This is the collection of mods I use. I use pretty much every quality mod that isn't too niche / broken, but let me know if I've missed some. The collection's mods listed are all mods I consider essential. Beyond that, there are a number of extra non-essential mods I'll include, as well as nexus mods that aren't available on steam. The only essential mod not included is from nexus mods (you'll find below). I might make another collection just putting everything together for convenience.

For starters, have a look through Adventi's full collection of mods he created: https://steamcommunity.com/workshop/filedetails/?id=3027806937

I highly recommend them. He also teaches you how to order mods to avoid conflicts. I've ordered my own collection following this.


Non-Essential Mods:
Astro's Extended Chaos: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2754461830
Extra things: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2780070548
Non-Elemental Way of Heavenly Fortune: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3023992746
Innate Element Weather: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2894957998
Loot Cache Change: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2896628099
Ancient Harmony Law: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2373937282
Agency Fast Recruitment (for people who use Hell Gates): https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2992350724

Cheat(ish) Mods:
Temperature Control (only use this mod for temp - it works best): https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2323676869
One-Click Favour (removes frustrating social game): https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2619419925
One-Click Interrogate: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2856326732
Astro Starts: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2321288854
Astro Easy Mood: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2567110980
Body Cultivators Descummer: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2934893767
Ancient Scroll Descummer: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2992350316
Fengshui Master (it's non-English so I won't put it as essential): https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3014246815

Nexus Mods:
Alchemy Furnace Fix (essential): https://www.nexusmods.com/amazingcultivationsimulator/mods/26
Yaoguai Rebalance (I consider this the best rebalance mod): https://www.nexusmods.com/amazingcultivationsimulator/mods/27
Lightning Transcendence Law: https://www.nexusmods.com/amazingcultivationsimulator/mods/5

To use Nexus mods, go to Game Folder -> Mods and put in the unzipped folder from Nexus. It'll appear as local in your mod manager.

Just a warning, be aware that for me there is currently a conflict between the Yaoguai Rebalance mod (including steam ones), and Adventi's Cultivator Wardrobe mod.

A couple of things to keep in mind:

X. Great Painter interacts with Natal Talisman Techniques (from talisman law) in a weird way. Keep this in mind to avoid cheating (or cheat if it's your preference). First it lets you stack the same talisman. You can't do this normally, so make sure you're not creating the same talisman twice. Second it allows you to auto-complete (using a range of 1-12), but doesn't explain how it matches. This is the formula to follow:
1 = White Origin (basic)
2 = Emerald-Spirit (REQUIRES 7k-20k Max Qi)
4 = Aqua-specter (REQUIRES 70k - 200k Max Qi)
5 = Violet-spirit (REQUIRES 700k - 2M Max Qi)
7 = Cundi (REQUIRES 7M - 20M Max Qi)

X. Ancient Harmony Law is a bit weird. User Niko explains it:
1) Try not to send a newly inherited cultivator on world map trips until he is in sync, otherwise you have a 50% chance of catching a bug;
2) Only one cultivator with the appropriate perk can cultivate this law at a time;
3) If the current cultivator was killed and is resurrected by a non-cultivator shendao, a new apprentice with the required perk will be required to inherit again;
4) There is no need to ask to make this law available to everyone, the original author has 4 more such mods, it is not easy to cultivate them, and it is better to use them as a secret weapon.