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PaperclipPerfector  9d ago (text post)   1750 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for February 28, 2025

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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As much as it physically pains me, I have to upvote you despite you coming away with a tepid review so far.

170 chapters is enough to give even Xianxia a fair-shot, in my opinion.

Smart protagonist cred: 2/5. It might be intended that Fang Yuan doesn't come off as particularly smart, but rather experienced, lucky to have achieved the heights he had once despite his disadvantage in natural talent and then lucky once more to get another chance. The protagonist begins the story with the massive advantage of 500 years of foreknowledge along with a prestige boon that boosts his progress massively on top of the information he has. He does not make glaring unforced mistakes, but that is not to the credit of the story when I have never seen him learn, but instead was told how "Fang Yuan was entirely clear on X" and "Fang Yuan was utterly calm like a still lake because of his 500 years of experience". On top of that, the "Fang Yuan transmigrated from Earth" part was criminally wasted. You isekai into medieval ages from modernity and don't even consider in your internal thoughts to invent gunpowder and kickstart the industrial evolution combined with the existing magical system? Some "Chinese scholar", he is!

Unfortunately, this is the one place where I actually do have to say the cliched line: Wait a bit longer.

Eventually you will see the galaxy brain shenanigans, and FY outsmarting the competition. At the risk of mild spoilers, as time goes by, FY can rely less and less on his knowledge of future events, his actions have butterfly effects, and he's forced to figure out new solutions and use even more of his brains.

On top of that, the "Fang Yuan transmigrated from Earth" part was criminally wasted. You isekai into medieval ages from modernity and don't even consider in your internal thoughts to invent gunpowder and kickstart the industrial evolution combined with the existing magical system? Some "Chinese scholar", he is!

We don't know for a fact that he hasn't at least considered it, but in his defense I'll say that the Gu world is very unfriendly to technology. Outposts of civilization exist separated by wilderness teeming with magical beasts. Cultivating Gu provides guaranteed and easy power ups, and reduces the impetus for technological development.

FY probably couldn't manage the industrial chain necessary to use gunpowder as a mortal, and by the time he has the power to do so, why democratize things when he can get his way with his cultivation? At higher levels, as in most Xianxia settings, mundane weaponry shorts of MOABs and nukes won't make a deny against upper level Cultivators.

He reincarnated 500 years ago, so I wouldn't be surprised if most traces of his original personality and life have faded. It will become quite clear that he's changed considerably over time, but I don't want to spoil things.

And as far as I can recall, the author never claimed that he was the reincarnation of a modern Chinese scholar! All we know is that he had an extensive knowledge of classical Chinese literature and poetry, so he could well have been alive hundreds or even a thousand years before the present day.

jumps around from third-person omniscient narrator to some sort of weird "teaching moments" between the author and the reader, with the "morals?

The Legend of Gu Zhen Ren is polarizing, and I can honestly say I'm not a fan of it. But it does have relevance to the setting, both as something the denizens personally know about, and later on for reasons I won't spoil.

Thanks for giving the book a go! I do hope you continue reading further, and I think quite a few of your critiques are valid.

And as far as I can recall, the author never claimed that he was the reincarnation of a modern Chinese scholar!

At one point Fang Yuan compared something to a neon lamp. I'm pretty sure that was his own internal narration and not the author's notes. Mao was also mentioned.

The Legend of Gu Zhen Ren is polarizing, and I can honestly say I'm not a fan of it.

The parts with the mythical guy who was the progenitor of cultivators are actually pretty cool. It's the paternalistic attitude that the narrator himself adopts at other times that irks me.

At one point Fang Yuan compared something to a neon lamp. I'm pretty sure that was his own internal narration and not the author's notes. Mao was also mentioned.

I stand corrected, and I'm actively trying not to remember because I want my memory to fade so I can re-read it with pleasure.

I do think that an industrial revolution is unlikely even with determined effort, because it would undermine the powers of the Cultivators (who can get any modern amenity they want through Gu), and because the world is far too hostile to build even modern medieval trade networks.

True, but since the narration constantly explains everything, I'd expect it to at least mention why Fang Yuan can't use any knowledge from Earth other than reciting poems and vague "business acumen".

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