I burned through the manhua adaptation first and liked the action, so I gave the original webnovel a shot. The start is rough. The prose is functional at best, and the translation for the English version can be clunky in the early chapters. That said, if you're into cultivation stories with a genuinely ruthless and pragmatic protagonist, 'Magic Emperor' delivers. Zhuo Fan isn't faking his cruelty for cool points; he's a calculating, amoral schemer from page one, which is a breath of fresh (if icy) air. The power system is decently thought out, and the revenge plot against the Liu clan has a satisfyingly methodical pace.
Is it 'worth it'? If your main criteria is intricate prose or deep philosophical themes, maybe skip it. But as a pure power fantasy with a protagonist who actually lives up to the 'villain' title, it's a solid binge. The story finds a better rhythm after the first major arc, and the political maneuvering between clans gets more complex. Just go in expecting a fast-paced, no-holds-barred ascension story, not a literary masterpiece.
I got hooked once Zhuo Fan started building his own faction. The dynamic with his 'allies' is tense because everyone knows he's using them, and they're using him right back.