A Thousand Li: The Third Realm

A Xianxia Cultivation Novel

By: Tao Wong

Narrated by: Travis Baldree

Heaven Commands, the Middle Kingdom Concedes.

Or so the story goes. As Wu Ying travels beyond the kingdom of Shen chasing enlightenment, he experiences the truth of that statement. Disparate forms of government, new cultures, and people abound with new ways of cultivating towards immortality.

As the Seven Winds blow, Wu Ying must ascertain his place among the heavens—or beneath them. His choices as he traverses these lands will shape who he is, and what role he might play when he ascends.

*The Third Realm* is book eight of the xianxia cultivation series *A Thousand Li*. The series is about immortal cultivation, wondrous martial art styles and spirit beasts and will be loved by wuxia and xianxia fans.

*The Third Realm* is written by *Tao Wong*, the bestselling sci-fi and fantasy LitRPG author of the *System Apocalypse, Adventures on Brad* and the *Hidden Wishes*.

©2023 Starlit Publishing (P)2023 Starlit Publishing

Both Teacher and Student

This was a very satisfying listen and better than the last. Our main character once again is continuing to follow the wind and this story is again more of visiting random places and being drawn into random events that take place along the way. The ending promises more but is in a fine stopping point. The length of this book is great. Our MC progresses and is finally in a place where he can teach others his wisdom while still be humbled by others and continue his growth. Travis Baldree does a great job per usual and overall I've found this to be a relaxing listen.

Saved the series…

This book definitely made up for the last two and returns back to the heart of cultivation novels. Only wish it was longer!

Enjoyable

I really liked the in keepers and the crazy homeless guy but I do miss his monk friend

A great addition to the series.

I’ve had my frustrations with this author but this is a book I think he got right. However, it’s not just enough to say I liked it, I want to say why:

Spoiler alert:

1) Great cultivation and progression - most important.

2) Small interesting stories that actually progressed the story and Wu Ying’s path, not just filler. Too many bad books try to turn one story ark that should have lasted a few chapters into a whole book while zero progression is made just so they can add one more book. This book here, I think is done just right. That is not to say that the author should shy away from big story arcs, no! As long as the big story arc is not filler and progresses the story and cultivation significantly.

3) Wu Ying actually makes good and sane decisions.

4) Love the dragons, too bad we didn’t see more of their world and who they are. For example, are they immortals or just nascent soul cultivators?

5) Love the news from home, would love to see Wu Ying go back more powerful than ever, maybe even as a nascent soul cultivator, that would teach them especially after they threw him out of the sect.

This being said, my question to the author is what about the immortals and the gods? He mentions them but we know nothing, which is fine at this point in the story.

I only mention it because maybe we shouldn’t have to wait until book 12 for Wu Yin to ascend. Why not give us a book or 2 on the heavens itself, or at some point, increase interaction with the immortals or the gods. Wu Yin has an immortal ancestor, does he not? Just a thought! Also, in his system apocalypse series, he touched on a lot of topics only not to follow through. I just want to nudge him to follow through on his ideas so we can have a well-rounded conclusion to the series.

Good job to the narrator as usual, I can tell he enjoyed reading that book.

My favorite so far

The short story format, the progression, the world expansion, this one may be my favorite on the series thus far.

A marked improvement

I dislike the general pacing and progression in the past 4 books, but those issues are generally resolved in this one. Tao Wong does have quite the ability to capture and portray the perfect feelings with his novels, and this is as good as ever.

Travis Baldree as always did a perfect job. If you made a list of the top 5 narrators in the world, Travis would be on that list.

Good book

I read most but listened to the last hour. It was not a fast read hut i was an entertaining and good read. I like that this is him dealing with other troubles that he has not sen in his travels.

Every book is great

This is a great story, great narrator and every book keeps the story fresh and interesting.

A very interesting transition

In this volume of my absolute favorite cultivation series, there is a transition - change in both tone and delivery. Personally I think it is both appropriate and timely. As Wu Ying is developing it is right that his story changes. He moves into a larger world of the Tao, and the sense of this change is artfully handled by the change in style of storytelling.

His journeys take him farther afield than ever before and the scope of the whole cannot possibly be detailed as thoroughly. Instead it is as though one is seeing a grand vista, then focusing in on specific elements that beautifully articulate the details that make this vista so majestic. Each element is bright into clear focus on such a way as to lose none of the intimate clarity of the human story.

One of the things I most enjoy about this series is the insightful commentary on the Tao journey. As a Taoist myself I am cautious about the entertainment I consume. The things that we take into our minds and hearts influence in subtle but profound ways. This series does so to our benefit, and I humbly congratulate the author, and narrator for their efforts and delivery of such a brilliant addition to the genre.

Amazing addition

This book is without a doubt the best of the series so far. I enjoyed the development of the MC and how there mind set changed.