We start off with Hua Cheng being

reverted to a small child. This is absolutely adorable and the reveal of him growing back to normal size is so sweet.

I think my major complaint with this book is that while I generally love two characters discussing lore to themselves, it does come across as info-dumpy in this novel. We went through

Yin Yu and Quan Yizhen's backstory, as well as Pei Ming and Rain Master's.

Most of the book they are traveling through Mount Tonglu and we get more info-dumps about the

people of Wuyong.

The pda levels are increasing

(there's so much hugging Im gonna die of cuteness - when they were trapped in the wall together? Ugh so hard to focus on dumb Yin Yu and Quan Yizhen)

and Pei Ming is very likeable for this entire book.  Every time anyone says

your San Lang or your Crimson Rain Sought Flower

to Xie Lian, I just about die.

This seemed like a pretty decent slow-build for the next book (and comedy relief) before getting into the next book where we learn about the Fourth Calamity.