Mc must be male. Transmigration/reincarnation accepted. But i prefer if mc is actual from that world. 200++ chapters.. I want mc gain powers from hard work and less relied on item he found(basically a cheat) Also i hate brainless enemies/rival. Who always pick fight with mc without thinking. Wuxia or xianxa are accepted. AND NO HAREM AND ECCHI.
Douluo Dalu ? Just kidding. You can try Martial Arts Master (even though it's kinda more martial arts then cultivation but there are power levels). There is a cheat but let's say it helps him for 1/4 of the power up and sometimes in fights. But maybe i'm wrong and it's more, but let's say it helped him start and without it he wouldn't be so powerful so maybe you won't like it, but MC is still hard working and diligent in his training. And last, the romance is to die for, really sweet during all the available chapters. 0 drama at all.
novels by Cuttlefish That Loves Diving the stories can be slow,more developped than usual cn novel, i don't know about romance for 2 of the 3 novels but it's not harem, mc don't gain super power overnight, they don't sit and gain insight to become stronger,or sudden power gain bcs author want to, no random "saving beauty from villain" at every arc. also Experimental Log of the Crazy Lich , (harem?maybe, maybe not?) but funny and good plot
I'd love to recommend A Will Eternal. It has Harem but it's bearable (because I also hate Harem tbh) But if u really can't stomach the Harem in AWE then Cultivation Chat Group is your guy!
My Disciple Died Yet Again. MC is only male for a brief amount of time, but it fits the rest of your criteria fairly well.
Zhu Xian Tales of Herding Gods Way of choices Lord of Mysteries There will always be some sort of plot armour as it is what make mc different from other people be it in form of artefacts or op teachers or luck or experiences.