Let me start with You XiaoMo (Momo) - he is in the beginning a total chicken and has no courage, no expectation from himself, no wish for the future, he just woke up in a different world and tries to adapt to it, nothing more. He is moreover a pushover in the first part, especially when meeting the ML Ling Xiao so it is obviously ridiculed by most characters, especially the ML. Most of this comes from his childhood, as he had extraordinary capable brothers and parents and he was just average so the grows up in this environment, never able to evolve emotionally. He even bears grudges against his family but has no courage to say anything, no need to mention about taking action. As expected, the turning point is meeting the ML, apparently overbearing without limit and under his constant threats starts to build his own voice. He gets the courage to care for other persons, to help them even though there are risks for him (he won't go overboard, so don't expect it, as the author says multiple times he is not a saint) and most importantly to start setting goals for himself and to improve his power. Later in the story he will start to voice his opinion and even tease the ML (which would have been unimaginable in the beginning) or play hard in front of his family as he consider they don't deserve his forgiveness too soon. In my opinion there aren't many characters that grow soo much in the BL stories that I read so this is to be appreciated and enjoyed.

Now to the point that has a lot of readers upset and disappointed - his dynamic with the ML. I have read words like r*pe, physical/emotional abuse, no love and forcing in multiple comments and after reading the whole story I for one don't see it... I will take all of them with exemples but first remember the mindset I was talking about and the rules of the world created by the author.

Regarding r*pe, if taken without context, because Momo says "no" it would indeed mean it is r*pe but for once Momo's character as build by authoraat that point will never allow him to say "yes" (upbringing + zero courage to take initiative + virg*n + no example of homos*xual relationships in his old life + shyness + though of himself as being straight) and there are indeed some holdbacks to their first mutual HJ, that he cannot get over quickly due to the same reasons mentioned above but that doesn't mean that he is not intrigued about it and to be honest, there were 0 chances for him to be 100% ok with any kind of physical relationships beeing with the ML or not, so I saw his apprehensions portrayed very accurately and in accordance with his character from that point in time... Then he almost always said "no" to any s*xual activity again due to character and ML stamina interpreted by some as phisical abuse (which agreed, unfortunately is a very bad cliche in most BL stories if not in almost all stories with romance) but that doesn't mean that he is truly unwilling since there are indications in the later chapters that he could have put a stop to it but never does. The ML becomes a total hen-picked husband and Momo's opinion is the only one that matters (except the occasional teasing) so if reading carefully the balance of power in couple will be totally in his favor.

Another point that I saw it bothers is the fact that the ML calls Momo dumb and idiot all the time and there are many points to this. For one, the MC is indeed dumb in the ML presence since he is at the beginning afraid of him and then totally dependent on him so he prefers to let the ML do the thinking and he wants just the results, which is actually smart in my book since why bother when having others do the hard work for you and then this dynamic becomes so natural that his first instinct is to ask the ML for anything, which makes the ML annoyed (since he knows Momo is actually smart and wants to make him think for himself) but Momo is to lazy to do it or doesn't have enough knowledge and experience about the Cultivation world so he gets called dumb/idiot by the ML. Then there is the case in which he really does s*upid things and then he is teased again. Here I want to make an observation, in most relationships there is such teasing so unless with evil intent (which I think the ML lacks completely) is totally fun and sweet and acceptable. Later in the book even the ML father acknowledged that Momo is actually smart if the ML is not around so this is what, in my opinion, the author wanted to portray and managed to do so very accurately and shouldn't be misunderstood... He acts cutesy, lazy and spoiled with the ML and gets teased for it... Nothing more profound or evil than that and the fact that he even says that his IQ is in the negative double digits is not emotional abuse, he hasn't been made/forced to belittle himself by the ML, think in the beginning, he was already feeling unworthy due to his upbringing (his exceptional family) so actually saying to the ML that is to big of a hassle to think for himself and just have the ML say it/do it portraits actually character growth not emotional abuse... He has a smart guy beside himself so would be a total waste not to use him to his full potential (good use of resources is always smart) and then again who has never told himself in some kind of situation "God, I'm so s*upid, it was so obvious that..."... it's normal, we all do it from time to time so that doesn't mean that we belittle ourselves or that we are emotionally abused by someone... Take it as an exaggerated reaction that we all have from time to time even though we don't mean it exactly like that.

Regarding forcing, the only situations that is see.... is the ML forcing the MC out of his shell and guides him to become a better and powerful self... Which agreed, done sometimes in the wrong way, but then again, MC has a crippling upbringing and without being a bit pushed, nothing will be achieved and the ML never pretend to be a saint and a perfect beeing so he totally wants to have some fun in the process of helping him, after all he is a total powerhouse from many points of view and does not do anything free of charge. If we speak about s*xual forcing, as mentioned above, I don't see it like this, again Momo's character is a big indicator as to why it seems like it is forcing but it isn't actually (read above)

Now to the ML, Ling Xiao, which is actually very complex, both a total walking cliche and completely unique, full of conflicting characteristics. He is very strong, oppressive, strong-headed, entitled, crazy smart, proud without limits, a tease, exceptionally incredibly handsome, tall and fit, incredible s*xual stamina, a pe*vert and a sensible soul, loving and caring but deadly killer, hen-picked husband, honest, loyal to friends and family, faithful to Momo, rude and friendly, strong moral beliefs, lazy and hard-working, easily jealous but gives Momo freedom to make his choices, smart-ass and many more... I'm sure I missed some... He is that complex!!

