My actual rating : 8.7/10. Finally completed my fifth xianxia drama in 2023. Took me a week to finish this one. Actually I could finish it earlier but keep delaying the inevitable because I don't want it to end (T.T). This just shows how much I enjoyed this drama. LYST remind me much of drama LBFAD because they had similarities in the hair ornaments, color palette used, the realms settings and the OST style.

◇The plot: 8.5/10
I thoroughly enjoyed the plot. If you're a devoted fan of xianxia like me you will enjoyed it regardless of how many times you see the same plot device was used in the drama (:D). The plot starts when our main leads during a banter accidentally tied the ancient love knots on themselves which the result required them to go through seven lifetimes together to untie each knot. They called it as mortal love tribulations. I enjoyed pig x tiger , childhood friends turned lovers, the prince x the empress lifetimes the most. Lifetimes I enjoyed the least which I think quite boring were the master x his disciple and the bodyguard x the princess lifetimes. My most favourite plot is the demon realm storyline. As usual , the bad guys and the good guys here are not as what it seem like. The mystery aspect here also nicely done. Now about that ending scene urgh not again! -SPOILER BEGIN- They just love to end it that way huh. Same ending as in almost xianxias if you know what I mean (I am looking at you Love Between Fairy and Devil, Back From the Brink, The Longest Promise.... ) This is the cliche I did not enjoyed watching in xianxia. Is it too much to ask them to end it with a romance scene between leads. Not just they finally meet ,stares and smiles then the end . Although this one had little improvement where one of them talked and teased the other with question. But I need them to at least hug each other after all the hardship they went through, both of them deserved that hug..... *sigh* -SPOILER END-

◇The angst: 7/10
Just 7 because I don't think this drama is angsty enough. Just contained only few moments of angst here & there especially in the master x his disciple lifetime. Considering our main couple maintained healthy relationship thoroughout the story and honest to each other hence this had low angst meter.

◇The acting: 9/10
This was my 3rd drama of Ding Yu Xi and I remembered enjoyed his TROTAR which leading me to watch his Intense Love after that. But only after watching his performance in LYST I'm totally now his fan. I was impressed with his acting here as Chu Kong/ Lu Chang Kong . I could see he gave his all in every version of Chu Kong in those 7 lifetimes. Ofcourse my favourite version of Chu Kong was him as a cat demon <3 . Can't get enough of his divine looks! I feel for his character the most. His undying love for Xiang Yun . His pain when they need to separate. His smugness when he achieved what he wants and the way he exhibits his playful nature . He succesfully captured my heart with his acting here. To compared with his co-star Yang Chao Yue's acting, he's definitely x3 better. I've watched YCY in The Journey of Chongzi (dnf) and Fireworks of My Heart before and my opinion of her remained the same. She is pretty especially when she smile. But her acting is just okay to me. She's great at acting cutesy but when the scene required her to act with more depth I ain't see that. I'm not feeling much when she cried d/t heartbroken. Most of the times it just felt superficial. If only she put more depth & detail into those scenes it would be perfect.

◇The romance : 9/10
I have no complaints. Totally enjoyed the romance here. Great chemistry displayed by both leads. I could see they feel comfortable around each other. Like when friends turned lovers. The romance is sweet and not spicy at all.

◇OST: 10/10
Great! Great! Great! I'm so in love with the OST . My most favourite :Till the End of Time by Liu Yuning. (I love almost all ost sung by him . A king of Cdrama OST indeed) . I rarely mention BGM in my review but I'm totally in love with the BGM here especially that Dadadada Melody which often appeared in sexy scenes between leads and that war chant in fight scenes.

◇CGI & Cinematography: 9/10
I have nothing but praise. Beautiful and pleasant CGI & cinematography. My favourite settings : Marriage Pavilion, The Star Platform. Love the pastel colors background. Love everything.

◇ Hairstyle &Costumes : 10/10
Dazzling. Elegant. Mesmerizing. My favourites: Chu Kong in his cat demon attire (gotta love that grey hair, forehead mark, adorable vulpine ears, hand accesories & furry outfit!) & Xiang Yun in her colourful red -yellow -brown outfit. Their make up also perfect ! Yang Chao Yue looks so beautiful & Ding Yu Xi so good looking like he just came straight from a manhwa. I like the fact that they didn't overdid it when applying lipstick on him, all natural looking unlike LYX's lips in TTEOTM. There I said it ,the truth.

In conclusion, I really enjoyed this drama to the fullest. Totally recommended if you're a devoted xianxia fan or a beginner to this genre.