The comments suggested that there was very little yaoi content or romance, with the story more focused on alchemy and perhaps adventure. I was totally excited since I dislike yaoi, but enjoy all the other things.

... Yeah the comment people lied. As you read it, you start thinking to yourself: Hey... this is starting to get a bit... gay.
Then you continue onwards, and although nothing major happens, you get the romance vibes from the MC and his new friend.
Then you go beyond that and the sexual tension starts... more>> sky rocketing. You are just expecting an M/M scene, and every interaction has you thinking: Oh my god, it's totally going to happen. I should stop now, why am I not stopping now?!?!

And finally it happens, and you find yourself in shock. That just happened? I kind of liked it. Oh god, am I into yaoi now?

Like don't get me wrong, I absolutely despise yaoi, but this was very well done. I think the main selling point was that it was all very believable and nothing seemed forced. It doesn't really come as a surprise either, so you're constantly hanging onto your seat in anticipation. So ladies! If you ever want to introduce your terrified guy friends to the yaoi genre, you might want to get them started on this. It's a fun read with all the classical elements of a Xianxia novel, but with more emotional characters. <<less

(Edit: I think the name is a bit off, there is no need for "Master, " it should just be "The Legendary Wife, " though I could be wrong)

I do really like this novel, to the point where I’m willing to listen to google reading it to me. HOWEVER, I have a problem with the main pairing. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy my yaoi and shounen ai, my problem has to do with their interaction with each other.

At chapter 392, their relationship is still so uneven. Everything... more>> has to go Ling Xiao’s way, the only time XiaoMo can do what he wants is when he doesn’t care. XiaoMo has to do or say what Ling Xiao wants him to do or say, otherwise he will get punished. His favorite way of punishing is on the bed. Even when it’s just for pleasure or for training, he doesn’t consider XiaoMo’s physical condition or the fact he is telling him to stop. XiaoMo also has to be careful who he hangs out with or says to other people, because Ling Xiao would get jealous. He is too controlling, and every single time XiaoMo has to go with what Ling Xiao wants, because he is afraid of some punishment. Yes, Ling Xiao pampers and protects him in other ways, but that isn’t a relationship where the two have an equal say or standing. Ling Xiao pampers and protects him because he wants to anyways, so it’s not like he is compromising, something he does not do.

Another thing, when Xiao Mo is with him, I can’t help but feel that the boy gets rather s*upid. By himself or with other people, he’s quite smart, but when he is with Ling Xiao he can do/say some s*upid things.

I’m not saying the two aren’t cute together, or that I they aren’t the OTP, but it still bugs me that they have such an unbalanced power relationship. If it wasn’t for that, I would have given 4 stars. At first I gave 5, because their uneven power-relathionship made sense in the beginning, but that continued even to chapter 392, so I changed it to 3. Hopefully it will change. <<less

I see a lot of people confused over this story's title. As someone who completely finished reading Legendary Master's Wife, I can definitely say that it is a good title. All will be clear later on in the story as the translators didn't even cover half novel yet.

I've also seen some people commenting on how the protagonist is weak = this story is tr*sh. Those people should really stick around as You Xiao Mo's character development is steadily spread throughout the story. It was definitely interesting and satisfying to see... more>> him growing from the kid who pukes at the sight of corpses into a full fledged warrior who won't even bat an eye killing his opponent while still maintaining that s*upidly lovable personality.

One thing that makes this BL story stands out from the rest is the way the author focuses more on the plot rather than lovey dovey scenes. Legendary Master's Wife has a very vast world and the author took her time describing each and every little aspect in that world, including many side characters with their own stories. You don't have to like BL to enjoy this Xuanhuan story packed with actions and comedy.

And as someone who read plenty of BL stories, I have to say I like Legendary Master's Wife the most. Because I have read so much, I got sick of seeing sappy romances between the oh-so-perfect uke (bottom) and seme (top) that this story is like a breath of fresh air.

Throughout the entire story there is never once any cliche or over the top romantic scenes between the two main characters. They don't loose control when seeing the other getting hurt and doesn't stalk their partner 24/7 like some sort of freak. They are not one of those unsecured couples that can't live without seeing the other for even an hour either.

