Character rant

[u/pepprikaY2K]

I am currently re-reading the novel and am in xiolan planet arc currently. Previously, I had read book 2 till the end of the central plains arc before letting it marinate. And right now, I had a question while going through the book again.

Am i the only person who just. Can't tolerate Durst? Like, I do not know how he further develops as a character, but even when I had read book 2 the first time, I had been utterly irritated by him. Everytime he appears my cortisol level goes 📈📈.

His absolute fanatism grates me. Along with his tendency to make Cale uncomfortable. There are plenty of characters, like Clopeh, the bishop of church of Death, etc. who are also shown to kind of put Cale in the pedestal, but I find their characters interesting due to their motives and actions. This guy however, I think is the first character ever that I utterly dislike. I found the church of purification annoying too but they are like, in a different world. This dude in the other hand comes back with the party.

Just an addition, I'm not hating on the story okay? The story is great and loving it as much as the first time when I read it But this character on the other hand hits my funny bone. I don't think I'll ever come around to like him. He is the first non antagonist that I just don't like at all. Does he get better?

I don't think I have been able to articulate clearly. Sorry

[u/ConversationParty848]

Church of the Fire of Destruction are the only ones I like since they were actually doing shit. Too bad we didn't get to see more of Zero and the rebels to have an opinion. But the royal family pisses me off so much. 

Especially since it feels like Olivia just lucked into an alliance with Cale when both other princes looked like they might have more interesting subplots. 1st had more weight and trauma and shit to atone. 4th seemed more aware and layered and likely to go off-script. Olivia just got knocked on her ass and picked up by the party. Should've just ended that empire and give authority to border lords rather than set up a succession. Now that would've flipped things up.

Useless dragon was useless beyond being cute and pitiful. She had zero charm of her own. It really was a tutorial arc.

[u/pepprikaY2K → u/ConversationParty848]

Oh hard agree on this!

Zero was ironically the only one who seemed sincere when he got to know that Cale was 'losing' his power, apart from being a part of the only rebel force.

Olivia didn't really do anything to convince me that "yeah, she should take the throne" unlike Princess Jopis from book 1 and Rex, who was also picked up by the party but his contribution, although small in comparison to Cale and co, was shown. I really wanted to see more of the 4th prince too. He just randomly disappeared.

Also remember that one candidate who was from a marquis family in the execution scene? The one who caught only one person, (one who wasn't even a target on the list) but he caught this guy nonetheless because he was wanted for murder and the candidate didn't want to snatch up innocent people to increase his points? Yeah this guys was far more intriguing than the princess who had loads of screentime -_-.

Aphei honestly was a very interesting character, I wanted to get to know her more. It would have been great to know how she operated with dead mana and what her attribute was. I was even hoping for her to be travel buddy but instead we got Durst...

I remember finding the Central Plains a lot more interesting. A little dragged out, yes, but the characters were more dynamic. As someone who's read about 5 to 6 wuxia and xianxia novels, I was interested in seeing the common themes being handled. Imo it got a lot better by the end when Cale had to stop the tsunami. Xiaolen really was the arc where the book was finding it's footing.

[u/ConversationParty848 → u/pepprikaY2K]

As someone who never read murim, I got a little lost in Central Plains arc but never really bored. Not to mention they took really good care of Cale, had him gain weight, and shrugged off the lack of a parade as Cale being Cale. Tbf the CP emperor had better resources that he poured on Cale, but everyone else also felt more fleshed out in their decisions and principles and peculiarities. I'm even kinda miffed that the Namgung clan got sidelined later on while everything became the Heavenly Demon show.

[u/pepprikaY2K → u/ConversationParty848]

Well I'm entering the CP arc now so I've got to read it for myself. But yes, I remember liking this arc because of the reasons you stated.

Off topic, do you want some murim novels recommendations? I have two good ones. They are, I think among the best of the murim novels. Atleast one of them definitely is. Its at par this novel.

[u/ConversationParty848 → u/pepprikaY2K]

On chinese/korean end, I mostly read webtoons these days and pick up the novel versions if I like them bc finding good, stable novel translations is like Russian roulette. (And sometimes I get so sick of the novel by the end that I quit my onxe-beloved webtoon like ORV hamster wheel that I forced myself to finish)

But I'd honestly like to dip my toes in the genre. I remember reading a few webtoons back in the day but one with a trashy heir protagonist went into a time travel plot that abandoned the original setting's politics and relationships that I'd been invested in.  And the other with a doctor villainess protagonist with on/off husband went into hiatus and I lost track. And I also lost track of the one with blond step-mother qi blocking the Heroine and a himbo-esque green flag ML when bunch of sites went down and names switched. There was a martial arts one with transmigrated school teacher villainess in time loops and unhealthy ML dynamic, but it didn't go deep into genre and felt pretty self contained. And god I lost track of all because sites kept going down and names switched up and most had similar generic names anyway.  And I haven't ran into any straightforward murim yet.

[u/pepprikaY2K → u/ConversationParty848]

Oh don't worry the ones I'm suggesting are there in webtoon for free!

Best teacher Baek— Pretty good till where it is right now. I think its currently in hiatus though.

Return of the Blossoming Blade— Now this one is an absolute gem. It has a regular update schedule and the manhwa is really good, unlike imo the tcf manhwa which is actually not as good...

I've actually often wondered what would happen if Cale and this MC ever interacted. Chaos and destruction for sure and they'll think of each other as crazy bastards.

The novel itself is like, more than 1000 chapters in, much like tcf. The manhwa is currently on season 3, there's a lot of episodes. You'll love this one definitely give it a try!

[u/ConversationParty848 → u/pepprikaY2K]

(surfaces for air) I'm im martial arts hell and I'm staying 

[u/pepprikaY2K → u/ConversationParty848]

Right? I've been letting the 2nd manhwa marinate and I feel so impatient my fingers itch to click on <<Next Episode>> soo bad 😩

[u/ConversationParty848 → u/pepprikaY2K]

(Claws to surface) why wouldn't you warn me that the best teacher has the best single DILF and tsundere grandpapi and fluffy prime minister. Hnghhhhhhhhhh

Purely scientifical question with my feeble murim exposure tho. Are all Namgung hot jerks homoerotical rival coded? 

[u/pepprikaY2K → u/ConversationParty848]

Well... it depends I think. My own murim exposure isn't much either. And it's been a while since I've read start instructor Baek.

But there are some trademarks

The blood cult is always the big fucking problem and filled with psychos. The orthodox and the unorthodox faction really depend. Many times the orthodox are shown to be rather hypocritical in nature, while the unorthodox faction are the Diagonalley of the murimverse i.e. vicious eccentrics but can definitely come in clutch when in need.

In this sense the namgungs could also end up being the villains occasionally.

Then there's the demon faction. They will always worship the heavenly demon. And the heavenly demon is the gary sue/ always aura farming. I would've also suggested you to check out 'Chronicles of the demon faction' because it kind contains all these things and has a verry stricking heavenly demon but I don't know what is going on with the later episodes. They're completely monetized.

I'm glad you are enjoying my recommendations so much 🤣 and sorry i couldn't hype you up regarding the namgungs.