A Thousand Li: The First Step Audiobook By Tao Wong cover art

A Thousand Li: The First Step

A Xianxia Cultivation Series, Book 1

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A Thousand Li: The First Step

By: Tao Wong
Narrated by: Travis Baldree
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Given a chance at immortality, can Wu Ying grasp the fleeting opportunity? Long Wu Ying never expected to join a Sect or become a real cultivator. His days were spent studying, planting rice on the family farm and spending time with his friends. Fate, however, has different plans for Wu Ying and when the army arrives at his village, he and many other members of the village are conscripted.

Given the opportunity to join the Verdant Green Waters Sect, Wu Ying must decide between his pedestrian, common life and the exciting, blood soaked life of a cultivator. Join Wu Ying as he takes his first step on his Thousand Li journey to become an immortal cultivator. The First Step is the first novel in A Thousand Li series, a book on cultivation, immortals, wondrous martial art styles and spirit beasts and will be loved by wuxia and xianxia fans. The First Step is written by Tao Wong, the bestselling scifi and fantasy LitRPG author of the System Apocalypse, Adventures on Brad and the Hidden Wishes.

©2017 Tao Wong (P)2019 Tao Wong Action & Adventure Epic Fantasy Progression Fantasy Fiction LitRPG

Critic reviews

“A Thousand Li is one of the best English-language cultivation series out there, written with obvious love for the genre. If you’ve heard about cultivation but don’t know where to begin, this is a great place to start.” —Will Wight, New York Times Best-Selling Author of the Cradle series
Engaging Cultivation System • Well-developed Worldbuilding • Excellent Narration • Likable Protagonist • Perfect Pacing
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I was impressed with the detail of training and the characters progression. I was skeptical at first with many cultivation books popping up, but this one was a great one. I'm anxious for the next.

Really good!

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This is one of the better cultivation novels I have read, I picked this series up because of the narrator, he is fantastic but I enjoyed this story very much.

Good Cultivation Fantasy

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I bought this because Travis Baldree is my favorite narrator. Overall I was very good start to a series.

Great start

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This was really good! hooked me pretty early, I am pretty sure it took me maybe 2 sessions and I finished it. If you are a fan of cultivation books this should be very high on your list for sure! Good characters but I do wish there was a bit more development. It seemed as if they all fast became friends without actually knowing anything about each other, and that didn't change after they were apart of the book.

I know I'm late to the party...

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Love the book just wish it was a little longer. Can’t wait to read the next one.

Great book!

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A good story. There is the tell tale formula but the story and execution don’t let you get bogged down with it

I really enjoyed it

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It moves a bit fast in the beginning but gets better I am interested to see what is happy.

Stick with it

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I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. I really enjoyed all the character, the worldbuilding, and Tao's system of cultivation. I feel he hit the martial arts tropes perfectly and the fights were just so darn fun. I am excited to read the rest of the series! Travis knocks it out of the park as always.

Great Book

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I've listened several times. now I'm listening agai.n with my daughter.

well worth a read.

Great story, well told

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This is a fairly standard cultivation novel with the expected progression through hardship and conflict. Rags to riches type with the start as a basic peasant with no power or wealth. You have the expected entitled young masters bullying, pills, meditation, hidden masters and such as expected.

Pet peeve on a trope below,

The standing mute while pondering rather than responding to questions is stupid and rude. How hard is it to say something like ,"hmm let me consider your question" or scratch the chin while obviously considering, not just stand there looking dumb. I imagine you are using the time pondering to try to flesh out local expectation and add conflict at the same time.

It happens and I dont mind it if there are contributing factors such as injuries but not as a plot device to add conflict. It just makes the protagonist seem stupid, not because he cant make fast decisions but because he is oblivious to the fact that he is being rude by ignoring a question. Find a way at add conflict without making the protagonist less likeable and dumber. Sure the response to his rudeness is obvious and exaggerated beyond reason to show the conceit of the masters involved but why make the protagonist less likeable at the same time?

good if predictable story told well

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