Who Isn't A Martial Artist These Days? - Reviews

The way Wang Li is just casually daydreaming about being a reincarnator and then immediately using the slang "like Qin Shi Huang chewing on an electric wire" made me laugh out loud. It's such a specific, ridiculous metaphor that feels exactly like something a bored high schooler would think. The humor is really natural, not forced at all. I also love that he doesn't have the typical angsty "I must go back to my original world" vibe – he genuinely appreciates having a family and superpowers. That already sets him apart from a lot of protagonists in this genre. The explanation about the Three Shines of the Ancient Silver Moon and the Yuan Qi awakening is dropped in a pretty clever way during class, which avoids the info-dump feeling. It ties the world-building directly into the current lesson. I'm intrigued by how the Martial Dao works and how Wang Li, with his average talent, is going to tackle this. The contrast between his low cultivation layer and his big dreams is a good setup for future growth. Also, Li Yuanzhu sneaking him the "three" sign is adorable – I'm already shipping them.

Old Zhan the teacher is such a classic stern but not heartless type. The way he drags Wang Li for daydreaming, but then lets him off the hook after the answer (even if it's not quite correct) feels realistic. I liked that Wang Li didn't just freeze up; he managed to blag his way through thanks to his best friend's hint. The detail about Old Zhan looking like "a large monkey jumping on the podium" is silly but vivid. This kind of characterisation makes the school setting feel alive. I'm curious about what kind of teacher Old Zhan will be in the future – maybe he's secretly a martial arts master?

Li Yuanzhu is winning me over quickly. She's portrayed as shy and soft-spoken, but she takes the initiative to invite Wang Li over for dinner. That's not just a casual gesture – she offers Demonic Monster meat and Savage Realm fruits, which are clearly expensive resources. That shows she cares about his martial growth and wants to share her advantages with him. The physical descriptions of her blushing and lowering her head are cute, but I also notice she doesn't hesitate to correct her thigh when he makes the joke about her shyness. It's a small moment that shows she has a bit of backbone under that quiet exterior. Their rapport feels like real childhood friends who are comfortable with each other.

The world-building through the Three Shines of the Ancient Silver Moon is really well integrated. Instead of having a long history lecture, we get it revealed in fragments: first in Wang Li's thoughts about why he values this world, then in his answer to Old Zhan. The system of Yuan Qi appearing 1,110 years ago, the spacetimes overlapping 110 years ago, and the large-scale dimensional gates opening 10 years ago – that's a solid timeline that makes the setting feel lived-in. I'm especially interested in the "other worlds" like God Realm and Savage Realm and how they connect to Earth. The idea that Earth's Yuan Qi is still weak compared to those worlds and resources are scarce adds a nice layer of social commentary. It's not just a free cultivation world; there's real class disparity based on access to alien food and materials.

Wang Li's internal voice is entertaining. He keeps calling himself a "country bumpkin" but also "a winner in life" with ironic bravado. The way he reflects on his past life as an orphan compared to his new life with a family and a childhood sweetheart gives him good motivation to stay put. I appreciate that the author didn't make him desperate to return to his old world just for drama. It feels more mature. His determination to see the "scenery at the highest point of this world" is cheesy but genuine. However, his current reality of being stuck at Martial Apprentice Third Layer after twelve years of practice is a harsh dose of reality. I want to see if his fused memories give him some sort of edge in cultivation, because right now his talent seems... not great.

The pacing in the classroom scene is just right. It starts with Wang Li spacing out, shifts to the interrogation, the hint from Li Yuanzhu, his triumphant answer, and then the bell rings before he can finish. That timing feels authentic to school life. The section after class, where he jokingly scolds Li Yuanzhu for being too shy, and the whole class's jealous stares, is a classic comedic beat. It lightens the mood before heading into the family scene. The author knows how to balance the slice-of-life with the world-building exposition without making it feel like a textbook.

The moment where Wang Li goes home and his little sister Wang Lulu jumps into his arms is pure heartwarming fluff. Her "sniffing out" that he visited Li Yuanzhu's house is a cute sibling gimmick. The banter about her getting fat and her threatening face shows their dynamic. It adds a layer of domestic warmth that makes the peaceful life feel real. I'm glad the author took the time to show this family interaction because it strengthens Wang Li's reason for wanting to stay. His parents are apparently still alive and present, which is a nice change from the usual orphaned protagonist.

I have a small concern: Wang Li seems pretty complacent about his lack of progress. Twelve years of training and he's only at the Third Layer? That's abysmal compared to the top students. He admits it's partly because he was lazy before the memory merger, but even after awakening, he's mostly just daydreaming and enjoying life. I hope we see him actually buckle down and practice soon. The invitation to dinner at Li Yuanzhu's might be his first boost in resources, but resources alone won't fix terrible talent. Maybe the memory merge gave him some hidden comprehension ability? Or perhaps the Primordial Qi Art he's been training is secretly better than he thinks. I'm waiting for the twist.

The writing style in English translation is quite colloquial and flows well. The use of internal monologues and asides (like the "cough, cough" and "leans back strategically") breaks the fourth wall slightly but in a charming way. It reads like a direct translation of Chinese web novel style, with the raw energy preserved. I particularly like the description of Wang Li's left palm as "warm and smooth as jade" – it's a cliché in the genre but used effectively to show the physical benefits of cultivation even at low levels. The author pays attention to sensory details.

One thing that stands out is Li Yuanzhu's consistent blushing. She's described as blushing deeply, then her cheeks grow redder, then she smiles and blushes again. While it's meant to show her shyness and crush, it might become repetitive if overused. However, in this initial chapter, it works to set her character. I also noticed that she's the one with better cultivation resources (her dad brings stuff from other realms), so she might be more talented or at least better positioned than Wang Li. That power dynamic in their friendship is interesting – she's not just a passive maiden; she's actively helping him.

The world's history through the Three Shines is fascinating. It seems that humans on Earth only gained access to Yuan Qi 1,110 years ago, which means civilization has been developing with cultivation for just a millennium. Then the overlapping worlds caused plane wars and pioneering. Now there are gods, titan beasts, savage kings, and demonic monsters invading Earth. That's a very different setting from the usual "ancient secret cultivation world" trope. It feels more like a sci-fantasy with dimensional portals. I'm curious whether the "Silver Moon" is a literal moon or a celestial object, and whether more Shines are expected.

Wang Li's comparison of himself to a "tiny screw" in his past life is a good reveal of his previous life's loneliness. It explains why he's so attached to this new family and world. The author doesn't dwell on this tragic backstory too much; instead, he uses it as a foundation for Wang Li's current positive attitude. That's a smart writing choice. We empathize with him without getting bogged down in trauma. It also makes his dream to reach the top more personal – he wants to prove that even a nobody can rise if given a second chance.