License to Cultivate [Progression Fantasy] (280+ chapters and counting!)

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Book 1-5 are complete! Book 6 releases T/Th/Sat Chang-li may be a humble scribe, but he dreams of becoming a cultivator. When a ghost's legacy gives him a chance to follow that dream, he seizes it, defying the hidebound Empire and its vast array of rules and customs as he masters lux and perfects himself. But a cultivator needs more than just power. He needs a sect. What starts out as a scheme to avoid punishment becomes so much more as Chang-li and his friends find themselves reviving the ancient Sect of Morning Mist and its lost techniques. Here, a scribe can become a cultivator. A slave can win his freedom. A princess can discard her upbringing. The sect offers a chance for Chang-li and others to claim what's forbidden to them. If they can avoid entangling marriages, official scrutiny, and the wrath of more powerful enemies, the heavens are the limit for their ambitions. Still, someone destroyed Morning Mist once. If Chang-li isn't careful, he might find that having his license to cultivate revoked is the least of his problems... Cultivation with a tower-climbing twist. Character-driven, full of action and intrigue, this is one climb you won't want to miss. What to expect: Weak-to-Strong Unique, tightly-designed light-based magic system One primary point of view with several important secondaries. Give it a chance, the other POVs aren't just there to show how awesome the hero is! Series is planned to be 9 books long: while not a slow burn, themes and worldbuilding will be developed over the course of the series. Action packed, character driven Tower climbing with a twist NO harem Updates T/Th/Sat

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2024
Author: MTalon

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.6/ 5.0
Followers: 2,221
Views: 1,347,457

What readers say about License to Cultivate [Progression Fantasy] (280+ chapters and counting!)

“Such a great story with an interesting world, unique magic system, complex plot, and characters that I care about. Not murder focused. Plenty of solid xianxia flavor. Thank you Authors! I'm definitely stealing some ideas for my Castles& Crusades campaign…”
9thGuardianRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“An excellent cultivation story with motivated characters. It is xuanhuan with a cultivatiom system following seven colors, each with their own attributes. It has an imperial court setting with the right amount of intrigue, navigating politics and bueracracy…”
AspiringRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

9thGuardianRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Such a great story with an interesting world, unique magic system, complex plot, and characters that I care about. Not murder focused. Plenty of solid xianxia flavor. Thank you Authors! I'm definitely stealing some ideas for my Castles& Crusades campaign. Words to get review published. More words. Even more words now. I hope it is enough
AspiringRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
An excellent cultivation story with motivated characters. It is xuanhuan with a cultivatiom system following seven colors, each with their own attributes. It has an imperial court setting with the right amount of intrigue, navigating politics and bueracracy. There are four main characters that the plot follows but focusing primarily on our scribe turned cultivator.I'm looking forward to reading more.
A Lonely ReaderRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Uma história de cultivo original e bem planejada. Os reinos de cultivo são diferentes e bem pensados, eu sinceramente gostei muito. Acho que o autor se inspirou em "Crib". O protagonista é inteligente e corre atrás das coisas para fazer as coisas darem certo. Eu realmente gostei da parte em que ele falsifica os documentos e engana alguns oficiais. Bem, ele também parece ser muito talentoso. Espero profundamente que o autor continue com o ótimo trabalho que fez até agora. Leia porque seu tempo não será desperdiçado.
BitEater829Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I've been following a long with this for a while now, and I'm really loving it. The author said they're getting ready for book 2, so I figured this was a perfect time to review.Overall I'm giving this 5 stars. It really is a very good book so far, and I can't seem to read the new chapters fast enough.The story so far is for sure 5 stars. There's always something new or unexpected coming up. The author has done a really good job of investing me in the action as well as the cultivation aspects. I also feel like the setting has a lot of really cool potential, so I'm interested to keep reading and see where this goes.As far as the style goes, there are very much all the aspects of a good cultivation novel that you would expect. Really cool weapons, exciting martial arts fights, magic-like attacks, young masters, old monsters, and all of that. Another 5 stars.For the character aspect, I've really loved meeting the cast, and even a lot of the side characters are really fun. I'm very much interested in meeting additional characters in the setting, as well as seeing how the existing cast continues to develop, not just in cultivation, but as people. 5 starsFor the grammar, I've got to give this 5 stars as well. Any book that has me digging out the dictionary to learn a new word gets a high rating from me, especially if it's used in such a way that it doesn't just sound extra. No errors in spelling or whatnot, at least that I've noticed.Overall, 5 stars. Very highly recommended.
BlackBaronRedRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I am really enjoying reading this story. It is great seeing a group of people coming together in a natural manner, in other words largely by accident and bit by bit. The method of progression is new to me but written believably. The story is largely written from one point of view but you could pick any of the central characters as your preferred hero/ine.
There is a big bad meanie in the background and you can see here the story is going. That said, at their current rate of progression it’s going to be many years before our heroes meet up with them.
Brianna StormCloudRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I admit to initially being uncertain if I would like this story, but I love the authors other offerings, so I began! Generally I don’t like ‘cultivation’ novels, too much sitting, not enough action!
This novel is different, the emphasis more on the well crafted characters and their interactions, set in an culturally rich world. The MC’s all have their own goals, but are just trying to do their best in each given situation, regardless of self faults and outside influences!
So I have enjoyed the book immensely and am invested in Chang-li, Joshi and Hiroko’s lives, along with several other secondary characters. I will eagerly be awaiting further writings :)
CgarlRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
License to Cultivate has completely reignited my love for cultivation novels, and I can’t recommend it enough! The writing style is a standout—simple, yet so masterfully crafted that it pulls you in effortlessly. It’s the kind of prose that feels like a warm invitation, making even the most intricate cultivation concepts easy to grasp and enjoy. The way characters are introduced is nothing short of brilliant. Each one steps onto the page with such grace and purpose, their personalities unfolding naturally over time. These aren’t just sidekicks or plot devices; they’re complex individuals with their own dreams, struggles, and ambitions, making the world feel rich and lived-in. I’m genuinely invested in their journeys, and that’s a rare feat in this genre.Here’s my breakdown: Overall Score—top-tier, a must-read for any progression fantasy fan. The Style Score is stellar; the balance of simplicity and vivid imagery creates an addictive reading experience that’s hard to put down. For Story Score, the tower-climbing premise is executed with relentless pacing and clever twists, keeping me hooked through every grueling ascent. The Grammar Score is impeccable—clean, precise, and professional, it’s a polished gem that never stumbles. But the Character Score steals the show. These characters aren’t just names on a page; they’re flawed, relatable, and unforgettable, each with motivations that drive the narrative forward in surprising ways.I could easily see this series getting an audiobook—its storytelling practically begs to be heard. Please, don’t ever stop writing cultivation novels! The genre desperately needs this kind of revolutionary energy. I’d kill to see you take on Xianxia next, blending your fresh perspective with its mythic scope. License to Cultivate is a game-changer, and I’m already deep into bingeing Books 1 and 2—more, please!
DWWRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is the best series I've read on RR recently.
It's well written, the characters are exceptionally well thought though with their own motivations, agency and problems.
I've not spotted any typos and the prose is well polished.
The MC pov is really good, I genuinely enjoy his profession and how that's presented.
The other POVs are strong too, and I enjoy them too.
The world lore is deep and wide and clearly has a super weight behind it. Well done.
The magic system is good, sort of Brent Weeks's lightbringer x cultivation. It's well done.
Dartz 007Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is Xianxia that has maintained top quality so far. It is captivating and each of the side characters are three dimensional, interesting and have such depth that you could write a story with them being the main characters in their own right.
In addition to our beloved progression fantasy, the story grapples with a morally grey empire where the top cultivator has undoubtedly turned wastelands habitable and lifted the living of the common man, but at the same time restricts who can and cannot cultivate.
DioniiRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
One of the more unique cultivation stories i have read, give it a try, there is a lot to explore in this world and the author so far seems sufficient in doing it well, and there is room for a lot of books in this world and a lot of exploration, give it a shot