An Inclusive Cultivation Journey — Age of the Divine Dragon (60 Chapters, Ongoing)

[ZioHill]

Hello everyone,

I would like to invite fellow readers and authors to explore my ongoing web novel, Age of the Divine Dragon, currently published on Scribble Hub. The series now has 60 chapters released, totaling nearly 40,000 words, and continues to grow steadily.

I update the story five times per week, from Monday to Friday, maintaining a consistent rhythm with short, dynamic chapters that focus on progression and narrative flow rather than unnecessary filler.

Synopsis

Age of the Divine Dragon follows Huang Di, an orphan whose fate is altered after a powerful cultivator saves him from a deadly encounter. Drawn into the world of martial cultivation, Huang Di must endure harsh training, sect intrigue, hidden realms, and ancient forces as he walks a path shaped by discipline, sacrifice, and relentless growth.
The story blends Eastern cultivation traditions with Western narrative structure, focusing on steady progression, character development, and an expanding world filled with danger and opportunity.

Accessibility and Visual Support:
In addition to the written narrative, the series includes character illustrations and visual references. These are intended to support readers who experience aphantasia, helping them visualize characters and better immerse themselves in the story, while also enriching the experience for visual-oriented readers.

If you enjoy cultivation stories with consistent updates, clear progression, and an inclusive approach to storytelling, I warmly invite you to give the series a try.

You can read it here:

Age of the Divine Dragon

Huang Di was nothing more than an orphan struggling to survive in a ruthless world ruled by cultivators. With no martial training, no family, and no future, he seemed destined to remain powerless until a chance encounter with a mysterious elder changed his fate forever. Thrown into the harsh...

www.scribblehub.com

Thank you for your time, and I wish everyone continued success on their creative journeys.

 

[BigBadBoi]

God I wish the AI bubble pops already

 

[NapLovingImmortal]

Another AI-slop. Oh Great One, come and save us... Please!

 

[PancakesWitch]

all the comments except for 1 guy are accounts created in the same date you published your novel, curious

 

[Worthy39]

Another AI-slop. Oh Great One, come and save us... Please!

Nobody is coming to save you. This is the fate of humanity.

 

[ZioHill]

It’s interesting that you brought up AI. I don’t deny that I use AI for translation and grammar checking, but the writing, story, and plot were entirely created by me. I hope that, at the very least, those who criticized it took the time to actually read the story before drawing their own conclusions. In any case, I truly appreciate the time and attention you’ve given to reading this post.

all the comments except for 1 guy are accounts created in the same date you published your novel, curious

Some of them are my friends they didn’t use Scribble Hub either, as I hadn’t even known about this platform myself until they mentioned it. They told me it was a great place with a wonderful community, ideal for sharing my story freely with anyone interested. Of course, I also hoped my friends and family could easily access it through a reliable platform. Unfortunately, it seems I was mistaken about Scribble Hub, which is quite disappointing. Still, I plan to publish at least Volume 1 here, as I’m already finishing up Volume 3. Either way, thank you for your interest.

Another AI-slop. Oh Great One, come and save us... Please!

Yours was the funniest one. I hope you’ve read at least ten chapters before reaching that conclusion! Either way, thank you for giving me a smile. Have a wonderful day.

Nobody is coming to save you. This is the fate of humanity.

Yes, evil robots will take over everything and as *The Matrix* already warned us, the end will be inevitable.

 

[pangmida]

Huang Di? Like 皇帝? Emperor in Chinese?

 

[PancakesWitch]

It’s interesting that you brought up AI. I don’t deny that I use AI for translation and grammar checking, but the writing, story, and plot were entirely created by me. I hope that, at the very least, those who criticized it took the time to actually read the story before drawing their own conclusions. In any case, I truly appreciate the time and attention you’ve given to reading this post.

Some of them are my friends they didn’t use Scribble Hub either, as I hadn’t even known about this platform myself until they mentioned it. They told me it was a great place with a wonderful community, ideal for sharing my story freely with anyone interested. Of course, I also hoped my friends and family could easily access it through a reliable platform. Unfortunately, it seems I was mistaken about Scribble Hub, which is quite disappointing. Still, I plan to publish at least Volume 1 here, as I’m already finishing up Volume 3. Either way, thank you for your interest.

