Ein Tausend Li: Das dritte Königreich: Ein Roman über Kultivation

A Thousand Li #7

by Tao Wong

Verbannt, alleine, ziellos. Ein Neuanfang.

Long Wu Ying wurde aus der Sekte des Sattgrünen Wassers verbannt, weil er sich den Befehlen der Ältesten widersetzt hat. Gezwungen, sich in der Außenwelt zu beweisen, bevor ihm die Rückkehr gestattet wird, bricht Wu Ying auf eine Reise auf, die ihn an altbekannte Orte und in ein neues Königreich verschlagen wird.

Unter neuen Kultivatoren, fremder Politik und neuen Herausforderungen muss Wu Ying den Mittelpunkt seines Daos finden und sich dieser Herausforderung stellten.

Oder er wird ihn auf den Stufen zur Unsterblichkeit vergessen werden.

Das dritte Königreich ist der siebte Band der Ein Tausend Li Reihe, die sich um unsterbliche Kultivation, wundersame Kampfkünste, böse Sekten der Kultivation und Seelenbestien dreht.

Die Reihe wird jene in den Bann ziehen, die nach Erzählungen zu Wuxia, Xianxia, Fantasy und nach einer mehr westlichen Geschichte zur Kultivation suchen. Das dritte Königreich wurde von Tao Wong geschrieben, SciFi und LitRPG Bestsellerautor der System-Apokalypse , Abenteuer in Brad und der Verborgene Wünsche Reihe.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Fiction, Martial Arts, Epic

465 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2022

About the author

Tao Wong is the author of the A Thousand Li progression fantasy series and the System Apocalypse LitRPG series, among others. His work has been released in audio, paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats, and translated into German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and several other languages. He was shortlisted for the UK Kindle Storyteller Award in 2021 for A Thousand Li: The Second Sect. In 2026, the first three books in the A Thousand Li series will be republished in hardcover by Ace Books.

When he’s not writing or working, he enjoys practicing martial arts, reading, and dreaming up new worlds. He lives in Toronto, Canada.

Reviews

[A.R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read: Really fun. Good characters, good plot. Not the best combat, but the fight at the end is fantastic!


Fun Gail!

I honestly really enjoyed this one. The change of kingdoms was a good change of pace. New characters were fun and interesting, the plot good, overall a solid entry into the series. Hope to see our wandering gatherer continue to travel and explore!

[William Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

still the best

With the footnotes explaining the occasional cultural specific concept, this is the strongest Asian cultivation series you could read. This entry is more of a murder mystery than the usual, but it still manages to bring new cultivation concepts in and avoids making the MC too OP.

And now we wait for the next novel…

[Daniel Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Drawn out short story

This one is more of a drawn out short story, than an actual book. There where many things that happened in the start of the book that where just glossed over that would have made a much more compelling story, than the drawn out murder mystery that we get.

[Stephen Morley · Rating 1 out of 5]

sooooo boring and long winded (pun intended)

This book is very boring. It takes its self too seriously. Long wordy explications for everything. Long drawn out flashbacks in-between short fights sequences. Then philosophical diatribes between other long and wordy explanations about those same philosophies.

The author tries really hard to give the book a mystical & philosophical weight that he then forgot to write a story around someone we the readers want to read about. I struggled so hard to finish this book. It felt like I was reading a crouching tiger hidden dragon book but with no plot that had all of the quiet parts written out word for word..

This series can’t figure out what it’s about.
🥱🥱🥱😴💤💤💤💤💤😪😪

[Nathan Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

love this series, but…

I love this series but this particular installment was boring and felt different that the rest of the books. This turned into a murder myster and hardly was about his growth towards ascension.

[Tao Wong]

Read a bonus scene set after events in The Third Kingdom: https://BookHip.com/HFDBRPF

[Pedro Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid book, about the same level of the others in the series, though not the most exciting one.

The change of scenery is interesting, and the author reveals early how much different this new kingdom is.

