10/2024 rewatch edit:
It's absolutely insane that they adapted this as early as they did. There are so, so many direct references to other DMBJ shows that came AFTER TotS! No wonder much of it went over my head.
Seriously, this series needs to be watched chronologically, so don't watch this before Bronze Door.
Anyway - it's still super long and there's a lot of filler, but I definitely liked it more this time around. This version of Wu Xie is great, I liked hima lot.
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This continues the tradition from Mystic Nine of terrible pacing, confusing story and incomprehensible plots, but sadly without the likable characters and pretty costumes.¨
Having watched this before I got into Lost Tomb 2, and after a while since I watched the first one, I felt quite lost. But that's just how the show rolls, everything is a mystery until the very end and confusion is intentional.
It's just not fun.
I'm super not a fan of these shows starring prettyboy twinks (who can't act for shit) for the fangirls, and the main character here was not an exception. I can appreciate pretty boys myself, but not when they look like an angry hamster had a baby with Jenny Nicholson, constantly pouting and acting like a brat.
This show's version of Wu Xie was honestly the most likable from all the adaptations I've watched, because he's an older guy, acted quite well.
Lieutenant Zhang was nice to see again, but the guy can't pull that much weight as an actor, his limited range really shows here. (side note: It's irritating as hell how these shows cannot depict actual romance and relationships, how grown ass adults have to act like teenagers and make do with awkward hugs instead of..you know, sex or even a proper kiss. But hey, young kids smashing beers like nobody's business is totally fine. :D China, you dumb.)
There's the usual subplots that never lead to anything, or elements that never result in anything or are ever brought up again. Boss Ma who's a major character from the beginning? Nope, gets shot and that's that. His healing treasure buried in GutongJing is never brought up again.
Snake zombies? We shall all remember them for the shallow plot device they were in that one episode. RIP.
The story picks up in the last ten-ish episodes, after dozens of eps spent wandering through the desert (twice! Because we need to go back to school, before going to the desert again. O_o) or stumbling through tunnels. Way too late.
Fatty is, as usual, the best character played by the coolest actor, and as usual he's not used a lot.

I am into these shows more for the tomb raiding than clan conspiracies/politics.
So this show had very little of interest for me.
Candle in the Tomb remains the superior tomb raiding franchise.
(go watch Wrath of Time now. Like half the episodes and much much better in every way.)