There is a group of "authors" who are constantly posting AI generated novels with AI-generated covers and they're mostly all chinese, they're a huge circle of peple that constantly post AI-generated reviews and comments on each other's AI-generated novels to gather fake traction, though at the end nobody read their stuff even when they post like 10 chapters a day per novel, which is ridiculous to say the least.
It's especially annoying because you see a flood of new novels but 90% of them are just AI generated nonsense.
If you're not part of that group then I'm sorry if I offended you, but if you are, please just stop it, we're tired of it.

 

[ZioHill]

Huang Di? Like 皇帝? Emperor in Chinese?

The name I chose is connected to the story, but since I don’t like giving spoilers, I’d rather not say too much about it. The initial idea was meant as a tribute. I’m an avid reader of Chinese literature, and that’s precisely why I picked this name in the first place. That said, I’m considering weaving something related into the future plot, though I won’t go into details just yet. I hope you’ll give it a chance, and if you do read it, I’d truly appreciate any comments you might leave.

There is a group of "authors" who are constantly posting AI generated novels with AI-generated covers and they're mostly all chinese, they're a huge circle of peple that constantly post AI-generated reviews and comments on each other's AI-generated novels to gather fake traction, though at the end nobody read their stuff even when they post like 10 chapters a day per novel, which is ridiculous to say the least.
It's especially annoying because you see a flood of new novels but 90% of them are just AI generated nonsense.
If you're not part of that group then I'm sorry if I offended you, but if you are, please just stop it, we're tired of it.

I understand your frustration, and I want to clarify that I’m not part of any group posting hhat are you referring to?. I’ve been reading Eastern web novels for over ten years, mostly on WuxiaWorld and originally considered publishing my story on Webnovel. However, I didn’t like their system, as I want to share my work freely and make it accessible to everyone.

I decided to publish here, as well as on Royal Road and Wattpad, to reach a broader and more diverse audience. Honest feedback from different readers helps me grow, especially since staying in a single “bubble” can limit one’s perspective.

I was also drawn to this platform because it seems more open to mature content. This first volume includes only a small amount, but later volumes will explore those themes more deeply. I was concerned that, by the time I reached chapter 200 elsewhere, my story might be flagged or removed due to stricter content policies or artistic censorship, which is why I prioritized posting here. In fact, my original plan was to publish the entire saga on this platform.

Unfortunately, I’ve noticed a lot of premature judgment here, more than on other sites and that might explain some of the reactions I’ve seen.

To wrap up: I truly appreciate your comment. I know this genre isn’t everyone’s preference, many readers here lean toward LitRPG and sometimes critiques stem more from genre bias than the work itself. That’s fair; not every story resonates with every reader.

Still, thank you for your feedback, and I hope you’ll consider giving my story a chance.

 

[Macha]

The name I chose is connected to the story, but since I don’t like giving spoilers, I’d rather not say too much about it. The initial idea was meant as a tribute. I’m an avid reader of Chinese literature, and that’s precisely why I picked this name in the first place. That said, I’m considering weaving something related into the future plot, though I won’t go into details just yet. I hope you’ll give it a chance, and if you do read it, I’d truly appreciate any comments you might leave.

I understand your frustration, and I want to clarify that I’m not part of any group posting hhat are you referring to?. I’ve been reading Eastern web novels for over ten years, mostly on WuxiaWorld and originally considered publishing my story on Webnovel. However, I didn’t like their system, as I want to share my work freely and make it accessible to everyone.

I decided to publish here, as well as on Royal Road and Wattpad, to reach a broader and more diverse audience. Honest feedback from different readers helps me grow, especially since staying in a single “bubble” can limit one’s perspective.

