Returning to the Verdant Green Waters sect over a decade after his exile, Wu Ying finds his position and place within the Sect in flux. Strong enough to be an Elder but not having achieved his rank via the normal methods, he has jealous and worried rivals to contend with. It is reminiscent of his own past, but now, he's an Elder and able to enact transformation in a broader sense.
Wu Ying must find his own place in the sect or leave it once and for all. The cultivation wounds he received in the south trouble him, and it will require time and resources - resources the Sect is able to provide - for him to stabilize his footing before he continues his climb to ascension. As with all things, immortality is never easy to grasp.
Tao Wong is a Canadian author based in Toronto who is best known for his System Apocalypse post-apocalyptic LitRPG series and A Thousand Li, a Chinese xianxia fantasy series. His work has been released in audio, paperback, hardcover and ebook formats and translated into German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and other languages. He was shortlisted for the UK Kindle Storyteller award in 2021 for his work, A Thousand Li: the Second Sect.
When he’s not writing and working, he’s practicing martial arts, reading and dreaming up new worlds.
Tao became a full-time author in 2019 and is a member of SF Canada, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) and ALLI.
A slower book, more focused on sect politics and study. Still good, but didn't feel like it really went anywhere. Some neat references to past books. Nice to see some old faces again. But this series lacks a core cast. A stable, set group of characters to focus on. It bounced around a bit to much, only the protagonist is constant.
A Thousand Li: The Fourth Stage is out now on Amazon, Audible and Kindle Unlimited!
This is the final arc of the A Thousand Li series. Wu Ying is within spitting distance of immortality. Of course, there are still obstacles in the way, his injuries being among them. Decades of work are left, and while he might have settled into the Verdant Green Waters sect, trouble will still find him.
Let's just say we might be visited by other, older enemies...
If you read and enjoyed the book, don't forget to download the bonus epilogue.
This is more sedentary than previous books. The MC isn’t rushing around, engaging in battles or having adventures. There are some political machinations and several philosophical discussions.
This is a huge disjointed mess, there's little snow coherence story in the lot. It is more a loosely connected collection of short stories, most of which have no resolution themselves
This book serves as filler, not much unfolds beyond slow mundane daily events. While I don't mind this aspect, things took a turn for the worse when politics entered the picture. I would have preferred if the main character had chosen to depart from the sect rather than endure mistreatment. Also, the unnecessary death of a beloved character from earlier installments was disappointing and unnecessary.
Title: "Unveiling 'The Fourth Stage (A Thousand Li #10)': A Journey through Cultivation Fiction"
Rating: ★★★★☆
Tao Wong's "The Fourth Stage (A Thousand Li #10)" marks another captivating installment in the popular cultivation fiction series. As the culmination of a saga filled with martial arts, mystical realms, and personal growth, this book delivers a satisfying conclusion while also reflecting on the broader landscape of the cultivation genre.
Wong's storytelling prowess shines once again in "The Fourth Stage," as he expertly weaves together intricate plotlines and dynamic character development. Protagonist Long Wuwei's journey to master the fourth stage of cultivation is fraught with challenges, both internal and external, creating a compelling narrative that keeps readers engaged from start to finish.
One of the strengths of "The Fourth Stage" lies in its exploration of themes such as perseverance, self-discovery, and the pursuit of power. Wong deftly delves into the complexities of the cultivation world, offering readers not only exhilarating action sequences but also moments of introspection and philosophical contemplation.
In comparison to its contemporaries in the cultivation fiction genre, "The Fourth Stage" stands out for its balanced blend of action, intrigue, and character-driven storytelling. While other series may focus primarily on flashy combat or intricate world-building, Wong manages to strike a harmonious balance between these elements, creating a narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Titles such as "Cradle" by Will Wight and "A Will Eternal" by Er Gen offer similar themes of cultivation and personal growth, but "The Fourth Stage" distinguishes itself through its unique setting, well-developed characters, and thematic depth. Wong's attention to detail and commitment to crafting a rich and immersive world set "The Fourth Stage" apart as a standout entry in the genre.
Overall, "The Fourth Stage (A Thousand Li #10)" delivers a satisfying conclusion to Long Wuwei's journey while also showcasing Wong's talent as a storyteller. With its compelling narrative, well-rounded characters, and thematic richness, this book cements its place as a must-read for fans of cultivation fiction. With a rating of four out of five stars, "The Fourth Stage" is a worthy addition to any reader's collection.
I saw the other guy's review about this book being only a filler and refused to acknowledge it because I was really excited about this book simply because of its Title, "Fourth Stage." I admit I love most that has happened, but I have some things I didnt like when I was nearing its end, especially about just one major thing...
