Hey everyone, the story has been here for a while. I write this new review because I've rewritten the first volume, or more specifically, chapters 25-30, due to my own preferences. After editing, Ken is not a villain in the first volume, so don't come here crying about the villain tag without reading the second volume.
My definition of a villain is someone who harms or kills innocent others for their own selfish reasons and benefit. If that's not enough for you, you can call Ken an antihero, I don't really care.
Other than that, I will go over what I said in my first review (which I will leave so you can read the 23 replies on it if you want although they will be summarized here).
1. Although MC is intelligent in general, understanding is the most important part of his intelligence. Understanding cultivation and techniques in order to improve them and advance fast. He doesn't know the future, and he is neither Kira nor Lelouch.
2. MC is still young and not immune to developing emotions toward others. Some are positive, some are negative. I do my best to develop his character in a unique and realistic way.
3. Companions - MC is not the only long-term character in the story.
4. Criticism - His villainous actions were quite sudden and came from nowhere. Irrelevant now after editing the first volume.
5. Criticism - Indeed, the first volume focuses on Ken's growth with limited action, especially towards its conclusion. However, subsequent volumes ramp up the action as he ventures out. I believe the first volume's depth in character development is just as captivating, even without the intense action, and it helps us get attached to Ken.
6. No romance, no harem.
7. While familiar cultivation concepts appear in the first volume, it's primarily focused on explaining the power system and sect structure, not assuming prior reader knowledge. In subsequent volumes, as the MC interacts more with the external world, the background and world-building become increasingly detailed and enriched. By the way, the volumes are short, four volumes over by chapter 190 or so.
8. If you're confused by the power system (which isn't too complicated), you can easily find a summary in the auxiliary chapter. Just don't read Ken's techniques which appear later if you don't want any spoilers. That's it for this review, I think I covered everything. Hope it wasn't unnecessarily long!