If you want manhwa like Return of the Blossoming Blade, start with Return of the Mad Demon. It has what most "murim regression" lists miss: a lead who's as funny as he is dangerous, and a group of people he ends up dragging upward with him. That's the RotBB formula, more than the time skip.
Quick recap of what you're matching. Return of the Blossoming Blade (화산귀환, Hwasan Gwihwan; many readers know it as Return of the Mount Hua Sect) follows Cheongmyeong, the Mount Hua swordsman who kills the Demonic Cult's leader, Cheonma, dies of his wounds and wakes up a hundred years later. His sect is "a mere shadow of itself," so he sets out to rebuild it, mostly by bullying his juniors into greatness. It's adapted by LICO from Biga's novel and still running on WEBTOON.
So the picks below are sorted by what you're chasing: the attitude, the murim politics, or a series you can actually finish.
Image: Korean print edition, volume 1 cover (Studio LICO, original story Biga).
| Pick | Closest to RotBB in | Status (October 2026) | Read in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return of the Mad Demon | comedy, cocky lead, a crew to build | ongoing, Episode 201 on the web | WEBTOON |
| Absolute Sword Sense | second life, a weak start, a funny voice in his head | ongoing, Ep. 194 | WEBTOON |
| Absolute Regression | Demonic Cult politics, a rival to beat | ongoing, Episode 107 | WEBTOON |
| Chronicles of the Demon Faction | a master swordsman restarting at the bottom | ongoing, Episode 155 | WEBTOON |
| Nano Machine | a sect power struggle | ongoing, first five episodes on the web, rest in the app | WEBTOON |
| Legend of the Northern Blade | rebuilding a destroyed sect | finished, 202 chapters | Tappytoon |
Manhwa like Return of the Blossoming Blade, closest first: Return of the Mad Demon
Jaha Lee, the Mad Demon, wants to become the God of Martial Arts. He steals the Jade of Heaven, runs from the Demonic Cult, falls off a cliff, and wakes up in his 20s with what he knows of the future. From there it's revenge, a second try, and a growing pack of people who somehow end up following him.
What makes it the pick is the tone. A reader in an r/manhwa recommendation thread called it "a must read . Similar strong and Funny protagonist that is badass at the same time." Another promised RotBB fans a bonus: "Similar investment in subordinate + similar vibes to Return of Mount Hua. You'll also realize a truth that might blow your mind if you're a fan of Return of Mount Hua Sect." We won't spoil it.
Return of the Mad Demon (cover via AniList).
It's on WEBTOON every Sunday, at Episode 201 on the website (October 10, 2026) with ten more in the app. AniList also lists it as The Return of the Crazy Demon, which is the name you'll see in most Reddit threads.
Absolute Sword Sense: the comedy pick
Woonhwi So starts with nothing. His spirit core is destroyed and he's a "third-rate spy for the Blood Cult" until he's killed and sent ten years into the past, waking up with the ability to hear the voice of a dagger. Readers comparing it with the next pick put the difference simply: "Absolute sword sense is more fun and light hearted. Absolute Regression takes itself more seriously." One reader ranking alternatives in a RotBB thread put it second behind Mad Demon: "Absolute sword sense (Very Good)."
Absolute Sword Sense (cover via AniList).
WEBTOON, every Sunday, Ep. 194 on the web (October 10, 2026). Our Absolute Sword Sense review has the longer verdict.
Absolute Regression: if you want it serious
Mugeuk Geom is Cheonma's son. In his first life the swordsman Mugi Hwa topples every lord who faces him, "even Cheonma, Mugeuk Geom's father." Mugeuk uses a forbidden ritual to go back into his own past and get ready before Mugi shows up again. RotBB's hero kills a Cheonma; here the hero is a Cheonma's son, and the story is played straight. A reader in a RotBB thread noted the running joke ("Every Murim manhwa I've been reading since Mount Hua return has a mount Hua sect lol") and recommended this one.
It runs on WEBTOON every Saturday (Episode 107, October 16, 2026). Our Absolute Regression reading guide covers where to start and how far behind Korea the English edition runs.
