There exists, in the vast library of cultivation tales, a most peculiar treasure called Beware of Chicken by Casualfarmer—a story wherein a young man chooses farming over fighting, friendship over fierce competition, and finds that true cultivation blooms in the simple act of tending one’s garden. If you have turned its final page and felt that familiar ache for more such warmth, then come along, dear reader. Let us point the way to twelve kindred tales.
Heretical Fishing by Haylock Jobson
In a world where gods have abandoned their posts and cosmic forces beckon the ambitious toward unimaginable power, one fellow named Fischer would rather… go fishing. He had quite enough of fame and fortune in his previous life, thank you very much. Now he seeks only the gentle rhythm of rod and reel, the company of adorable creatures, and perhaps a spot of tea.
Yet chaos, that mischievous sprite, follows him still—greedy nobles and peculiar cults simply will not leave the poor man be. Matt Dinniman himself declared this the finest tale he’d read all year. Like Jin Rou of Beware of Chicken, Fischer discovers that simply living well becomes its own form of cultivation. The animal companions who awaken to sapience around him are utterly delightful.
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
There lived an orc named Viv who had grown terribly weary of adventuring—all that slaying and looting and tramping through dungeons. She dreamed instead of something revolutionary: a coffee shop. In a city where such beverages remained entirely unknown, she set about brewing lattes and building community.
This tale coined the phrase “high fantasy, low stakes,” and one cannot deny Mr. Baldree started something of an avalanche in cozy fantasy. A ratkin baker invents cinnamon rolls. A slow-burn romance blossoms between capable women. The whole affair feels rather like a warm hug wrapped in fantasy trappings. Finalist for both the Nebula and Hugo Awards, if you please.
A Thousand Li by Tao Wong
Long Wu Ying never expected to leave his family’s farm for the prestigious Verdant Green Waters sect. Yet sometimes the Dao has plans of its own. Will Wight himself praised this as “one of the best English-language cultivation series out there,” and having journeyed through its pages, one understands why.
Where many xianxia tales race toward power at breakneck speed, A Thousand Li takes the contemplative path—savoring sect politics, martial philosophy, and the slow accumulation of understanding. The protagonist struggles properly; he fails and learns and grows with admirable patience. Nine books await those who hunger for traditional wuxia rendered with genuine love.
Forge of Destiny by Yrsillar
Once there was a streetrat named Ling Qi who possessed an unexpected talent—and absolutely nothing else. Her journey through the cultivation sect reads rather like a magical university tale, if that university involved considerably more martial arts and philosophical enlightenment.
Born from a crowdsourced storytelling game, this tale achieves remarkable cohesion and depth. The character development is simply phenomenal, watching Ling Qi mature alongside her wonderfully varied companions. She wields music-themed magic, which certain readers find quite intriguing. The relationships feel authentic, the growth organic, and the lone-wolf nonsense so common to xianxia is refreshingly absent.
The Wandering Inn by Pirateaba
When young Erin Solstice tumbled into a fantasy world, she did not pick up a sword or learn to cast fireballs. She opened an inn. Over millions of words—yes, millions—this tale expands into something truly extraordinary, following not just Erin but countless others whose lives intersect at her establishment.
The progression here differs delightfully from traditional cultivation. Characters level in their chosen Classes—[Innkeeper], [Runner], [Mage]—by living authentically, by choosing who they wish to become. Pirateaba balances humor, heartache, and high-stakes drama with masterful precision. If you loved Jin Rou’s community-building in Azure Hills, Erin’s found family at the Wandering Inn shall warm your heart for hundreds of hours.
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
When aliens demolished Earth’s surface and transformed the underground into a deadly game show, Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat Princess Donut found themselves fighting for survival in the most absurd circumstances imaginable. The opening nods wonderfully to Douglas Adams—the Earth destroyed because humanity failed to file proper paperwork at the nearest star system.
This tale walks a knife’s edge between horror and hilarity, tragedy and triumph. Princess Donut, granted the ability to speak, remains fundamentally a cat—convinced of her own divine importance while possessing the emotional maturity of a particularly dramatic child. Dark humor abounds, yet genuine emotion sneaks through. A television adaptation is currently in development.