Although the familiar supporting characters are missed, the new ones are alright, and I look forward to more of them in the next books.

The plot is a bit of a whodunnit, but I didn't find it particularly interesting. In fact, even Wu Ying didn't seem to be very invested in it.

The end of the book gives a hint of the direction this arc is headed and I can't say I like it very much, but that's probably my aversion to authoritarian governments and rebellion tropes. I hope it goes beyond the all too common government bad, rebels good portrayal.

Wu Ying's growth was satisfying. It seems he reached that point that happens in every progression fantasy where the protagonist "catches up" and start to be considered strong. Also the directions of his cultivation seem clearer now.

[Alastair Patton]

The seventh book of A Thousand Li sees our protagonist adventure into another kingdom. Learning to grasp other cultures while learning about his dao and coming to terms with his new rank of cultivation.

The A Thousand Li series is the progression fantasy equivalent of a monster of the week or procedural drama. Lighter on scope, but with big waves across the fictional world.

[Brett Goldsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid book

Tao Womg is a good genre author with a lot of experience. Here, he tries out a new type of story, writing an old-school Agatha Christie style murder mystery set in his thousand Li setting. The mystery aspect of the story is fine, clearly a new story structure for the author. As usual, the action and character development of Wu Ying carry the book. Nothing wrong with that at all, that's what we're all here for. Hopefully we see more experimentation like this from Wong.

[Dave Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty good
This tournament arc turns into a murder mystery. Things are getting livelier after a long L-o-n-g ass 3 book build up. (this series feels like it starts at book 4, but I don't recommend skipping ahead)
It makes sense, our guy was just a little cultivator back at the start. This series stubbornly refuses to over power the MC or hand out achievement for nothing. So after years of struggle the MC has worked his way up to a minor power with some real skills. (...and the books are more fun to read now)

[Steve Naylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4.0 stars

This series is right behind the Cradle series for best cultivation/progression series IMO. It is great that the main character changes and each book builds on the last. This book starts immediately after the last book ends where the MC is banished from the sect. It is sort of a weird situation. He is banished but still in the sect. So he isn't kicked out, he just can't be around for a while and he doesn't know how long. Then the story fast forwards a couple of years of him being on the road. The demon sect tried to have him assassinated so he made the decision to leave the kingdom. Hence the title of third kingdom. I love how the MC grows. He started as being a lowly farmer in the beginning of the series. He has some talent with herbs, some talent with the sword, and now he has some talent with his wind body. He was always surrounded by people who were much better than him though. He wasn't bad, he just wasn't great. Slowly over the years though, he has become very good. Now that he is in a new kingdom he is thought of as being an expert. He is trying to wrap his head around that. How to connect his idea of him being not that special to actually being pretty advanced. He learns more about his Dao and his purpose. He advances. He thinks he has found his place in the world but now needs to walk that path. Overall an excellent series and I am looking forward to the next one.

[Penelope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable

Another enjoyable jaunt across a land with Cultivator Long. I found the whole storyline captivating and can't wait to see how book 8 plays out.

[Ford F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tao Does it Again

I adore this series, and Tao delivers every time. It's one of those books where you do begin to wonder after a certain number of excellent releases what kind of time and effort it must cost the author for us to reap the benefits. Once more I am left satisfied and yet frustrated that I must wait for the next installment of the journey.

[Mike Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Series

This story of a farmer who becomes a cultivating member of the top Sect was a very interesting entertaining book that real value is learning some Chinese culture history.

[Timothy Laster · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best Yet

Tao Wong did such an amazing job creating the slow arduous journey of cultivation. I enjoyed seeing the fruits of Wu Ying's labor come to fruition in this latest entry. Very good!

[Alex Riina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like other books in the series, this book experiments with a new plot structure: murder mystery. Unfortunately I didn't think enough tension was built up and the reveal at the end was both obvious (who else but...) and confusing (but why didn't they...).

