Mediocre story. Subpar setting and world-building, though not particularly egregious. The main character starts out very bland, takes a few odd turns, then solidifies and avoids the harem route, which is refreshing, but ultimately becomes even more bland. The writer isn't extraordinarily skilled, and this is evident in the power mechanics, but everything is solid enough. There are some unexpected twists in how the future knowledge unfolds, to the point where the title is *very* questionable (it’s clear the author didn’t plan the plot twist). One thing that really bothers me is that the author seems to have no understanding of martial arts. The main character constantly complains about how difficult it is to control his power, despite his martial arts realm being focused on nano-level control. His opponents are described as too weak, even though the in-setting power dynamics suggest that fighters should be able to read subtle movements and estimate an opponent's strength from the early stages, and at higher levels, manipulate the fundamental forces of the universe, essentially fighting with their souls. Regardless of their tier, fighters should be able to gauge their opponents' and their own strengths accurately, and the main character’s lack of this ability makes him seem incompetent.
Pros: Relatively fast-paced plot, and no actual harem, even if there are potential romantic interests at every turn.
Cons: Bland protagonist with inconsistent character development, rushed world-building, and very little tension.
, it's readable, but not particularly novel in any way.
Please note, the main character isn't a fire relay expert. Or at least, he isn't willing to share information until he becomes the expert or hero, at which point he no longer needs it. The MC does no wrong, mainly because he does nothing most of the time, and it's natural for people to like him. He is a narcissist through and through. He isn't particularly talented, but after relying on the cheat he is given, he starts to believe he is. Romance is similarly one-dimensional; it's natural for people to like him, so in a way, there is no deep romantic subplot.
The rest of the world-building and power system are extremely generic and average. If the novel could decentralize the MC (where there are other characters to root for), then I feel it could improve to maybe even a 4. However, as it stands, the relationships and characters are all one-dimensional.
To be honest, I remember reading this probably last year, or when it had only a few chapters on NovelUpdate. I read it all in machine-translated English, but it wasn't difficult at all.
The main reasons I dropped the novel and placed it in my DNF (Did Not Finish) personal reading list:
The main character (MC) was too overpowered and progressed way too quickly, which made the plot pretty boring. Personally, I prefer stories where the protagonist grows from weak to strong, with a slower and more believable strength buildup.
The "harem" aspect was just... too over-the-top, lacking any semblance of realism. I've read some well-written polyamory romances. For example, in "The Wheel of Time" series by Robert Jordan, the male MC having multiple love interests worked because each female character was written as a fully realized individual with their own personalities and depth. In contrast, the female love interests in this novel are reduced to cardboard cutouts. You can barely tell them apart. Moreover, as the MC gains strength, his "golden finger" seems to match him with additional wives, linking his strength directly to his "wife game." This is bizarre and poorly executed. The idea that the government would force strong warriors to have multiple wives to "save humanity" is laughable. It’s clear the author just wants an excuse for the MC to have an excessive number of wives, as if it makes him more masculine. This kind of wish-fulfillment fantasy lacks quality in world-building and character development. Polyamory stories can be written well—if the author doesn’t focus solely on the "overpowered masculinity" to the detriment of the plot.
The only somewhat interesting aspect of this novel is the action. However, there are far better-written action novels out there, so I decided to drop it after passing the 100-chapter mark (I don’t remember exactly which chapter I was on, and my browser history didn’t help).
This is an engaging Gary Stu cultivation novel. The romance is quite subtle, but it's present. Unlike some previous comments, I've noticed that there is polygamy in the novel, though it's not a typical, overly romanticized harem.
This one's a great read, reminiscent of a fusion between World's Best Martial Artist and World's Apocalypse Online. FWO's translation quality is top-notch and will definitely make you feel like you're growing more brain cells compared to other quick-and-dirty translation groups. I started reading the novel after binge-reading the manhwa, which is called Apex Future Martial Arts. Here’s hoping they stick around to complete the translation. Let’s support FWO!!! 👍
There is an abysmal romance line that barely qualifies as one—it’s more of a joke at the expense of the reader and common sense. And then there’s the second predictable element of the story—the shock of everyone around. The characters are like puppets, devoid of any depth or individuality, thinking with a single, uniform mind. This isn’t just a poorly executed story that had the potential to be a classic in its genre; the author went out of their way to destroy any interest.
Always triggered by this type of main character (MC). Too arrogant. He comes from a normal, struggling family and was originally talentless, but because of the 'cheat,' his ego inflates, and he becomes increasingly arrogant. For example, during his first official power test at the martial hall, when the person before him scores quite well (by normal standards), he dismisses it with an attitude like, "Just like that? How weak." He starts judging people based on their current strength rather than their effort. This attitude is disgusting.
