The Story in 3 Sentences
A young outcast named Su Yi, armed with a mysterious and overpowered cultivation technique, is exiled to the wilderness, marking his brutal initiation into a world governed by martial law and ancient grudges.
His path shifts from solitary survival to commanding legions of yao beasts and dismantling millennia-old clans, as he ascends the martial hierarchy with ruthless ambition and questionable alliances.
The story’s direction culminates in his conquest of the Tian Man Continent’s peak, where he claims divine thrones and a harem of beauties, fulfilling a destiny written in blood and power.
Why It Stands Out
1. The Ruthless Prodigy’s Ascent
This novel delivers a classic yet potent power fantasy. Su Yi isn’t a hesitant hero; he’s a force of nature who bulldozes through enemies and societal norms. His journey from despised exile to a god-emperor who commands demon beasts offers a raw, unapologetic satisfaction for fans of the genre, making the familiar tropes feel freshly exhilarating through sheer momentum and scale.
2. A Continent Forged in Martial Law
The world of Tian Man Continent is painted with broad, effective strokes. It’s a place where strength is the only true currency, and ancient families wield power like feudal lords. The novel leans into this setting, creating high-stakes conflicts and a sense of grandeur that justifies Su Yi’s meteoric, often brutal, rise, providing a solid, if conventional, backdrop for the action.
3. The Harem as a Narrative Engine
Rather than being mere window dressing, the romantic entanglements, particularly with figures like Liu Ruoxi, are woven into the plot’s central conflicts. Decisions to pursue or protect these beauties directly trigger wars, sect rivalries, and personal vendettas, turning the harem element into a core driver of the story’s escalating tension and political intrigue.
Characters That Leave a Mark
There’s Liu Ruoxi – the Holy Maiden of the Sacred Mountain, whose initial antagonism and mysterious origins evolve into a complex, powerful figure fighting alongside Su Yi, her blades as sharp as her political acumen.
You’ll meet Wan Er, who started as a destitute orphan saved by Su Yi a decade prior, her loyalty and quiet strength becoming a grounding, humanizing counterpoint to the epic, often cruel, power struggles surrounding them.
And Su Yun Tian? They’re the one who stands as the Old Master of the Su Family, a patriarchal figure whose relationship with Su Yi is fraught with tension, setting the initial stage for the protagonist’s exile and defining the familial conflict that underpins his early motivations.
The Flaws Fans Debate
The cultivation system and character abilities feel generic, offering little innovation to distinguish them from countless other xianxia novels.
The narrative occasionally suffers from pacing issues, with some volumes criticized for repetitive phrasing that can break immersion.
Su Yi’s decision-making is frequently called into question, particularly his choice to join hostile sects or pursue romantic interests who are direct sources of his peril, which can strain believability.
Must-Experience Arcs
Ch. 1–50: Exile and the Mysterious Technique – Cast out and left for dead, Su Yi discovers his OP cultivation manual in the wilds, laying the foundation for his power and establishing his ruthless, survivalist mindset against early foes.
Ch. 600–700: The Sacred Mountain Confrontation – Su Yi clashes directly with the Sacred Mountain sect and Liu Ruoxi’s world, showcasing large-scale battles, political maneuvering, and the solidification of key alliances and rivalries that define the mid-novel.
Ch. 2500–2536: Ascension to the Ancient Thrones – In the final chapters, Su Yi’s long campaign culminates as he overcomes the continent’s ultimate powers, secures his divine status, and fulfills his destiny, providing a grand, conclusive payoff to his epic journey.
Killer Quotes
“Heaven and earth are fair and merciless, I have a pure heart to survey the heavens!”
Cultural Impact
It has carved out a solid niche within the English-translated xianxia community, consistently ranking in NovelUpdates’ top 4000 series of all time based on reader activity.
The novel’s straightforward, bingeable nature has made it a popular choice for readers seeking a reliable, trope-heavy power fantasy without excessive complexity.
Fan discussions often revolve around Su Yi’s audacious choices and the evolving dynamics of his harem, particularly his relationship with Liu Ruoxi, indicating a dedicated, if not massive, reader base invested in the characters.
Final Verdict
Start Here If You Want:
A classic, no-frills xianxia power trip with a protagonist who dominates his world through sheer force and will.
Fast-paced action and escalating stakes that make it easy to devour chapter after chapter.
A story where romantic interests are intrinsically tied to the plot’s central conflicts, adding personal stakes to the martial clashes.
Study If You Love:
Analyzing the execution of well-worn xianxia tropes and how they can be effectively leveraged for mass appeal.
The narrative structure of a protagonist’s rise from zero to godhood within a rigidly hierarchical martial world.
The role of the “harem” not just as a reward, but as a catalyst for political and martial conflict in webnovels.
Avoid If You Prefer:
Innovative magic systems or deeply subversive takes on the genre’s conventions.
Plots driven by intricate political intrigue or morally ambiguous protagonists.
Stories with tight, literary prose and pacing, as the novel prioritizes momentum and scale over stylistic refinement.