Three Hundred Years of Longing: Bu Jian Shang Xian San Bai Nian (Novel) Vol. 1

Three Hundred Years of Longing: Bu Jian Shang Xian San Bai Nian (Novel) #1

by Mu Su Li

The Banquet of the Winding Wine ends with one nobleman falling asleep warm in his bed. When he wakes, he’s shackled as a prisoner in the Northern Domain of Tealspire, feared by all as an archfiend! However, he’s not the only one who’s just woken up.

Floating on the Boundless Sea is an impenetrable prison thirty-three stories tall where the damned rot and demons perish: the Northern Domain of Tealspire. It’s at the very top of the spire that Wu Xingxue has just awakened on a dead tree in the middle of a deep, blue lake, rinsing strange blood off his hands. Nearby, he hears the sound of metal clanging. Not only is he disoriented after a night of revelry and ambrosia, but he’s now an archfiend shackled in chains?! Clearly, he is no longer living a life of luxury as a nobleman in Magpie Haven.

Yet it’s not all bad news for this bewildered demon. With a stroke of luck, his awakening rouses the legendary Tianxiu Immortal, Xiao Fuxuan—a mysterious being who has the power to levy justice, all while bearing the word “absolution” upon his neck. It’s in the nick of time too, as they must team up to escape as Tealspire crumbles around them.

Still, the mysteries don’t stop there. The two must uncover why Tealspire collapsed, what happened to Wu Xingxue’s former life in Magpie Haven, how he woke up as archfiend, and just who the Tianxiu Immortal, Xiao Fuxuan, really is.

Interwoven with Mu Su Li’s signature humor, this genre-defying tale dives deep into the nature of good versus evil—and will make you believe in a love that can last forever!

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, LGBT, Historical, Historical Fiction, Queer, Fiction

340 pages, Paperback

Published November 18, 2025

About the author

Associated Names:
* Mu Su Li (English)
* 木苏里 (Simplified Chinese) / 木蘇里 (Traditional Chinese)
* มู่ซูหลี่ (Thai)

Reviews

[Alexia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never heard of this danmei before it was officially licensed, nor did I know anything about the author. I'm most grateful that I decided to pick it up because it turned out to be truly extraordinary. The blurb on the back cover piqued my curiosity, and I am pleased to say it did not disappoint me at all.

The plot of this danmei is quite complex and layered, making it somewhat difficult to explain succinctly. This is partly because the first volume reveals very little about the overall story, and based on some spoilers I've encountered, it seems that the story only becomes more complicated as it progresses. The story begins with Wu Xingxue waking up in what appears to be the wrong body—or so it seems at first.

As the narrative unfolds, it keeps the reader increasingly confused and intrigued, especially by the end of the first volume. At that point, I thought I had some understanding of the story, yet I am convinced that the plot will twist even further in the next volume, likely leaving me just as confused as before. I admit that my explanation does little justice to the intricacies of the plot, as I find it genuinely difficult to articulate what it is truly about.

At its core, this story explores a love that is so enduring and intense that it restores your faith in the existence of pure, unwavering love in the world.

The characters are all remarkably interesting and multi-dimensional. I am eager to learn more about each of them.
The protagonist, Wu Xingxue, is particularly delightful. His thoughts are often hilarious, especially when he contemplates something funny, yet outwardly he appears as if he's plotting world domination, which intimidates everyone around him. I appreciate that we rarely see what’s going on inside his head, which keeps his motives and true intentions a mystery, adding to the confusion about his behavior. When glimpses of his inner thoughts do surface, it’s clear he’s an excellent actor—a master of disguise. Think Wei Wuxian, but more composed and less outspoken.

Then there's Xiao Fuxuan, the love interest. From start to finish, he remains an enigma. We get only brief insights into his personality and background in this volume, which serve to connect some dots but leave much unexplored. Think Lan Wangji, but more expressive and obvious in his affections.