Chronicles of the Demon Faction: starting from the bottom
Master assassin Hajin Cheon dies fleeing the Divine Justice Alliance and wakes up in the body of Ryang Seo, a Heavenly Demon Cult prince who can't use qi. If the part of RotBB you liked was a legend stuck in a weak body, surrounded by people who underestimate him, this is the same setup from the cult's side. WEBTOON, every Friday, Episode 155 on October 15, 2026, with a big app lead of 23 episodes.
Chronicles of the Demon Faction (cover via AniList).
Nano Machine: popular, with a warning
Nano Machine is the most recommended name in RotBB threads, and the hook is good: Yeo-un's mother isn't one of the High Priest's six official wives, but his blood still gives him a shot at the Minor Priest seat, and a nanomachine injection from a future descendant helps him take on his half-siblings at the Mashin Academy. The catch is that readers don't agree it holds up. In an April 2026 thread, the top reply was blunt: "Nano machine is like unreadable after a certain point.." The next pushed back: "Nano Machine during the school arc was peak, though." We'd read the academy arc and decide from there.
WEBTOON shows only the first five episodes on the website; the rest are in the app. Our manhwa like Nano Machine list is there if it hooks you.
Legend of the Northern Blade: the finished one
For a series you can finish, this is the pick. The Northern Heavenly Sect spent decades holding off the evil Silent Night, until its leader was accused of colluding with the enemy and forced to disband the sect and kill himself to protect his son, Moowon. Moowon grows up under close surveillance until an attack gives him the chance to escape to the mountains and train. Rebuilding a destroyed sect is the RotBB connection; the tone is far more somber, with almost none of the comedy.
The Legend of the Northern Blade (cover via AniList).
It finished at 202 chapters in November 2024 and the complete run is on Tappytoon. Our Legend of the Northern Blade review has our score.
Two more readers keep naming
Log-in Murim and The Grand Mudang Saga (often called Wandering Warrior of Wudang) keep coming up in RotBB recommendation threads too. Both are Tapas-only in English, and Tapas closes on March 31, 2027, so we'd hold off on buying episodes there until another platform picks them up.
Our Take
If you're picking manhwa like Return of the Blossoming Blade, remember that its fans usually want the attitude more than the setting. That's why Return of the Mad Demon goes first and Absolute Sword Sense second. Absolute Regression is the best "same world, serious version." Legend of the Northern Blade is the one to pick if you're tired of waiting for weekly episodes. Nano Machine is worth trying for the academy arc, but don't be surprised if you drop it later; plenty of readers did.
How we checked this: on October 17, 2026 we read the WEBTOON series pages for all five WEBTOON picks and RotBB, the Tappytoon page for Legend of the Northern Blade, AniList entries for every series, and the r/manhwa recommendation threads quoted above. Picks follow what readers in those threads name most. We didn't re-read the series for this update. Last reviewed: October 17, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Return of the Mount Hua Sect the same as Return of the Blossoming Blade?
Yes. Return of the Mount Hua Sect is another English name for the same series (화산귀환, Hwasan Gwihwan); WEBTOON publishes it as Return of the Blossoming Blade.
Is Return of the Blossoming Blade finished?
No. It's still running on WEBTOON every Wednesday; the website was at Episode 179 on October 13, 2026, with five more episodes in the app.
Related Reading
- Return of the Blossoming Blade Review: our score, if you haven't started it yet.
- Return of the Blossoming Blade Reading Guide: the season breaks on WEBTOON and where the novel stands.
- Return of the Blossoming Blade Characters: the Mount Hua disciples and rivals, named.
- Manhwa Like Myst, Might, Mayhem: more murim from the same original author as Nano Machine and Absolute Sword Sense.
- Best Murim Manhwa 2026: the wider murim list.
- Best Completed Manhwa: finished series across genres.
- Best Cultivation Manhwa: cultivation-heavy picks if you want the power system front and center.
- Best Manhwa to Read in 2026: our all-genre starting list.
