Conquest

• Author: Dancing (Tiao Wu)
• Genres: Xuanhuan, Harem, Phiêu Lưu
• Status: Completed
• Chapters: 585
• Rating: ★ 4.3 / 5
• Published: 2026-09-30

A Savage Upending the World Order

Conquest is no altruistic savior-of-the-world story. Written by Khiêu Vũ, this novel follows Shaar, a young man raised with the mindset of an apex predator.

Raised by a mysterious old beggar who happens to be a descendant of the Tulip family, Shaar's origins are shrouded in mystery from the get-go. He steps out of the wilderness armed with bizarre combat skills and a ruthlessly pragmatic outlook.

Surviving the law of the jungle has forged a protagonist who is both simple-minded and insanely cunning. To him, civilized society is just a bigger jungle where he must make a name for himself at all costs.

Pragmatic Instincts and a Bizarre Taste

What caught my attention most is his warped sense of beauty—he only goes for oversized women. This quirk isn't just for cheap laughs; it highlights his unfettered freedom, completely unbound by societal norms.

Shaar's cunning doesn't stem from some grand, 4D-chess master plan, but from raw survival instinct. He sees right through the ruling class with the eyes of an outsider driven by sheer pragmatism.

Despite the harem elements, the author's approach to romance is quite unconventional. Shaar treats his female pursuers with a half-passionate, half-indifferent attitude that keeps things somewhat intriguing.

The Political Chessboard of Byzantine

Joining the Byzantine military marks a major turning point in his life. Here, battles are won not just with swords, but with sharp military strategy.

The author does a solid job depicting Shaar's climb through the military ranks. Every hurdle he faces is fraught with danger, requiring him to adapt on the fly to sudden political shifts.

The addition of a goblin sidekick breathes fresh air into the story's adventure aspect. The banter between this jungle boy and the mythical creature is consistently funny and unique.

Pros of an Unconventional Narrative

• Features a protagonist with an incredibly strong personality who defies the usual tropes of the xuanhuan genre.
• Battles are written with actual tactical thinking, avoiding lazy, overnight power-ups.
• Dark humor is seamlessly woven into the protagonist's most desperate situations.
• The world-building is expansive, filled with mysteries surrounding the heritage of the Tulip family.
• The pacing is steady, giving readers enough time to appreciate Shaar's gradual shift in mindset over time.

Disappointing Flaws

• The power system is highly controversial, lacking clear rules and logic.
• As the story drags on, the sharp wit in the comedy noticeably degrades and falls flat.
• Several plot points are resolved rather contrivedly, relying more on pure luck than actual capability.
• The supporting cast is bloated, yet many characters are shallow and leave the reader feeling disconnected.

Community Reviews

• Novel Updates: 4.3/5.0 (318 ratings, checked on 09/30/2026). Readers praise the humor and engaging plot, though some complain about the muddy power scaling.
• Novellunar: 4.4/5.0 (1,793 ratings, checked on 09/30/2026). This high score shows the novel's strong appeal to fans of military adventure.

The Critic's Verdict

Let's be real, Conquest is a quirky read, but it is far from perfect. If you're looking for a structured cultivation system, look elsewhere—you will be disappointed.

However, if you want to watch a feral rascal like Shaar turn an entire empire upside down with bizarre schemes, you'll have a blast. Khiêu Vũ has crafted a genuine wildcard on the geopolitical chessboard of great empires.

Bottom line: A solid, entertaining read featuring a highly unique protagonist, perfect for anyone tired of cookie-cutter hero tropes.

Tags: war, military, comedy