This manhua deserves a -10 for me. I am currently enraged and partially with a headache. I am very lenient with my graphic novels and rarely to almost never would actually not only give a low rating to something I do not like, but even comment on it. I am of the opinion, if I do not like something, just ignore it and leave it for people that enjoy it. I really have also low requirements when it comes to liking a story. Even if it feels like it is a copy paste of another story or when the plot is simple and the characters two dimensional, I can still easily enjoy it.

But this. This is just horrible. The main reason I probably even bother being angry with something I do not like, is because I can tell I would enjoy the concept if it was not for just one thing. I can't tell what is even going on with this horrible nonsensical pace!

The pace around chapter 40 just becomes.. heck I can't even find a word about what I want to express here. I would say way too fast, but that is NOT even the main problem. It is that events and scenes can start and randomly cut off, as if they never started. Even worse, randomly they can pop up out of nowhere, to the point I would look backwards to see what I missed reading, but nope, they never "started" to begin with. Everything happens so fast, as in seemingly big plot events start, only to get either interrupted or concluded instantly, making you wonder if they were as important as they seem to be. Characters that seem like they are meant to be important to both the story and the main character, are given such little attention, that you end up not caring who they are or what they even mean. Every single solitary relationship is flimsier that a thin sheet of glass, where the pace and confusion act like a huge sledgehammer.

I reached chapter 90, but honestly after 70 something, I just started skipping dialogue, trying to find anything that would make me relax and just keep following it.

Rare as it is for me, I definitely do not suggest people to not try it. There are numerous better graphical novels out there, that even if they are simple and even uninspiring, at least the reader can make sense of what is going on. If you want to actually find out about the story of Panlong, I fully suggest to ignore the graphic novel and go read the light novel!

I have no problems with a manga adaption taking the same basic elements as a novel and doing its own thing with it. They're two different mediums so taking a different approach can often pay off. That is not the case here. While not amazing this starts out solidly (if routinely) enough but as it goes on the main character gains knowledge and powers with absolutely no explanation. At some point (around chapter fifty) the narrative largely breaks down entirely with each chapter feeling like a stand alone issue that might, if you're lucky, tie back into the previous one. I would strongly suggest not wasting your time. Even if you read bad manga just to wallow in familiar tropes you will be disappointed as it uses but skims over them.

Ignore the bad ratings and people mad about how different it is from the novel. It was pretty enjoyable to me and I hope it gets updated more, but it all depends on everyone's preferences. People may complain about its plot, how similar it is to a lot of others, but I enjoy these types not matter how generic it is. The main character keeps getting stronger throughout the chapter, but he isn't completely op as if he could beat anyone he meets in their first battle, he is able to struggle in fights.
DON'T LET OTHER COMMENTS STOP YOU FROM READING IT!

A generic plot with not one ingredient you haven't read before or even a new perspective or a new interesting shuffle, and it's even poorly executed. To top it off it has bad characters that are shallow and boring to read, main char gets from 0 to powerful in a heartbeat both in chapters and story time, so he accomplishes in 1 and a half what others in 10 years at best if they are talented; even worse, since it usually takes others that time for one type of magic or warrior style, Linley? he levels as as a double mage and as a warrior... simultaneously.... oh and I forgot master sculptor.... and all because he's "Linley Baruk" (which he tirelessly says as just saying his name was explanation enough, might rather say "because I'm the MC!", it would be the same), he's just an Uchiha Sasuke lame-clone. Same applies to the relationships the MC friends act more like slaves or underlings than friends an he doesn't treat them much better than that either.
The only good things are BeiBei, cute, furious and funny and the maid comic releves, but that's it, not even the comedy is that funny. I guess the art is decent too but its flow is not, it's often confusing to follow the fighting sequences.

If unlike me you don't have much free time then skip this one. The longer you read the more it becomes even more of a mess, mish-mashing many cliches all together, you feel the author apparent obsession with game permeating all over it, this manhua reeks of a crappy RPG story and setting, I find this quite annoying most of the time since it's usually badly executed, like in this one.

