- #1
I love this novel so much and it literally consumed my life for a good three days as I caught up to the raws, that I'm almost a little offended by that one reviewer below rating it 2 stars, calling it repetitive, slow cultivation, and with fillers. I beg to differ!This is a pretty unique novel imo. I think what sets it apart is that the story has heart. Mo Hua is a good egg, like fr I love that kid. He's not a goodie two shoes hung up over hypocritical morality or anything, in fact, he is quite shrewd and clever, ruthless when he has to be, quick on his feet, resourceful, and even cunning. But he also cares and dares to love. He loves his family, his friends, his master. He feels very deeply for the impoverished cultivators in the world and despite gaining more and more power as the story progresses, he doesn't get arrogant or lose sight of why he started on his path.He doesn't look down on the people struggling below him. He's not a saint, but if he has the power to help then he will and he'll do it in a smart way too (ex. Showing people how they can help themselves or giving them arrays to fundamentally change their lives). He realizes that he holds power and that something that the rich noble cultivator families won't even blink an eye at, other independent cultivators would starve for years to afford, so when he sees an opportunity to help while still reaching his goals, he'll take it. I find it so refreshing honestly. Sometimes, I just wanted to give the kid a hug bc he deserves it.Also, I think the author has done something very interesting with this cultivation world they've built. The corruption at its core and the rotten stink of capitalism is something we know from the start, but the more Mo Hua grows and sees, the more layers are unveiled of just how bad things are. It's not nihilistic though. There is still hope.I also love the characters, the side characters are good! They're all pretty memorable imo. The interactions with Mo Hua are fun. I like that he's not a loner but someone who is mischievous, clever, and actually knows how to make and use connections. It's realistic!I also don't really think there are fillers or that it's too slow. He HAS to work hard. His cultivation will require a lot of repetition and consistent work. He was born with mediocre cultivation talents and the only way he can make up for it is through arrays and so he has to work extra hard for it.In short, very refreshing MC, intriguing cultivation world.