Rather than romance, I would say that the two protagonists, Lin Xiao and You Xiao Mo got more of a bond between them. They just eventually ended up standing side by side at some point without us realizing and didn't even need to exchange sappy words like "I love you". Seriously, I can't even remember if they ever said one "I love you" throughout all 713 chapters. That's how little (or none) of these sappy moments that's in the story. The characters express their love through their actions, never words. They don't have mushy romances in any of their interactions, but more of a firm trust that drew them to one another.

There are definitely jealousy scenes, but those scenes are more hilarious moments. Rather than comforting their partner and saying lines like "you're the only one for me", Lin Xiao would harshly twist You Xiao Mo's ear as punishment while You Xiao Mo's would just mentally ranted since he doesn't want Lin Xiao to know he's jealous and get teased for it.

While in other BL stories the seme would go completely berserk when the uke gets hurt, Lin Xiao would let You Xiao Mo handle things on his own. The one time You Xiao Mo got seriously injured and barely escaped death, Lin Xiao asked him if it hurts and when You Xiao Mo said yes, he earned a smack in the head from Lin Xiao who told him to grow some brain cell next time, then proceed to tell him to hide while he deals with the enemy.

It's small scenes like these that makes me really love what You Xiao Mo and Lin Xiao shares. Their relationships feels so natural that they literally don't need to say it out loud for the readers and more importantly for one another to know.

This is definitely a great story, as a romance novel and as a simple Xuanhuan novel. The beginning might be slow, but as you read on it gets more and more interesting later. You Xiao Mo and Lin Xiao's backgrounds are definitely the key to the plot and once it's revealed, any questions or confusions people have now will all be answered. <<less

Started out interesting, then rapidly goes downhills. MC started off as a normal character trying to figure things out, then the author took the lazy route of neutering his personality. Now his only personality is to become conveniently smart when the plot requires it, and conveniently make s*upid decisions when the plot requires it.

Follows a main pattern of go to a school/new continent, be conveniently s*upid and make a rival, and after a series of adventures, ML swoops in and kills rival. Repeat as many times as needed. Intermixed with... more>> random OP power ups and convenient plot progression caused by MC randomly acting smart and dumb.

There are no intriguing side characters, they are all unmemorable and easily replaced. Villains have no real motivation for their actions other than the fact that they're just dumb and jealous of MC and ML.

This is just a cheap power fantasy for people who wished they had an ultra hot/rich/powerful boyfriend to beat up all their high school bullies. We're 50ish chapters from the end of the story and MC has less personality than he started out with. That's really impressive. <<less

You are being lied. This is not BL. Well it is but let me explain.

The main character is not man. He is but he is written like a classic wuxia girl. He depends a lot on his alpha male/borderline rapist lover, like any generic wuxia girl.

Actually I want to rate it 4 stars. But in the end, it's just male Protagonist written like a female. Worse he doesn't have the usual assassin skill (kept the medecal gift).

Why does it bother me so much? Imagine I rewrote Harry Potter but changed... more>> wizards to magicians. Would you think I did something amazing? At least I don't think this author did. <<less

Funny story, lovable YXM, cunning LX, their cute interactions, the storytelling and everything else makes it an amazing story. Those who feel itchy reading BL can read this without any problem for at least a 100 or so chapters I think?

I really enjoyed this series in its earlier chapters. I really did. This was my first BL novel, which I had discovered through Exiled Rebels. I liked the world building and how the MC was learning about how to survive. I loved the development of the Qiu team the most. I liked it when they were part of the story more. But in the end, I agree with what many of the low-rated reviews stated: it was boring and repetitive.

The novel doesn't have much going for it except its length... more>> and world building. The length is more on powering up rather than character development. I wanted to see how MC grew up mentally, facing drawbacks but presevering. What draws me to a character is how they react towards difficulties. But the MC hardly faces real danger. His "predicaments" are quite shallow. I keep thinking, "Can we just get on with it?" It is to the point that I don't even feel excited or happy that MC face-slaps people or gets to the top because it is expected he wins in the end.

