Hardluck Henry's Guide to Cultivation

Information

Status

Cancelled

Year

2024

Author

Simple1

• Chapter 52 : Henry learns about the power of mutually assured destruction.
  Jan 6, 2025
• Chapter 51 : Henry learns about furries.
  Jan 2, 2025
• Chapter 50 : Henry learns his fist speaks louder than his words.
  Dec 31, 2024
• Chapter 49 : Henry learns about duos.
  Dec 30, 2024
• Chapter 48 : Henry is pretty good for a virgin. *NSFW*
  Dec 27, 2024
• Chapter 47 : Henry learns about the power of Lust.
  Dec 26, 2024
• Chapter 46 : Henry picks more fights that he might or might not win.
  Dec 25, 2024
• Chapter 45 : Henry picks a fight.
  Dec 24, 2024
• Chapter 44 : Henry learns about crushes .
  Dec 23, 2024
• Chapter 43 : Henry learns about flexing his power.
  Dec 20, 2024
• Chapter 42 : Henry learns about compromising.
  Dec 19, 2024
• Chapter 41 : Henry learns about that Dragon Drama
  Dec 18, 2024
• Chapter 40 : Henry is a glutton for pain.
  Dec 17, 2024
• Chapter 39 : Henry learns about hormones
  Dec 16, 2024
• Chapter 38 : Henry learns about his authentic self.
  Dec 13, 2024
• Chapter 37 : Henry goes into the deep end.
  Dec 12, 2024
• Chapter 36 : Henry learns about wierdos.
  Dec 11, 2024
• Chapter 35 : Henry steals some sick moves.
  Dec 10, 2024
• Chapter 34 : Henry learns to assert his dominance.
  Dec 9, 2024
• Chapter 33 : Henry learns that he likes being a young master.
  Dec 7, 2024

Reviews

Community Reviews(10)