The side characters contribute greatly to the richness of the story. The two fiendlings who follow Wu Xingxue everywhere provide comic relief and bring humor to many scenes; I loved their banter and antics. Then there's Yi Wusheng, a doctor in the final days of his life. He is surprisingly perceptive and often baffled by what’s happening with Wu Xingxue and Xiao Fuxuan. His confusion, reactions, and occasional humor add depth and levity. The side couple, whose love story is only partially revealed, is filled with pain and suffering. Their relationship does not get fully explained in this volume, but what is shown is already heartbreaking. Honestly, I might even love their story more than the main couple’s.

The relationship between Wu Xingxue and Xiao Fuxuan is already incredibly intricate and layered. From the very beginning, they are perfectly in sync and subtly flirt with each other. Their interactions include comedic moments but also tender, heartwarming scenes that make you smile. Their shared past is hinted at and appears to be quite painful, adding a further layer of depth to their connection.

My only minor complaint is about the translation. While it’s good overall, some of the word choices felt strange, which initially made it hard for me to get fully immersed in the story. I can't quite specify why, but certain phrases used by the translator didn’t quite mesh well with the tone of the story. It’s a decent translation, but at times it felt a bit weird and awkward.

In conclusion, although the beginning of this novel may feel somewhat slow, it’s absolutely worth persevering through because of everything that follows. I’m very much looking forward to the second volume and eager to read more works by this talented author.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So it did take a few chapters for me to get into this but by the end of this volume I was 100% invested. Mu Su Li’s writing is beautiful and descriptive as always but there were some translation choices made that were choices . And unsurprisingly, we have the amnesia/hidden identity trope again (which is I seem to love in MSL novels). This first volume was fairly easy to follow but apparently there are confusing timelines at some point. I’m super excited to learn about the CP’s relationship because we know so little about their past.

TBH, I don’t really feel like I know the characters personalities as much as I would have hoped by the end of vol.1 Ship name is Mianwu
MC Wu Xingxue: Demon/identity unknown, cute & teasing, a little bewildered by everything, scary but not really (think Wei Wuxian)
ML Xiao Fuxuan: Tianxiu Immortal in charge of mercy and penance, cold, unapproachable and intimidating, uses the bare minimum of words (think Lan Zhan)

What to expect from this novel (but maybe not in the first volume)
🔵Xianxia-immortals, demons, cultivation
🔵Mystery/hidden identity- learning about the past
🔵 Flashbacks/timeline jumps
🔵 Time travel
🔵 Long separations (this has me nervous because typically I do not like this)
🔵 Shared universe with Copper Coins and Panguan. It was written last and I’m told there are a few Easter eggs but they can be read in any order.
🔵 Kisses

*Also, I feel like Seven Seas (and maybe Rosmei, I can’t remember) has failed us by not including “The author has something to say” at the end of chapters that the FTLs often give us. There were six that could have been included in this volume and they provide a little bit more insight that personally I love (but maybe I’m in the minority on this- are they considering spoilery?). I did not read the FTL for ERHA but multiple people have told me that Meatbun wrote lots of notes that really helped understand her train of thought.

I did fall victim to it didn’t bother me until someone pointed it out with some changes from the FTL (which I haven’t even read 🙄). However, some of them IMO are better. It actually didn’t really bother me 😂 but here’s a few…

Name changes: OTL-FTL
Urbs Caelestial-Xiandu
Nightgleam- Zhaoyoe City
Northern Domain of Tealspire- Canglang Northern Territory
City of Spring Pennant west of Reverie-Chunfan City west of Mengdu
Vital energy- impetus
Archon- City Lord
Archfiend-demon
Fate’s Victoria- Core Vitality Lotus
Animate- spirit begetting
Celestial- immortal
Valley of Laments- Dabei Valley
Emissaries- heralds
Celestial energy- immortal qi
Senior brother- shixiong
Bag of holding (this just felt like a weird term)

[Anne-claire]

I wish this one would be published much earlier in the year...

[Queens Love Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The things that aren't fair in the world could fill oceans. If you meddle in one, you must meddle in another."

