The 'Shadow Devour' description says it feeds on flesh and spiritual energy. The fact that it works on the bug corpses without requiring Qin Jin-Nian to physically eat them is a relief, and it opens up possibilities for dealing with larger monsters later. I wonder if he'll absorb parts of the Flesh Mountain eventually.
Overall, this is a wildly entertaining start. The protagonist is a lovable jerk with hidden depth, the world has an original blend of post-apocalyptic survival and Chinese mythological systems, and the humor is relentless even when dealing with dark themes. I do worry that the constant joking might undercut the serious moments, but so far the balance is okay. The biggest question for me: what job will Chu Qiu get, and how will the Book of Life and Death affect it? I'm definitely curious to read the next chapters.
Okay, I gotta say, the opening with the nuclear wastewater dumping hitting us right in the face is a pretty bold hook. It feels super relevant, like something ripped from today's headlines but turned up to eleven with all those mutant sea creatures. It instantly sets a grim, "told you so" tone that gets you invested in seeing this world burn just a little bit, even though you know it's fiction. Kinda gives me the chills thinking about it.
2 The little details about poverty are consistent throughout. Xiao Ya's clothes described as grayish-brown from too many washes, a torn cuff fluttering in the wind. The broken temple with its swaying walls. Ten sweet potatoes counting as a "rare harvest." These small touches build a vivid picture of their circumstances without needing long exposition dumps. I can practically feel the cold night wind and smell the fire-roasted potatoes.
I love how Yun An'an doesn't waste time with the corpse thieves. She just deals with them efficiently and moves on. No unnecessary drama, just action.
I’m a little skeptical about how quickly Ji Shuyin accepts the dream as truth. Realistically, someone might brush it off as a nightmare, but the fact that the same words and events are repeating makes it work. Still, a moment of doubt might have made it feel more grounded.