He Who Fights with Monsters by Shirtaloon
Picture, if you will, a laid-back Australian gentleman deposited into a world that takes itself terribly seriously, granted powers that appear rather suspiciously evil. Jason’s journey through an RPG-like reality combines cultivation elements with traditional LitRPG progression, all filtered through his caustic wit and willingness to absolutely troll the entitled noble class.
The voice here is utterly distinctive—energetic, satirical, sharp as a blade. Twelve books in, the series continues delivering cosmic stakes alongside genuine emotional depth and proper laugh-out-loud moments. Jason is polarizing (the author knows this), but those who connect with his particular brand of chaos find a journey unlike any other in the genre.
Defiance of the Fall by TheFirstDefier
When the System integrated Earth into the multiverse, Zac found himself stranded in a forest with nothing but a hatchet and a rather pressing need to survive. This tale merges apocalyptic LitRPG with Eastern cultivation in magnificent fashion—class systems and skill trees alongside the steady accumulation of power.
The worldbuilding achieves heights rarely seen in the genre, particularly the chapters revealing the System’s origins. Zac struggles properly; luck alone cannot carry him. He earns every advancement through determination and cleverness. Twenty million views on Royal Road speak to its addictive quality, with twelve books now available for those ready to fall into this multiverse.
The Primal Hunter by Zogarth
Jake appeared to be an average office worker when the apocalypse arrived—but appearances, as the poets say, deceive. Where his coworkers faltered before the System’s tutorial, Jake thrived. Something within him awakened, something primal.
Zogarth strikes a compelling balance between detailed world-building and character exploration. The emotional layers of survival feel rich and complex, the progression satisfying in that particular way the genre does best. Travis Baldree narrates the audiobooks, which seems rather fitting given his own contributions to cozy fantasy. Thirteen books now await the initiated.
Arrogant Young Master Template A Variation 4 by LivingSpoon
Here we find perhaps the cleverest satire of xianxia tropes ever penned. The protagonist, Han De, awakens in the body of a cultivator with numerous death flags—precisely the sort of arrogant young master who inevitably falls to vengeful protagonists. His solution? Recognize potential Main Characters early and take them as disciples instead.
He trains his followers specifically to recognize and avoid the cultivation tropes that lead to karmic retribution. The quality of writing surprises; the story simultaneously mocks the genre while telling a genuinely engaging tale. For those who loved how Beware of Chicken subverted expectations, this satire offers similar pleasures with sharper teeth.
Tori Transmigrated by Aila Aurie
A forty-year-old career woman dies in a train accident and awakens as Victoria de Guevera—a young noblewoman she recognizes as the villain from a dating simulation game. The villain who meets a particularly gruesome end before turning eighteen.
Armed with manufacturing industry efficiency and game knowledge, Tori sets about rewriting her fate entirely. The grammar is flawless, the narrative professional-quality, and the suspense of those early chapters genuinely gripping. Unlike typical villainess stories, the protagonist approaches her problems with practical competence rather than romantic scheming. The author notes Tori is aromantic, which proves rather refreshing.
Cradle by Will Wight
No list of cultivation recommendations would be complete without mentioning the series many consider the pinnacle of the genre. Lindon begins as an Unsouled—someone born without the sacred arts ability that defines power in his world. His journey from nobody to something considerably more than nobody spans twelve books of perfectly-paced progression.
Will Wight renders cultivation accessible to Western readers without sacrificing depth. The friendships feel genuine, the power system satisfies, and the scope expands magnificently as Lindon’s journey continues beyond anything he could have imagined. If you somehow haven’t yet experienced Cradle, remedy this immediately.
Finding Your Next Cozy Cultivation Adventure
Each of these tales captures something of what makes Beware of Chicken so beloved—whether the humor, the subverted expectations, the found family, or simply the radical notion that power need not come at the cost of one’s humanity. Some lean cozy, others epic, but all understand that the best cultivation stories are ultimately about growth in every sense of the word.
Now then, off you go. Adventure awaits, though perhaps with more fishing, farming, and friendship than the traditional sort. And that, dare we say, is precisely the point.