The opening chapters drop you straight into tension, tragedy, and sharp humor, and the mix works more often than not. The world feels heavy with myth and emotion, and the tone swings from eerie detail to clipped jokes in a way that lands clean. Still, the dense terminology and the constant chaos can feel like a lot to keep up with. I kept getting pulled back to Mo Dao Zu Shi. The stories are different, of course, but a few beats echo the same blend of mystery, supernatural danger, and slow forming bonds. It is a familiar pull, not a copy, just a reminder.

The lead duo carries the heart of the book. Wu Xingxue’s wit and unease keep things lively, while Xiao Fuxuan’s cold control hints at feelings he will never say out loud. Their contrast builds tension, though the pacing leans a little too hard on glances and quiet reactions when I wanted a bit more fire. I liked their moments of closeness, even when some felt muted. What surprised me most was how many side characters get real focus instead of sitting in the background. They bring texture and momentum, and they help the world feel lived in.

The plot moves fast and keeps piling on mysteries. Each reveal opens another door instead of closing the last one, and the pace is gripping even when it turns uneven. The volume ends at the right moment, but the story has not fully grabbed me yet. I’m curious enough to keep going, though, and I want to see if the next books deepen the emotion and tighten the flow. There is plenty here to enjoy, even if I am still waiting for it to hit with more force.

Date Read: 2025.12.03

[Danmei is Life (Food Optional) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another MuSuLi banger

[mara - hyrulevalkyrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me three weeks to read this 😭
It took until the last 100 pages or so to be invested but now I’m into it! But holy wow was I bored for the first little bit

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the story and the plot twists but some of the terminology felt more like it belonged in a scifi novel. Either way, I'm looking forward to the next volume :)

[connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

actual story rating: ★★★★ - 4/5 stars

translation rating: ★★★ - 3/5 stars ('rex spiritus'???? brother, i'm supposed to be in xianxia china, why am i suddenly in a catholic church? 😂 there were quite a few translation 'choices' like this that i really disliked, but ymmv!)

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw someone describe this as kind of a ‘prologue’ to the series and I think I’d agree. It was interesting, and I like the idea of the person who ‘inhabited’ Wu Xingxues body is actually himself but has suffered memory loss. I think that makes it more interesting and I think we’ll see his memories come back more and more down the road.

I liked Yi Wushengs backstory a lot and the story of how Yunhai became a celestial and then became a former celestial was also really good. That and the explanation of fiend possession was really interesting to me.

Wu Xingxue and Xiao Fuxuan are still sort of mysteries to me. Granted, we do get a peek into their history from before Wu Xingxue got amnesia but I still don’t know a lot about them.

I had a hard time following the story at times (maybe I’m slow) but I did struggle here and there with the explanations and situations the characters were put in. And I’m sorry but, Rex Spiritus? That’s such a silly name and I can’t take it seriously. Lol

This was good, I liked it, but I was bored too a lot of the time. Which is another reason why it took me 4 days to finish the book. I think the next volume will be better and I think(hope) it’ll give us more background on what we’re working with.

Xiao Fuxuan is a yearner. Period.

[Nicki Markus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no prior knowledge of Three Hundred Years of Longing as I went into this first volume. Out of the new danmei licenses, the blurb of this one had caught my interest, so I decided to give it a try. Overall, it looks promising. Xiao Fuxuan and Wu Xingxue both came across as intriguing characters about whom I was keen to learn more. The action and storyline, too, were fun and well paced, holding my attention throughout. I will definitely continue this series as I keen to see how things will play out. As always with these danmei releases, the book contained some lovely illustrations to accompany the prose. Like I have done with other danmei, I will offer a final verdict on the series once I reach the last volume, but I am giving this opening volume 4.5 stars as it was a very promising start.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mostly enjoyed this, and the little comical moments were definitely part of what I enjoyed most. The mystery doesn't feel too mysterious for the most part, since we get most of the answers raised in this volume by the end of the volume (and some of the answers are pretty obvious before they're revealed in full), but it's still an enjoyable ride. The only thing that really bothered me was some of the translation choices made (for example, never before have I read a wuxia novel that calls a qi deviation an "energy deviation", nor have I read any other Chinese translation that translated every city name into English - it made it kind of jarring).

