Book Review: Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, Vol 2 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

 

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, Vol 2      

Author: Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Publisher: Seven Seas

American release date: May 17, 2022

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/LGBTQ+/Fantasy Romance/412 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Cultivators Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan are seeking to solve the mystery of the left arm that wreaked so much havoc at the Mo Estate. To that end, they are traveling together. They find themselves in Yi City, a strange place that seems largely uninhabited. They have been led there by a blind female spirit. To their surprise, they encounter a group of young cultivators , including Wei’s nephew Jin Ling.  Circumstances force them to seek shelter in an inhabited building. Wei makes them eat congee that he cooks for them, in order to combat the effects of the poisonous fog that has overtaken the town.

They are joined by another living person. When Wei sees his sword, he recognizes it, and realizes this is none other than Xiao Xingchen! But how has he become blind? There must be quite a story here, indeed! Xiao Xingchen was once a highly regarded cultivator who wished to start a sect with his best friend Song Lan. But he had disappeared mysteriously a long time before, never to be seen or heard from again. Unfortunately, as they soon learn, this man is not Xiao Xingchen at all, but Xue Yang! He flees, with Lan Zhan in hot pursuit.

Wei and the young ones follow the blind spirit to the charitable mortuary, where they discover a body in a coffin. Could this be the real Xiao Xingchen? Wei decides to use Empathy on the girl in hopes of learning their stories, and how they all came to be here, including Song Lan and Xue Yang.    

Wei Ying and Lan Zhan present their suspicions of who is behind the dismembered corpse to Lan Xichen, but naturally he doesn’t wish to believe them. So they must investigate further on their own. Wei projects himself into a little paper doll and sends it to enter the private rooms of Jim Guangyao, but he seems more than he bargained for, and almost fails to escape capture. Their suspicions are confirmed, but can they prove the man’s duplicity? A confrontation takes place, during which Wei Wuxian’s identity is revealed. He is forced to run, but is surprised when Lan Zhan chooses to go with him.

Even as we travel with Wei and Lan Zhan in the present, we take deep dives into the past lives of other people, as well as our heroes. The intricate tale told by A-Qing, involving Xiao Xingchen, Song Lan, and Xue Lang is both fascinating and heartbreaking. Also the story of how Meng Yao became Jin Guangyao. Everything is told so well, it’s hard to put the book down. I especially loved the story of Lan Zhan and Wei Wuxian and the headband. Although I saw it in the series, I didn’t realize the significance of what happened, and it opened my eyes even wider to Lan Zhan. Still waters run deep indeed.

Great volume, already loving the third one!