I skipped into the later chapters which were (i think) pivotal to the changes in the MC's life. Here's my verdict:

1. If you are going to read this without having read the novel, continue reading. The art is good although i don't have any idea about the story since i skipped it, but still, i'm assuming the story is still good. Though the comments below says it's bad coz of the changes, it's an adaptation so it may have some changes or differences.

2. If you have finished the manhua, I think it's okay to read this. Although it may give some bad aftertaste since you might compare this with the novel.

3. If you are still reading the novel, don't read this. This will really mess your brain. I was in the middle of the novel when i read this manhua and it didn't do justice for the scenes that i imagined.

I'd give this 7/10 for the art. I'm gonna read this after the novel so the rating might change later.

... Last updated on March 28th, 2017, 8:01am

I have read the Novel first and when I found it had Manhua, I jump at the sight of it. A few chapters in, I realised there were alot of differences between this and the novel, but I enjoyed it it was like falling in love with the same characters just through a different story. So to all the people who are complaining about how its different than the novel. Just dont read it. Simple

People are giving it bad ratings because it aint following the novel to the letter and just ignore the whole thing. I personally like it really much and if you like doupo cangqiong and such things then I can recommend this

Reviews seem to be divided in comparing this manhua with the LN or treating it as a standalone, and neither standpoint is correct. While it is an adaptation, manhua and LN are fundamentally different mediums and if an adaptation tries to stay entirely true to the LN, it would be far worse than if it takes some liberties. On the other hand, it's equally incorrect to say the manhua can be treated as an entirely separate work. The process of adaptation is a balance of originality and the original work.

Ironically, many of the manhua's flaws are a result of the LN. Like many other adaptations, it suffers from excessively fast pacing and the assumption that readers will have already read the LN. It doesn't take the time to build the world or characters. With the wind instructor's explanation of abilities: in the LN, his passion for wind magic was almost visible, whereas in the manhua, he skimmed over them basically saying, "[insert ability name] is the best!" Certainly this can be considered a minor bit of information, but it plays a role in Linley's motivations. More importantly, it fails to create deep characters. The rivalry with Rand is boiled down to Rand being a simultaneously arrogant and jealous prick. Then the author spontaneously decided to make him calmer when he loses to Linley, and by spontaneous, I mean he was a hateful prick one second then the moment he loses he turns into a noble and prideful rival with no previous indication of those traits. In addition, it skims over the introduction to Linley's friends, who play a vital role in chapters to come.

With regard to my experiences with the LN, I've read up to Book 18 of it, and though its quality has dropped, some of the earlier chapters made a deep impression on me. That was probably about a year ago. I tried to balance comparisons with the LN though that's difficult when it really was an excellent work. As someone who read the LN, I can only describe this manhua as disappointing, but as someone who tried to distance himself from the LN, I can only describe this manhua as mediocre.

The gender swap was okay for me at least.
But


and drop it for real, won't be reading this cr*p anymore.

... Last updated on October 6th, 2015, 3:33am

It is infuriating to read comments which consider a comparison of an adaptation to the original a valid review. It is not, it is only an optional section and has to be put properly in context.
The adaptation is always its own product, that is even the case when the new work attempts to follow the original to the letter, for example, like the Hunter x Hunter 2014 series which has animated the manga.

The Panlong manhua doesn't follow the original story line, basically it is a separate work. The author restructured the narrative thread and combined it with his own ideas, resulting in a much lighter ( less complicated, less dark, less momentous), shorter, action-oriented and comedic story. Most likely that all is because the comic is aimed at a younger audience. It is also obvious that the author attempted to make the style more similar to the BTTH manhua.

Personally, I discovered the manhua first and I enjoyed it, otherwise I wouldn't have become impatient and would have moved on to the novel. However, since my ratings are rather strict I would give it only something between 4-6.
Then, I read the novel and enjoyed the much more sophisticated tale a lot more. As a result I can't appreciate the comic as before so I won't review it. It's that simple.

The general rule is always to read/watch the adaption before the original, especially if the latter is in a more descriptive form ( e.g., novel instead of manhua). You can use that rule here, too. If you want to enjoy both the comic and the novel, you'll finish the former first. If you don't want to wait, you might need to sacrifice one as the difference between the two is large.

... Last updated on September 23rd, 2015, 3:47am