[Rachel K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This first volume felt like a prologue. It took a bit for me to get into mainly due to the writing style and that you are literally dropped into what feels like the middle of a plot with no explanations. But keep reading and it will all make sense. I do recommend reading the “setting” in the back of the book because it does state that the cultivation and the world of this novel is different from any other traditional story.

I really enjoyed our main character and the supporting cast are so funny in their internal dialogues. I can’t wait to see where this story goes in upcoming volumes!

[Cveti Angelova · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a very promising start to a super interesting storyline! Can’t wait for the rest! 😊😊

[Emryn Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a series that feels a lot like Heaven Official's Blessing, this is the one for you. And I don't say that as a negative, to the contrary, I'm thrilled there are other books like TGCF out there. It fills some kind of void. This book has a lot of similar themes, although the characters are quite different overall. I'd say this book follows a multi-timeline, love-across-millenia (my favorite trope), with some light mystery focusing on godly characters struggling with the laws of heaven. Sound a bit familiar? But don't get it twisted, this is still it's own thing.

The main characters are pretty intriguing. For the MC, I really enjoyed him learning about himself over the course of the first volume, and it's exciting that there's so much more to go. His character is something of comedic relief among some otherwise very dark topics. Not a spoiler as it's in the first page, his amnesia makes for some fun character quirks and interactions. We don't really learn much about the ML - he's definitely a tall silent type, and I'm hoping in volume two we learn more about him quickly as I was starting to feel a bit frustrated with him, well, not talking much lol

Side characters are on their way to being well-developed and I enjoy how they also frequently provide levity to otherwise grim circumstances.

The settings are mainly dark and brooding and I think it's impressive how Mu Su Li manages to not make this volume feel depressing, because just about everything is depressing. Caves, graveyards, scenes of massacre, windswept plains, etc. Very gothic. The settings are overall vividly depicted, it's easy for me to visualize them, but I do kindof have trouble connecting them together - if that makes sense. I think I would have appreciated a map at the beginning of the book.

The plot is mainly focused on a few key mysteries that the characters almost stumble into solving. Clues are dropped along the way, with the reader realizing that the mysteries are much bigger than they first appeared. When one thing is answered, it only leads to more questions. This seems very difficult to do as well as Mu Su Li has, the building of anticipation is almost too well done - my anticipation is a high and the next volume isn't out yet!

This definitely feels like just the beginning, the book is about the same size as most danmei and yet I found it *felt* really short. I think this is because the narrative flows super well and naturally and it feels like the movie got cut off before the real adventure begins. Of all the many danmei coming out in the next few months, I think this is the one I'm most excited for.

[dinosauriaverde · Rating 5 out of 5]

aaah I loved this!! it was a really introductive volume, but I found the universe setting really interesting and I'm dying to know more about the characters and their relationship, the dynamic seems to be my type of thing, and the ending with the bell and "a guest behind this archfiend's bed curtains" had me SCREAMING, so now if you'll excuse I'll keep running in circles until the next volume is here.

[Shaun "AceFireFox" · Rating 4 out of 5]

This can take a while to get used to the shifting POVs. It's told in third person but has focuses on the different characters and it did take me a while to figure that out.
But that being said I really enjoyed this. I liked how it was paced and how things were revealed gradually, while leaving enough space for them to be elaborated on or for more to be revealed or answered later.
I really look forward to volume 2 when that comes out!

[Miryam Drakon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no idea where the title came from, but yeah... the beginning was slow... and I'm usually nay for an amnesia trope. But this turned out to be quite interesting, looking forward to the rest of the series.

[Liis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delight!

[mihaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

i know the angst will be delicious bc i can tell xiao fuxuan is a YEARNER!!!

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The gasped I GUMPT when I found out you know who was you know who!!!

The translation is a bit hard to understand I have never used my dictionary more