The Story in 3 Sentences
A supreme cultivator, Chen Fan, meets his end at the Heavenly Tribulation, only to awaken five centuries in the past as his teenage self, armed with the memories and power of his former life.
He embarks on a ruthless campaign to rewrite his destiny, protecting loved ones and crushing former enemies with overwhelming, often brutal, force before they can cause harm.
His journey escalates from dominating Earth’s hidden martial world to confronting cosmic threats across the universe, driven by a vow to leave no regret behind, culminating in a story cut short not by conclusion but by external censorship.
Why It Stands Out
1. The Unapologetic God-Emperor Returns
This isn’t a story of humble growth; it’s a power fantasy where the ultimate victor comes back to play god on easy mode. Chen Fan’s return is less about cultivation and more about absolute, terrifying dominion. He doesn’t seek fairness; he delivers cosmic justice with the casual brutality of a man swatting flies, making every confrontation a spectacle of overwhelming power that satisfies a deep, primal urge for retribution.
2. Modern World Meets Ancient Power
The novel’s core appeal lies in its jarring, thrilling juxtaposition. Ancient cultivation techniques, alchemy, and divine artifacts collide with smartphones, corporate boardrooms, and high school dramas. Seeing Chen Fan navigate mundane teenage life while casually manipulating the fate of nations and dismantling global conspiracies with qi creates a uniquely addictive, over-the-top experience that defines the urban xianxia genre.
3. A Cult Classic Cut Down in Its Prime
Despite its flaws, the novel achieved legendary status, reportedly ranking among Qidian’s “Three Big Kings” in 2017. Its abrupt, government-mandated cancellation after 1207 chapters transformed it from a popular serial into a cultural artifact. Fans don’t just debate its quality; they mourn its lost potential, making its existing chapters a monument to a story that dared to be too big, too patriotic, and too violent for its own good.
Characters That Leave a Mark
There’s Fang Qiong – Chen Fan’s eternal love and destined wife, a powerful cultivator in her own right whose presence across lifetimes anchors his otherwise ruthless existence, representing the singular “right person” he vowed not to lose again.
You’ll meet Hua Yunfeng, who serves as Chen Fan’s second personal disciple on Earth and the venerable Old Master of the Hua Family, a figure of immense local power whose loyalty and awe towards his master underscore the MC’s godlike status in the mortal realm.
And Jiang Churan? They’re the one who began as Chen Fan’s dismissive, arrogant former love interest, a symbol of his past humiliations, but whose character evolves into a more responsible figure forced to reckon with the terrifying, world-altering power of the man she once underestimated.
The Flaws Fans Debate
The plot is relentlessly repetitive, following a predictable cycle: Chen Fan hides his power, gets provoked by arrogant foes, reveals his strength, and annihilates them, a loop that stretches across hundreds of chapters with little variation.
The protagonist’s characterization is a major point of contention; many readers find Chen Fan not just arrogant but genuinely unlikeable, a merciless bully who kills with excessive brutality, even when opponents surrender, making his victories feel hollow.
The world-building is criticized as generic and poorly constructed, with a simplistic cultivation system and concepts introduced haphazardly, lacking the depth and internal logic found in more acclaimed xianxia works.
Must-Experience Arcs
Ch. 1–100: The Chuzhou Reckoning – Chen Fan returns to his youth, immediately dismantling local threats and corrupt figures like Jiang Churan’s family, setting the tone for his vengeful, no-nonsense approach to rewriting his past while establishing his base of power.
Ch. 500–800: The Earthly Ascendancy – Having consolidated power on Earth, Chen Fan confronts global and interdimensional threats, battling powerful sects and revealing the planet’s hidden cultivation world, marking the transition from urban drama to full-scale xianxia epic.
Ch. 1000–1207: The Cosmic Confrontation – Chen Fan ascends beyond Earth, facing off against ancient forces and cosmic entities across the universe, showcasing his full, terrifying power as the former Lord of the Universe, a grand, escalating finale tragically interrupted by censorship.
Killer Quotes
“I had once reached the precipice of power in the known universe and could look down on the ten thousand realms with pride; I was lonely nonetheless.”
“I will not leave any regret nor anyone behind while I relive my past life this time around.”
“In the last life, I was on the top of the universe, overlooking the world, but no one was accompanied. This world is only willing to live with the right person.”
Cultural Impact
It garnered a massive readership, with millions of users on platforms like Webnovel engaging with the story and leaving hundreds of passionate, often polarized, reviews.
The novel’s abrupt cancellation due to Chinese government censorship became a defining part of its legacy, sparking widespread online discussion and turning it into a symbol of stories lost to political intervention.
It achieved significant commercial success, reportedly becoming one of the “Three Big Kings” of Qidian in 2017, a testament to its popularity despite its controversial nature and narrative flaws.
Final Verdict
Start Here If You Want:
A pure, unadulterated power fantasy where the hero is invincible from the start and crushes every enemy without mercy.
The thrilling spectacle of ancient magic and godlike powers clashing with the modern world’s technology and social structures.
A completed, albeit externally truncated, epic journey that spans from high school drama to cosmic warfare, offering a massive volume of content to binge.
Study If You Love:
Analyzing the tropes and cultural appeal of the urban xianxia genre, where modern settings serve as a backdrop for traditional cultivation narratives.
Exploring narratives of reincarnation and second chances, particularly those focused on correcting past regrets through absolute power.
Understanding the impact of real-world censorship on online literature and how it shapes a work’s reception and legacy within fan communities.
Avoid If You Prefer:
Complex, morally ambiguous protagonists; Chen Fan is a straightforward, often cruel, force of nature with little character development.
Tightly plotted, non-repetitive storytelling; the novel relies heavily on formulaic face-slapping and power-reveal scenarios.
Stories with definitive, author-crafted endings; the novel’s conclusion is an abrupt, unsatisfying cutoff due to external factors, not narrative resolution.
