The process of Lu Qing making a fishing rod from an iron needle and hemp thread is really cool. It shows he's resourceful and not just relying on his cheat ability. It gives him a sense of competence that's satisfying to read, like he's someone who can actually survive this harsh world.
Killing the five-year-old sister is a deliberate choice to maximize horror. It makes the antagonist completely irredeemable. This isn't a supernatural squabble anymore, it's a raw tragedy that removes all her tethers to humanity.
I wish the story had a bit more atmosphere. The settings feel bare—just a room, a market, a phone call. There’s no description of the weather, the sounds, the smells. It makes the world feel empty. More sensory details would help.
Pacing is pretty tight for an opening. We get summoned, fight, drink blood, and join the group all within a few pages. No long explanations about the world—just little hints through Ji Yu’s thoughts and dialogue. It keeps me reading without feeling overwhelmed. The Nightmare Beast mission already sets a clear goal.
I feel for Han Lu's past, and her relief at getting a golden finger is heartfelt. It makes her wins more meaningful.
1 Fu Beijun’s internal conflict is hinted at really well. He’s disgusted by Qiao Rong, his hands are shaking when he has to pretend to be nice, but he’s also desperate for money. You can feel the shame and anger mixing together. That little bit where he thinks “the heavens are unfair, so he will be unscrupulous” is a key moment. It explains why he becomes the villain later.
The worldbuilding is a consistent source of pleasure. The idea that zombies are hoppers from old movies is so specific and fun. The "Spatial Rifts" that brought them 140 years ago is a good sci-fi explanation for a supernatural event. It blends science and magic nicely. The fact that "Evil Spirits" is a game mechanic category that perfectly fits the lore is just fantastic integration. The author clearly thought about how the system fits the narrative, which is something many writers overlook. Every detail feels purposeful.
Yinzhen is such an intriguing character so far. On the surface, he’s the indifferent prince, but his interest in Nian Shilan at the hunt and his careful maneuvering to marry her shows he’s anything but passive. Their restaurant dialogue has this double edge—sincere yet calculated. I can’t tell if he genuinely cares or just sees her as useful. That ambiguity keeps me invested in his real intentions.
Mos’s personality is the best part. She’s a mix of meme-y humor, genuine despair, and survivor instincts. Her internal monologue about being an office worker who took cephalosporin to avoid drinking is so specific and funny. But then she turns around and gets serious when her life’s on the line. It’s refreshing that she doesn’t stay in denial for long. The line “A real man lives a second life, how can he die without doing anything” after she’d just ranted about being female was gold.
The emotional whiplash in the first chapter is insane. You go from relief that she's rescued, to joy at returning home, to shock at the betrayal, to anger at the family's treatment, to determination when she starts planning revenge. That's a lot of feelings in a short read. Makes you invested fast.