I was also drawn to this platform because it seems more open to mature content. This first volume includes only a small amount, but later volumes will explore those themes more deeply. I was concerned that, by the time I reached chapter 200 elsewhere, my story might be flagged or removed due to stricter content policies or artistic censorship, which is why I prioritized posting here. In fact, my original plan was to publish the entire saga on this platform.

Unfortunately, I’ve noticed a lot of premature judgment here, more than on other sites and that might explain some of the reactions I’ve seen.

To wrap up: I truly appreciate your comment. I know this genre isn’t everyone’s preference, many readers here lean toward LitRPG and sometimes critiques stem more from genre bias than the work itself. That’s fair; not every story resonates with every reader.

Still, thank you for your feedback, and I hope you’ll consider giving my story a chance.

Understandable. But let me point out what make your novel not popular on this site. This is not a criticism, okay? Take it as an observation from a reader's viewpoint.

First of all, your writing style is very different with what most Eastern web novel readers are used to. It's quite descriptive, I guess? There are more narration than dialogues. The writing style leans toward athmospheric and cinematic rather than immersive.

Your sentences structure are also monotonous, which often makes readers lost interest. Many sentences starts with adverbs like meanwhile or present participles like following, sensing, panting, etc. People most likely mistakes your writing for an AI slop because of this lack of variations.

And then there are issues with your statements that readers here like LitRPG more than anything. Are you sure you did your research? If someone want to read LitRPG, they would go to RR. SH readers usually visit the site because they want to read what is not posted on RR because of their stricter content guidelines. Know what I mean?

Hope this helps!

 

[ZioHill]

Understandable. But let me point out what make your novel not popular on this site. This is not a criticism, okay? Take it as an observation from a reader's viewpoint.

First of all, your writing style is very different with what most Eastern web novel readers are used to. It's quite descriptive, I guess? There are more narration than dialogues. The writing style leans toward athmospheric and cinematic rather than immersive.

Your sentences structure are also monotonous, which often makes readers lost interest. Many sentences starts with adverbs like meanwhile or present participles like following, sensing, panting, etc. People most likely mistakes your writing for an AI slop because of this lack of variations.

And then there are issues with your statements that readers here like LitRPG more than anything. Are you sure you did your research? If someone want to read LitRPG, they would go to RR. SH readers usually visit the site because they want to read what is not posted on RR because of their stricter content guidelines. Know what I mean?

Hope this helps!

Thank you for your honest feedback. It truly motivates me to improve, both in form and narrative approach. My story isn't meant to be a pure Eastern fantasy in the conventional sense. It blends Eastern and Western elements throughout, as I've structured it more like a novel than a typical web serial.

If you read a bit further, you'll encounter characters already introduced whose names draw inspiration from Western culture. For example, Merlin. Among others. I won't give too many spoilers. In short, it's a hybrid: part homage, part original fiction, weaving together figures and themes from both Eastern and Western traditions.

One important note. English isn't my native language. While I read English fluently, my writing isn't yet at a professional level, so I use AI tools to assist with translation. I'm aware this may affect nuance or stylistic quality. But since I'm publishing this work for free as a personal hobby, hiring a professional translator isn't feasible for me right now.

That's exactly why I posted here. To seek genuine, constructive opinions like yours. I truly appreciate the time you took to read even a portion of my story and share your perspective. I hope more readers are willing to offer honest thoughts like this. It's how I grow as a writer. Thank you again.

Understandable. But let me point out what make your novel not popular on this site. This is not a criticism, okay? Take it as an observation from a reader's viewpoint.

First of all, your writing style is very different with what most Eastern web novel readers are used to. It's quite descriptive, I guess? There are more narration than dialogues. The writing style leans toward athmospheric and cinematic rather than immersive.

Your sentences structure are also monotonous, which often makes readers lost interest. Many sentences starts with adverbs like meanwhile or present participles like following, sensing, panting, etc. People most likely mistakes your writing for an AI slop because of this lack of variations.

And then there are issues with your statements that readers here like LitRPG more than anything. Are you sure you did your research? If someone want to read LitRPG, they would go to RR. SH readers usually visit the site because they want to read what is not posted on RR because of their stricter content guidelines. Know what I mean?

