This is my first ever drama review, although perhaps no one's gonna read it 😅
Negative points:
1. Messy editing, especially the first 5 eps and last 2 eps which is the most important parts of a drama.
2. Bad directing. Long pause, long staring, long standing, slow moving camera.
3. Bad script. The conversation are taking too long, they really talk in details about everything. Some are important, but some are pointless.
4. The battle scenes are cut short bcs they use the screentime for conversations.

Positive points:
1. The characters are likeable. There's no annoying character in the main cast, not even Na Sheng. I hate if one of the main characters is a villain + love rival. Yu Huan is evil, but not a love rival. Zhen Lan is a love rival, but not evil. That's why the story is enjoyable and makes me focus on the characters and their journey. The characters I hate the most are Lang Gan and Yu Huan, the other villains are fine.
2. The chemistry. You either see it or not. I even like Bai Ying and Xi Jing or Yu Huan and Fei Lian together. Su Mo and Bai Ying have chemistry, but sometimes the conversations got too long so it was hard to maintain it.
3. The acting. They did what they had to. They delivered their characters really well based on the character's backstory and personality, and how their characters changed along their journey. The three main cast had the hardest jobs. I applaud them for that.
4. The OST. I love all songs, but half of them are barely played in the drama.
5. The set, cinematography, CGI. I actually like the settings, especially the bamboo river house. Other places are well built too, even the forest. The cinematography is nice, the CGI is acceptable. They could've done better in CGI, but I've seen worse than this.

This drama, you either love it or hate it, enjoy it or skip it, feel attached or disappointed.You can watch the donghua (animation) or read the novel and ditch the drama version. Up to you. For me, I really like it and will rewatch it.

For the ending, I'd like to think it's leaning to HE. That the gods gave him power to be resurrected and permanently stays by her side. For three years, the citizens worship him and pray for him. They came every year to the sea. Those prayers might gave Su Mo power to appear in human form. Also the song played in that scene is the happy one (I'm Your Rain by Rachel).