• Crow AgueroRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  This Xianxia tale is a delightful blend of epic martial arts, heartfelt character growth, and clever humor. Following the story of Henry—a down-on-his-luck martial artist with a knack for stumbling into both trouble and triumph—it offers a refreshing take on the genre while lovingly embracing its quirks.
  The world-building is fantastic, filled with ancient techniques, mystical forces, and surprises like a snarky dragon named Percival (yes, Percival). Every corner of this universe feels alive, with a unique "gold-driven" cultivation system that ties into Henry’s rags-to-riches journey. While the story is still in its early chapters, the potential for an unforgettable adventure is clear.
  Henry is the kind of protagonist you root for—flawed but determined, relatable yet capable of surprising moments of brilliance. The supporting cast, though just getting started, brings humor and heart to the narrative. And speaking of humor, this story shines with moments that’ll make you chuckle, like Henry’s rediscovery of his ability to kick or Percival’s biting commentary. It’s not a parody, but a playful celebration of Xianxia with a modern twist.
  The writing itself is smooth and engaging, with a conversational tone that draws you in. Sure, there are minor grammatical hiccups and some repetitive phrasing, but they’re easy to overlook given the sheer fun of the story. The modern internal monologue might be a bit unconventional for purists, but it works beautifully here, adding to the humor and relatability.
  If you’re a fan of Xianxia, martial arts, or stories with a big heart and a sense of humor, this one’s worth your time. It’s an adventure that promises plenty of laughs, action, and emotional depth—and I, for one, can’t wait to see what’s next.
• Orion ValeRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  "An epic tale of growth and perseverance, this Xianxia novel follows the journey of Henry, a martial artist who begins as a seemingly ordinary individual and ascends to greatness through sheer willpower and determination. The story is a compelling mix of traditional martial arts with fantastical Xianxia elements, creating a world where power, strategy, and inner strength intertwine.
  Henry’s transformation from a weak, struggling fighter to a powerhouse is portrayed in an engaging and relatable manner. The author masterfully explores the theme of personal growth, with Henry overcoming not only external obstacles, but also his own internal fears and doubts. The intricate fight scenes are both thrilling and well-paced, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.
  What sets this novel apart is its rich character development, particularly Henry's struggle to unlock his full potential. The relationships he builds along the way, both with allies and adversaries, are deeply woven into the narrative, providing a solid emotional foundation. Fans of martial arts and fantasy will find this story both inspiring and thrilling, with the promise of even greater adventures to come."
  "The world-building is another standout feature of this Xianxia novel. The author has crafted a vibrant, intricate universe where ancient martial arts, mystical forces, and hidden realms all coexist. The lore behind the martial arts techniques and the power systems feels rich and well thought out, allowing for an immersive reading experience. Henry's path to mastering these ancient arts is slow yet satisfying, providing a sense of accomplishment with each step forward.
  The pacing of the story is also well-balanced. It moves fluidly between action-packed sequences and quieter, more introspective moments, allowing readers to catch their breath and reflect on Henry's growth. The challenges he faces, both on the battlefield and within himself, are genuinely thought-provoking and add layers of depth to the n
• Ellen TaylorRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  This was fun. I really enjoyed reading this. I even chuckled at a few places. I wouldn't say it's an outright parody of cultivation stories, but more like the author embraces it with a truck load of fun and gentle prodding at some of the tropes.
  Starting with the easiest one, I give all stories five stars with grammar, especially ones that are done during writathon. As long as nothing drove me out of the story, then it's fine with me.
  Style was good. We're mostly following Henry's point of view, with occasional dips into other character's heads. It was pretty easy to follow, and I have no complaints.
  The story was fun. Again, so so fun. It's a comedic take on the xianxia genre, but without ridiculing it. Also the scene where he's discovering that he can kick things again made me chuckle.
  The characters, too, all deserve five stars. Henry was excellent. He is the perfect lead character. Also, the dragon with the middle name of Percival? It caught me off guard and I chuckled for a good minute after that. Their quest together is going to be a treat, I just know it.
  Overall, a really fun start. I enjoyed it.
• JR WrightRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  I'm giving this fiction five stars because I believe the author has a good start. He says early on that this is his first attempt at writing a book, and he's gone out and been brave by choosing to share it publicly. You have my applause. I was not so brave as to share my first book; it's still sitting on a dusty hard drive somewhere.
  The first two chapters are the hardest to read. You can really see the author is trying to find his feet with those. They could easily be surmised with a paragraph such as,
  "Henry's luck ran out the day he was born, and his hope ran out the day he realized he would never crawl out from underneath his debt. He decided he would die the way he lived; punching hard as shit. So, he turned his mighty fist upon himself, giving his debtors the last middle finger that he had left to give. But little did he know, the afterlife had other plans."
  The book begins once Henry starts talking to the god who has bought his debt. Then we end up with a different deity or deity-type entity who is making bets about whether or not he could turn Henry into something special. This is where the fiction begins to get fun.
  I'm reviewing it at chapter 5 because I'm incredibly busy and don't have time to sit and read it and thoughtfully go through everything. However, I believe this one's worth giving a chance.
  Good work, ZeroAmbition!
  Keep it up!
• Jim230874Royal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Pure entertainment put your brain into neutral and enjoy. No heavy or hard to follow plot here.
  Just settle in get comfortable and put your feet up and enjoy. A great summers day read (for those of us in the southern hemisphere)
  Keep up the great work, got you on follow incase you setup patron in the future.
  cheers and regards
  Jim
• LouigoasRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  The story is a classic Isekai turning xianxia, but has an interesting twist on the cultivation technique the main character uses.
  There's some grammatical errors here and there, about one or two for the first five chapters or so that caught my attention. Same with punctuation, it feels a bit too drawn out at the at times: no comma when you expect them, which makes the pacing feel a bit flat at times. But that's only in the beginning as it becomes smoother to read later on. There's also some weird turns of phrase at time, but the meaning get through anyway.
  The writing style is what I struggled with the most at the beginning, the comedy genre felt a bit forced. But the more I read, the smoother it got.
  The style do feel a bit robotic or mechanical at times, but much less around the seventeenth chapter:
  A lot of: Henry did this, or Henry felt that. Sometimes 68 times per chapters when said chapter is around 2k.3 words long.
  And finally, the characters are a solid 5/5 consistent and starting to show a bit of depth, but as there's only 20 chapters for now, I cannot say much. Only time will tell how they will evolve.
  TLDR: Good story, a bit rough at the start, but more than worth giving it a read. It only gets better the further you do.
• Miko MelinaRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  Overall, a very fun read. It's an unusual twist away from a standard Xianxia cultivation novel, making it a unique and interesting story.
  Style: The author's prose lends itself to the casual and fun feel of the story. Thanks to this, you can really feel like you're being pulled along with all the Xianxia bullshit. It really helps to deliver the character and tone of the story. However, at times, the descriptions of scenes, particularly where dialogue is concerned, can be a bit vague, which is why I felt a 4 star was more appropriate. When paying attention, it doesn't detract from the story, so it's not a huge issue in my mind.
  Grammar: Many reviews mention the punctuation and tense changes. These can make it difficult to understand sometimes, but the author said they're aware of it and working to fix it. It does get better in later chapters.
  Story: The detailed set up of the story created a strong foundation for the rest of the tale. Though necessary, it was a bit long in the beginning, which is why I scored it as I did. However, after that point, it kept me interested, delivering a story where I could relax and laugh along with the character as he learns more about the world and tries to navigate the increasingly interesting challenges being thrown his way.
  Character: I love Henry as a character. He's fun, doesn't take things too seriously, and is a very standard Xianxia transmigrator who's over all the Xianxia of his new world. That archetype scratches an itch for me and I like it a lot.
  Overall a very fun read that was worth the time I spent reading.
• Nik StottRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  I very much enjoyed and will continue to enjoy Hardluck Henry's Guide to Cultivation. I'm new to Xianxia and its tropes/themes, but I picked them up along the way and started to understand the way this work flips it on its head while also keeping the general formula. That said, of course I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I had more extensive knowledge on the genre it's poking fun at, but I digress.
  Almost instantly, the author has a great sense of humor that comes from the heart. It's apparent that this is a pure, unfiltered passion project, and I am a softy when it comes to works like these. So, while there are many grammatical errors and the author has a lot of growing to do as a writer, I can forgive many of these things because the writing itself is so witty and just plain funny. It oozes with character and really makes you care about the protagonist in an endearing way that I haven't seen in a lot of Royal Road works.
  All that to say that Hardluck Henry is an amusing and entertaining read that will keep you reading, and the fact that these chapters are so short and the author's writing style is fairly bare bones make it all the more trivial to enjoy it habitually. Something to read every day or every other day for a laugh. And I think that's a special thing.
• R.MagnusRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 4.5