He has a complicated past but he is not affected by it, doesn't want revenge, he just wants to save his parents.. Has the opportunity and capacity to fight for power within his clan but is never interested.. He just wants to play with his true opponent only to hinder him and because it's fun, he is to proud to accept his real "mother" and to acknowledge the relationship between his real *parents* but that is only a facade since he cares deeply for them, sees Momo as the exceptional beeing he can be and helps him become the best himself but in the same time likes to have a lot of fun at his expense, he is the enbodiment of black-belly ML but loves and spoils Momo to no end. There is no cliche romance and I love you's but if you read between lines you will see how much he treasures him and at the same time trust him to handle himself in dangerous situations so you will not see him lose his mind when he doesn't see Momo for 5 sec but he will plot smartly and calculated when he is indeed in danger to save him. He will not let anyone take his Momo and will fight even Momo's family for attention and "ownership" as he sees it that they "own" each other and nobody can separate them. He refuses to eat any other pills that are not made by Momo even though it could help him but never pressures Momo to improve quicker since it could be harmful for him and follows him everywere so he can make sure he is safe... only starts to leave his side towards the end of the book when Momo is so strong that he barely has any worthy opponent. At the same time is a ruthless killer that doesn't show mercy and looks like it ruins Momo's innocence but if you look closer he actually prepares Momo easly, step by step, to handle the harsh world of Cultivation and to become stronger so he won't be affected further down the line when he will get to stay side by side with him, as an equal, which will actually be a very harsh an cruel position since danger could be at all steps.

What I also appreciated is that when he realised what he feels for Momo, he became completely devoted, never waivers in his love and never makes decisions in Momo's stead, preferring to ask for Momo's opinions as to what he wants to do, never taking the self sacrifice route and breaking up just because it could be dangerous, he actually supports him all the way never forcing him to accept a cliche break up for a s*upid reason, which is in my reading experience, a even more s*upid cliche than the walking cliche that the ML is :))

I loved their relationship and their constant banter and even though some said the love is almost never presented, if you read also between the lines, you will be pleasantly surprised.. There is a show of love in almost every chapter and not only the reader will be forced to eat dog food but also some side characters get so sick of it that they start to avoid them, expecially Momo's contract beast... Oh poor guys... Their poor single harts... If you are reading for smut, there is some but most of it is only implied and the accent is put on how pe*verted the ML is anf Momo playing hard to get.... Rest you should be able to imagine yourself :)

I also liked that the ML is not abusing his power even though he is totally capable and his upbringing could justify it... he is just a bit oppressive but with a reason and the usual "victims" are Momo's contact beasts and Momo himself... But here read carefully... If the situation is not dangerous then is only for comedic relief since he is a total tease :)

Now the side characters - all are amazingly built and fun and captivating and complex, many have a background story and I loved to bits and pieces Momo's beasts, each and every one of them, they are completing the main characters beautifully and make the story amazing. The parents and the friends are also unique in their own way and the bad guys are also well written. Almost all side characters have a background story... And what I loved is that they have an impact and important role in the story and that they pop-up at unexpected times and help complete the main story... I actually enjoyed very much the interwoven structure of the story and the crumbs that the author gives at some point that become a very successful plot twist/driver at another point.

ML was told by his father's trust friends that raised him that because his parent's clans hated each other his birth ruined plans for everyone and caused his parents to be locked away from each other and ML because of how scandalous it was. But in reality, his mom just wanted to escape her clan so she schemed with ML's dad who also wanted a child with her (forgot why) and then he promised to help her get out of the clan after giving birth. However he wasnt able to so the mother hates ML and ML's father. AND whats even more shocking is that the father's friend is gay with the father. Honestly I was so entranced by the idea of two lovers that were ripped apart finally being reunited this situation left a bad taste in my mouth. Like we are told ML's goal is to free his mom an dad and turns out the mom hates him and his dad who wasnt actually trapped was lying for other scheme drama reasons. Felt bad but I guess its fine. If that was my only problem out of 700 chapters its not bad at all

At times however, whenever Ling Xiao is with him, You Xiao Mo might seem a little dumber compared from his time alone.

Such as You Xiao Mo's teacher from the academy arc, we never really got to know what happens after the final arc ends, the author did not wrote any scenes about YXM going back into the academy to meet with his teacher and tell him about the results of the task he gave to YXM.