CRITICAL REVIEW~ Binge read all as of current 121/121Quite decent and a pleasant surprise! Very surprised by the lack of attention it is getting. Halfway to a hidden gem I'd say.The English of the author is also at a native level. So that's great! There are only occasional mistakes. It's not flowery or written in an impressive way, but it's good enough for web novel level.For the most part, a decent written cultivation novel. There is a clear attention to care about the author's writing and it's heavily expressed in the author's thoughts too. Cultivation levels are actually defined here and while its mechanism isn't so detailed like some novels. With the cesspool of cheap cultivation novels, this was one of the ones that actually gave at least a brief explanation of each realm. So we can have some understanding of why level 20 is better than level 10 or what's fundamentally different.At it's essence, the story is not much different to the usual cultivation novel. But what I appreciate is the author most of the time tries to make things different even if it's only a little to alter the cliche's. Particularly the parents which I love.That is the author's biggest strength and what I find most attractive of this novel.That said, there are still a fair amount of scenes which don't seem much different, but that's alright. Majority of chapters were good. Especially the first 50 chaps. The novel gets boring or stale when it doesn't involve the main plot or just feels insignificant. Like the auction chapters, as one commenter complained, and a couple of chapters after that too. As for most recent, I found the entrance exam into the sword sect were boring too. Why? Because it isn't anything different to an ordinary cultivation novel. He was literally just there to show off and it was a very expected result. There wasn't much thought to it either. I understand from the perspective of the protagonist why he did so instead of the free backdoor because of his wishes, as well as the fact that it was relatively peaceful times. But as a reader, if there is no suspense it's no fun. It should've been done in 1-3 chaps even if it's too fast. Just so we can accelerate closer to the fun parts.This transitions to my next point which is pacing. Pacing of this novel is not fast and just a little slow. I don't mind it since I really enjoyed the character interactions and the care put in with it as it's fleshed out well. My issue is when you do this with the aforementioned boring events. I really felt bored to the point that I actually skim read. That's not a good thing. So I hope the author would rush events like this instead of its usual snail pace.Characters in the novel are very good. Honestly one of the few cultivation novels that put a lot of care into writing about the family and it was to the point where we can recognise that hey, these parents actually exist and are truly living with the MC. They are in fact main characters which is ironic to say, but unfortunately with how the plot is developing they fall out of relevance so hopefully the author doesn't do so. I want to see them fight along side the mc a lot actually. Mc is well defined and one of those novels that does really great to match the age of the mc to his behaviour and experiences. This is not merely told, but also shown a lot. Although annoying at times because of his age, it's realistic! Good job author.On another side note, I'm in anticipation for when we see children of the plane meeting eachother. That's something I think the author should really capitalise on and do much more often as that's the whole biggest attraction that the novel should be trying to sell. Try and make it so shaking events that they stir up connect each other which prompt them to encounter each other. That's what I would do, and that's what I'm trying to do in a novel I'm writing actually hehe. Really, I think this is one of the novels where the author has much more lenience and tolerance to have the privilege to delve into the perspectives of the other protagonists. As long as you withhold information that may downplay future events, you can make it interesting to occasionally see what they are doing, and I really would enjoy a couple of chapters dedicated to them. Another point that should be mentioned is, this novel needs to be contracted. Author, please get a contract. I don't want to see this novel be dropped due to lack of publicity and readers. This novel should have way more attention. Otherwise, if it is dropped, I really may go write my own version of this novel. I already had a somewhat similar premise in mind with novel(s) I'm currently writing and planning, so I don't have any guilt if I did such a thing!---------------------------------Overall, a decent cultivation novel that differs from the norm while retaining its essence. Nothing major breaking, but it's an eye-catching past time out of its lot. I usually end my reviews with shipping because I only read romances/ harems. But unfortunately, with it's somewhat snail pacing, we really have arguably 2 heroines introduced. 1 of which only appears as of recent. Hopefully it would be done well. I really want to see true shura fields/ asura arenas and serious romance since I think the author somewhat has the capability to pull it off. I love drama so yeah xD. Almost every harem novel downplays the difficulties of a harem by 50x how it should be. Just so they can live happily together. I'm definitely an avid supporter of small harems. Not all beauty relationships should end with the mc being together with x beauty.I do want to bring up 1 character and that is the heroine Xiao'er. She's a heroine and the author likes her which is obvious considering she's a main heroine. But there are a fair amount of readers that criticise her, and don't like her. Funnily, I don't like her either. I don't like her to the point where I honestly would rather see her be killed off or left behind.Why don't people like her? Well I will try make this brief and blunt and give my perspective of why I don't which share similar thoughts and sentiments to other readers. She's just a normal girl with normal thoughts and perspective. This is especially harsh in a cultivation world because of how brutal such a world is. Her immaturity, her unreasonableness, naivetes combined with her liveliness and cheerfulness with consideration to her status, and her occasional annoyances to the mc makes her very unappealing. Particularly, as 1 commenter mentioned, she takes too much liberties. Even if the Mc is fine with it, the setting and fundamental role can irk readers and find it hard to empathise or accept.While It's completely acceptable the way she is for her age as the MC and her have been there for each other for years, but it can genuinely be irritating to see. She is also just a maid and is 'useless'. I don't agree with her being useless because she's a great emotional support to the mc and she has her role to play in the story. Not that I have any ounce of care for her actually, truly. But combining everything I've said. She's so ****ing unappealing which in turn makes her unlikeable. Worst part is she's a main heroine and maid! So she has always many scenes with the MC. There's a reason why many people don't like childhood friends heroines and Xiao'er is essentially the same. It's not like she's a ***** or an arrogant character. it's just her entire construction as a character is asking to be disliked even tho she hadn't really done anything wrong.She is essentially the Xiao Lingxi of ATG (the little cousin from the start of ATG). It only makes it worse if the author tries to make such a character relevant (AHHH Xiao Linxgi!!) Out of all the ATG wives which is like 7+ she is the worst by far too. Unless it's executed well with a big arc for her IMO. Really, I've seen to many writers try to make a 'useless' or vase heroine into a better character and 85% of the time it's a fail. Cultivation readers particularly want to see heaven defying jade beauties falling or cool heroines being conquered. That's the reality. If you had Xiao'er as the top disciple of some powerhouse. And I guarantee, there would be at least 50% more readers who would like her. Even if you retained her personality the exact same. Maybe that's just me, but I for sure am. It may be disdainful and even hypocritical, but for me it's the truth.I ranted there. But I hope the author gets a better perspective and insights into why readers may not like such a character. I'm definitely bias, and I hope she disappears. I know for sure the author will make a drastic change to her once she gets hit by the brutality of the cultivation world so she will get her huge 'character development'. But I've seen the execution many times and unfortunately it often falls flat even if it's executed well because of poor after thought. After all, many cultivation novels are about the mc and ascending higher, and for authors the romance part really isn't their forte'. That said, I still wish to see it be done well. If anyone has any thoughts to add about Xiao'er I would like to hear it and see if any fellow daoists agree with what I said.