ML is not much better because he keeps making fun of the MC and then just forcing s*x on him. It wouldn't hurt to see him express his love every now and then like at the beginning. We actually get glimpses of his feelings! But this far into the novel, he's kind of dead inside. The teasing about MC's negative IQ is really sad because it's just overused, and then somehow, MC is smart when the need calls for it. More recently, MC and some other high-leveled mages are attending this competition with the last round requiring them to traverse through a maze. MC apparently has experience with mazes because his brother was fascinated with them. Did MC actually go through mazes physically or do it on paper? I think even hobbyists, if those exist, will still have a tough time going through new mazes.

The part that annoys me the most was that it seems like the ML was challenging the READER'S knowledge as well. I feel this way because whenever ML asks MC to guess the answer to his question, MC has no clue. ML questions are usually ones that even the reader cannot figure out because the author doesn't give clues prior. Then ML proceeds to berate him, which made me feel like I was in the MC's shoes. This keeps happening so much that the MC ACCEPTS that he has negative IQ, and then he starts feeling happy when ML acknowledges his smartness. MC doesn't have self-confidence in this regard even though he is so "powerful."

I didn't mind reading this initially. In fact, I MTLed the whole thing because I wanted to know the ending. But a second reading with translations made me more critical of the novel. It's not bad, but not that great either. There were so many exciting parts in the beginning that I was a bit let down as I continued reading. I know ExR warned readers about how it was less BL and more adventure, but I could care less about the BL as long as the characters were further explored. I would say that the author's other works are better. <<less

Okay, so I'm new here and I've only read two chinese novels so far, so maybe my opinion isn't worth posting a review, but seing all the 5 stars I had to write something even if I'm bad at writing in english.

I. Hate. That. Novel.

Just reading a hundred chapters was excruciating (and I've learned that word just to describe The Legendary Master’s Wife !). The only good point maybe is that everything is explained, so even if you don't know a damn thing about cultivators and all, you can understand.... more>> But it gets boring, the action is sooooo slooooow... well, if you can consider what happens in the novel like actual "action". Because, honestly, after 100 chapters nothing really happened. Except for the yaoi part, but I will talk about it later. I really did not like the way the novel is written. I can compare it to the style of a middle schooler, but still, that comparison is too kind.

The MC :... was there a MC ? Oh, yes, him... He's so transparent I didn't notice him. He has no personality, he does everything the ML says and never dares to rebel, he is always scared of the seme, he is not cute, not really smart, not sassy... He is not even a man ! Each time I had the feeling the author was describing a girl ! Where is your d*ck dude !?

The ML : rude, selfish, bossy,... rapist... long story short, he is a d*ck. And you don't know how accurate this statement is, because the bigger part of the man is his lower part. And because the ML is a rapist with a big d*ck, blowjobs and s*x scenes in general are awful... I am not kidding, and it's not an understatement.

I'm glad I've found an other chinese BL (The founder of diabolism) while reading LMW, because without GDC I would have given up on chinese novels. <<less

Its 4 am.. And I'm crying, for goodness sake.. and I haven't sleep yet

Its really interesting novel, with good story about cultivator life with Bl theme, the pace of story kinda slow in the begining but not really slow that make you want to skip going at the end of book (in the last chapters the pace feel rushed) , consistent character,

and I'm crying because its ended

I love this novel!! Absolutely topped the list among all of those wuxias, xianxias novels right now (my opinion but I may be biased, lol) . The only downside that I can find is that the chapter is too short. I love how the character develops in which they are not clichey, compared to most novels. Translated BL novels are uncommon while the good one is rare, and this novel is included in the rare kind. You will absolutely adore the MC and how he interacts with the other characters... more>> especially his 'husband'... the plot is kind of slow but it is compensated with character development, albeit not too much but considering the progress of the novel (ch.137), still quite good. <<less

You might like this story if it's your first or second time reading a xuanhuan novel. But if you have already read some quality xuanhuan books, this novel will feel bland on so many levels. The one thing that is absolutely horrible about this novel is the relationship between MC and ML. I personally feel their relationship ruined the story to a great extent. So how bad is their relationship? This bad:

• RAPE: There is no 'rape' tag attached to this novel on this site, but from any angle I look at their 'first time', it is clearly r*pe. MC never consented to it, but ML forced himself on MC because he couldn't hold back anymore or something like that. ML just has to have s*x everytime he feels like it. Everytime it's basically r*pe.
• ROMANTICIZATION OF TOXIC RELATIONSHIP: Their relationship is unhealthy and toxic. Their relationship can be summarized this way. "Angry? Resolve in bed, jealous? Resolve in bed, moved? Resolve in bed." Of course, the 'angry', 'jealous' or 'moved' only applies to the ML.
  Spoiler

  Once MC accidentally got separated from ML. MC literally saved a village and found some amazing things during this separation and he was particularly cool. But ML was only angry towards MC because of this accidental separation. When ML found MC, he 'punished' him all night until he passed out. I don't understand how some people find this kind of thing sexy. I personally don't. Furthermore, MC has a magical space with spring water that can relieve any physical pain. But ML doesn't let MC soak in it many times after their 'deed' because he wants MC to bear that pain.

  [collapse]
  Also, ML is the extreme possessive, overbearing and jealous type. He doesn't want MC to have any friends. How is that not toxic??
• UNBALANCED RELATIONSHIP: The relationship between MC and ML is skewed. MC and ML are in no way on equal footing when it comes to their relationship. It's like a lion and a rabbit are dating: a predator and it's prey. Also, ML really treats MC like his s*x doll (because he never asks for MC's consent and 'does' him whenever he feels horny) or like a child or a possession but never like a partner until the end of the novel. MC has to listen to every word ML says or else he will be 'punished' all night.
• DISGUISED SEXISM: In reality, everyone has feminine and masculine traits but to a varying degree. But, in the novel, MC is treated as having extreme feminine characterstics and ML as being extremely manly. MC is bullied, teased and overpowered by ML in all kinds of ways throughout the novel. Despite being so talented, MC is still shown to be weak and is still forced to obey ML, and to submit to ML. This is just a disguised sexism. Even in a BL novel, the author is still depicting gender discrimination in a roundabout way. And the fact that MC is referred to as 'wife' confirms this even more. If you want a wife, don't date a guy. It's f*cking simple!

However, the shortcomings of the novel don't end here. There are other problems with the story itself:

• USE AND THROW CHARACTERS: The way I see it, every thing introduced in the story should hold a meaning. The authors should be careful before introducing new characters. But the author of this novel just introduces new characters randomly where most of them come like a wind and go like a hurricane. Most of them don't add anything of value to the story. Just compare this story to novels like "World of Cultivation" or "Banished to Another World" where even the minor characters have their moment of shine and you will know how much gap there is between these novels and LMW.
• BLAND WRITING: I call the writing style of this novel as "mass-production" style because you will find this kind of writing in majority of the low-quality web novels.
• CLICHE: The novel is cliche of the cliches. If you are going to write a cliche one, just choose the better cliches, why choose the worst ones? Submissive and oppressed bottom, aggressive and ancient virgin ML who has only s*x on mind, powerful golden finger for free, dumb villains and everything else are the cliches used in the novel and they are sadly used in the worst way possible. Compare LMW with "The Spiritual Plant Master Transmigration" where MC has a golden finger aka magical space but he can't use it for free or with "Unprecedented Pill Refiner: Entitled Ninth Young Lady" where ML despite being an ancient virgin doesn't force himself upon the MC.

Conclusion

I wonder if the author understands the implications of writing such toxic relationship on the LGBTQ+ community. The segregation between top and bottom of the relationship, feminization of the bottom character, masculine toxicity of the top character, normalization of sexual assault and r*pe and so on have actually led to the sexualization of homosexual couples as well as have indirectly aggravated the problem of gender discrimination in the real world. I have watched some videos where homosexual people have commented how these books have made their life worse. They are asked by people if they are top or bottom and how bottoms are looked down upon in real life. It's so sad that they have to face the problems created by the people who should support them instead. If the authors of BL novels earn extra money by writing romance stories about homosexual couples, they should also take the responsibility of uplifting the LGBTQ+ community rather than hurting them in the long run.

I couldn't bring myself to continue this one. Started because of the hype, but decided to drop and find something else, otherwise I thought it's going to make me lose all interest in Chinese BL novels. Although each chapter is relatively short, which should make the reading process faster, but to me it felt tortureously long. Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything to like in this novel.

