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DodgeChanceLv116yr
2018-04-18 17:25

I've read up to chapter 84, approximately 1/5 of the chapters on offer at the current time of writing and I feel I can, therefore, give a reasonable review of this novel. If you cba to read the whole review, then I will simply say that this is your standard Chinese cultivation novel, with a new, albeit thin, coat of paint. One that you should give a try but that isn't a must read. This novel begins very interestingly. Giving a well-done description of the MCs living conditions, attitudes, world and all while making it interesting to read with its futuristic spin on cultivation society. This is short-lived, however. The story very quickly after the interesting first few chapters devolved into your standard novel with all the usual fare you've come to expect. The MC early on, after the interesting start to a potentially interesting world, is given generic Chinese novel MC plot contrivance number 006. In other words, the MC is given memories of an expert by AMAZING coincidence, which allows him to attain the talent to cultivate. This has been done in many other novels, where the MC is given either the memories or help of some expert to help them. Nothing new. From that point on this novel is just your very standard cultivation novel. Nothing of real note really. If you've been reading cultivation novels for as long as I have then you know what to expect. Honestly, this isn't that bad I suppose, because if you're on this site you probably like that style of story. The reason why this story in particular disappointed me is that from the opening I thought this story had to potential to break free from the norm and do something new and interesting. A slow-burning, world-building story, without a plot armor MC, who doesn't need insane luck and talent to be successful. I suppose my expectations were too high, but I was disappointed nonetheless. This is a trend I've found in most Chinese novels. It seems to be the idea that only through luck (destiny) or through having great inborn talent can you ever make something of yourself. I thought this might be different. With the MC climbing up from the bottom, with nothing but his hard work and determination, to prove all those talented young masters wrong! But... in the end, he just gets talent for cultivation thrown into his lap like most other novels. The story might trick you into thinking its unique but it isn't. All of these new and distinct roles for cultivators in modern cultivator civilization in the novel are, story-wise, functionally the same to cultivators in other novels, just with either a different name or different description. All of the characters and plot points are in no way unique to stuff done in other novels, maybe with a new paint job here and there, but nothing amazing. Another disappointing thing is the massive information dumps about the history and the world. A good world is built naturally, over time, through the everyday conversations, adventures, and observations of the characters. Not in very obvious plot contrivances which the author uses to dump information. This has been done twice so far, where it is quite obvious the writer just couldn't think of a better way to get across information, so he makes situations as an excuse to write paragraphs of background. He does do some gradual world development, such as when the MC was walking in the underground city, but the time spent on this is too little, with the author favoring dumps, although it's masked well in places. The translation itself is certainly sufficient to read but still has a fair few small errors here and there. Characters are extremely standard. Although the main characters mysterious dead teacher and his cute flying sword seem somewhat more interesting due to the questions surrounding them. In conclusion, this novel is ok. But that's it. If you were looking for something fresh and brand new to sink your teeth into then I would just keep looking. But if you're just looking for a decent novel to binge for a while then, by all means, go ahead and give this one a try. It is by no means bad, just for me, underwhelming so far.

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Replies9
DodgeChanceLv11

Where is the read more button to read the whole review?

DodgeChanceLv11

You can't edit reviews so i will just give a comment update saying that my thoughts haven't changed and that i have now read up to chapter 350

Mattao313Lv11

Hey what are some novels you feel are good? As I feel the same about this story and most Chinese novels in general. It'd be nice to read something a little different from the norm.

DodgeChanceLv11

Yes after reading quite a few novels I think I have honestly come to terms with the very frequent and obvious issues with most Chinese novels. Hey, I still enjoy them enough to keep reading them, so I suppose I can't really call them bad. It's just that I can't really tell if I continue reading out of obligation (due to my long time keeping up with the novels) or because they're part of my routine now. I can give you a list of some that I remember liking when I was reading them, you can go and give them a try. Although a few of these novels were ones I read right when got into Chinese novels, so I can't make any promises that my opinion hasn't been influenced by nostalgia or something. I imagine you may have already at least heard of most of them. In no particular order: Coiling Dragon Desolate Era I Shall Seal the Heavens Stellar Transformations Legendary Moonlight Sculptor The King's Avatar Release That Witch Martial World Against The Gods Sovereign of the Three Realms Martial God Asura Renegade Immortal Spirit Realm These are a couple you could check out. They suffer from the usual things you've come to expect, to varying degrees, but you can try some out to see if you find one you like. FYI Coiling Dragon is the first novel I remember finishing.

