One of the most enjoyable reads I’ve found on Royal Road, and for good reason. Beware of Chicken takes the classic Xianxia cultivation genre and turns it on its head with equal parts humour, warmth, and clever self-awareness. Instead of endless arrogant young masters and grimdark sect politics, you get Jin. A protagonist who sees the clichés for what they are and decisively chooses a life of farming instead.
Beware of Chicken Review
But don’t mistake “slice of life” for “boring.” This series has some of the most charming character work I’ve seen, from the stubbornly chill main character to the delightful cast of animals who don’t stay “just animals” for long. Watching them grow, both literally and figuratively, from regular farm creatures into fully realised cultivators is unexpectedly touching and consistently funny. Their perspectives add a fresh and creative twist that keeps the standard cultivation tropes feeling new.
The tone is relaxed but never aimless. There might not be one giant save-the-world plotline, but there are mysteries to uncover, challenges to overcome, and a steady, rewarding sense of progression that makes each new chapter something to look forward to. The prose is clean and easy to read, with good pacing that knows when to deliver comedy, introspection, or just a wholesome moment of tending crops.
If you want a story that can make you laugh out loud, care deeply about a bunch of animals, and offer a genuinely novel take on the cultivation genre, this is absolutely for you. Highly recommended for anyone looking for something heartfelt, funny, and just a little bit subversive, without sacrificing all the cool stuff that makes progression fantasy fun in the first place.
If you’re a fan of long, character-driven slice-of-life webnovels, you might also enjoy reading my review of The Vengeful Scribe.