*Spoiler alert* The Title is very misleading, should have been Fourth Cut\Form, I'm simply basing this from one of his earlier ones "The Third Cut." See it in my perspective, So if you have read "The Third Cut," and you see the Title of the 10th book as "Fourth Stage," there is only one thing you could think of, and given what has happened at 9th book, adding also the beginnings of this book itself, it will only leave you to imagine and assume so, that yeah, it MIGHT be about THAT THING after all, only in the end you become very annoyed for you realize the Title is misleading. Out of all the books I have read and I am new to this thing since last year only, I was compelled to do a review just so I was that annoyed. But in the end I still liked it overall somehow, the journey, I just didnt like the misleading part, didnt know if it was intentional or leaning on the fact that it did delve on THAT topic too, but it was not the major concern of this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
It is not only inspired and masterfully assembled, but it is also skillfully told. And how could it not? Tao Wong is a blessed Twitter who continuously evolves for the better and is a talented man.
So it was such a great disappointment in terms of plot.
If the hero had returned to renounce his gathering years to dedicate himself to the Department of Accounting and Bureaucratic Affairs, I would have felt less betrayed by the words “the story continues”.
The story does not continue; it had a stroke and requires urgent therapy to recover coherency and return to its roots. Fast-paced narrative is replaced by never-ending prose and words that presumptively were added to fill a certain number of words.
If this had been advertised as an interlude between works and stated like that, this would have been one of the best books in the series.
But I don't particularly appreciate coming to a book to find the purpose of it was to present another book for the sake of numbers.
Yet I still beg you to read A Thousand Li by Tao Wong, but perhaps skip this one. This book does not make justice to his style, his imagination or this story.
Every time I think I have this series figured out, it becomes something else and I love that. The Fourth Stage, the latest in Tao Wong's A Thousand Li series, follows our hero as he returns home after his years long all-Asia cultivation tour to a changed sect. I invariably love the books in this series and find inspiration in them for self-betterment, adhering to my principals, and cooking delicious meats.
The prior book was kinda creepy and dark so it was nice to come back to the comfort of characters we already love (and trust) and silly sect politics. It's strange to root for the protagonist while no longer wanting him to succeed in his ultimate goal for himself. Immortality, schmischmortality! Speaking of which, I love the theoretical discussions of dao and karma in these novels, they remind me of hanging out with my philosophy major friends in college.
And with just two books left in the series, I like that I'm still wondering where it's going next. Immortality? The Infernal Palaces? The return of the Sundering Blade? Giving it all up and opening up an inn/trading post? All of the above?
A much slower book in the series. The MC finally gets back to his sect but he is welcomed back with open arms. There are politics at play. He has gained too much power too fast. There is only so much power to go around in the sect and none of the other elders want to lose any power. This was a little bit stupid in my opinion. The MC didn't really want any power. He was verbally abused multiple times and shown no civility and then is admonished for not showing the proper amount of respect. I do have a little understanding of situation though. The sect is a rigid organization. Everything in it's place and has been around for 1000 years. The MC is a wandering cultivator who has been on his own for more than 10 years. He does things his own way. There really isn't a manual or protocol to follow for what he is able to do. Those two worldviews are going to come into conflict. The way it happened was a little stupid but the story had to be about something. To be honest it probably needed to be told the way it was. Overall, I still really enjoy the series and I am looking forward to the next one.
I find myself very disappointed in the contents of this book. Yes, we knew from the ending of the last book that a great deal of this book would be filled with the main character recuperating from the damage that was caused in the last book. The entirety of this next book is him trying to recuperate while fending off sect politics. By the end of the book, he’s barely recuperated and then has a relapse. The last few chapters sees years passing by with little or no advancement in his cultivation and just a little recovery. This book gives the feeling of a slice of life novel not so much a book on cultivation. This is more of my personal feelings on this book, others might really like this shift in style. If this is going to be a more permanent shift in style with the main character stalling out in his advancement, then I’m not sure if I would like to continue with this series despite the fact that I really enjoyed it so far.
This really is the best-written cultivation novel I've read, and I've read a lot of books in this genre. Tao Wong did an amazing job with a thousand li and I'm sad that the book is about to reach its conclusion. Now this book focuses on the recuperation of the main character, who had suffered some serious injuries in the battle from the previous book. While he was in the sect looking for ways to heal himself, he became entangled in petty sect politics that was quite comical if you ask me, I mean we had ancient elders bickering over nothing. What I did enjoy about this book, though, was the way the MC was given responsibilities that had him training apprentices. It was nice to see his growth, considering the book started with him being a lowly outer sect disciple. Although there were no major conflicts in this book, I didn't mind; the book managed to keep me interested until the end.
Unfortunately, once again nothing to write home about. It´s like Harry Potter written from Hagrid´s perspective. The whole book is just another mostly dull filler which the author seems to love that much. Nothing really important or interisting happens and there is no real progress AGAIN.