What made me drop:

• Writing style was the most problematic at all times. Sometimes logic was defiled. The unnecessary amount of details that are dumped at you is immense. I couldn't care less about percentage of successful or failed pills, it could be brought several times in dosed manner, but not time and time and time again that I started to skip these parts entirely and wow, nothing changed, absolutely nothing if you skip those;
• Cheat characters. For my personal preference I enjoy when character goes through development, if a character has cheats from the get-go the story loses some thrill. And when characters meat no challenge at all the story becomes boring. You know that MC and ML will defeat everyone with ease. Pity that author spend more time on details about pills, but compared to that any fights or conflicts were double less the word count;
• Romance feels forced. Basically there's no substance to their feelings when it all comes from "feed me your pills" and then "let's sleep together and pa-pa-pa". It feels like a relationship of convenience, nothing more;
• MC made me so annoyed with him. The only thing he always thought about was money, sure thing at first it was a thing for survival, but later it felt like he was a greedy gnome. Sure thing he wanted to upgrade his level, but honestly made me feel like 'no'. Even his beauty upgraded from consuming and bathing in spiritual water ahaha;
• The world-building honestly felt empty to me. While author described huge cities it felt like one street and huge walls of some rare really expensive material., which have no purpose whatsoever. Any other character felt like a malicious prick, as if the whole purpose of their existence is steal or kill or violate. What righteous path ffs. Everyone felt like a bully. The whole beast thing was also underwhelming;

The only good part, I guess, when that annoying female cannon fodder was finally killed, because God forbids writing adequate female characters, they all need... more>> to be spoiled, possessive, jealous and poisonous :)

Anyway, fairly disappointed, good things I dropped this and found way better novels to read right after and save the sinking impression of Chinese BL domain. <<less

+ This is an updated review (c728)

I have juste one advice for you guys that you should read.. trust me.. the EXTAs are really worth it. Even if you couldn't finish the main story because it was so long or boring or the relationship between the MC and ML hum hum was not "healthy"... whatever the reason. Just GO read it, you won't regret it.

Now some explanaions for those who are curious:

So I'll make it in three points because it is fun... there are sure more points but I'm too lazy to write them down and you can find out by yourself after reading anyway :p here I go...

1. I agree to say that the final of the story was getting a bit boring I mean these chapter (650-700) But the last chapters (700-713) were'nt too bad. So I can understand that some people can change their minds on the novel and say that it was unnecessarily long. But I continued and thanks god that I did so because the EXTAs were sooo good... right I mean quite nostalgic and rich and exciting.
   Spoiler

   Finally the MC will introduce his husband to his family from earth.

   [collapse]
   I only waited for this moment and it really came. :' (
2. Naturally, it is not as simple as summerized in the spoiler. (For those curious... I don't really think it's a spoiler because it was a pleasant surprise. And if I have known earlier I wouln't have taken so long to finish the novel and to discover this treasure *_*). Okay.. here is the point: Even if you have'nt finished the novel, you must definitely go check the EXTAs. I might even give you the will to finish the novel (if you stopped in the middle) to find out how did they achieve this point in their evolution that is really the apotheosis of what it was meant to be, in my humble opinion. :p
3. Which leads us to this point that I was developing in my previous review... you shoud take a look at it by the way ^_^ Anyway :) __________________________________________I WILL NOT STAND ANY MORE PERSON WHO WOULD CLAIM THAT THE RELASHIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MC AND ML ISN'T "HEALTHY" JUST AFTER READING ONLY 100.. or maybe a little more.. we can say... 400 after that... you shall not speak either xD Only after reading the EXTRAs, you should grasp the meaning of a Perfect relationship.. I hope so :p Needless to say that the most beautiful thing is noticing the small changes in their relationship and being shocked at the end after comparing the first chapters with the EXTAs.. it's really dumbfounding.

PS: Sorry for all the CAPITALIZED LETTERS... I was a bit frustrated after reading some comments... :p

PS n2: I still maintain my previous review even after reading five more novels (of which I can recall "The Founder of Diabolism" and "Quickly Wear the Face of the Devil" being two masterpieces, I can't compare with other novels because their translations are still not finished). Even after reading those, I can still enjoy this one.. especially the EXTAs so give me a little face now, please. x)

------------------------ Review (c641)

Shortly... I loved this novel. All the characters and the relationship between them. And especially the main couple.

