- #1
Have you ever heard of the term 'slow burn'? Well, this novel is a slow burn counterattack / face slap, which is a genre that I never thought existed. Normally, the face slapping protagonist is so op & well prepared due to their various cheats that the antagonists are all instantly defeated & humiliated. This novel is instead a back & forth exchange of blows, with the MC initially being on the weaker side. This is actually somewhat foreshadowed by their opening fight, where the MC is seemingly driven back whilst carefully gauging his opponents abilities just so he can be sure to win an overwhelming victory in the end.The MC wins the first round by beating the 'son of heaven' & taking his sword, but the 'son of heaven' (more like son of a btch) steals back the sword, steals the treasures MC got for the sect, & convinces the dumbass sect master to kick MC out. However, the MC leaving then completely paralyzes the sect's functions & cripples them financially. The sect is truly like a company that's led by an incompetent CEO who fired the one old-time worker that was doing the job of 15 employees & tries to make up for that loss by hiring a nepo baby instead. Of course it's not going to work.The sect master's regret is already starting but it's probably going to take a lot longer before MC builds up his strength with all the free time he now has, since he's no longer doing anything for the sect, & he returns in glory to claim the final victory. A frustrating novel to read if you're only looking for that quick spike of endorphins, and not recommended for anyone who doesn't have the patience to sit through 150 chapters of slow burn. 4/5 for good world building & realistically tenacious 'son of heaven' antagonists, which is rare to see nowadays.
