The Story in 3 Sentences

Nie Li, a fallen genius, dies in the final battle against the Holy Emperor — but with the Book of Time and Space Demons, he returns to his 13-year-old self, armed with the memories of a lost life and a burning vow: to change fate.

Guided by the Heavenly Dao Divine Technique, he fuses seven god-level demon spirits — Shadow Demon, Tiger Tooth Panda, Holy Blood Wing Jiao — reshaping his destiny and saving those he once failed.

From the ruins of the City of Radiance to the Dragon Ruins Realm, he races to rebuild a shattered world, master forgotten laws, and stop the apocalypse before history repeats itself.

Why It Stands Out

1. A Rebirth Driven by Love, Not Power

Nie Li doesn’t return to become the strongest — he returns to save the ones he couldn’t protect. He cures Xiao Ning’er’s illness before it begins. He saves Ye Ziyun from death. He guides Du Ze and Lu Piao to greatness. His strength isn’t just in combat — it’s in foreknowledge, strategy, and loyalty. This isn’t just a power fantasy — it’s a mission of redemption. Fans praise how his growth is tied to emotional stakes, not just cultivation levels.

2. Demon Spirits as Evolution, Not Just Summons

Power comes from fusion, evolution, and bloodline purity. Most warriors fuse one demon spirit — Nie Li fuses seven, breaking the rules of the Heavenly Dao Divine Technique. Each spirit evolves: Shadow Demon from assassin-type to mutation powerhouse, Tiger Tooth Panda from berserker to god-tier beast, Holy Blood Wing Jiao from dragon-blooded to law-defying entity. This isn’t random luck — it’s earned growth, with dragon bloodlines at the peak. His ability to master multiple spirits redefines what’s possible in cultivation.

3. Mastery Beyond the Sword

Nie Li isn’t just a fighter — he’s a triple threat: alchemist, formation master, and inscriber. He crafts resurrection-grade pills like the Fountain of Life, deploys deadly arrays like the Ten Thousand Spirits Sword Array, and engraves power into weapons. These aren’t side skills — they’re force multipliers that win battles and save lives. Readers love how he wins not just with strength, but with knowledge, turning forgotten arts into weapons of salvation.

Characters That Leave a Mark

There’s Nie Li — a strategist with heart, who fights not for glory, but for love, family, and redemption, his power born from memory, grief, and relentless will.

You’ll meet Ye Ziyun, once a fiancée who died protecting him, now a dragon-blooded powerhouse who rises not because of him, but alongside him, wielding the Wind and Snow Queen with pride.

Then there’s Xiao Ning’er, not just a love interest, but a girl once bedridden for two years, now reborn as the Red Thunder God Bird wielder — her transformation one of the story’s most emotional arcs.

And Du Ze & Lu Piao? They’re the ones who died defending the City of Radiance, only to be given a second chance — elevated to legend, co-founding the Demon Alliance, their bond a pillar of brotherhood and loyalty.

The Flaws Fans Debate

Harem elements dilute focus — Nie Li has multiple love interests (Ye Ziyun, Xiao Ning’er, Xiao Yu, Dragon Feathers, Feather Flame), some arcs earned, others feel tacked on.

Power creep breaks early intimacy — starts grounded in city-level stakes, escalates to cosmic law battles, losing some emotional weight.

Repetition drags — “train, fuse, fight” cycles repeat across 1,000+ chapters, especially in mid-to-late arcs.

Translation inconsistencies confuse — terms like “Demon Spirit Master,” “Soul Sea,” and “Destiny Realm” vary across versions, hurting clarity.

Must-Experience Arcs

Ch.1–100: Rebirth Arc – Nie Li returns, fuses the Shadow Demon, and saves Ye Ziyun and Xiao Ning’er — the emotional core of the story.

Ch.100–200: Alchemy Mastery Arc – He masters pill refinement, defeats Shen Yue, and teaches the Nine Turns Ice Phoenix Decision — where knowledge becomes power.

Ch.200–400: Black Hell World Arc – Duan Jian’s revenge, the Nightmare Demon Pot, and deep lore about the origins of demon spirits.

Ch.400–500: Dragon Ruins Realm Arc – The rise of the Demon Alliance, Yu Shen Sect confrontations, and the shift to realm-scale conflict.

Killer Quotes

“I’d rather die fighting than live in fear.”

“This time, I won’t let anyone die.”

“The strong survive. But the loyal endure.”

“In a world ruled by fate, I will carve my own path.”

Cultural Impact

Pioneered the time-loop xianxia subgenre, influencing countless successors like Rebirth of the Urban Immortal Cultivator.

Adapted into manhua, donghua, and mobile games — the anime reached millions globally, making the City of Radiance and the Book of Time and Space Demons iconic.

Fan communities still debate its legacy — not just as entertainment, but as a story about love, loss, and changing fate. Quotes like “I’d rather die fighting than live in fear” became genre mantras.

The City of Radiance symbolizes rebirth; the Book represents second chances in a world that rarely gives them.

Final Verdict

Start Here If You Want:

A protagonist who wins with knowledge, strategy, and emotional will

A cultivation world rich with systems: demon spirits, alchemy, formations, inscriptions

Second-chance storytelling where love and loyalty matter more than raw power

Study If You Love:

Time-loop narratives with real consequences and emotional weight

Strategic progression over brute-force leveling

Cultivation that values intellect and craftsmanship as much as combat

Avoid If You Prefer:

Minimalist worldbuilding or grounded realism without cosmic escalation

Tight romantic focus without harem complexity

Completed stories — the novel is on long-term hiatus, with no official ending