Hope this helps!

P.S. Please disregard my earlier comment about LitRPG. It was just a momentary vent.

I've noticed that some people leave unkind or dismissive remarks, and when I look at certain responses, there's often a clear bias against wuxia, xianxia, and similar genres. I won't name anyone, as this isn't the place for that. But I've also observed that even readers who criticize so-called trolls can carry their own biases, like those endless online arguments over things such as boxers versus briefs. In my view, those kinds of disputes are childish, and I choose to ignore them.

I fully recognize that this platform hosts an incredibly diverse range of genres. In fact, I've already found a few stories here that match my interests, and I plan to read them.

Sorry if this got a bit long. Best wishes to you!

 

[Eldoria]

My suggestions for developing your fiction:

(1) Your chapters are more about "telling" than "showing," which reduces immersion for the reader. The solution is to explain the characters' personalities and emotions through actions.

You can explain the characters' emotions through gestures or body language (e.g., sad = curved lips, determined = clenched fists, etc). This will make your characters more alive and feel more immersive.

Use exposition sparingly. You also set aside 1-2 sentences of exposition for each action to clarify worldbuilding or lore.

(2) Your paragraphs are too fat, which tires the reader. The solution is to cut fat paragraphs to 1-3 sentences per paragraph to be more mobile-friendly.

(3) Your chapters are actually short (average 650 words per chapter). This is good for initial visibility. However, as the story progresses, it will be difficult to narrate the action without getting cut off midway.

But, the chapters feel fat because they have many fat paragraphs.

In the future, I recommend you gradually increase your chapter size: 650, 800, 1000, 1500 words per chapter, etc. This way, you can maintain the depth and quality of the content.

(4) The last suggestion (optional) is that your cover is already good in terms of art. However, the cover is not friendly in SH which is female centric. Your cover is more friendly in RR which is male centric.

The solution, maybe you can compromise by including an elegant heroine character with the MC. This way, your novel will have the visibility to attract new readers in SH.

However, it should be noted, the heroine must have a dominant role, not just a background or extra. If you include a heroine just for click bait, readers will also feel fooled.

 

[BigBadBoi]

English isn't my native language.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt if this was tge case. Your initial post felt so soulless I believed it was AI slop. Good luck. Don't rely too much on translation tools because they're too literal and soulless due to being lobotomized for corporate writing.

 

[PancakesWitch]

Thank you for your honest feedback. It truly motivates me to improve, both in form and narrative approach. My story isn't meant to be a pure Eastern fantasy in the conventional sense. It blends Eastern and Western elements throughout, as I've structured it more like a novel than a typical web serial.

If you read a bit further, you'll encounter characters already introduced whose names draw inspiration from Western culture. For example, Merlin. Among others. I won't give too many spoilers. In short, it's a hybrid: part homage, part original fiction, weaving together figures and themes from both Eastern and Western traditions.

One important note. English isn't my native language. While I read English fluently, my writing isn't yet at a professional level, so I use AI tools to assist with translation. I'm aware this may affect nuance or stylistic quality. But since I'm publishing this work for free as a personal hobby, hiring a professional translator isn't feasible for me right now.

That's exactly why I posted here. To seek genuine, constructive opinions like yours. I truly appreciate the time you took to read even a portion of my story and share your perspective. I hope more readers are willing to offer honest thoughts like this. It's how I grow as a writer. Thank you again.

P.S. Please disregard my earlier comment about LitRPG. It was just a momentary vent.

I've noticed that some people leave unkind or dismissive remarks, and when I look at certain responses, there's often a clear bias against wuxia, xianxia, and similar genres. I won't name anyone, as this isn't the place for that. But I've also observed that even readers who criticize so-called trolls can carry their own biases, like those endless online arguments over things such as boxers versus briefs. In my view, those kinds of disputes are childish, and I choose to ignore them.

I fully recognize that this platform hosts an incredibly diverse range of genres. In fact, I've already found a few stories here that match my interests, and I plan to read them.

Sorry if this got a bit long. Best wishes to you!

