Reverend Insanity
 Web serial cover art | |
| Author | Gu Zhen Ren |
|---|---|
| Original title | 蛊真人 |
| Language | Chinese |
| Genre | Xianxia, dark fantasy |
| Publisher | Qidian |
| Publication date | June 22, 2012 – May 2019 |
| Publication place | China |
Published in English | 2019–2021 |
| Media type | Web novel |
Reverend Insanity (Chinese: 蛊真人; pinyin: Gǔ Zhēn Rén) is a Chinese xianxia novel written by Gu Zhen Ren (蛊真人). It was serialized on the online platform Qidian from 22 June 2012 until its termination in May 2019, totaling 2,333 chapters plus an epilogue. In May 2019, the novel was banned in mainland China for allegedly "promoting unhealthy values of violence, cruelty, and extreme individualism" and was removed from all major domestic platforms. The author has released no new chapters since the ban.[1]
Plot
[edit source]Fang Yuan: Fang Yuan (古月方源, Gu Yue Fang Yuan, lit. Ancient Moon Fang Yuan) is the protagonist of Reverend Insanity. During a final battle against the Gu Immortals and most of the righteous factions, Fang Yuan activates the Spring Autumn Cicada Gu, reversing time and returning his soul 500 years to his fifteen-year-old body on Qing Mao Mountain.
Reborn with complete memories and centuries of experience, Fang Yuan pursues eternal life without moral constraints. He manipulates clans, orchestrates massacres, and betrays allies when expedient. Using foreknowledge of inheritances, heavenly tribulations, and the eventual convergence of the Five Regions, he rapidly ascends while having only one objective: reaching eternal life.
Setting
[edit source]The Gu World is built around Gu, sentient parasitic insects, each granting exactly one unique ability. Examples include Moonlight Gu (projectile attacks), Spring Autumn Cicada (time reversal), and Fate Gu (destiny manipulation). Cultivators do not gain power directly; they must locate, refine, nurture, and combine Gu inside their aperture. Resources are finite, leading to constant conflict.
Cultivation is divided into nine ranks, with rank 6 marking the divide between mortal Gu Masters and immortal Gu Immortals. The world consists of five major regions: Southern Border, Northern Plains, Eastern Sea, Western Desert, and Central Continent, initially separated by regional walls.
Publication history
[edit source]The novel was first published on Qidian on 22 June 2012. Serialization continued until May 2019, when it was forcibly discontinued following a government ban.[2]
Translations
[edit source]An official English translation was published on Webnovel beginning in 2019, but was discontinued around chapter 1,000 in 2021. Unofficial fan translations covering all 2,333 chapters remain available online.[3]
Censorship
[edit source]In April 2019, Reverend Insanity was officially banned in mainland China and removed from all major domestic platforms. Chinese authorities cited concerns about the novel "promoting unhealthy values of violence, cruelty, and extreme individualism." No new official chapters have been released since the ban, though the author has published other works.[4][5][6]
Adaptations
[edit source]Manhua
[edit source]An official manhua adaptation was serialized from 2018 to 2020, totaling 96 chapters before being discontinued due to funding difficulties related to the novel's ban.[7]
In July 2025, an unofficial fan-supported manhua remake by Kodoku Studio began serialization and remains ongoing.[8]
See also
[edit source]References
[edit source]- ↑ "'Healthy, positive, correct': China's censorship tightens grip on online lit". South China Morning Post. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
- ↑ Mr.Mysteries (16 March 2025). Reverend Insanity the banned Webnovel. Retrieved 4 December 2025 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Reverend Insanity.
- ↑ Davidson, Helen; Lin, Chi-hui (12 October 2024). "China cracks down on Communist party officials for reading banned books". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
- ↑ "'Healthy, positive, correct': China's censorship tightens grip on online lit". South China Morning Post. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
- ↑ "Inkstone". inkstone.webnovel.com. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
- ↑ Reverend Insanity. 27 October 2018.
- ↑ Mehmet (4 July 2025). "Reverend Insanity [EN] -". Retrieved 4 December 2025.
Further reading
[edit source]- 【中国网络小说好看榜】玄幻修真"类型榜"之《蛊真人》 [China's Good Web Novel Rankings: Xianxia "Genre List" — Reverend Insanity]. Guangming Net (in Chinese). 25 July 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
- Stone, Eric R. (28 November 2023). "Redacted Fantasy: China's Dystopian Censorship of Online Fiction". Lacuna Magazine. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
External links
[edit source]Official website (archived Qidian page, no longer accessible)
- Official English Translation on WebNovel (official English translation, discontinued)
- Reverend Insanity at NovelUpdates (links to fan translation groups)