The Sundering Blade: A Thousand Li World Novel

A Thousand Li #0.6

by Tao Wong

A blade cuts both ways Newly minted an Elder of the Verdant Green Waters sect, sword prodigy Elder Cheng Zhao Wan - the Sundering Blade - is forced to leave the sect to fulfil an old obligation. A benefactor from the past is injured and has demanded Elder Cheng locate his assailant. Forced to listen to the ramblings of a dying old man, amidst a small and unfamiliar sect, who Elder Cheng can trust is unknown. Was the injury nothing more than happenstance, or is something more dire afoot?

For once, Elder Cheng finds that his skill with the sword might be the least of his gifts. A Thousand the Sundering Blade is a world of A Thousand Li novel, featuring a much younger Master Cheng before he meets Wu Ying. A xianxia fantasy novel, The Sundering Blade is a standalone prequel to the bestselling A Thousand Li series and features high flying martial arts, tense battle scenes and contemplations of the Dao and karma alike.

Genres: Fantasy, Litrpg, Fiction, Audiobook

325 pages, Paperback

Published December 29, 2023

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

[Akshay]

 Review of The Sundering Blade: A Thousand Li World Novel by Tao Wong 
Tao Wong’s The Sundering Blade is the latest installment in the A Thousand Li series, a popular wuxia-inspired cultivation fantasy that has garnered attention for its world-building, character development, and action-driven plot. In this entry, Wong builds on the established foundations of the series, offering readers a blend of intrigue, martial arts, and personal growth, while pushing the boundaries of his protagonist’s journey.
 Plot Overview 
The story picks up where the previous novel left off, continuing the journey of the protagonist, Zhang Xuan. Now deeper into his path of cultivation, Zhang Xuan faces increasingly complex challenges, both external and internal. These challenges range from navigating political intrigue, encountering powerful martial artists, and grappling with his own evolving sense of morality and responsibility.
 
At its core, The Sundering Blade is a tale of growth—personal, martial, and philosophical—as Zhang Xuan struggles to balance his ambition with the harsh realities of the world he inhabits. A recurring theme in the book is the tension between power and responsibility, as well as the sacrifices that come with seeking greatness in a world full of danger and deception.
 Character Development 
Tao Wong’s writing excels in its portrayal of characters, particularly the protagonist, Zhang Xuan. Throughout the book, Zhang Xuan is tested by both external forces and his own internal conflicts. His growth as a martial artist is portrayed with a good sense of pacing, where each step forward feels earned.
 
The supporting cast also plays a significant role in the development of the plot and Zhang Xuan’s character. From fellow cultivators to political figures, the interactions and relationships between characters are well-crafted and add depth to the narrative. Wong does an excellent job of balancing action and character exploration, ensuring that the emotional stakes never feel secondary to the plot’s physical confrontations.
 World-Building and Cultivation System 
As with previous books in the series, one of the highlights of The Sundering Blade is the intricate world-building. The A Thousand Li universe is rich with unique cultivation techniques, mystical abilities, and detailed factions, all of which feel both expansive and grounded in the logic of the world. The cultivation system is one of the key components of the narrative, and Wong does a solid job of exploring the progression from low-tier to high-tier martial power in a way that feels rewarding for the reader.
 
The political landscape, too, is well fleshed out, providing a backdrop of tension that adds stakes to the personal and martial conflicts at the forefront of the story. The ways in which Zhang Xuan’s development interacts with the shifting alliances and rivalries in this world are integral to the overall plot.
 Pacing and Action 
Wong's pacing remains consistent throughout the novel, with a balanced mix of slower, more introspective moments and fast-paced action scenes. The martial arts combat sequences are thrilling, well-described, and strategic, making them both exciting and intellectually engaging. The fight scenes don’t just rely on brute strength; they incorporate elements of strategy, technique, and personal growth, which gives them a deeper emotional weight.
 
While the action sequences are strong, the pacing can feel slow at times, particularly in the middle of the novel, where the story occasionally drifts into exposition-heavy sections. These moments may feel like a lull for readers who prefer the more action-packed segments of the story, but they are crucial for setting up later developments and adding depth to the narrative.
 Themes and Philosophical Depth 
One of the more engaging aspects of The Sundering Blade is the philosophical undertones. As Zhang Xuan’s cultivation and influence grow, so too do his moral dilemmas. The story explores themes of power, loyalty, sacrifice, and the cost of ambition. These are not just background themes; they are integral to the protagonist’s journey and provide the novel with an emotional resonance that elevates it above a standard martial arts fantasy.
 
The personal growth of Zhang Xuan is depicted as a complex, sometimes painful process, where victory does not always lead to fulfillment. Wong does not shy away from portraying the harsh realities of the cultivation world, making the stakes feel higher and the payoff more satisfying.
 Conclusion 
Tao Wong’s The Sundering Blade is an engaging continuation of the A Thousand Li series, offering a mix of action, world-building, and character development. It continues to build on the strengths of the previous books, with a deep exploration of its protagonist’s growth and the challenges he faces in a dangerous, ever-changing world. While the pacing can be uneven at times, and some readers may find the middle sections slower, the novel ultimately delivers a satisfying narrative that rewards both action fans and those who enjoy more introspective character-driven stories. For fans of cultivation fiction and wuxia-inspired fantasy, The Sundering Blade is an enjoyable and thought-provoking read.
 Rating: 4/5 

[Leigh]

Zhao Wan’s path to ascension depends on severing all karmic ties from any of his incarnations. In an effort to clear a debt to a former teacher, he goes to track down a poison’s origins, and gets caught in the affairs of others who walk the path to what I can only understand as “godhood.”