Xianxia does well in Webnovel.com and RR

 

[ZioHill]

My suggestions for developing your fiction:

(1) Your chapters are more about "telling" than "showing," which reduces immersion for the reader. The solution is to explain the characters' personalities and emotions through actions.

You can explain the characters' emotions through gestures or body language (e.g., sad = curved lips, determined = clenched fists, etc). This will make your characters more alive and feel more immersive.

Use exposition sparingly. You also set aside 1-2 sentences of exposition for each action to clarify worldbuilding or lore.

(2) Your paragraphs are too fat, which tires the reader. The solution is to cut fat paragraphs to 1-3 sentences per paragraph to be more mobile-friendly.

(3) Your chapters are actually short (average 650 words per chapter). This is good for initial visibility. However, as the story progresses, it will be difficult to narrate the action without getting cut off midway.

But, the chapters feel fat because they have many fat paragraphs.

In the future, I recommend you gradually increase your chapter size: 650, 800, 1000, 1500 words per chapter, etc. This way, you can maintain the depth and quality of the content.

(4) The last suggestion (optional) is that your cover is already good in terms of art. However, the cover is not friendly in SH which is female centric. Your cover is more friendly in RR which is male centric.

The solution, maybe you can compromise by including an elegant heroine character with the MC. This way, your novel will have the visibility to attract new readers in SH.

However, it should be noted, the heroine must have a dominant role, not just a background or extra. If you include a heroine just for click bait, readers will also feel fooled.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful suggestions.

I have always written short stories in the past, so this is my first attempt at a long form narrative. Originally, the story was designed to fit a novel format. However, as a new author, I realized I would need to build an audience first before pursuing a traditional book release. Publishing it as a web novel came later, as a way to share the work and gather feedback.

Since this is my debut long story, it naturally has its flaws but also its strengths. The chapters have evolved alongside my own growth as a writer. By the time I reached Volume 3, which I am now finishing, my average chapter length exceeded 2000 words. Volume 1 averaged around 800 words per chapter, and Volume 2 already grew to over 1000.

Regarding dialogue, if you read beyond the first chapter, you will notice there is actually quite a lot of it, even within shorter chapters. The narrative style is intentional. The story is framed as if being recounted by a cultivator who loves marking time, dates, and historical context. Hence the descriptive tone and frequent exposition. It is meant to feel like an oral chronicle from someone deeply immersed in that world.

I truly appreciate the time you took to read and share such clear, constructive feedback. It is both insightful and encouraging. Thank you.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt if this was tge case. Your initial post felt so soulless I believed it was AI slop. Good luck. Don't rely too much on translation tools because they're too literal and soulless due to being lobotomized for corporate writing.

No problem at all. I started this conversation not only to share my work but also to receive feedback, honest opinions, and learn along the way.

The original post in this thread was written by me and then refined using AI. Not to replace my voice, but to improve clarity, especially in English. I agree with you. The AI still cant fully capture the essence of my story. However, when it comes to translation, it's undeniably better than my own English writing. Honestly, that's just a fact.

Thank you for your time. I hope you'll consider giving my story a chance. If you do read it, I'd warmly welcome any thoughts or honest feedback you'd like to share.

Xianxia does well in Webnovel.com and RR

Yes, I've definitely noticed that. There's a huge difference in visibility.
My novel is also being posted on Royal Road, and in terms of views, the numbers there are many times higher. Here, however, it seems that stories containing any adult content, especially the kind that appears in certain chapters of Volumes 2 and 3, might face more restrictions or limited reach. It could even be too much for Royal Road once we get there, but we'll see.

As for Webnovel.com, I understand they have a much larger audience, but I had concerns about author rights. From what I read, accepting their contract would mean transferring ownership of my story's rights to them, which didn't feel right for me at this stage.

That said, once my writing and storytelling improve further, I might reconsider posting there in the future.
Thank you for your feedback!

 

[PancakesWitch]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful suggestions.

