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The First War

by Tao Wong

A cultivation path tested by family ties

Critically Recognized
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Awards & Recognition

  • Critical praise

    Praise from Travis Baldree

    Travis Baldree praises the book's blend of xianxia action, political intrigue, poetry, and historical detail.

AlbakiReads Editorial

A cultivation path tested by family ties

As war between Wei and Shen approaches, Wu Ying faces a conflict that reaches beyond the battlefield: his village and family are at risk, while his sect has forbidden him from joining the fighting. The choice puts his pursuit of immortality and the progress he has made in magic and mystical martial arts against obligations to the people who knew him as a farm boy. The novel’s central tension is whether those commitments can coexist, or whether one must be sacrificed. It is part of Tao Wong’s A Thousand Li epic progression fantasy series, and this hardcover edition includes a bonus short story exclusive to the print edition.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Readers interested in cultivation and progression fantasy with mystical martial arts.
  • Readers who enjoy fantasy conflicts that link political war to family obligations.
  • Readers following Tao Wong’s A Thousand Li series.

Themes

Pursuit of immortalityFamily and community tiesDuty and personal ambitionWar between rival states

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

"An expertly wrought foundation for one the most epic English-language cultivation book series of all time."--Matt Dinniman

"An adventure full of martial arts, supernatural abilities, and immortals, drawing from a rich Chinese tradition."--R.R. Virdi (on The First Step)

"Skillfully blends xianxia action, political intrigue, quiet poetry and fascinating historical details into a superlative cultivation epic."--Travis Baldree

An ambitious young man is torn between his pursuit of immortality and his war-threatened family in this gripping novel in the A Thousand Li epic progression fantasy series.

Includes a bonus short story exclusive to this print edition.


As the long winter draws to a close, war between the enemy states of Wei and Shen grows ever more inevitable.

Long Wu Ying has been forbidden by the Verdant Green Waters sect to participate in the conflict. But there is more at stake than Wu Ying could have imagined when he began his study of magic and mystical martial arts: Wu Ying's village--the family and friends who knew and loved him when he was only a farm boy--will be caught between the amassing armies.

Now Wu Ying has a choice to make: Does he leave his people to their fate in favor of pursuing his sect's ideals and his own ambitions? Or does he help them and give up on the chance for greatness, after all his hard-won progress?

Or can Wu Ying find a third path--one that balances both his commitment to immortality and the earthly bonds that tie him to his family?
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Customer reviews

M
AlbakiReads
Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

T
AlbakiReads
Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

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Olivia

Smooth.