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Han Li and his best friend Zhang Tie left their dilipidated hometown and set out to join selection for a sect new disciples. They failed to make selection but a physician named Mo took them as disciples instead after finding out Han Li possesses spirit root for cultivation. They worked diligently under the physician, learning to read, write and cultivate for six years. Unbeknownst to them, Physician Mo had an ulterior motive that would cost them their lives instead. Han Li, being the favored disciple and given the best food, herbs and knowledge by Physician Mo, started to get suspicious especially after Zhang Tie’s sudden disappearance. His first showdown had been with the supposedly frail Physician Mo who turned out quite a swordsman, a hassle to handle by a mere Tier 6 of Qi Refining Level cultivator like Han Li. But he emerged victorious, and thus sets out to find his way in the cultivation world.

What I liked about Han Li is that he is not the usual zero-to-hero kind of character. He doesnt have exceptional talent in cultivation like most characters I’ve seen in shows of xuanhuan genre, he doesnt have that purely righteous heart that urges him to throw himself into lopsided battles just to save innocent mortals, and he doesnt bat an eye to flee a battle that he knows he can’t win. He makes strategic moves each time, whether it be advance or retreat. He’s just not that kind of hero that would go into a battle with higher level cultivator just for the sake of dignity or ego. I am glad there’s no breakthroughs after life and death battles that runs rampant in other xuanhuans, cuz that always cringes me out. He doesnt rely on friends, he avoids attachment to people most, even with his shixiong shimei, but that doesnt mean he is heartless or totally detached. He steps in when needed but knows not to act when he should not. He doesnt have any designs in romance, and no amount of beauty, cultivation talent, wealth or background prospect could make him waver in his principles. Despite his supposedly average looks, he turned down the love of a beauty, a daughter of prominent family, a girl with enchantment skill, and a woman of great cultivation talent. I mean, he’s just the kind of hero that I root for, one who is focused on his goal for survival more than romance, power or wealth, it’s like the perfect cultivator specimen around. What makes it even more ironic is that he became a cultivator purely by accident in the first place, and it was never even his choice.

I cant say i like any of the female characters here. The most that earns my like is only Mo Cuihuan, cuz she is not the clingy type and knows when to retreat once her love was turned down. The most detestable character would be Nangong Wan and Chen Qiaoqian, acting so high and lofty just because they thought their family prominence and cultivation level higher thus warrants surrender of anyone below them. Funny how Nangong Wan being a core formation cultivator and yet failed to rein in her own feelings. She keeps blaming others for her emotional disability, always planning to kill ML just because she cant help being infatuated by him. OMG I just wished her character is erased from the sequel, her inner battles just turned me off completely. Not to mention her looks and bearing that could only earn her as ML’s elder than his lover. The scenes of them together make me cringe big time. Thank god ML doesnt feel anything towards this self-absorbed woman who is shameless enough to use gaslighting against him. I am glad he chose not to follow her to her sect in pretense of helping him to advance in his cultivation. Way to go ML, don’t let some cocky woman lead you around the nose. That little part of them on the last episode irks me so much i opted for that ff button instead. The writer’s attempt to create romantic or intimate moments between them failed miserably for me, and it just made me detest Nangong Wan even more. I was rooting for Mo Cuihuan but Han Li being Han Li, I knew it was not his time to indulge in romance yet.

I love all the trinkets and spell gadgets here. Han Li being a mediocre cultivator knew that he had to rely on artifacts, arrays, and puppets to survive battles before he could make himself powerful enough to fight with his own skills, so we get to see all kinds of awesome treasures he collected throughout his journey, most by chance where he picks up leftovers after life and death battles of other cultivators. His kind of luck is the one that i can relate most. His luck is not about winning battles against higher level cultivators, but sweeping off treasures after others’ battles and fleeing battles he could not win using those trinkets he collected. He definitely practices the teaching of his Master Li - the one that keeps their lives in the end are those weaker ones, because they lay low enough to avoid attention and battles thus they get to walk away with their lives intact.

Love the OST, especially Mayfly Will by Shi Yan. Definitely saving it into my running playlist.

Can’t wait for season 2.