Abstract
This project utilizes digital labor theory to analyze a body of danmei (Boy’s Love Chinese webfiction) works by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (MXTX, 墨香铜臭). Her works are widely accessible and have rapidly spread from the Chinese market into the global domain. We use the lens of cross-cultural circulation and platform economies to examine the dissemination of her works. The growing globalization of MXTX raises questions on how dissemination into different markets shapes discussions of queer, trans* and feminist studies, alongside eroticism and digital labor. Ultimately, using MXTX as a site of datafication, we observe and name three types of digital labor: Mediating Labor, Affective Market Labor, and Transformative Labor.
Who is
Mo Xiang Tong Xiu?
Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (MXTX, 墨香铜臭) is the pen name of an anonymous Chinese webnovelist best known for writing danmei (boys’ love). She is celebrated as one of the most influential voices in modern Chinese fantasy romance. Her three novels—The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System (Renzha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong, 人渣反派自救系统), Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (Mo Dao Zu Shi，魔道祖师), and Heaven Official’s Blessing (Tian Guan Ci Fu，天官赐福)—are widely regarded as cornerstones of the genre. Collectively, these works have been bestsellers both in China and overseas, generating translations in dozens of languages.
MXTX’s personal icon
Major
Works
The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System: A satirical metanarrative danmei novel with a comedic tone, exploring themes of fate and redemption.
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (Mo Dao Zu Shi): A xianxia fantasy danmei novel noted for its blend of romance, action, and mystery
Heaven Official’s Blessing: A celestial fantasy romance about a fallen prince-turned-deity, praised for its emotional depth and character development
Adaptations and Reception
All three of MXTX’s major novels have inspired animated adaptations, audio dramas, and even live-action series that attract global audiences. For example, Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation was turned into a popular donghua (animated series) as well as the hit live-action drama The Untamed, which became a worldwide phenomenon.
Similarly, Heaven Official’s Blessing has a highly regarded animation (donghua) available on platforms like Bili Bili and Netflix. The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System was adapted as the “Scumbag System” animation, and all three novels received multi-season audio dramas in China. These high-quality adaptations – along with official comic versions and more – have vastly expanded MXTX’s audience. Her stories are known for inspiring devoted fan followings, with fan art, fanfiction, and discussions thriving online.
Influence and Community
MXTX has played a major role in bringing danmei literature into the mainstream. Her novels, originally serialized on Chinese web platforms, have broken out of niche readerships to become mass-market successes. Barnes & Noble describes her as a “globally renowned” author whose works are among “the most well-known of the modern danmei genre.” For example, Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation has been officially translated into over a dozen languages, and its English editions reached the New York Times Best Seller list.
Along with official translations, her stories inspire fan creativity worldwide: international gatherings, merchandise, and fan works attest to her broad impact. Both domestic and international readers affectionately call her “MXTX”, and fans often join cross-over challenges and zines under the collective MXTX fandom banner
Overall, Mo Xiang Tong Xiu’s warm, emotionally rich storytelling has left a lasting mark on Chinese online fiction and BL literature. Her work invites both longtime fans and newcomers to explore imaginative worlds full of romance and adventure. With new editions, translations, and creative projects continually emerging, her legacy continues to grow, ensuring a welcoming community of readers and creators around her novels