A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality

Synopsis

Adapted from the novel of the same name by Wang Yu, it tells the legendary story of an ordinary village boy, Han Li, who, by a stroke of luck, enters a sect of immortal cultivators. Despite his mediocre aptitude, he relies on his own efforts and cunning to step by step embark on the path of immortal cultivation.

Overview

A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality is a 2025 fantasy xianxia drama series adapted from the web novel of the same name by Wang Yu. Directed by Yang Yang, the series stars Yang Yang, Jin Chen, Wang Duo, Ling Zixin, and others, with a total of 30 episodes.

As an adaptation of a popular IP, the series has been highly anticipated since filming began. After its release, it received a Douban rating of 7.5 (rated by over 60,000 users). While opinions are divided, the series has gained favor among original novel fans and new viewers alike, thanks to its exquisite production and Yang Yang's excellent portrayal of the character.

Plot

The story follows Han Li (played by Yang Yang), an ordinary, poor boy from a mountain village who accidentally enters a minor sect in the martial world. Despite having mediocre innate talent, he continuously surpasses his limits in the world of immortal cultivation through sheer hard work and shrewd calculation.

Han Li is cautious, steady, and does not easily trust others, carefully navigating the treacherous world of immortal cultivation step by step. He never seeks quick success or instant gratification, relying instead on strategy and perseverance to grow from a low-level cultivator into a master on the path to immortality.

Unlike the typical protagonists in xianxia dramas who are blessed with a "main character halo," Han Li in A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality is a truly "ordinary" cultivator. Every breakthrough he makes is hard-won, and every battle requires meticulous planning. This presents audiences with a more realistic and flesh-and-blood story of immortal cultivation.

Cast

Reception

A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality opened with a Douban rating of 7.5, with audience reviews showing a polarization of opinions. Supporters believe Yang Yang is very suitable for the role of "Han Li," showing improved acting skills and bringing the character to life. They also praise the series for its cool special effects and excellent location shooting, avoiding the fake feeling of heavy green screen use. Critics, however, feel that while the plot is expanded compared to the animated version, some parts are slightly redundant.

Overall, the series has received widespread recognition for its production quality, particularly excelling in location shooting and special effects.

Cultural Impact

A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality is adapted from one of the most influential xianxia novels in Chinese web literature. This genre, centered on "leveling up and defeating monsters," is deeply loved by a vast number of young readers. Bringing such an IP to the screen is, in itself, an affirmation of the value of web literature.

"Mortal Stream" (Fanren Liu), as a unique narrative mode in xianxia, emphasizes the protagonist's struggle from ordinary to extraordinary, embodying the core spirit of ordinary people changing their fate through effort and wisdom. This value system highly resonates with the contemporary youth's pursuit of self-actualization.

References

1. Douban Movie: https://movie.douban.com/subject/35861087/
2. Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/凡人修仙传/53301955
3. Gamersky: https://www.gamersky.com/news/202508/1978388.shtml
4. 17173: http://news.17173.com/content/08142025/092113722.shtml