Unparalleled Artist: Unlikely Hero
Following his father's murder, Wu Ling's mother returned to the life of a courtesan, disguising her young son as a girl to take refuge in the Bamboo Silk House, a women's only sect dedicated to the arts.
Now, as Wu Ling comes of age, he'll attempt to shed the disguise he's worn for so many years to step onto the path of cultivation. If only life would let him do so. Haunted by his father's enemies, Wu Ling leads a double life as the handsome Brother Wu Ling and the enchanting Sister Hua Qianhu.
Guided by a mysterious immortal master, Wu Ling will face the world's dangers with art as his weapon. His greatest challenge, however, may lie in matters of the heart: as he pursues the woman he loves in one guise, he is entangled by the affections of men captivated by the other. In a world where identity is fluid and love knows no bounds, can Wu Ling find true happiness without sacrificing half of who he is?
Note: This was originally submitted as part of a previous WPC, however, it has undergone significant revisions (volume one alone is 27,000 words longer than the previous version), so if you've seen it before, give it a chance again!
I'm planning to follow this series over from Royal Road. This story was fun to read so far and it's good seeing a different side to Xianxia than is normally focused on. I really like the story progression so far and that the characters have to put thought and effort into their achievements. The gender fluidity aspect is well balanced to me but I think the romance sub-plot and love interest(s) are under developed to the point of feeling extraneous. Also, please no tone deaf or token harem. The world is interesting and attracts my attention but could use more depth to build immersion if you're looking to improve. At this point, it often feels like the characters are overwhelming their environment rather than existing in it (a little touch of the 'conversation in an empty, white room' thing). Overall, I'm this story glad it's seen some recognition and really looking forward to seeing how it continues.