This story grew on me the more I read. It did take me until the first arc of MC and ML traveling outside of the sect for me to get hooked, but it's worth the first few chapters of background setup as investment.
Writing quality itself is top notch besides an occasional typo. The grammar and vocabulary is miles ahead of the majority of other works. This author is very descriptive, if you like to have a clear picture painted on the surroundings and character's facial expressions, etc., it is fully fleshed out. At times, I do think the author goes a little too far as to describe small details during dialogue that could be left out to increase the pace of the story, however, I still count it as more good than bad.
Story in itself is progressing well. It's a slow burn, but there are turning points in character development and the overarching plot that one can easily notice, especially by chapter 55 when the world is on the cusp of war. Side characters are interesting and many likable. Compared to the fates they got (mentioned in 1st chapter) I, personally, want a better ending for a good chunk of them.
Characters are actually my main critique in this story (although not a large complaint). As one can gleam from the synopsis and first few chapters, the characters are pretty standard stock for a Xianxia BL, and so was the initial plot set-up. A devilish and overbearing ML, and then a stony-faced and cold MC (Sumeng). In fact, in the first few chapters of the novel, I was almost bored expecting it to fall into the usual tropes. However, thankfully, we are first introduced to the ML as a more angry/emotional/cute teenager, and the MC is given more depth than what first appears. For one, the MC has a number of other personality traits that the author provides like liking cute things, and in the end his personality comes off as more 'awkward at conversation' than as 'cold', which is a good nuance. Still, I also worry because the main dynamic between the MC and ML is abusive. ML was batsh*t crazy and physically abused MC in previous life, in current version he still yells at MC most of the time. MC sort of became a lacking confidence, pitiful, desperate doormat from that. This is balanced by the fact that at many times the MC is extremely heroic in mindset and action, so at least it isn't that he's a doormat to the point I'm annoyed. I look forward to a turning point where they work together more harmoniously and am looking forward to future chapters!