I read a lot of comments on how their relationship was not "healthy" and it's true BUT... in fact it's perfect.

I will explain in 4 points:

1) There is an evolution in their relationship and it's becoming more and more "healthy" to the point that the MC is actually willing to "endure" in the last chapters. To some point, if you really pay attention, you can feel how much the ML values his "wife" despite...

2) His personnality, yes the personnality of the seme makes him behave this way and there is some improving in the way he treats him. There are people who aren't just that "romantic" in their speech so you can feel their love in their actions and it is way more wanderful and intresting than some boring shojo romance... they are men sh*t. So, he is smart and their conversations turn out so hilarious... which leads me to the 3rd point.

3) The seme teases the uke about his IQ not to hurt him or to dominate him but because he is fed up that the MC is so depending on him. ML knows that the MC is smart and it is demonstrated several times but he also knows that he is "dumb" with him just because he spoils him so much. So the uke won't think for himself but prefers relying on the seme... not because he is becoming a "girl" but: first because he relies on the seme and mostly because he feels idle like any human on earth. Who would kill a cow and cut it to get the meat when it's already sold in supermarkets... (ok I got lost :p)

4) Finally, the characters are like what they are each with his own peronnality. And I am extreamly satisfied with the way their relationship is built because it is logic based on their personnalities and even more when we see the development through the time. It is at least way more believable than those "love at first sight stories" when they become so close and comfortable without even knowing each other.

I don't say it's an ideal relationship but isn't it a fu*king well written one and oh god how much it is funny.

I really recommand this one although it's only the 3rd novel I have read and I don't know much. I'd really like someone to recommand me such great novel after this one.

Amazing!!! This is well done because its not all smutty, cliched BL... the characters are amazing. As a fan of both Yaoi and Xuanhuan, I give this an A+++ Now I want to erase my memory and read it all over again :3

I don't know why this is rated so high when the story is drab and the MC is an OP bland daft cardboard who can't survive without the ML.

Other than the cheats being handed to the MC on a silver platter, he doesn't experience any single character development, it's not a lie to say the ML doesn't allow him to grow as a character. The relationship of the MC and ML is unhealthy, s*x is for the ML's pleasure only, and MC is more like a pet than anything else.... more>> You don't even get how and why the ML is "in love" with the MC. The MC halo demands that he loves him.

The story just repeats itself again and again. If someone doesn't like MC, then they're shitty canon fodders, MC is given every cheat there is, including the existence of the ML himself, and the ML pampers him like a brat. Everything the pair does is the Right Thing™ and everyone who says otherwise is EVIL™. ML does all the work and solves all conflict.

The story has been dragged out for too long, the characters don't even have motivations to do anything, they're just doing as they please and are excelling at it through the Protag Halo™. I swear, the characters don't work hard for anything. They're just good at everything they do and they're perfect and that's basically the point of the story. <<less

Slow when it comes to BL scenes and focuses more on the cultivation aspect at first.

Oh but they do flirt from time to time like hold hands, kiss, hide in their rooms to play with their *coughs* and are almost always inseparable.

They like to sneak out and the guy gives a lot of stuff to our diligent and treasure loving MC. If you read the Genius Doctor Black Belly Miss before, the male lead there is kinda similar to the lead here only he is not M.I.A. All the time... more>> cause he sticks around to protect You XiaoMo.

Basically like a sugar daddy and a sugar baby type of relations--- scratch that--- like HUSBAND AND WIFE! MC got this very wifey temperament: diligent, hard working, good with money, doesnt get mad easily oh but when he does, he knows how to use motherly tactics to make you do what he wants!

This was my first cultivation novel and I found it slow at first since I started this primarily for the YAOI tag but then the pills cultivation process of breaking through to the next level is very interesting!

Based from the comments, I heard the cherry popping scene is somewhere along the first few chapters of 300.