A particular frustration was that the book doesn't advance some major plot lines like the rooting out dark sects or helping Wu Ying's master.

[Raghu · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

Somewhat different from other books so far in which apart from the usual levelling, fight scenes etc ,there is also a juicy murder mystery. Can’t wait for the next one.more please

[shaun mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable

This book went murder mystery and the killer was easy to tell very early. I like th series but this one wasn't the best.

[Arthur Barkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

i.love.cultivation.
while drawn out, its still the strongest asian cultivation store there is.

[Akshay · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Third Kingdom (A Thousand Li #7) by Tao Wong

The Third Kingdom marks the triumphant seventh installment in Tao Wong's A Thousand Li series, propelling readers deeper into the captivating world of martial arts, mysticism, and political intrigue. With each new book, Wong demonstrates his mastery of the genre, delivering a richly layered narrative that balances intricate world-building with pulse-pounding action and thought-provoking themes.

Wong's writing continues to dazzle, with descriptive prose and immersive storytelling that draw readers into the heart of the action.

In The Third Kingdom, protagonist Jiang Zhu faces his greatest challenges yet as he navigates the treacherous waters of power and ambition in a world on the brink of war. Wong deftly explores themes of loyalty, honor, and sacrifice, challenging his characters to confront their deepest fears and desires in the pursuit of their goals.

The world-building in this installment reaches new heights, with Wong expanding upon the lore and mythology of his fictional universe in ways that are both captivating and thought-provoking.

Moreover, the character development in The Third Kingdom is exceptional, with Jiang Zhu and his companions undergoing profound transformations as they grapple with the moral complexities of their choices. The relationships between characters deepen, revealing new layers of complexity and emotional depth that add richness to the story.

Without delving into specifics, it's safe to say that The Third Kingdom delivers on the promise of its predecessors, offering a satisfying continuation of Jiang Zhu's journey that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

The Third Kingdom is a tour de force of epic fantasy, showcasing Tao Wong's exceptional talent for storytelling and world-building. With its gripping narrative, well-rounded characters, and immersive setting, it is sure to captivate readers from beginning to end.

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series keeps getting better and better for me. I was a Cradle fan and that lead me to this, but Cradle totally crapped out and so far, this story isn't letting me down. Tao Wong has great pacing. I think this story works even better. The story is solely focused on Wu Ying and it's always closely about what's going on with him. This volume, he has left the Kingdom of Shen for the 3rd Kingdom and so we don't know anyone.

Wu Ying being alone among strangers works out best. I do miss Tao He. He was a great character but he hasn't been around as much anyway.

I love the beginning of this where Wu Ying finally breaks through to Core cultivation. It was lovely the way it happened and the way it was described. I also appreciated the time jump at the beginning. Two years has passed by and that should happen more so he can advance more, in my opinion.


Could be somewhat spoilery ahead:





This story is a mystery, a who done it. There is a cultivation competition. The fighting wasn't too much and there was character work. It was lovely. People were dying and we are trying to figure out who is the murderer. It was a nice change from what's going on previously.

Also, the big difference is that now, people are seeing Wu Ying differently and he is trying to figure out how to be an elder. I love that whole thing. He hides it well, but people can tell he is powerful. By the end, he is hanging out with the elders - I loved that. It was great. He has to begin to see himself differently. That happened so well. He still has a lot of work to do - of course.

I don't know where the story will go happen next, but I am excited to see what goes on. He is going to have to keep working on his core and I hope he will get a few more layers in the next book. He's already building up some nasent soul. The future looks bright.

I love how he is beginning to use the winds. Things are moving in a good direction. He's gaining competence over his powers. I'm loving all that stuff. So well written. I look forward to more.

