I am fully invested in Gu Jia Ning's journey. She made one heroic decision: to change. The rest of the story will be dealing with the consequences of that decision. The author has created a lead worth rooting for. She is flawed but teachable. She is kind but determined. She is exactly what a rebirth protagonist should be. I have high hopes for the rest of the novel.
The overall quality of this excerpt feels strong for its genre. The premise is creative, the characters are memorable, and the plot moves quickly. Minor issues include thin worldbuilding details and convenience in some resolutions, but these are common in cultivation web novels. The humor and emotional moments balance each other well. I’d rate this a solid 8/10 so far and would recommend it to fans of rebirth stories or cultivation comedy. I’ll definitely continue reading.
The magical realism or fantasy elements introduced through the male lead’s memory loss and the painting is fascinating. The fact that he can’t seem to remember who he is painting but feels compelled to do so is such a classic trope that I fall for every time. Is the woman on the screen Xie Yuqing? Is he painting a future he hasn’t met yet, or a past he lost? The boy Fenghuang seems to know more than he’s letting on. I’m also curious about the “item” that Xie Yuqing was protecting. A brocade pouch? It feels like a MacGuffin, but the way the traitorous man lunged for it makes me think it holds a secret that could change the dynasty. The mixture of historical warfare and soul-transmigration memory stuff is a risky mix, but so far it’s working for me.
20. So what’s the deal with the Master’s Wife? She’s been waiting for 2000 years, has a cultivation technique that works in a spirit-depleted era, and seems keen on getting the MC up to speed fast. But she’s also a spirit or something, with limited awake time. I hope she becomes a recurring character and not just a one-chapter power-up dispenser. She’s got charisma.