Yes it does! I'm gonna be honest with you at the start I was not captivated by the story a lot but as an artist I really liked the art/dynamic poses/face expressions etc so I kept reading (I didn't like it because I like to see the mc struggle and see a grow).
While I kept reading tho I realized that even if it's a martial art story you mostly see the growth of other characters physically but mostly you see the mental growth of the MC.
You see him understand better stuff that he didn't in his first like, give priority about others, slowly learn to see others as equal.
I recommend to read this while knowing that at least for now while fighting he will not struggle that much and most of the adversity are for comedy/will not struggle for much. But the mental/psychological growth? I liked it a lot. I passed from kinda not liking him to loving him.
So yeah for me it's about seeing the mental growth of the characters and not the struggle with fighting, you will see that more with side characters
I am trying my best to give this story a chance and I want to like it, it even has a 9.8. But the writing is just.... meh. I am only 11 chapters in so please tell me if it gets better.
The MC, even reborn as a beggar, hardly struggles. Ofc I know he still remembers all his training and techniques and all, but he should be struggling a little more considering he should be malnourished and not properly trained. But whatever, qi and all that. I can look past it.
But what has really stumped me is when he discovers the secret storage room and he uses his own life force qi to open it, he even says himself he will be bedridden for 1-2 months. He's throwing up blood and collapsing and everything. Then he just ignore it for a bit and even lifts an entire wooden shelf. Okay, whatever, maybe there's delay. It almost seems like there might be (he looks haggard and tired), but then after the sect leader merchant confrontation, the MC is jumping off the roof and down the mountain to pursue them. Ok. He said bedridden, but maybe movement doesnt count. But then he's fighting them and using qi????
I really want to like this story. But there is nothing satisfying about this power fantasy when nothing feels earned. The accomplishments dont hit because the MC didnt struggle at all to achieve them. Even when the story itself says he'll be weak for 1-2months (which I thought ok, here's a challenge! he needs to prove his sect's lack of a debt in 7 days which will prove a problem if he collapses! he may have to get creative or really struggle to save his sect), the story contradicts it within a chapter or so and has him fight supposedly high level body guards. Not only is it not satisfying, its breaking the rules IT established.
What exactly is the appeal here? A story with the most milquetoast conflict.
Goddammit. Please somebody tell me it gets better.