My reading experience was a 3, but I gave it a 4 for potential. I found that this novel was a mixed bag of many things, and while the potential was there, the first 120 chapters left much to be desired.

On one hand you have a really cool setting - chinese cultivation with lovecraftian mystery and horror. There's people going mad, many unreliable characters, mysterious things going on and that's all exciting... but then the author also gave the MC a cultivation system that seems like it came from a... more>> slapstick comedy system novel. The MC gets points by lazing around, and while he does seems intelligent, the fact that the system makes him look like a complete waste is used often for comedic effect. Either of these are pretty good on their own, but when mixed together (alongside his talking cat sidekick), its easy for the story to be jarring at times.

You have the author crafting scary horror situations like ones you see in House of Horrors or Lord of Mysteries, but the scariness falls flat really hard as he always has a talking cat with him and his system is a defense-oriented cheat. It's like trying to be spooked in a haunted house, but you have your chatty cheerful friend with you and you're in a car. The system also lets him cheat past most of the scary things in cultivation. On the other hand you have good comedy... but you know that this isn't the primary focus of the novel. It doesn't help that most comedic-type system novels have overpowered MCs that never have problems, and nothing suggests otherwise for this MC even if the setting is different.

Basically, I love the setting, I love the system, and I love the cat, but when you put everything together, it just doesn't mesh well. Maybe in a couple hundred more chapters it'll get better. <<less

This novel has potential. A huge potential. It picks up after the introductory arc, which is confusing and almost fully mystery oriented. It's hard to predict the plot which is a big +. It's also really difficult to judge which side-characters are going to stay around for longer, and you'll understand what I am saying about once you read the available chapters.

The novel goes from one extreme to another: when you already envision another filler-like comedy work that has no actual plot, it then proceeds to slap you in your... more>> face for being soo absolutely wrong. It alternates from light to dead serious atmosphere. From funny comedy to scary horror. And vice versa. In my opinion the author did a great job there, because you know, it makes the predictable unpredictable. But I also understand that other readers might consider it as the novel's flaw by trying to be a bit of everything there is.

Long term it may not be worth 5 star rating, but since there are no more chapters, I can only put in my imagination investment and hope that the novel develops its potential later on instead of burying it. <<less

Reading novel updates review make me re-read it again, giving another chance that I'm reading the MTL.

It start off slow and boring but it different than most novel as there is barely romance, it has mystery and intrigue and comedy that not ecchi or obvious brainless cliché.
It one of the MTL I'm willing to read beside House of Horror

This is really good novel. It's a bit creepy like combination of Lord of Mystery and House of horror. It might be not perfect but give some potential to improve. Can't wait to see more chapters to come.