White No-Face, Xie Lian’s greatest fear and most hated enemy, has arrived…or so it seems. While the ghost with the half-crying, half-smiling mask is somewhere nearby, the creature is elusive as always, taunting Xie Lian from just out of reach and promising the total destruction of everything he holds dear.

As Xie Lian confronts the trauma of his last encounter with the terrifying ghost, Hua Cheng will do anything in his power to protect him. But White No-Face’s identity and purpose are not the only mysteries to unravel, as Hua Cheng also has a history in the labyrinthine tunnels beneath Mount Tonglu. Will Xie Lian finally discover the full connection they share—and learn the true depths of Hua Cheng’s devotion?

​​​Characters and Plot

The Cave of Ten Thousand Gods cracks me up so bad LMFAOOOO, like, ok Hua Cheng, you are one devoted man, I see you. Mu Qing and Feng Xin trying to protect Xie Lian from Hua Cheng because they think he is a creepy stalker guy was so sweet and hilarious. The fact that those two fight all the time yet have PERFECT COORDINATION when it comes to Xie Lian, now that is soulmate energy. Unfortunately, this is the only fun part about this book, because the rest... are traumatizing :)) 

​

The rest of the book is basically the ENTIRETY of Xie Lian's backstory and the most horrifying days in his life. It took place after he was banished in the first ascension and the fall of Xianle, so my baby lost all his power, his kingdom, and now his family is on the run from the new royal family, who wants to kill them. 

​

The Xianle trio broke my heart into a million pieces in this arc. It's so obvious that they care so much about each other, but because there was a lack of understanding between the 3 due to the class system and power imbalance, the trio had always had cracks. I see the fandom get so angry at Mu Qing and hate him and never forgive him, which I get it, but I love how the author made Mu Qing so complex. His actions stem from the fact that he was born in the lower class and had to work his way up, unlike Xie Lian and Feng Xin, who already harbor resentment, and add on that Mu Qing thought his two friends hated him. I do not defend his action during the cultivation of the land; he was wrong, but it wasn't because he was being malicious; he made a mistake like any other human being. 

​

What I love about this arc is that it shows the flaws of all characters and makes them more complex and relatable. I also love how it adds this new layer to Xie Lian's character that we didn't know of before, and we see that he's not this perfect angel who smiles at everything; he can reach his breaking point and can be malicious.  

​

The sequence that happened in this book was PAINFUL TO READ... This whole time, I just want to give Xie Lian a hug, and Feng Xin and Mu Qing as well; those 3 practically lost everything, and now a ghost is haunting them. White No Face needs to find a ditch to lie in :)) 

​

This had to be one of my favorite books in the series, yes, it was traumatizing, but I love emotional damage, and it was written so well, everyone was complex, you can sympathize with everyone while still acknowledging they mess up here and there (Mu Qing) and it recontexualize so many things we learn about in the series. I am so excited for the last two books in the series!!! 

​

​

​

​

​

​