Climbing the Ranks Books in Order

Climbing the Ranks is Tao Wong's tower-climbing LitRPG with a strong underdog streak. The world changed decades ago when mysterious Towers arrived, bringing monsters, mana, and a whole new foundation for technology and power. By the time the series starts, that change has become normal for everyone except the people it still leaves behind.

Arthur Chua is one of those people.

For Arthur, the Beginner Tower of Malaysia is not a dream or a hobby. It is an escape route. He does not begin the series trying to be famous or heroic. He just wants a life that is not locked in by poverty and lack of connections. That practical starting point gives the books a nice texture. The climb is about survival first, ambition second.

As Arthur moves through Climbing the Ranks 1, 2, and 3, the series adds clan politics, allies like Casey Chin, speed-run pressures, and the awkward reality that leadership can arrive whether you wanted it or not. He starts out trying to clear floors and keep up. Before long, he is carrying responsibilities that change how every choice feels.

The tone is straightforward and engaging, with plenty of tower action, cultivation-flavored growth, and hard decisions about pace, risk, and loyalty. Wong keeps the systems readable, but the real pull is Arthur himself, smart, pressured, and never quite allowed to stay small.

If you like progression fantasy where the protagonist has to build both personal strength and something larger around him, this series lands that balance well.