He also becomes rash and shows off his newfound might, such as during a training camp where he destroys property to prove how 'mighty' he is. It's cringeworthy. The MC becomes overpowered too quickly, with repetitive and boring training sequences, like dreaming while checking his 'future' status or endings. The premise is good and quite fresh—using future technology to check his future self—but the execution is poor. The story becomes a monotonous, linear narrative focused solely on the MC. "I am so great, so mighty. I will train! Only I can save the world!" This mindset reflects the arrogance of a pubescent kid who thinks they are the greatest in the world, the messiah, and the only one who can make a difference.
This is one of my favorite novels recently. It features a strong main character, an intriguing cheat element, and refreshingly avoids the trope of an arrogant young master.
The nationalism in the story is quite mild. There's no unreasonable hatred toward other countries. While China receives special treatment from the main character, he doesn't abandon people from other countries.
One of the biggest pitfalls of modern martial arts cultivation novels is when the main character leaves Earth and travels to another planet. However, this novel handles it exceptionally well. The space arc truly feels like a blend of sci-fi and martial arts cultivation, and I enjoyed it even more than the parts set on Earth.
The only thing I don't like is the romance. Initially, the main character and the heroine were just acquaintances, not particularly close, and there were no romantic feelings between them. Suddenly, after they meet again, they are madly in love with each other.
If you enjoy modern martial arts cultivation stories with a strong main character, I highly recommend giving this one a try.
Popular Reviews
Pros: Relatively fast-paced plot, and no actual harem, even if there are potential romantic interests at every turn.
Cons: Bland protagonist with inconsistent character development, rushed world-building, and very little tension.
, it's readable, but not particularly novel in any way.
The rest of the world-building and power system are extremely generic and average. If the novel could decentralize the MC (where there are other characters to root for), then I feel it could improve to maybe even a 4. However, as it stands, the relationships and characters are all one-dimensional.
The main reasons I dropped the novel and placed it in my DNF (Did Not Finish) personal reading list:
The main character (MC) was too overpowered and progressed way too quickly, which made the plot pretty boring. Personally, I prefer stories where the protagonist grows from weak to strong, with a slower and more believable strength buildup.
The "harem" aspect was just... too over-the-top, lacking any semblance of realism. I've read some well-written polyamory romances. For example, in "The Wheel of Time" series by Robert Jordan, the male MC having multiple love interests worked because each female character was written as a fully realized individual with their own personalities and depth. In contrast, the female love interests in this novel are reduced to cardboard cutouts. You can barely tell them apart. Moreover, as the MC gains strength, his "golden finger" seems to match him with additional wives, linking his strength directly to his "wife game." This is bizarre and poorly executed. The idea that the government would force strong warriors to have multiple wives to "save humanity" is laughable. It’s clear the author just wants an excuse for the MC to have an excessive number of wives, as if it makes him more masculine. This kind of wish-fulfillment fantasy lacks quality in world-building and character development. Polyamory stories can be written well—if the author doesn’t focus solely on the "overpowered masculinity" to the detriment of the plot.
The only somewhat interesting aspect of this novel is the action. However, there are far better-written action novels out there, so I decided to drop it after passing the 100-chapter mark (I don’t remember exactly which chapter I was on, and my browser history didn’t help).
Highly recommend for a great story.
He also becomes rash and shows off his newfound might, such as during a training camp where he destroys property to prove how 'mighty' he is. It's cringeworthy. The MC becomes overpowered too quickly, with repetitive and boring training sequences, like dreaming while checking his 'future' status or endings. The premise is good and quite fresh—using future technology to check his future self—but the execution is poor. The story becomes a monotonous, linear narrative focused solely on the MC. "I am so great, so mighty. I will train! Only I can save the world!" This mindset reflects the arrogance of a pubescent kid who thinks they are the greatest in the world, the messiah, and the only one who can make a difference.
The nationalism in the story is quite mild. There's no unreasonable hatred toward other countries. While China receives special treatment from the main character, he doesn't abandon people from other countries.
One of the biggest pitfalls of modern martial arts cultivation novels is when the main character leaves Earth and travels to another planet. However, this novel handles it exceptionally well. The space arc truly feels like a blend of sci-fi and martial arts cultivation, and I enjoyed it even more than the parts set on Earth.
The only thing I don't like is the romance. Initially, the main character and the heroine were just acquaintances, not particularly close, and there were no romantic feelings between them. Suddenly, after they meet again, they are madly in love with each other.
If you enjoy modern martial arts cultivation stories with a strong main character, I highly recommend giving this one a try.