On that subject, I actually do lean heavily into barrier! But, I've found that the "Max Barrier" stat is really...weird. Like mine is currently 188,000. I haven't gotten close to that in the many, MANY hours I've played this game so far! Enemies just tear through barrier I build using Tornado Kick and such like tissue paper in the same round I'm building them! I think the highest I've built was something like 40,000-50,000 and that was because I was just farming some lower realm monsters. I personally don't think it's tuned well. I've even got extra barrier on my techniques!
On the subject of Fist being bursty specifically, I guess I can see why it would be from one side with the Flow --> Massive Hit pipeline. I build something entirely opposite, though! I fell in love with Ripple Fist. Don't ask me why, I just love that and acupoint-style combat. Always have! My xianxia fantasy is the acupoint badass doctor! So, I tried to go a different direction with barrier and Ripple Fist generation into Deadly Force buffing for kind of like "outlasting" fights? Similar in style to how a xianxia doctor would fight. I do with Ripple Fist had more support in the movesets, though! I keep opening crystals hoping to see something and it's usually just more Flow support. Makes me a little sad since Ripple Fist does seem like a really cool path to go down!
Oh! Quick question! Can we make multiple characters? Or will the data of our original get erased? I didn't see a "Load Game" in the main menu or "Save" options in the game itself, so I thought I'd ask! I wanted to go back and try out a different type of cultivation from the beginning with what I know now, but I don't want to lose my original character! I don't want to risk it and try without asking and lose the 40 hours I've easily put into my first character already!