Xian Ni

Although this anime is a little slow at first, it is really engaging and enjoyable.

It brings a rich blend of action, fantasy, and adventure to the screen, immersing viewers in a world filled with cultivation, magical beasts, and ancient secrets. The protagonist, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery and power, faces both internal and external struggles, making the series both exciting and emotionally resonant.
The animation quality is decent, though not groundbreaking, with character designs that can be hit or miss, depending on the viewer's preference.
The strength of the series lies in its world-building and the depth of the characters, which keeps the audience ... invested in the story. Fans of the genre will find Xian Ni Donghua a captivating watch, offering a solid mix of traditional cultivation tropes and compelling storytelling.

I went into the donghua completely blind, no clue about the world, the characters or a hint of plot points. Now 25 episodes later, I still don't know what just happened.

First and foremost, great animation, character design and music is fine.

!! BUT the pacing of the story makes it basically unwatchable. You are just constantly trying to catch up with what or why anything happens.

You barely get introduced to any character before they disappear even on the same episode as introduced, you get no connection to any character, the world is also not explained. I dont need exposition dump, but not even a half sentence ... of explaining why and what something is or does. The power up feels like it just completely skips whole stages of progression.

The story and character developpment is just literaly speedrunning, character struggles what is that, dont need it just skip it. You are watching this donghua basically only for the rashed fight scenes. Even the romance was like, oh here have a girl she is pretty, she help you more or less offscreen and now she will be your love interest.

So far, this story is horribly confusing and plot wise often makes just no sense to someone who has no idea what it is about.
I personnally feel like this is just possible to recommend to someone who read the novel.

Xian Ni is an unfortunate example of a poorly executed adaptation. I see that newcomers aren’t prepared for the neutering about to take place but be prepared to be amazed!

The animation in Xian Ni is disappointing and disgusting. The quality is subpar, and the 3D animation feels clunky and unpolished, the CG looks bought and paid for by the asset. It's a far cry from what fans of the web novel should expect, and it will detract significantly from your viewing experience. If the animation doesn’t leave you debilitated and crying ‘uncle’, the story will! 1/10

The voice acting lacks the emotional depth and nuance needed ... to bring the characters to life. It feels flat and uninspired, making it hard to connect with the characters or become invested in their journeys. Wang Lin barely has any lines and the grim atmosphere that Xian Ni is famous for has been replaced with a highfalutin musical number and bright imagery.
The music is equally unimpressive, failing to enhance the atmosphere or complement the narration or combat scenes. Compared to other anime, the soundtrack feels inadequate and doesn't leave a lasting impression; the opening and ending songs are decently palatable but haven’t left an impression on me. There is NO Japanese dub available and there will probably never be, which is a big minus. 1/10

The story is another needlessly propagated issue! The intricate cultivation system, which is a significant aspect of the web novel, is entirely skipped over! These elements are crucial to the story's depth and appeal. This omission left the storyline feeling hollow and disconnected from its source material. Numerous chapters are crammed into single, rushed episodes, resulting in a disjointed and confusing narrative. The web novel of Xian Ni is known for its detailed world-building and complex cultivation system; “was” I should say, prior to the massacre. The censorship, a big issue with Chinese publishers, diluted the original content, making it unrecognizable to fans of the novel. 1/10

Fortunately, Xian Ni fails to deliver a quality adaptation of the web novel or even provide enough originality to stand on its own like the original Fullmetal Alchemist. Its animation, voice acting, and music are all subpar, and the storyline is butchered beyond recognition. My advice? Don’t even bother touching this adaptation and read the web novel instead. The novel offers a far richer, more immersive experience that the anime simply cannot match. 1/10