how come? i know you said you wouldn't prefer JN's but its all i could think of when you said you wanted a novel focusing on romance apart from that try Zhu Xian like k1nk4 recommended
http://www.novelupdates.com/series/close-combat-mage/ MC is training to go on the same journey like his missing father. MC does start young (like 6-8 years old) and there are a few adult scenes involving only minors. http://www.novelupdates.com/series/god-and-devil-world/ Our modern world becomes a zombie filled game world. MC gathers survivors in an attempt to restore society. Setting is rather dark with lots of mindless violence, abuse, torture, rape, slavery, and exploitation (especially of women). Cross between "The Walking Dead" and Chinese cultivation novels. http://www.novelupdates.com/series/so-what-if-its-an-rpg-world/ Chinese parody of Japanese video game (mostly RPG) cliches. MC is one of a group of reincarnated power gamers that is finding ways to "beat" or "break" the game world that they find themselves in. Lots of different genre of video games (such as Batman, Dynasty Warriors, Thief, Sim City, Wizardry, etc.) occur throughout the novel http://www.novelupdates.com/series/ze-tian-ji/ Scholar from the country MC comes to the city in order to find a cure for his "illiness" and to handle a personal manner. The nobles misinterpret the actions of the MC which creates a great divide in the upper ranks of society (including pulling several factions of the organized church and royalty in several countries). While high society is breaking down, the MC just sits in his library cultivating and helping his friends. Very slow story but very good (which several "epic" fights and events).
http://www.novelupdates.com/series/spirit-blade-mountain/ http://www.novelupdates.com/series/my-disciple-died-yet-again/ http://www.novelupdates.com/series/upgrade-specialist-in-another-world/ http://www.novelupdates.com/series/douluo-dalu/