This was complicated and confusing to me - in a good way- as it’s an entirely different kind of world, magic, and fantasy. This book is a prequel to a pretty long series, and I’m sure if I continue on, the magic and cultivation of it will make more sense. As it is, this is just a teaser to introduce you to what sets Zhao Wen onto his course.

[Chris]

What’s great prequel novel as we get to learn more about the world and cultivation. I’ve realized that Tao Wong is a very world driven and narrative driven author. We have our characters and they exist in the world that he is creating and making flow as the story progresses. Sure, the characters progress and grow but the story and the narrative are what is most important. The journey is where we get most of the development. This is a new style for me but I’ve come to enjoy it very much!

[Gabby]

This works well as a standalone within the Thousand Li series. I found the main character aloof, snobbish and self centred which while he did improve slightly by the end I also understand is a common trait amongst sect cultivation books which is why I do not often read them. However this had some interesting techniques and ideas on karma as well as rebirth. A task to cut ties leads to some interesting implications as to the true state of the sects that even they had not realised may be an issue.

[Anders]

We are thrown straight into an ancient Chinese(?) fantasy world filled to the brim with monsters, gods, demigods and carma. The book was well written, with scenes that would also work well in comic book form.
It was refreshingly written, but I got the feeling I was reading a gamebook where someone else had already made the choices.

It's worth reading

[Terry M]

An interesting novel of a quest bestowed upon the Sundering Blade, which leads him into dangerous territory, trying to sever all ties with those he meets along the way. I found it philosophical and entertaining throughout. Certainly different to my usual genre. I received an advance review copy for free through bookfunnel, and I am leaving this review voluntarily .

[Bukcrz]

The main character's aim is to be a god. Considering his goal, he will fit in well with those uncaring, selfish, capricious and powerful gods of mythologies.
Not a character I usually root for but considering this is a first book for me in this genre, it kept me reading anyway just to see.
Not for me but might be for some.

[MGB]

Zhao Wan draws his "chi from his dantian". His path is marked by "twists of fate and karma, delivered from up high."

Unfortunately that was not enough from the author to draw me into the story. I shelved the book.

[David Hofert]

I've really enjoyed this series and this 'chapter' was tonally quite different than previous ones but still interesting. It definitely feels like it's setting the table for the following book or two to wrap things up. I'll be reading those!

[Scott Wozniak]

Not only did this reveal some great backstory for some of the main characters of the Ten Thousand Li series, but there was a legitimately clever plot and some beautiful moments. He packed a lot into this novella.

[Megan]

I had this saved in the free folder on my kindle and decided to give it a try despite knowing progression fantasy/litRPGs are not really for me. I thought it was well written and interesting at the time, but admittedly don't remember anything about it a month later.

[Ruth]

8 Sometimes fantasy can be very confusing. Fortunately, I have watched a fair bit of C-drama so could piece together some of the story. It this is not the book to start with if you are a newbie to wuxia.

[Eugene Tellier]

This short story was a fun journey into the history of the Sundering Blade. I have to say the narrator made this book a challenge for me, as his limited character range, as well as many of his vocal delivery choices, did not work for me.

[William Howe]

interesting

Seeing an earlier part of Master Cheng’s journey and the beginning of his campaign against demonic cultivators was fun.

Looking forward to the next ‘Thousand Li’.

[IU_read]

As always, enjoyable series.

[Johnie C]

Very good one sitting read

I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression type of books with lots of action.

[Larry]

An extended look at the past of two of the important people in the main series.

[A.R]

Interesting look into the youth of the enigmatic master. Short, but fun. Doesn't really deserve the "novel" title with its length though.

[Sarah]

A nice little adventure. I liked seeing the Elder as a young man, and I also enjoyed the expansion on the world.

[Graham Dauncey]

Read as part of the action fantasy book club 2023.

This is my first time reading progression fantasy as far as I am aware and I am not sure I am fully convinced. I can't deny that the author has decent writing chops - the prose was well constructed and the novel easy to read, but the gamerish aspects of the writing definitely jarred me out of the moment. I generally found myself thinking I would prefer to play a game version of this than read a novel version of it.

A lot of the core concepts here are interesting, the idea of a karmic way to immortality, and the strong lean in to oriental teachings. The story bounces along at a high pace, certainly keeping interest as it goes with the high action style. There is definitely a breathlessness to the whole endeavour.

This ended up being a story I could respect the writing to, but I am not sure I am necessarily the right audience for this type of litrpg/progression fantasy style.

[Mr. and Mrs. Robert Brian Thomas]

This is an artfully crafted story, invoking plenty of sensory details. It has wonderful eccentric characters. The Main character, Zhao Wan, feels torn between his desire to be a good person and not wanting to help people in order to prevent binding karma threads.

I wished the magic was better explained. The author's note in the back says it is better explained in the further novels. With this book as my entry point to this story work, though, I really could have used more information.

There were times when I noticed thoughts and feelings from other characters. At times, I questioned if this was perception by the enhanced chi senses of our main character, or if it fell into headhopping. I can't tell you which, but I didn't find it to be a major detriment.

The largest reason why this book fell into three stars for me is that the climax and plot collapsed for me when the main character took actions without letting me in on why he made his decisions. I could see how the author was building up toward a twist, but I failed to follow along with the protagonist's realizations and thought process. This created a narrative gulf for me, of such distance as to hamper my enjoyment, leaving the ending falling flat for me.