The interactions are lacking depth or humour. There are no interesting encounters or any thrill. The intrigues are rather lame and the reasonings in the trial truly hysterically bad.
It is very sad how the author handles this series which would have that much potential..
I realized that I have not said enough about how much I have enjoyed this cultivation series A THOUSAND LI. Over ten volumes, Wu Ying, a humble peasant, joins a sect (a group specializing in advancing toward immortality through developing one's core, body, skills, and traits, which includes developing deep insight and character along the way) and rises to the highest levels while facing myriad obstacles and life-threatening circumstances and while developing deep friendships (even a little romance). In other words, the series celebrates learning, growth, and attaining wisdom while having a little fun and joy along the way.
Back home. Finally. The Fourth Stage finds Wu Ying back at the Verdant Green Waters sect. Back home after after his exile. But. We always have a BUT. Things don't go as one would think.
A Thousand Li book 10 find Wu Ying welcomed but not. Healing but not. And everything was dealt with a deft hand that you come to expect from Tao Wong. Even after 10 books, Tao Wong still finds ways to make Wu Ying's journey intriguing.
A worthy addition to this series ... didn't disappoint.
Long have I waited for this sequel.
And boy, was it worth the wait!
Tao Wong's meticulous approach to storytelling once again shines through in "The Fourth Stage," delivering a masterful continuation of the A Thousand Li series.
It's another carefully crafted journey brimming with pearls of wisdom from the true East.
A heartfelt "thank you" to Wong for this enriching experience.
I've enjoyed the seires and think this book was interesting but could be summed up by he comes home and stuff happens and time passes on. The peril seems forced, as did the antagonistic behaviors of some the opposition. It's a good series, but I feel it wonders a bit about the last couple of books as the authors tries to show the passage of time required for the cultivation journey.
I've read countless book series and all, but the master authors produce books that are simply a waste of time to read. And this book is one of those. It adds to the story on two fronts. Long returns to the Sect and establishes his place. Everything else is simply meandering filler. In short, it's a true disappointment. Lastly...the epilog is laughable as it speeds through the years in an effort to set up the next book.
The way the Elders were behaving in this book - none of them had ever received any enlightenment and none of them are ascending ever. And this includes the Sect Leader too.
If I were the Heavens, I will be sending down the lightning strikes on them repeatedly. .
The best thing about this series is that you get to learn a little Chinese culture. This story of a farmer who gets a chance to learn from the top sect to become a cultivator was fantastic. In this book he goes back to the Sect to teach, but the current elders don’t want him to take from their political powers. Great Read
Tao Wong rarely disappoints and this book epitomizes that point. While not necessarily a game changer as far as plot development, the longer enduring character development and subtle (and greater) social developments are intriguing and entertaining. I highly anticipate the next book as this saga comes to a close.
Long Wu Ying is weary, injured, and finally returned home. This volume explores his recovery and his new duties teaching others. It is also reexamination of the Sect and similar groups, their purpose and nature. I found it interesting and therapeutic. A strong continuation of the immortals' journey.
This last book was much slower and didn't really hit the same as the previous books, its not bad but not as good as the earlier books but I guess it was a nice break for Long to heal. Hopefully this will set him up for some epic encounters soon. I like reading about Wing getting stronger and taking on enemies and making cultivation breakthroughs then kicking ass.
A wandering cultivator no more, Wu Ying returns to his sect and has to deal with politics, backstabbing, and more. There is a focus on younger members of the sect and this book is where Wu Ying matures. It’s good but different than the ventures of the previous books. Will be interesting how it progresses further.
Time flew a lot in this book. It was a nice change from the early books as the protagonist is thrust into a bright new world, and here we see the protagonist rediscover the same world but from a different perspective. Its hard to believe its been decades since the story in book 1, but it gives a nice view into the journey to attaining immortality that we've seen in these books.
This was a borderline filler book. Take care of some loose ends and set up the story for later books. I did not find this satisfying or beneficial at all. I was just happy to finish it and hope the next book actually progresses the story
Wu Ying is back in his sect, and his new rank & the politics that come with it are the focus of this book. It was a lovely change of pace and highlights the versatility of Wong’s writing style, I look forward to the next book.
The plot of this one is much slower. It's very much internal, with a bureaucratic battle as the most intense physical action. But I loved the internal development. There are some pretty profound questions hidden in this fantasy action book.
The series is on the whole excellent, for me this installment is like a holding pattern…filler. I await the next book with hopes of advancement in the storyline rather than buttressing the foundations.
I love this series of books. It is fun to read, I have to say that this one was not as action packed as previous books. But still a good read. Can’t wait for the next one.