MC's growing affection for the FL along the story was also sweet and bitter in a way because you can clearly see that MC likes FL, but doesn't realize it until her own uncontrollable powers of illusion forced MC to realize it.

Steamy scenes mostly at the ending chapters of the story, if you're wondering. With forbidden snake stuff.

First, the other characters weren't killed off. The reader is left with a cliffhanger about whether they're still alive, but the writer very clearly left it open until XN and JYB can return to the sect. But if you're worried they ARE dead, they're not. Second, XN is NOT suddenly in a reincarnated story with a system. It's all a part of her illusion skill breaking down her mental barriers. I thought it was pretty clear that it was all part of an illusion for XN, but I guess my reading comprehension is a bit better than others. Third, the main story isn't abandoned for any weird subplot. We're given an explanation about XN's demonic race and a way to help XN and JYB develop their relationship. Admittedly it's a bit cliche (*sorta* amnesia coupled with delusions), but it works well. Finally XN isn't suddenly turned into a Mary Sue. She gets the power of illusion that can help JYB distract and kill people, but she's really not that strong. The illusion skill also has some serious side effects, so... Personally I felt XN was too weak and relied on JYB too much so it was nice to see a bit of balance thrown in without making her OP. Still a good story IMO, and XN and JYB get a lot spicier too. Oh... and... Inventory management? Really? I saw maybe two chapters talk about her shuffling her storage bags WAAAAAY early.

Ji Yuebai placing an oath on Xu Nian forbidding her from hurting humans.

Ji Yuebai getting amnesia after facing a heavenly tribulation and Xu Nian having to help her. Luckily this is a bit more fun as Xu Nian tries to take advantage of Ji Yuebai's slightly different personality to ingratiate herself to her. Her amnesia doesn't last too long either, but it was still a bit too cliche.

there's suddenly a plot admin coming to play, Im not sure yet if it really is a real system or just a hallucination, given that Xu Nian is originally a reincarnated modern human turned snake, so that hallucination might be influenced from her past life. But even with the system and memory loss, the plot did not emphasize on Xu Nian interaction with the "system" at all and just about her believing she had a mission to fullfil, which is to make Yuebai fall in love and then make her kill her. So yeah, that kinda adds to my suspicion that the "system" is just an illusion to kill the bearer of the Moth demon technique.

the characters that the MC knew previously likely aren't dead. I think mustachemerl jumped the gun and made some assumptions, but theyre likely fine. This isn't a tragedy novel after all, and the MC does think of some ways they'd live. The entire plot point is most likely a way to speed up the relationship progression since the novel only has about 20 chapters left

We start of with Xu Nian, a demon snake that only wants to transform into a human form to live a peaceful life & cultivate. But after a fateful run-in with Ji Yuebai that normally will kill a demon beast on site. Xu Nian tries to help with the injuries & in the end gets put into a promise to never attack humans.

They separate & years later happen to meet again & this time Ji Yuebai saves Xu Nian life from cultivators & a monster. Xu Nian offers to repay her (also to try to get her to remove the promise & use her for protection), but they part ways again.

Ji Yuebai on a mission for the sect is attacked at a bad time & loses, only for Xu Nian to come along & take her away to care for her. After Ji Yuebai wakes up, she has memory issues & that begins the partnership with Xu Nian as they head out into the world together.

Thou the curse flipping the MC memory into a system, probably based off her past lives memories of games, makes it kind of throws off the vibe for a little, till you get settled into the flip in the story as the MC progresses within the hallucination of the curse. It is almost like a variation of the earlier point in the story where the FL loses her memories, this is just the MC having memories suppressed & re-written till she beats the curse & regains her memories, but the FL still helps her because of her love for the MC

kills off *all* the characters, switches continents (forcibly teleports her), gives the protagonist amnesia, and then introduces a system and tells her "you're a villainess and your job is to ruin your girlfriend's life that you conveniently forgot". Also she's the 'chosen one' AND lost snake royalty/princess AND just happened to pick up the strongest demon cultivator's legacy for 400 spirit stones and becomes completely OP. All that happens in like three chapters. They dialed the Mary Sue up to 12 and dumped in every terrible cliche in existence out of nowhere.

After all that exquisite writing, the build up, the amazing life and death situation that Ji yuebai and Xu Nian went, only for a simple Transmigration System to completely destroy it. Well i’m kinda hoping that the system is just Xu Nian’s illusion due to the usage of the power legacy she inherited. It’s just this story was really good. Xu nian just happened to be reborn to another world, and was not forcibly transmigrated to another to complete bs tasks. It’s a story, a different genre. But got demolished by introducing the s*upid system. But! I’m still at ch. 80 so me hoping it isn’t some s*upid system bs, will continue!