Mattao313:Hey what are some novels you feel are good? As I feel the same about this story and most Chinese novels in general. It'd be nice to read something a little different from the norm.
DodgeChanceLv11

btw if you actually manage to find a novel which is truly unique, tell me about it so I can give it a try. Although I feel the novels I listed are decent to good, I'm not sure if you could call them unique. A unique story, which is also in Chinese style, is as rare as Phoenix feathers and Qilin Horns!

DodgeChance:Yes after reading quite a few novels I think I have honestly come to terms with the very frequent and obvious issues with most Chinese novels. Hey, I still enjoy them enough to keep reading them, so I suppose I can't really call them bad. It's just that I can't really tell if I continue reading out of obligation (due to my long time keeping up with the novels) or because they're part of my routine now. I can give you a list of some that I remember liking when I was reading them, you can go and give them a try. Although a few of these novels were ones I read right when got into Chinese novels, so I can't make any promises that my opinion hasn't been influenced by nostalgia or something. I imagine you may have already at least heard of most of them. In no particular order: Coiling Dragon Desolate Era I Shall Seal the Heavens Stellar Transformations Legendary Moonlight Sculptor The King's Avatar Release That Witch Martial World Against The Gods Sovereign of the Three Realms Martial God Asura Renegade Immortal Spirit Realm These are a couple you could check out. They suffer from the usual things you've come to expect, to varying degrees, but you can try some out to see if you find one you like. FYI Coiling Dragon is the first novel I remember finishing.
ThePotatoKingLv14

Sorry to say bit the first volume doesn't give justice to this peice of marvel. Volume 2 takes a huge hike in quality, and any inconsistencies are completely blown away by volume 4

DodgeChance:btw if you actually manage to find a novel which is truly unique, tell me about it so I can give it a try. Although I feel the novels I listed are decent to good, I'm not sure if you could call them unique. A unique story, which is also in Chinese style, is as rare as Phoenix feathers and Qilin Horns!
WingunLv13

Respect your Opinion but the world building in this novel makes it number 1 in my list. It also talks about Philosophy which makes it unique due to the fact that too often MCs makes decisions that make sense to Us but the novel really never explains why it makes sense to them. This isnt a story for stories sake like many novels, With the MC going around doing crazy stuff. It has a plan, and explains a beautifully written universe. If you are tricked into thinking this is just a normal cultivation novel, maybe your spectrum on what is cultivation and what is more should be recalibrated. This is a novel In which breEzing over chapters takes away from Your enjoyment, not for the slacking middle-school level speed readers.

Lazy_StellarLv4

Supremacy games is pretty unique in my opinion. Of course, it's not the most unique thing out there, but hey, you can't expect better in information age

DodgeChance:btw if you actually manage to find a novel which is truly unique, tell me about it so I can give it a try. Although I feel the novels I listed are decent to good, I'm not sure if you could call them unique. A unique story, which is also in Chinese style, is as rare as Phoenix feathers and Qilin Horns!
tedmosby2016Lv14

Your novels have nothing on: 1. I am the pope, now what 2. supremacy games 3. chrysalis

DodgeChance:btw if you actually manage to find a novel which is truly unique, tell me about it so I can give it a try. Although I feel the novels I listed are decent to good, I'm not sure if you could call them unique. A unique story, which is also in Chinese style, is as rare as Phoenix feathers and Qilin Horns!
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CalvinCopyrightLv5

Now that the story in being updated stably, I can finally give this story a 5-star review - and mean it. I love this story. I've read over 2000 chapters of the crude machine translations, and this is still my favorite webnovel, despite the bad grammar. It beats out anything else I've ever read. Not only is it the biggest game of Xanatos Gambit Speed Chess I've ever seen, it does it in a world that combines classic Chinese mysticism and modern technology in an absolutely astounding manner. This story is the epitome of magitech in xianxia. For heaven's sake, give this a read. Li Yao's crazy adventures will have you sweating through your shirt and dancing around your room shadowboxing, as he comes out of grave situation after grave situation on top every time thanks to sheer stubbornness, luck, and an awesome amount of guile. The story doesn't get old with age, either. Even when Li Yao becomes a "Nascent Soul Old Monster", there are still fresh challenges and heart's demons to be conquered. The author has done a fantastic job deconstructing and subverting all the classic wuxia tropes, and more to the point, it's a profound lesson in philosophy that will have you struggling to refute the logic of the enemies - that is, until Li Yao refutes them himself. I can only sing the praises of this story so much. Let me leave you with this. Once this story is fully translated, it will probably be my #1 favorite xianxia novel for ever. If you liked the novels "I Shall Seal The Heavens", "World Of Cultivation", "Avalon of Five Elements", and so on for their hilarious main characters, give this story a read - Li Yao is right up there with the best.

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