The Story in 3 Sentences
A modern gamer reincarnates into a cultivation world and discovers a unique system that allows him to make any temporary status effect permanent, turning basic needs like eating or minor buffs into eternal advantages.
He leverages this absurd cheat to build an unassailable foundation, methodically stacking infinite durations on cultivation boosts, movement speed, and even crippling debuffs turned upside down, all while navigating sect politics and uncovering the apocalyptic mystery behind his world’s fate.
His journey escalates from a cautious, smug opportunist exploiting loopholes to a zenith-defying powerhouse whose very existence bends the rules of cultivation, culminating in a reality-shaking confrontation that redefines the heavens themselves.
Why It Stands Out
1. The Infinite Loophole Engine
The novel’s core genius lies in its central mechanic: a system that lets the protagonist, Jiang Li, remove the expiration date from any status effect. This isn’t just about getting stronger; it’s about fundamentally breaking the economy of effort and consequence that defines the xianxia genre. Why meditate for decades when one pill grants eternal enlightenment? Why fear a crippling technique when its three-second power boost lasts forever? This mechanic transforms every minor interaction, every consumed item, every applied talisman into a potential cornerstone of permanent, exponential power, creating a uniquely satisfying and often hilarious power fantasy built on bureaucratic exploitation of cosmic rules.
2. The Smug Strategist’s Ascent
Jiang Li stands out not just for his cheat, but for how he wields it. He’s not a brute-force hero or a naive chosen one. He’s smart, sarcastic, deeply cautious, and utterly smug about his advantages. His journey is a masterclass in low-risk, high-reward cultivation, prioritizing permanent, foundational enhancements over flashy, temporary power spikes. He values brotherhood and builds alliances carefully, but his primary drive is an almost clinical obsession with becoming untouchably strong through infinite stacking. This calculated, almost paranoid approach to power, combined with his dry wit, makes his inevitable, overwhelming victories feel earned through cleverness rather than mere plot armor, offering a refreshing take on the overpowered protagonist.
3. Kingdom Building Meets Cosmic Mystery
Beneath the satisfying crunch of infinite status stacking lies a surprisingly grand narrative ambition. The story isn’t just about personal power; it’s framed by the looming question of why the world is destined to end. Jiang Li’s kingdom-building efforts, his establishment of alliances and power bases, are not just for personal security but become crucial pieces in a much larger, existential puzzle. This blend of intimate, system-driven progression with a sweeping, apocalyptic mystery creates a compelling duality, ensuring that even as the reader revels in the next permanent buff, there’s a persistent, underlying tension about the ultimate fate of everything Jiang Li is building.
Characters That Leave a Mark
There’s Mu Yuan – a figure of immense, almost detached power, capable of manipulating heavenly tribulations themselves, whose impassive observation and subtle interventions hint at a deeper understanding of the world’s broken mechanics and Jiang Li’s unique role within it.
You’ll meet Yang Qi, who embodies the classic, reckless cultivator archetype – a skilled fighter whose hedonism and impulsiveness constantly land him in trouble, often requiring Jiang Li’s unique, permanent solutions to bail him out, serving as a chaotic counterpoint to the protagonist’s meticulous control.
And Mu Luo? They’re the one who represents the established order’s challenge, a formidable close-combat sword cultivator from the Internal Affairs Hall whose initial confrontation with Jiang Li showcases the protagonist’s ability to turn even direct, violent opposition into an opportunity to test and solidify his infinite advantages.
The Flaws Fans Debate
The sheer overpowered nature of the protagonist’s cheat can make external conflicts feel weightless, as no challenge seems capable of truly threatening him once his infinite stacking is in full swing.
Some readers find the cultivation world-building, especially in the early stages, to be somewhat generic and lacking the intricate depth or unique cultural hooks found in other top-tier xianxia novels.
The resolution of the central apocalyptic mystery and the final antagonists are cited by some as being underwhelming or disappointing compared to the grand setup, feeling like a conventional ending tacked onto an otherwise innovative premise.
Must-Experience Arcs
Ch. 1–50: The Foundation of Infinity – Jiang Li awakens to his system, tests its limits with basic needs like [Satiety] and movement buffs like [Armored Horse Divine Travel], and makes his first crucial, permanent cultivation breakthroughs, establishing his core philosophy of eternal enhancement while navigating the politics of his starting sect.
Ch. 450–550: The Kingdom and the Calamity – Having amassed significant power, Jiang Li shifts focus to larger-scale influence, building alliances and confronting threats that hint at the world’s impending doom, forcing him to apply his infinite status cheat to problems far beyond personal cultivation, solidifying his role as a pivotal figure in the coming apocalypse.
Ch. 880–904: Achieving the Zenith Heaven – The final chapters see Jiang Li confront the ultimate truths behind the world’s end and the heavens themselves, leveraging every single one of his countless permanent statuses in a climactic, reality-bending struggle to reach the absolute peak and impose his own unending will upon existence.
Killer Quotes
“Those crippling secret techniques that boost power for three seconds but result in three-year feebleness? They are now the most powerful and most amazing.”
“A single press of the plus button would increase the duration by one minute. After holding it for five seconds, the duration would become infinite.”
“No matter how weak each spark is, how short-lived, how small… As long as the sparks flow unabated, then one day one of those sparks will light some tinder, and…”
Cultural Impact
The novel developed a dedicated cult following on Webnovel, amassing nearly 6 million views, celebrated for its unique, game-like system mechanic that resonated with readers tired of conventional cultivation paths.
Fans frequently meme about “infinite satiety” and the absurdity of making debuffs permanent, turning the core concept into a shorthand for ultimate, lazy power fantasies within online xianxia communities.
Its completion was noted by its fanbase, with discussions often centering on the satisfaction of the infinite stacking journey, even if debates continue about the finale’s execution.
Final Verdict
Start Here If You Want:
A wildly inventive power system that turns temporary buffs into permanent, game-breaking advantages.
A protagonist who wins through clever exploitation and meticulous planning rather than brute force or destiny.
A blend of satisfying, incremental power progression with a grand, apocalyptic mystery backdrop.
Study If You Love:
Deconstructing xianxia tropes through a system-based, almost gamified lens where rules are meant to be hacked.
The psychological profile of a protagonist defined by caution, smugness, and an obsession with permanent, foundational power.
Narratives that juxtapose intimate, personal power fantasies with large-scale, world-ending stakes.
Avoid If You Prefer:
High-stakes tension where the protagonist faces genuine, potentially lethal threats that aren’t instantly nullified by a system cheat.
Deep, intricate world-building with unique cultural or magical systems explored in granular detail from the outset.
Endings that provide complex, thematically rich resolutions to central mysteries, rather than focusing primarily on the protagonist’s ultimate power achievement.
