his mother’s teacher lives, but they must part ways there. Wei promises he will wait for Jiang in a small village, but things go badly wrong for him when he encounters Wen Chao and his cronies, and suddenly no one knows where he is and fear the worst.

All this and so much more in the third volume of Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation! The action changes from the present to the past, from what is to what was, all of which leads to what is happening now. The time Wei and Lan Zhan spent in the cave was terrifying yet exhilarating as they grow closer. What Wen Chao did afterward was so abhorrent, what he did to Wei. The fact that Wei was able to survive was amazing, but his ordeal left its mark on him, leading him down the path of demonic cultivation. As Wen Chao and his chippy discover to their dismay. When he is reunited with Lan Zhan, the latter realizes the change in him, but it helpless to do anything about it.

In the present is still the matter of the dismembered corpse. Lan Xichen is reluctant to think ill of his friend, but the evidence of wrongdoing is growing stronger. In a flash to the past, we see Wei’s arrival at Lotus Pier, after his rescue from the streets by Jiang Feangmian and his early rocky relationship with Jiang Cheng, who is jealous of his father’s attention to this stranger in their midst. But perhaps the highlight of this volume is the secret kiss, given when Wei Wuxian is blindedfolded and cannot see the other person. But of course we know who that is (the illustration gives it away too). I don’t remember this scene from the series, but that isn’t surprising, what with censorship in China, and their not being a huge fan of homosexuality.

Wei Wuxian’s change is what eventually leads to his “demise”. In the series, that scene begins everything, with Wei dropping to his death, despite Lan Zhan’s attempt to save him. That is dramatic license, as it doesn’t occur in the books, but it does make for a great start to a great series. I will be so sorry when I finish the last book. I am reading the fourth one now, only one left after that. The author weaves such a grand tale and populates it with intricate characters. It’s a fascinating read and one I highly recommend!