The Secrets of Star Divine Arts. Do you love cultivation Donghua? Do you love minimal story and plot developments compact enough to stuff between 2 slices of bread? Do you love to slurp up short episodes like a Banana Milkshake? Here’s your show! All I can say that if you’re addicted to this stuff, this is another joint that you at least won’t feel too bad smoking. What about the ethereal reverie of a meaty antagonist with ideals so good you can identify with them? Keep dreaming. This is the jobber staircase, but it’s done in such a way that you won’t get offended when they’re beaten. The Cult Donghua checklist -Robust Power System – ✅
- OPMC which defies traditional scaling due to acquiring special thing – ✅
- Family Dilemma – ✅
- Surprisingly Good Fight Choreography – ✅
- The Jealousy Ladder of Enemies – ✅
- Tournament Theocracy – ✅
- Good Pacing – N/A (Too Fast)
- Intersexual Aunty Affection – ½✅
- Pill Paradise – ½✅
- Alchemical Academy – N/A
- Herb Heaven – ½✅

You know the drill, but it gets to the point so there’s barely ever a dull moment.

All in all it does the job, the animation could be better, they could have delved deeper into the story, they could have ended it on a good note… I had a few gripes but none of them managed to rack my brains.

It would be better for X reason, it could be paced better. Then I remember, I just binged 40 episodes in 2 sessions so maybe it’s not so important. Though I can’t point to any special moments, Episodes 10-39 had me hooked. It’s never 'turn your brain off ,' it remains thoroughly entertaining in dialogue and conflict. I have to praise how lively every fight looks, even when there’s a massive power gap everything fights for its life. The monsters feel terrifying enough to excuse the weaker animation.

Don’t expect anything new or breathtaking but if you can survive the rocky start, it’s on cruise control till you bump into the dead-end finale.

Animation 6 – You’ll have to get used to it, definitely not up there with the best of Donghua.
Soundtrack 7 – Generally good sounds, and appropriate atmospheric music.
Story/Plot 6 – Plot makes sense, and is incredibly compact. The story whilst there you might need a microscope.
Characters 6 – The interactions are cool and charming but the antagonists are just stepping stones
Enjoyment 8 – Well I can’t point to any special moments its just that from episode 10-39 I was just hooked.

33/50 – 6.6/10 – 7/10 Quick binge but never, a strong recommendation.

Hope this helps.