  I've really enjoyed this story so far. There's a lot of soul in it, and the style the author chose really complements and showcases that, paired with humor that consistently lands well (at least for me).
  The writing style is, in my opinion, one of the strongest points. It flows smoothly, and works well with the type of story the author is seemingly going for. The humor is well-timed, arriving at just the right moments. Full points from me here.
  Grammar, however, could use some work - particularly punctuation. I also noticed several instances where the author used Henry's name repeatedly instead of simply "he" even after it was clear Henry was the subject of the paragraph. This made the writing feel a bit repetitive at times.
  Story-wise, it’s still a bit early to judge. So far, it seems like a classic rags-to-riches isekai, though here it's quite literal since Henry needs gold to grow stronger due to his unique cultivation method. I'll keep following and update this section if needed as the plot progresses.
  As for the characters, there are two main ones at the point I've reached, and both are incredibly funny and lovable.
  In short, this is a very enjoyable story, and I'd definitely recommend it!
• EYESHINERRoyal Road

  ★★★★ 4.0

  Overall a fun Xianxia story! It got me to laugh on the first chapter. The characters have life and humor. I really enjoy the little interactions throughout the story, and I’ve always liked when characters bluster their way through tricky situations, which seems to be happening surprisingly often so far.
  The main character isn't the brightest or luckiest when it comes to financial decisions, which is a driving factor in the story. It kicks off with the consequences of both his own debt and the debt of another much more powerful entity, which causes the two of them to form an unlikely relationship. I’m looking forward to seeing how the two of them tackle Henry’s new world.
  The grammar is decent for the most part, although the author frequently omits commas. The dialogue can also be a little awkward at times, which makes it difficult to get immersed in the story. I can forgive this since the author has mentioned that this is his first serious fiction, and this also means that his writing will likely improve as time goes on. He has good ideas and the writing feels genuine, which to me is preferable and easier to fix than a bad story with perfect grammar. This is a nice light read with plenty of good humor.