The First Sword That Comes Ashore Is To Stab The Person You Like First

If you are looking for a romance novel that brilliantly subverts the "obsessive stalker" trope while injecting a high-stakes competitive edge, The First Sword That Comes Ashore Is To Stab The Person You Like First by San Ri Cheng Jing is an absolute must-read. This story breathes new life into the Xianxia genre by blending the intensity of reincarnation with the absurdity of a high-pressure academic setting.

The narrative follows Bitao, a woman branded a madman in the fairy world for her relentless, unrequited devotion to the Immortal Emperor’s youngest son. After suffering through three hundred lifetimes of rejection and imprisonment, she finally reaches a breaking point. Her fateful, impulsive question to the cold and distant Mingguang Tianxian—asking what it would take for him to show her kindness—serves as the catalyst for a hilarious and heart-wrenching evolution.

What makes this novel truly unique is the ingenious "public examination" backdrop. Rather than focusing solely on cultivation or epic battles, the story mirrors the crushing anxiety of civil service exams, transposing that pressure onto immortals. Watching the protagonist pivot from her previous cycle of obsessive longing to a journey of self-actualization and academic survival is deeply satisfying.

San Ri Cheng Jing crafts a masterclass in character growth. Bitao’s transformation from a desperate, tragic figure into someone who treats her romantic pursuit with the same calculated strategy as an exam is both refreshing and incredibly witty. The chemistry between the leads is slow-burn, built on misunderstandings and shifting power dynamics that keep you turning pages. If you enjoy stories that prioritize character development alongside a clever, non-traditional plot, this Xianxia romance is a hidden gem that manages to be both emotionally resonant and laugh-out-loud funny.