\ (^O^) / Updates became faster too! <<less

i like the story well enough but I'm having a hard time suspending my disbelief when it comes to the MC. Its not because he's weak, but rather because he's dense to the point that I can't understand how he passed any kind of college exam, and so incredibly naive that my first assumption is that he was raised in a bubble and locked away from the modern world. His child-like though process would be fine if it was in line with what we read of his past life, but... more>> we're supposed to believe he was able to live on his own, was capable of taking care of himself and smart enough to have tested into college. It doesn't match up. He's too trusting and naive to have grown up in the 21st century.

edit as of 654:
I've come to the conclusion that the MC is just the Chinese version of a Japanese shoujo character who's been given a d*ck. In the beginning he's dumb, naive, has a doormat personality, and is incredibly easy to bully and most of that doesn't change with time. He has a bit of character growth and even manages to mouth off and punch some people now and then but his entire world revolves around the ML and what the ML wants and needs. He doesn't have any goals outside of helping the ML. Even after 600 plus chapters its still as easy for the ML to bully and trick him as it was when they first met. The MC seems to exist mostly to get into trouble so the ML can rescue him and they can have lots of punishment s*x. 600 plus chapters into the story and I was hoping for a little more character growth from the MC by now. Since we're so close to the end now I have the feeling that this story is going to stay a 3 for me. <<less

A great BL novel with fantastic world building. TLDR for review can be found at the bottom.

It's stated that there are not many M/M scenes, but really, nah. After the MC and ML get together the scenes are really quite frequent and their day to day interactions get risque. For those not really interested, it's still a little difficult to avoid.

I really enjoyed how the author built up the world and explained all the aspects, it really immerses the reader into the atmosphere.

Unfortunately, I dropped the novel at the... more>> end due to the way the novel portrays women.

Likes:

1. World Building

• The author explains and details the environment makes it really seem lifelike. How the author explains it is through the MC. The MC is portrayed to be curious (Which is reasonable, considering he comes from a different world), and asks the ML to explain items/architecture.
• From there, a detailed explanation is given on how an item works, how it's built/grown and how it can be used. (Eg. Herbs, Cauldrons, Spiritual Water)
• For architecture, it explains what it is made out of, why it is in the current location, and how big it is. (Eg. Buildings, Cities, Modes of Transport)
• Due to the vivid explanation, it makes it easier to imagine the world and immerses the reader

2. M/M scenes

• When the author wants to write a M/M scene, boy do they really write one.
• Although not extremely detailed, compared to a lot of other BL, it's the most in depth one I've seen. There are many scenes scattered through the novel, be it in one liners or paragraphs.
• Personally, I like how raunchy it is, and the atmosphere is built up well, but it may be a bit far fetched for some people to get into.

3. Story

• The story flows in a way where the MC gains items, companions and levels up to confront the "big boss" of the area. (At least, from what I've seen in the first arc)
• The tension is built up well though, and each item introduced is used in the confrontation or day to day interactions. (Eg. Pills, Spiritual Beasts, Techniques learnt along the way)

4. Items

• The novel introduces a LOT of items. Seriously.
• Even though there are a lot, each item is used carefully with relevance to the story.
• Compared to many other BL novels that never mention an item after it has been used for its intended purpose, the novel reuses the elements it introduces. (Eg. The Stink Bug; seriously, this thing has been in for like 60 chapters and hasn't really been used yet)
• With the motherload of items, it makes tracking them difficult, especially if you don't read the story frequently. (Expected, look at the length of this novel)
• Luckily, both s3ri and Exiled Rebels include a glossary for some important elements, although not everything.

Dislikes:

Portrayal of Women

• Like I mentioned above, I dropped the novel because I couldn't stomach the way MC views women.
• Novel typically describes women as typical Mary Sues (Pretty, weak, and mindless)
• Little sentences placed in the novel like, "Since she's a woman", "Her strength is lower cause she's a woman", "Did well, considering she's a woman", so on and so forth, you get the idea.
• At the beginning of the novel we see the typical female love rival, and how the MC defeats her. The first female love rival was dealt with in a reasonable manner, considering her actions.
• After that though, oh boy.
• The next female rival (Not a love rival) is treated considerably worse. Yes, she does things that are unwarranted and should be punished, but they beat her over the head with the punishments like she murdered an entire family or something.
• A girl who was shown to like the MC being pushed out of the competition, for some apparent reason that isn't clearly stated. The girl is rejected by the MC and takes it in stride, saying she's fine with it, though they can't be together, she wants to be friends at least. And then she's thrown out. (Still very confused by this)
• Other non important female characters are cannon fodder and are there to "cleanse the eyes" of the reader. (They appear, just to help the MC and make him look better, while standing in the background being pretty) They throw them out fairly quickly, and are never mentioned again. (Eg. The first big martial sister MC has, the female teacher he has)

