What Genre Is 'Going My Own Way' Classified As?

Genre tags don't do justice to how unconventional 'Going My Own Way' is. Yes, technically it's xianxia, but with a rebellious twist that turns tropes inside out. The cultivation system isn't about righteous paths—it's almost punk in how the protagonist hybridizes forbidden techniques with modern science. Picture a rogue alchemist mixing energy drinks with divine pills.

There's also a strong slice-of-life component early on. The protagonist runs a ramen shop that secretly doubles as a cultivation hotspot, which gives it this cozy urban fantasy feel. Later arcs introduce political intrigue worthy of 'The Grandmaster Strategist,' and the finale leans into cosmic horror as he battles entities beyond mortal comprehension.

The romance defies categorization too. It's part star-crossed lovers, part power couple dominating the heavens, with dialogue sharper than most contemporary rom-coms. If you forced me to label it, I'd say 'genre-fluid xianxia,' but really, it's its own thing. Fans of 'Beware of Chicken' will appreciate how it balances humor with profound themes.

I've seen 'Going My Own Way' pop up in discussions a lot lately, and it's definitely one of those stories that blurs genre lines. At its core, it's a cultivation novel with heavy xianxia elements—think immortal realms, qi manipulation, and martial arts that defy physics. But what makes it stand out is how it merges this with urban fantasy. The protagonist starts in a modern city before the plot drags him into ancient sect wars and heavenly tribulations. There's also a strong romantic subplot woven in, which isn't common in traditional xianxia. Some readers tag it as 'urban cultivation romance,' but honestly, the action sequences and world-hopping give it an almost isekai vibe. If you liked 'Release That Witch' but wanted more emotional stakes, this might hit the spot.

'Going My Own Way' is a fascinating hybrid that resists easy categorization. The primary genre is xianxia—you've got the classic tropes like spirit roots, pill refining, and face-slapping young masters. But the execution feels fresh because it incorporates elements from multiple genres.

Modern life plays a huge role early on. The protagonist uses his smartphone to decode ancient cultivation manuals, and there's satire about corporate culture masquerading as sect politics. This urban fantasy layer disappears around the mid-point when he ascends to higher realms, shifting into pure high fantasy with intricate world-building reminiscent of 'Desolate Era'.

The romance arc is unusually well-developed for this genre. It avoids harem tropes by focusing on one complex relationship that evolves over centuries of story time. The emotional depth aligns more with wuxia than xianxia, while the power scaling and immortality themes keep it firmly in cultivation territory. Some chapters even dip into horror when the protagonist encounters eldritch void creatures—imagine 'Cthulhu meets Jade Beauty' and you're close.

What's brilliant is how seamlessly these elements blend. The transitions never feel jarring, which is why platforms categorize it under both 'Fantasy Romance' and 'Cultivation.' I'd argue it pioneers a new subgenre: contemporary mythic progression.