Overall, this is a solid start to a cultivation revenge story. The protagonist is clever and proactive, the villain is hateable, the stakes are personal and high, and the world has room to grow. The writing is efficient and engaging. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys stories like “Reverend Insanity” but with a lighter, more sarcastic tone.
The very end of the excerpt with the human survivors fleeing and spreading fear? That feels like the set-up for a larger conflict. I'm eager to see how Yun Ming fits into the skeleton hierarchy after this battle. Will he continue to follow Tang Ming? Will he be noticed by higher-ranked skeletons? So many possibilities. Great hook.
The part about Jiang Hao's mother abandoning him is a quick punch in the gut. It's mentioned so casually, but it adds a lot of depth to his character. He lost his father, then his mother left, leading him to be a wanderer. That explains his coldness, his need for control, and his fear of attachment. It also makes his respect for Feng Wanming's promise more meaningful—he's not just following a tradition; he's seeking the family he never had. That small detail is a masterstroke in character development.