Characters

• Some comments mentioned how the ML likes treating the MC roughly. They're not wrong. It gets better slowly though.
• Most characters are smart at times, but cannon fodder material other times.
• MC is smart and grasps knowledge quickly, though downplayed by ML most of the time. Sometimes he's naive and mindless. Depends on the chapter really.
• MC and ML go through a cycle of I'm smart, praise me ML! &Gt; You're not that smart > Angry/Flustered MC > Amused/Apologetic ML > Smut/Exposition. It's kind of mindless, but I like it.

Things readers may like/dislike:

Like:

• Strong world building
• Smut scenes
• ML and MC interaction
• Pacing of the story
• Loads of content
• Laidback read (Not very serious content)

Dislike:

• Slow pacing
• Long content
• Portrayal of characters
• ML and MC interaction
• Not very serious story

TLDR:

• A great BL novel with loads of content that can supply you through for a long time, (Seriously, look at that length) with great worldbuilding elements, slow pacing and cheesy interactions between ML and MC.
• If you're looking for a non-serious read with loads of content and an immersive world, it's a great novel.
• If you're looking for a serious novel with introspection and detail to story and character, look somewhere else, or just read the first arc (First 100 or so chapters).
• If you're looking for a serious novel, I'd recommend "Need to Propose to Seven Men, What to Do". A great BL novel that doesn't beat around the bush and has very good character building and story, with an intelligent MC and MLs.

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This is a pretty long read that can keep you entertained for a while. It has a lot of aspects that traditional martial arts novels have and is a fairly enjoyable read if you're into these types of novels that have a slow build up. World building is decent and there's a lot of humor. Additionally, there's a lot of smut in this novel, which is a plus for most people.

However, this novel is so. f*cking. sexist. Like honestly, there's really no rhyme or reason for it, the author just... more>> feels like throwing sexist comments here and there just because??? Some female characters are even written in so that the author can make something sexist out of it.

Examples include:

Spoiler

Pointing out that women are objectively weaker than men every time a woman is involved in any type of fighting. If they're high ranked it's because clearly, the men defer to the "fairer s*x."

Making comments such as "women and small-minded men are the hardest to please" or just general comments about women being emotional and unpredictable.

Any female character has a 90% chance of being random cannon fodder green tea bit*h who falls in love with either MC or ML, is a conniving slut, probably seductive, and relies on her looks to cheat men.

Female characters that show up for only a few chapters so that the author can show off how much better men are than all these damsels in distress.

MC being deathly afraid of being associated with women... If he's weak "like a woman/wife" that would be the worst thing ever. Or being the bottom, "like a woman/wife" or... doing domestic skills... the list goes on.

Literal sl*t shaming. There's a part where the (entirely male) crew meets up to have a meeting and an all-female sect that cultivates through s*x is brought up. Everyone is horrified to learn that *gasp* all the members have had three or more partners before! THREE WHOLE PARTNERS!! This is a world where people live to be tens of thousands of years old, heavens forbid you have more than three partners in your lifetime! If your partner dies when you're two hundred and five years old--which they did because everyone is f*cking killing each other all the time in this world-- then sorry to say but it's time to take a vow of celibacy I guess. Or maybe that rule only applies to women, I don't know.

Ultimate insult is to call a woman old???? MC can you calm down cause your man is nine thousand nine hundred and however many years older than you are.

Any strong-minded or independent woman is so cool. Almost like a man. Okay.

MC telling a woman to go get r*ped.

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I don't know if the author is a man or a woman but damn, they have some deep seeded misogyny. Yes, I get it, China is sexist towards women and all but it's absolutely unnecessary to inject so much vitriol into an otherwise perfectly good novel. <<less

A nice bl novel

As for why it was called legendary master's wife and why not the legendary wife or something. You'll understand when you read further...