[Skyller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give 4.1 to 4.7 rating from book 1 to 6 it gets good with pacing but not this book author could've easily added more stuff from next book in this one with speeding up this books story pace.
many probably knew how the story would come to end, We Didn't need soo many chapters on same stuff about characters pondering on the M*r*ers, it felt like i had come to the main story in the book at last after 20 chapters.
I Hope author gets the idea and fastens the pace while adding other characters' perspective in the main book as well.
Everything is good in these books but i dislike the pacing of storys, i Would say use small time skips on everyday training, don't need to know what color sunset is and how the night is and all that skip those little training paragraphs like this book had bunch of those right before the events, didn't need the characters talking to each other about how they're in danger from the kingdom and wandering cultivators, explaining this stuff with single paragraphs maybe? im not the editor nor do I've any knowledge but after reading bunch of books i can tell you the pacing in this book is not it, i skimmer through stuff and at some point i wouldn't care about missing important stuff

[Paps · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful continuation as always. We have MC breaking through another level of advancement, and the new realization of the struggles it bring ahead for him. The author explain in more detail how every new level of ascension, shades more of the mortal aspect of cultivators, and the reaction they have to the world around them. We are introduced to a new kingdom with unexpected rules, which is the central point of this book. The new characters are well portrayed as always and with an interesting iteraction between them. Once more, the author portrays his own understanding of what a true cultivation novel should focus in advancement and growth, that the main objective is not the accumulation of power but understanding of one Dao and becoming and immortal even when the action is ultimately rebelliong against heaven.

[Daniel Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

NO SPOILERS.

The Third Kingdom is the seventh novel in the A Thousand Li series by author Tao Wong. After a bloody affair in the previous book, The Third Kingdom had a tough act to follow. Which is what occurred here.

Long Wu Ying has been banished from the Verdant Green Waters Sect. What follow are short, but good stories, tied together as Wu Ying begins his wondering journey. From old haunts to new kingdoms.

Cons were that it felt like not very much happened. Pros were continuing great story and very interesting world coming more to life with exploration. Curious to see how the story develops.

[TBRBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Thousand Li: The Third Kingdom by Tao Wong

High/Epic SCI-Fantasy/Progression BIPOC

391 Pages

Banished from his sect, Wu Ying wanders the kingdom and eventually explores a different kingdom. Fighting in a tournament , he finds himself caught up in the beginnings of a revolution.

I am continually impressed by Wu Ying’s ability to remain just and fair. As he grows in strength he also grows in empathy. I’m always excited when new characters are introduced and new challenges arise! After finishing this book, book number seven, I immediately started reading the next one! I can’t put these books down.

[Dev Adrian S.♍ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically a progression novel without the progression. This far along introducing a murder investigation who-done-it mystery with characters we don't know or care about was risky. Can't say it paid off.

The entire novel takes place over a week after brief mention of journeys and a 2 year time skip. The briefly mentioned events that happened in the interlude seemed more interesting than this prize-less country bumpkin tournament that seemed totally filler and inconsequential. A very weak addition to a great story so far.

[TJ Diercks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A part of one my favorite series, but not my favorite book in the series. Overall very well written and strong introduction to a new arc, the main conflict in this one was just not my cup of tea. Still highly recommend it as it lends additional insight into the world and culture. Great setup for the next few books, can't wait!

[Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the texture of the story

I think physical texture and touch best describe my enjoyment of this series. I can feel the anticipations, almost sense the emotions through the heat and cold of the plot, and imagine physically the perils the main character goes through.

Knocks it out of the park. 5 stars.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kept on waiting for the book to start. Why was a side story made into a full book?

Not much happened and could have been made into a couple chapters in a main plot book.

It was well written and at least little enjoyable. I'm not too fond of investigative murder stories though.

Disappointing I was looking forward to this. Meh.

[Bender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite the classic addition to a ATL series. We finally see Wu Ying out of his sect and venturing into new territories. It serves to refresh the series by shaking up the scene and cast and beginning of a new story arc.

The plot is a bit mainstream, but the writing is stellar. I kept turning the pages to resolve the mystery and the book delivered.

Looking forward to next in series.