if you like painful, punny Dad humor this book is for you! Good story, no stats or progression. I liked the different take on the LitRPG style, and the meeting of standard progression and cultivation was a welcome change.
The MC is true to who and what he is, and is not entirely likeable. He has some depth and character development as the story goes on.
I am fine with the nonbinary character, but the constant “daddy” thing is icky. I also don’t love the very annoying anime girl character of the apprentice, probably because I’m not into anime where this character is normal. I do like that she is given a chapter where you get to know her and see she has a deeper motivation, and isn’t just an irritating, oversimplified trope.
The other cringe is the way the narrator has the MC laugh, it’s…not great and happens often. Gross and icky.
Having said this the story is good enough that I’ll buy the next book.