I have always written short stories in the past, so this is my first attempt at a long form narrative. Originally, the story was designed to fit a novel format. However, as a new author, I realized I would need to build an audience first before pursuing a traditional book release. Publishing it as a web novel came later, as a way to share the work and gather feedback.

Since this is my debut long story, it naturally has its flaws but also its strengths. The chapters have evolved alongside my own growth as a writer. By the time I reached Volume 3, which I am now finishing, my average chapter length exceeded 2000 words. Volume 1 averaged around 800 words per chapter, and Volume 2 already grew to over 1000.

Regarding dialogue, if you read beyond the first chapter, you will notice there is actually quite a lot of it, even within shorter chapters. The narrative style is intentional. The story is framed as if being recounted by a cultivator who loves marking time, dates, and historical context. Hence the descriptive tone and frequent exposition. It is meant to feel like an oral chronicle from someone deeply immersed in that world.

I truly appreciate the time you took to read and share such clear, constructive feedback. It is both insightful and encouraging. Thank you.

No problem at all. I started this conversation not only to share my work but also to receive feedback, honest opinions, and learn along the way.

The original post in this thread was written by me and then refined using AI. Not to replace my voice, but to improve clarity, especially in English. I agree with you. The AI still cant fully capture the essence of my story. However, when it comes to translation, it's undeniably better than my own English writing. Honestly, that's just a fact.

Thank you for your time. I hope you'll consider giving my story a chance. If you do read it, I'd warmly welcome any thoughts or honest feedback you'd like to share.

Yes, I've definitely noticed that. There's a huge difference in visibility.
My novel is also being posted on Royal Road, and in terms of views, the numbers there are many times higher. Here, however, it seems that stories containing any adult content, especially the kind that appears in certain chapters of Volumes 2 and 3, might face more restrictions or limited reach. It could even be too much for Royal Road once we get there, but we'll see.

As for Webnovel.com, I understand they have a much larger audience, but I had concerns about author rights. From what I read, accepting their contract would mean transferring ownership of my story's rights to them, which didn't feel right for me at this stage.

That said, once my writing and storytelling improve further, I might reconsider posting there in the future.
Thank you for your feedback!

Adult content? I think that's the opposite, Scribblehub thrives with a lot of smut content, it is Royal Road who is pro censorship and will shadowban books that tag themselves as NSFW or have any kind of adult content related to sexual things
Webnovel is in a weird spot where they encourage authors to not do smut-centric stories with their rules but authors keep flooding the page with millions of these novels every month and they get contracted anyway

 

[ZioHill]

Adult content? I think that's the opposite, Scribblehub thrives with a lot of smut content, it is Royal Road who is pro censorship and will shadowban books that tag themselves as NSFW or have any kind of adult content related to sexual things
Webnovel is in a weird spot where they encourage authors to not do smut-centric stories with their rules but authors keep flooding the page with millions of these novels every month and they get contracted anyway

Yes, that's exactly why I've chosen to prioritize and develop my story here. I've noticed that Scribble Hub has little to no censorship. So if Royal Road ever decides to remove my novel because some chapters contain sexual content, at least it will continue to grow here, with new chapters added regularly.

As for Webnovel, I don't like their system. Readers have to pay, often huge amounts, to access my story. Given that the full work will span many chapters and volumes, that model doesn't fit my vision.

Right now, I simply want the freedom to write what I want, when I want. And here on SH, it seems I can do exactly that, within reasonable limits, of course.

 

[FRWriter]

Some people upload like 4 to 5k-word chapters, and I always tell them it's okay to stretch them out a little.

You, on the other hand, have done the opposite. 650-word average? This is going waaay too far.

I love your drawings, though; they look awesome.

 

[ZioHill]

Some people upload like 4 to 5k-word chapters, and I always tell them it's okay to stretch them out a little.

You, on the other hand, have done the opposite. 650-word average? This is going waaay too far.

I love your drawings, though; they look awesome.

Thank you. They take a lot of work, but it’s absolutely worth it. My sister has aphantasia, which means she can’t visualize images in her mind. To help her experience the story in a way she could both read and understand, I added this feature. Your words encourage me to keep sharing it.