The Great Ruler — Tian Can Tu Dou's novel
At a glanceover 1,500 chapters · completed
The Great Ruler adapts Da Zhuzai (大主宰), the third big novel by Tian Can Tu Dou (天蚕土豆), serialized on Qidian from 1 July 2013 to 9 July 2017. Across 1,551 chapters it follows Mu Chen, son of a small-town lord in the Northern Spirit Realm, kicked off the Spirit Road (灵路), the elite path for young cultivators, and determined to prove himself with the mysterious Great Pagoda Art (大浮屠诀).
Origins and publication
With The Great Ruler, Tian Can Tu Dou did what his fans had been waiting for: he linked his novels together. The story takes place in the "Great Thousand World" (大千世界), a universe where beings from lower planes cross paths. Among the legends who rule it, readers recognise Yan Di, the Flame Emperor, none other than Xiao Yan from Battle Through the Heavens, and Wu Zu, the Martial Ancestor, who is Lin Dong from Martial Universe.
The novel was published in 25 volumes by Hunan People's Publishing from August 2013, before the online serialization had even ended. Tian Can Tu Dou then continued this universe with Yuan Zun and Wan Xiang Zhi Wang.
How it differs from the donghua
The donghua, launched in June 2023, carefully adapts Mu Chen's beginnings in the Northern Spirit Realm, with spectacular 3D rendering for its spirit beasts, such as the Nine Nether Bird (九幽冥雀). It stays faithful to the plot but simplifies the cultivation rules and the novel's many tournaments. The book also develops the relationship between Mu Chen and Luo Li, the main heroine, and the cameos by heroes from the author's other novels.
Reception and success
The Great Ruler dominated Qidian's rankings during its serialization and is often cited as Tian Can Tu Dou's most "epic" novel, thanks to its shared universe. Critics point to tropes already seen in his earlier novels. The polished donghua revived interest in the work.
Trivia
- The title Da Zhuzai means "the great ruler", the rank Mu Chen aims for in the Great Thousand World.
- The novel's manhua was published as "Doupo Cangqiong zhi Da Zhuzai" to ride on Battle Through the Heavens' fame.
- Mu Chen travels on the back of the Nine Nether Bird, a spirit beast that stays with him throughout the novel.
- Fans call Battle Through the Heavens, Martial Universe and The Great Ruler together the "Tian Can universe".
My take
The Great Ruler is the novel I recommend to Tian Can Tu Dou fans who have already read the previous two: seeing Xiao Yan and Lin Dong return is worth it. Mu Chen is an endearing hero and the universe expands ambitiously. But on its own, the novel recycles many familiar patterns, and the middle drags.
Who is it for?Fans of Battle Through the Heavens and Martial Universe who want to meet their heroes again in a shared universe.
— Spidermas, for Donghua Fan
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The authorTian Can Tu Dou 天蚕土豆The prodigy of Battle Through the Heavens