a novel where the 'protagonist' doesn't really feel like the protagonist, and instead acts like a golden finger for the real protagonists.
there was quite a lot of wasted potential, which I think the author didn't get into due to chapter restraints. for example, Spoiler
after the first three candidates, he completely forgets to search for more?? and he basically never left the starter village (Qinghe County) despite his ability to nominate more human tool- I mean candidates. it felt like the author either didn't want to add more 'protagonists' or couldn't find a way to make them stand out against the first three. apart from like four places, the author never goes anywhere else in the world, which is a bit disappointing, and more detail should've gone into the 'real world'.
the ending was also extremely rushed, and didn't feel satisfying at all because of the aforementioned chapter restraints. it ends at a neat 500 chapters, which shouldn't be a coincidence, and you can tell the author ramps up the pace when
Spoiler
they add a completely new 'level' which gives better 'rewards', but also takes away most of the fun that comes with the initial birth settings. most of the time is skipped during this period as well, as lifespans slowly edge into the ten thousands. its kind of annoying when Qin Jiao complains about her cultivation potential despite being immensely talented (though not compared to Chen QianXue) during this part, but I guess the intention is to make other cultivators want to punch her in the face if they heard that.
the 'love interest' (?) if I can even call her that, is
Spoiler
a woman that comes from the simulation. the 'protagonist' gets a living person from the simulation who thinks that everything that happened there is real, and that the 'protagonist' is her disciple. (also she sleeps with him within the first week of her arrival so...) she gets semi-jealous of the candidates, as she feels that they are constantly trying to seduce the 'protagonist' despite having no interest in him. she constantly gets surprised by the 'protagonist's' rising power from the candidates. ALSO, the 'protagonist' only simulates cultivation ONCE after he had selected his candidates. it's another wasted plot point where he could've interacted with the candidates in the simulation world. props on the author for not making it harem, but maybe they didn't want to add more romantic plot points which would extend the novel.
so there are
Spoiler
three
candidates in the story (excluding the 'protagonist') and to describe them in one word each (within the simulation reality) would be:
Spoiler
Chen QianXue: cautious
Qin Jiao: reckless
Fu ShuangNi: meticulous
and they are basically the most extreme versions of those traits ever. except for maybe FSN, as she's like a mix between CQX and QJ with an extra dose of responsibility.
QJ would betray the righteous path in an instant if given the chance, lol. she also thinks of CQX as her rival, but CQX doesn't reciprocate.
CQX accidentally betrays her sect due to a marriage proposal she doesn't want, ends up killing one elder and another supreme elder.
the ending is predictable but also brings more questions than answers, as it just ends with
Spoiler
all four of them ascending to immortality, and a message by his future self, who apparently created the simulator? they could've made a few extras to answer most of the missing plot points, like 'is the simulation world real?' or maybe 'how did he manage to die so badly within the first 30 times?' all three candidates managed to survive past 5 years first try, but the 'protagonist' can't even after 30? all innate abilities are refreshed every time he starts over, so what are the chances that he doesn't get a good roll even once? it's probably to add to his desperation and to further stoke his desire to get a human tool.
TLDR: could've been better, is an ok brainless read with a disappointing ending.