The character of Gu Yunzhou, the third brother, is hinted at but not shown much. He goes to beat up Wen Zhiqing. He's the protector. I expect him to be a fun, violent side character. He might be the comedic relief. Or he might get in trouble. His actions are risky. He could be a liability. This adds a layer of worry. Gu Jia Ning might need to prevent him from going too far.
I am a little worried about the "80s action movie" vibe with the "solid" hunks. The initial description of the martial arts system is a bit rosy. It's presented as a perfectly meritocratic system that nurtures talent. That feels a little too idealistic. I'm hoping the story later introduces some of the classic wuxia or xianxia tropes of corruption, backstabbing, or resource hoarding by powerful families to add some real conflict. 1
I'm really hooked on the whole "eating ghosts" thing. Yan Luo casually refining evil spirits into jerky and munching on it while everyone else is panicking is such a strange and memorable image. It's darkly funny but also creepy. The author manages to make something that could be gross feel like a core part of her character – she's literally consuming the threats that others fear. I want to see more of how this ability works and what happens when she eats stronger ghosts.
The old sticker advertisement for the suicide squad – “What! Not recruiting for the Investigation Team, only the Suicide Squad?!” – that's a dark comedy moment. Shows how normal it's become to risk your life for money.
Initially, I rated this novel around 3.5 out of 5, but as I delved deeper into the story, my enthusiasm gradually waned. The direction the narrative takes is disappointingly convoluted. It leaves me pondering the rationale behind characters recalling their past experiences only to have some supernatural twist a chapter later that causes them to forget everything again. This back-and-forth detracts from the overall engagement and coherence of the plot. At one point, I genuinely believed the story was taking an intriguing turn when a character recalled being deceived in their past life and rushed to aid the protagonist. However, the author quickly undermines this development, almost nonchalantly declaring that “chosen one powers” are not to be taken seriously. This inconsistency diminishes the weight of character arcs and the stakes involved. To add insult to injury, plot holes are often brushed aside with the flimsy explanation that “the protagonist is protected by the Dao.” This convenient narrative device removes the tension that could arise from genuine dilemmas faced by the characters. For instance, the story establishes that using demonic powers is a grave offense, punishable by death for those who collaborate with demons. Yet, the protagonist’s actions seem to elicit a bizarrely casual reaction: “Oh, that character used demonic powers? No big deal, they’re cool now.” Such a nonchalant approach erodes the established sense of danger within the world. Moreover, the side characters often exhibit a perplexing level of naïveté, which is frustrating to witness. Take, for example, one girl captured by the villain who possesses a power that prevents her from being killed. In a shocking turn of events, the villain informs her that the hero coming to save her is already dead, and without a moment of doubt, she decides to self-destruct. This choice felt illogical and seemed to play right into the villain's hands—why would she follow through on his wishes so blindly? Ultimately, these narrative choices and character behaviors contribute to an overall feeling of disappointment. It feels like the potential for a rich and engaging story is undermined by inconsistencies, poorly developed character arcs, and an over-reliance on convenient plot devices that ultimately detract from the reader's experience. The execution leaves much to be desired, and what could have been an enthralling journey instead becomes a frustrating endeavor.
The introduction of Ruyi is sweet. She’s the loyal maid who died saving Wen Jiayue in the past life, and now seeing her alive and happy makes the tears flow. Their interaction when Wen Jiayue cries and says she’s happy to see her again is precious, even if Ruyi doesn’t understand why. But I’m already worried about Ruyi’s future safety. The foreshadowing is heavy. I hope this time she survives. That kind of loyalty deserves a happy ending.
The fight scene where Xia Nan uses [Whirl Slash] for the first time in real combat is beautifully described. The feeling of power surging from his legs, the clean cut, the falling straw man analogy—it’s poetic but not overly flowery. And the “Proficiency +1” text appearing mid-swing is a cool way to blend game mechanics with narrative.