Man, I really loved this book. Sometimes you just want to sit back and read a nice, chill entertaining book and this was one of those times.

Waking up in the previously dead body of Jin Rou partway through the fight that killed him, our protagonist takes his name and decides that the brief introduction into the life of a Cultivator (getting beat up) is enough for him. He quits the sect that his body was previously part of and goes in search of a quiet life. A farmer’s life.

This is perhaps my only complaint about the novel. You never really learn about who the main character was before he became Jin Rou. He’s got all the body’s previous memories and you get the occasional mention of him being Canadian or living on a farm but that’s it. We don’t even know what his name was in the Before, as it’s called, or if anything happened to him to make him end up body switched.

That aside the rest of the novel is a fantastic send up on the Cultivation genre. It cleverly lampoons the often single minded desire that the characters have to gain power above all else. While Jin Rou is happy just setting up his farm and forming ties in the community his farm animals are gaining sentience and regarding him as their Sect Master. And kind of taking matters into their own hands while he continues on unknowingly.

The writing is light and funny and the plot just bounces along. And every so often there some beautiful artwork, detailing what happening. I sent my friends the one with the chicken fighting the fox in dramatic manga fashion.

As it is a parody you should probably read other Cultivation novels before you read this, just so you know what it’s parodying. If you’re already into the genre then absolutely read this book. It’s so much fun. I really hope there’s a sequel.