The Story in 3 Sentences
A woman betrayed and murdered is granted a second chance, reborn on the day of her death with the grim power to see and combat the spirit world, setting her on a path of cold vengeance against those who stole her life and fortune.
Her journey twists from solitary revenge into a complex, often fraught alliance with the powerful, aloof husband she once despised, forcing them to confront not only vengeful spirits but the ghosts of their own past mistakes and the toxic legacy of her jealous half-sister.
The arc culminates not just in the defeat of spectral horrors, but in a hard-won personal redemption, as she sheds the shadow of her five centuries of ghostly servitude to forge a new life, finding unexpected love and family on the other side of her rage.
Why It Stands Out
1. A Vengeance Arc Forged in Spiritual Fire
The novel masterfully intertwines the deeply personal sting of betrayal with the high-stakes, chilling atmosphere of supernatural horror. Song Yan’s quest isn’t just about reclaiming stolen luck or punishing her half-sister, Song Lan; it’s about asserting her very existence after centuries of being a powerless, tormented spirit. Every exorcism becomes a cathartic act of self-reclamation, making the ghostly battles feel viscerally personal and emotionally charged. The stakes are her soul, her future, and the cosmic balance she was forced to endure.
2. The Ice Emperor and His Ghostly Empress
The dynamic between Song Yan and Fu Yusheng transcends the typical cultivation romance. He is not a gentle savior but a dominant, often infuriatingly pragmatic force, initially blind to her suffering. Their relationship is a slow, grueling thaw, built on reluctant dependence, simmering tension, and the gradual, hard-earned realization of mutual respect. The power imbalance shifts constantly, from his worldly authority to her supernatural prowess, creating a magnetic, unpredictable push-and-pull that keeps readers hooked far more than any simple love confession ever could.
3. World-Building Where Folklore Breathes and Bleeds
The story doesn’t just use ghosts as monsters; it weaves a rich tapestry of Chinese spiritual beliefs, talismans, and celestial truths into its very fabric. The rules of this world feel tangible and dangerous. From the intricate arrays used to steal fate to the hierarchical structure of the spirit realm and the cost of wielding ghostly power, the setting is immersive and consistently applied. This grounding in a specific, believable occult system elevates the horror and makes Song Yan’s victories feel earned through knowledge and grit, not just plot armor.
Characters That Leave a Mark
There’s Song Lan – the architect of the protagonist’s initial misery, a half-sister whose envy curdled into a dark art, stealing not just affection but the very fortune of fate itself, making her a villain whose malice is as calculated as it is petty.
You’ll meet Ji Ziyi, who emerges from the shadows of her powerful family not as a mere socialite, but as a complex figure entangled in her own web of promises and past lives, her connection to Shen Hanjing adding layers of personal drama that intersect with the main supernatural conflict.
And Fang Yanli? They’re the one who provides a crucial, often humorous counterpoint, a steadfast friend and ally whose loyalty is unwavering, offering moments of genuine warmth and grounding amidst the chilling hauntings and high-stakes cultivation battles.
The Flaws Fans Debate
The male lead’s domineering attitude can feel grating, his initial coldness and controlling nature sometimes overshadowing his eventual growth, making the romantic development a slow, occasionally frustrating burn for some readers.
The sheer length of the novel, clocking in at over 1400 chapters, inevitably leads to pacing issues, with some arcs feeling repetitive or stretched thin as the central revenge plot against Song Lan evolves and new, larger threats emerge.
While Song Yan is a powerful force, her interactions with Fu Yusheng sometimes dip into a dynamic where her formidable ghostly strength is undercut by moments of perceived submissiveness, creating a dissonance that some fans find inconsistent with her otherwise fierce persona.
Must-Experience Arcs
Ch. 1–50: The Rebirth and the First Haunting – The foundation is laid as Song Yan returns from five centuries of ghostly torment, immediately confronting the mundane horror of her past life and the first chilling supernatural threat, setting her on the path of the exorciser while re-establishing her fraught relationship with Fu Yusheng.
Ch. 500–700: The Ji Family Web and Deepening Bonds – The plot thickens as the mystery surrounding Ji Ziyi and her family unfolds, introducing complex political and spiritual machinations. Song Yan and Fu Yusheng are forced into closer, more dangerous collaboration, their mutual dependence deepening even as external threats escalate, testing their fragile alliance.
Ch. 1400–1463: The Final Exorcism and the Epilogue’s Peace – The culmination of all arcs, where the ultimate ghostly menace is confronted and vanquished. The final chapters resolve the central conflicts, offering a poignant epilogue that shows the hard-won peace and domesticity Song Yan and Fu Yusheng have built, a quiet, powerful contrast to the chaos that defined their journey, confirming their transformation from adversaries to partners.
Killer Quotes
“After spending five hundred years as a Ghost, no one knew better than Song Yan how precious life was.”
“You really think that I will not scatter your soul and make it impossible for you to reincarnate?”
“No matter how precious he is, he isn’t as precious as my life!”
Cultural Impact
The novel has amassed a massive following, reportedly read by over 4 million users on WebNovel, sparking countless forum discussions and fan theories about its intricate plot and character fates.
Readers frequently praise its unique blend of chilling horror and slow-burn romance, with memes and comments often highlighting the terrifying ghosts and the intense, often hilarious, dynamic between the icy CEO and his ghost-exorcising wife.
Its popularity has cemented it as a staple in the “Ghost Wife” and “Strong Female Lead in Cultivation” subgenres, frequently recommended for its satisfying revenge plot and the protagonist’s compelling journey from vengeful spirit to powerful matriarch.
Final Verdict
Start Here If You Want:
A cathartic revenge story where the underdog doesn’t just win, she becomes an unstoppable force of nature.
A romance that’s less about sweet nothings and more about surviving literal hells together, forging a bond in fire and shadow.
A supernatural thriller that feels fresh, grounded in a richly detailed spiritual world where every ghost has a story and every talisman has a cost.
Study If You Love:
The intricate deconstruction of fate and fortune within a xianxia framework, exploring how destiny can be stolen and reclaimed.
The complex psychology of a protagonist shaped by centuries of torment, examining how trauma informs power and the long road to healing.
The subversion of traditional gender roles in cultivation novels, where the female lead’s strength is supernatural and strategic, often eclipsing the male lead’s worldly power.
Avoid If You Prefer:
Fast-paced, action-only plots without deep emotional or romantic subplots.
Male leads who are immediately supportive and gentle; Fu Yusheng’s journey from cold indifference to devotion is a slow, sometimes rocky one.
Stories that wrap up neatly in under 500 chapters; this is an epic saga demanding a significant time investment for its full, rewarding payoff.
