The Story in 3 Sentences
A cultivator named Ye Mo awakens in a modern, spiritually barren world, trapped in the body of a man scorned and abandoned by his own family, his previous life and master vanished without a trace.
His journey shifts from desperate survival and mastering his unique pill and charm crafting skills to amassing power and influence, systematically dismantling every enemy and institution that ever looked down upon him.
The direction of his arc culminates in him ascending from a discarded nobody to a sovereign figure, achieving the peak of cultivation and commanding respect across realms, his path paved with vengeance, strategic alliances, and the unwavering pursuit of strength.
Why It Stands Out
1. The Alchemist Kingpin
It stands out by making the protagonist’s core power his unparalleled genius in alchemy and artifact crafting, turning him into a behind-the-scenes kingpin whose influence and wealth stem from his mastery over resources others desperately need, rather than just brute force.
2. The Harem as Strategic Network
The novel elevates the harem trope by weaving each romantic relationship into the larger tapestry of Ye Mo’s rise, where his wives and lovers are not mere trophies but powerful allies, leaders of sects, or possessors of crucial knowledge, making his personal life a complex web of strategic partnerships.
3. The Slow Burn to Godhood
Its appeal lies in the meticulously slow, grind-like progression. Ye Mo’s ascent feels earned over thousands of chapters, moving from a penniless outcast to a figure who challenges cosmic powers, offering readers a deeply satisfying, if lengthy, power fantasy rooted in incremental, hard-won victories.
Characters That Leave a Mark
There’s Ning Qingxue – the elegant and powerful heiress of the Ning Family, whose initial aloofness gives way to deep loyalty, becoming one of Ye Mo’s most steadfast wives and a pillar of his growing empire.
You’ll meet Luo Susu, who is Luo Ying from his past life, the master who disappeared; her reappearance as a figure from his new world, bound by fate and shared history, adds a profound layer of mystery and emotional weight to his journey.
And Song Yingzhu? They’re the one who saved Ye Mo in his most vulnerable moment early on, forging a bond of gratitude and obligation that evolves into a complex partnership, solidifying her place as a foundational figure in his life.
The Flaws Fans Debate
The sheer number of characters introduced can feel overwhelming and sometimes underdeveloped, making it hard to keep track of who matters and who is merely passing through the narrative.
The plot can become repetitive, particularly in its formulaic structure where Ye Mo encounters a problem, demonstrates his superior power or intellect, and gains new allies or resources, which can feel predictable over its extensive length.
Some fans find the protagonist’s personality, while ruthless to enemies, can border on being unrelatable or overly perfect in his strategic thinking, lacking the deeper internal conflicts that might make his victories feel more human.
Must-Experience Arcs
Ch. 1–500: The Earthly Foundation – Ye Mo establishes his base in the modern world, mastering his pill crafting, confronting his treacherous family, and securing his first powerful allies and wives like Ning Qingxue, laying the groundwork for his future empire.
Ch. 500–1500: The Ascension to the Immortal Realms – He breaks through to higher cultivation realms, ventures into the perilous immortal worlds, faces divine tribulations, and begins his systematic conquest of sects and territories, his power and legend growing exponentially.
Ch. 1500–2258: The Sovereign’s Reign – Ye Mo reaches the apex of power, confronting ancient foes and cosmic entities, finalizing his revenge, and solidifying his status as an unrivaled sovereign, bringing his long journey from abandoned son to ultimate authority to its climactic conclusion.
Killer Quotes
“A man should live like this.”
“My principle is that if you respect me one inch, I will respect you a foot.”
Cultural Impact
It has cultivated a dedicated, if niche, English-speaking fanbase who appreciate its classic “weak-to-strong” trope executed on an epic scale, often recommending it to fans of lengthy, traditional cultivation sagas.
The novel is frequently cited in online forums as a quintessential, if sometimes flawed, example of the transmigration and harem genres, sparking debates about its pacing and character development.
Its completion after over 2200 chapters is itself a point of discussion, with fans expressing both admiration for its scope and relief at reaching the finale.
Final Verdict
Start Here If You Want:
A classic, slow-burn cultivation epic where the underdog’s rise is measured in painstaking chapters and hard-earned power.
A story where the protagonist’s intellect and resourcefulness in alchemy are as important as his combat prowess.
A sprawling harem narrative where romantic relationships are deeply intertwined with political and martial power dynamics.
Study If You Love:
The intricate world-building of Chinese webnovels, particularly the detailed cultivation systems and sect politics that form the backbone of the genre.
Analyzing the evolution of the “transmigration” and “abandoned son” tropes over a massive, completed narrative arc.
The economic and strategic aspects of power in xianxia, where controlling resources like pills and artifacts can be more decisive than raw strength.
Avoid If You Prefer:
Tightly plotted stories with a limited cast of deeply explored characters, as this novel thrives on its vast scope and multitude of figures.
Fast-paced narratives; the story’s deliberate, incremental progression is a feature, not a bug, but it demands patience.
Stories that avoid or subvert harem tropes, as romantic conquests and multiple wives are a central, unapologetic element of the protagonist’s journey.
