The Story in 3 Sentences
A dimension-hopping warrior named Qing Shui arrives in the brutal, corpse-strewn world of Kyushu, armed only with the powerful but restrictive Ancient Strengthening Technique and a decade of grueling training aimed at avenging his forsaken mother.
His path shifts dramatically after a fateful encounter with the icy beauty Shi Qing Zhuang, sparking a chain reaction of deadly enmities and alliances that propels him from a cornered fugitive into a central figure battling continent-shaking powers.
He ultimately ascends towards the world’s summit, navigating bloody tribulations and forging deep, complex bonds with a constellation of formidable women, transforming from a lone avenger into a pivotal force shaping the fate of realms.
Why It Stands Out
1. The Relentless Grind Pays Off
Unlike protagonists gifted instant power, Qing Shui’s journey feels earned through sheer, often painful, perseverance. His cultivation, bound by the AST’s demanding bottlenecks, mirrors a real struggle, making every breakthrough and hard-won victory deeply satisfying for readers who appreciate tangible growth over effortless dominance.
2. Harem Heart, Action Soul
It masterfully blends the wish-fulfillment allure of a sprawling, beautiful harem with genuinely high-stakes xianxia action and political intrigue. The romantic entanglements aren’t just fluff; they are catalysts for conflict, driving the plot forward and forcing Qing Shui into increasingly dangerous and complex situations that test his strength and resolve.
3. A World Built on Consequences
Every action ripples outward. Saving one person incurs the wrath of a clan; a chance meeting alters the course of a continent. This creates a dynamic, reactive world where Qing Shui’s choices have weight, making the narrative feel less like a linear power fantasy and more like a living, breathing ecosystem of cause and effect.
Characters That Leave a Mark
There’s Shi Qing Zhuang – the cold, dignified Ice Princess whose life Qing Shui inadvertently saves from her treacherous fiancé, forging a bond that becomes a cornerstone of his early journey and a source of enduring loyalty.
You’ll meet Yu He, who enters Qing Shui’s life as a dignified widow from the Hundred Miles City; her presence draws him into a lethal conflict with the Gong Yang Clan, showcasing how his protective nature constantly pulls him into the heart of danger.
And Yi Ye Jian Ge? They’re the one who rushes back like a celestial savior to rescue Qing Shui when he’s cornered and facing annihilation, their timely intervention not only saving his life but also marking the beginning of a profound master-disciple relationship that shapes his destiny.
The Flaws Fans Debate
The harem grows so large that many female characters lose their distinct personalities, blurring together into a generic collection of beauties who fall for the protagonist for predictable reasons.
The power system and cultivation metrics can feel inconsistent or arbitrary, with new strength indices and levels introduced seemingly on the fly, making it hard to gauge true power progression or stakes.
The plot structure, especially in its later chapters, is criticized for becoming erratic, meandering through minor, sometimes disconnected arcs that prioritize romantic drama over the core martial cultivation and action promised by the genre.
Must-Experience Arcs
Ch. 1–200: The Hundred Miles Crucible – Qing Shui establishes his foundation, encounters Shi Qing Zhuang, incurs Situ Bu Fan’s wrath, and meets Yu He, culminating in a desperate battle where Yi Ye Jian Ge’s intervention saves him from the Gong Yang Clan, setting his entire future trajectory.
Ch. 1000–1500: Continental Dominance – Qing Shui wields continent-level artifacts like the Nine Continents Mountain, engages in large-scale conflicts that shake the foundations of his world, and solidifies his position as a major power player, moving far beyond personal vendettas into realm-shaping politics.
Ch. 2000–2492: The Summit Accord – Qing Shui reaches the pinnacle of power, navigating the complex aftermath of his conquests and relationships, culminating in final agreements between cosmic-level factions like the Demon Gate and Divine Palace, bringing his epic journey to a close.
Killer Quotes
“Mother, I have completely recovered! I can now cultivate!”
“The Ancient Strengthening Technique is unfathomably powerful, almost to the point of defying the heavens but at the same time, there are a lot of restrictions.”
Cultural Impact
It’s a staple recommendation on forums for readers seeking classic, long-form xianxia with a strong harem element, often mentioned alongside giants like “Against the Gods” and “Martial World.”
Its sheer length and completion status make it a go-to binge-read for fans of the genre, offering a massive, self-contained world to get lost in for months.
The novel’s popularity cemented its place on platforms like Wuxiaworld, contributing significantly to the platform’s early growth and establishing a dedicated, if sometimes critical, international fanbase.
Final Verdict
Start Here If You Want:
A classic, completed xianxia epic with a satisfyingly slow-burn power progression.
The quintessential harem fantasy woven into a backdrop of martial arts, alchemy, and world-spanning conflict.
A protagonist whose victories feel hard-earned through relentless effort and strategic thinking, not just plot armor.
Study If You Love:
Exploring how harem dynamics can be integrated as primary drivers of plot and conflict within the xianxia framework.
Analyzing the structure and appeal of long-form, serialized web novels and their unique pacing compared to traditional literature.
Understanding the tropes and reader expectations of the early 2010s xianxia boom, of which this novel is a representative example.
Avoid If You Prefer:
Tightly focused narratives with a small, deeply developed cast of characters.
Consistent, rigorously defined magic or power systems without retcons or arbitrary changes.
Stories that minimize romantic subplots or avoid the harem trope entirely.
