To be fair the drama is very good. It was magnificent where it did well. It’s a pity that it will sit below some of the most epic drama till date just because this drama need to meet current airing regulations. It’s very unfair to compare a 70+ ep drama (or a 2 seasons drama) with one that was only allowed to broadcast 40 ep max. The editing team could have done a better job editing the drama but they might also be running on a tight schedule to fix the episode count before broadcast date.

There are many places where the drama shined.
Story/backdrop: The story was intriguing, complex, and unique. From the get go, it showed us the end of the world is not just a vague idea, it’s very real. We as the audience witnessed it and the FL whose shoulders we’re watching the tale unfold witnessed it: the end of the world in a xianxia universe. She lost her home and all her love ones in an instant. And from that point on the audience should be aware of what the FL is working against, the fate of the world and fate of ML where she was the only fighter. I remember reading about some people comments in which they questions her actions and decision. An example was her decision to save Xiao Lin. For me, her actions were consistent with her character. She have seen her elder disciple brother Gongye Jiwu dying in front of her. She probably didn’t want to see that happen again. BUT I did wonder why she didn’t try to talk to ML first. When it comes to Xiao Lin, people question why she never considered the political implications and what her action means. For me, I noticed very early on that FL never tried to understand ML’s political position as hostage prince. I was slightly frustrated with her cluelessness about that aspect of the story until it hit me again: she’s an immortal, the only descendant of a god. Of course she couldn’t understand worldly conflict of interest, political interest. For her nothing is more important than preventing the end of the world and saving the love ones she had lost.

Gender dynamics/ relationship: Another unique aspect of the tale is the gender dynamics were flipped. The girls are almost always coming to the rescue and the boys were kinda the damsel in distress… lol it’s cool and funny. Actually rather than saying gender roles were reverse, it also seems like a learning experience for FL and ML to learn to establish a relationship of love, trust, and consideration. In the beginning, the FL dominated their relationship. In the middle, the ML dominated their relationship. By the end, they seem to learn none of that mattered. What mattered is that they loved each other.

Art style: At first I found the style gaudy and exaggerated. As I watch, I realize that it’s because the setting is different from other xianxia. I watched a lot of Daoist style xianxia (that has a 天帝, but this one is more Buddhist/Indian style xianxia. I notice the halos, the clothing style called dunhuang, the architecture style of Shangqing God realm. I loved it. It gives the drama a different feel and imbues the drama with a different kind of mystical qualities.

All in all my verdict is that it’s still an awesome drama to watch. The ending was not perfect and it was even slightly disappointing. But the ending doesn’t ruin the overall story. You will definitely enjoy it.