Shi Fang Jian Sheng

Sword Saint of the Ten Realms.

If you’re hopeless with this stuff like myself, here’s another 10 min per episode joint.

The CDC
(Cult Donghua Checklist)

- Robust Power System – ½✅
- OPMC which defies traditional scaling due to acquiring special thing – ✅
- Family Dilemma – ✅
... - Surprisingly Good Fight Choreography – ❌
- The Jealousy Ladder of Enemies – ½✅
- Tournament Theocracy – ½✅
- Good Pacing – ❌ (Too Fast)
- Intersexual Aunty Affection – ❌
- Pill Paradise – ❌
- Alchemical Academy – ½✅
- Herb Heaven – ½✅
- Ravenous Revenge – ✅

Ah yes! The classic Donghua rough start, they frontload the tropes, the cliché premise has the knob turned up to maximum, it’s always a test of patience. However if you get past these rocky roads, most times, you’re rewarded. What I’ve found strangely enough is that if it’s too good of an opening it often gets worse as it goes on.

The biggest problem this show has, is the animation. If you’ve watched the top Donghua, this one feels like a total step down, even from 2023 we had way better production going on than this. It’s a funny situation, almost as if it’s running in slow-mo or lagging at times, not enough blood and gore. Its saving grace is that the show’s production does improve slightly as the show goes on. The choreography somewhat works, but for donghua standards this is just no good, too many blitz one-shots like we’re doing 2D animation. Active combat presenting woefully, simply no where near the level we’re used to for 3D Donghua, hell even 2D Donghua.

I will say though, if you persevere till the end you are blessed with an oh-so scrumptious revenge scene an absolute treat. The rest of this experience is not so remarkable. I suppose the MC ,whilst having a rather abrupt story development, was entertaining despite how shallow it all felt. The 10 min episode (8 min really due to preview at the end of each episode) didn’t do it much favors. I did like that they actually utilized a cloak disguise in this show, despite lower budgets, a surprisingly rare find in Donghua. As it turns out, when you’ve murdered people, you can’t walk around midday in bright identifying clothes. This aspect helped the immersion handsomely whenever it was present. Last of all this little sister of the MC, a heavenly dream. If all our sisters behaved like that, we would end world hunger.

The ending was rather strange, because it doesn’t leave a substantial enough cliff-hanger for a next season to be anticipated. Do they even want us to care about the next instalment? I feel satisfied and because of the rather mediocre character developments it doesn’t whet the appetite for much more.

It’s been 3 years and I haven’t seen any signs for a continuing season, this might be it, but I certainly enjoyed this short ride.

Final Rankings

Animation 4/10
Sound 6/10
Plot/Story 5/10
Character 5/10
Enjoyment 8/10 (That final revenge scene as well the use of a disguise beguiled me)
28/30 – 5.8/10 - 6/10

10 x 18 = 180 mins so 3 hours runtime probably less if you skip the previews.
If you’re in deep with this Donghua Stuff and have a free afternoon, I suppose this show can do something for you.

Hope this helps.