This review may contain spoilers
Yang Yang did a great Job!
Yang Yang was a perfect choice for this role, he did such an amazing job, his acting skills was so good especially his character development after he grow up at the first few episodes, the fighting scenes was my favorite part of this drama, both the CGI and martial art moves was top notch, the story itself was a bit boring at some points, everything works for the male lead, he was so lucky along his journey, but he had a few friends along the way, non of them was that close to him, with no good relationship development and emotional scenes between characters, I felt nothing at all after finishing it, side characters was so boring, also, the harem romance isn't my cup of tea.Was this review helpful to you?
You'll be surprised why you like it
I would agree with most reviewers who finished the drama and didn't skip. Yang Yang is what keeps you enthralled but not for his mesmerizing good looks. It is for the male leads single-mindedness to achieve ultimate cultivation. There is no going backwards for him. He doesn't even consider straying off course .. not for anyone. He literally had tunnel vision and I had to say I liked his ambition and was surprised by it. We also know he was successful.However what it cost him was regretful. Yang Yang played this part very well. He was ruthless without being ruthless, greedy without being greedy and ambitious without being ambitious. All of which made people love him but also made people hate him. Overall I thought it was a great character and look forward to seeing him again. I want to know more.
I won't give you insights to the story the other reviewers are doing that. I will say that they are right. However it is still worth watching.
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Good and bad at the same time
If I could give two separate votes I would do it.Being a Donghua lover I found myself conflicted in watching the drama.
The first 15 episodes are a mess. Parts of the story cut out or modified, focus on useless points leaving out the basics of Han Li's growth and character development.
Women inserted all at the same time not respecting the timing and only creating confusion. I literally dropped the drama while loving the story and the actor Yang Yang.
Then I decided to insist and I took him back. I did well!
From episode 16 everything is back on track and flows smoothly without the hitches created by senseless cuts and plot changes.
The acting is good, CGI is good and the fighting are stellar.
So, to avoid low rating, if you like the donghua version, start from episode 14 and you won't be disappointed
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This review may contain spoilers
A xianxia drama that is quite good!
I often dropped yangyang in his modern series but I persisted in watching this drama. It's so obvious I love watching xianxia( mythological dramas). It is more apt for him to play cultivator roles, imo.Cultivation is part of Chinese daoist mythology. In xianxia, they are everywhere. There is a long process in attaining immortality. Lowest in the rungs is having innate qi, then establishing your foundation, then forming your core and finally becoming divine-like. Benefits are longevity( one can go living to hundreds of years young), superpowers and becoming immortal( as long as you were not struck dead by another immortal)
Cultivators are like priests or monks in the ancient times. They have to renounce any worldly desires except for the pursuit of attaining immortality.
Hanli got into cultivation because it might bring money and food to his family. He got to see his younger sister married off and i presumed his parents died out because they were never mentioned after being accepted as an " intern-cultivator". He thought he had an innate talent because his shifu said so, not knowing that the latter wanted to use hanli's inner qi to regain his younger body. Shifu was only 36years young but looked like twice his actual age. Shifu was killed instead by hanli so he continued his journey to join any cultivation sect.
As a viewer it was quite a disappointment to see that hanli in fact has no " qi root" in his body. In short, he is like any mortal. (If he is an ordinary mortal, it will take him very long years just to level up. Then why could he fast track his cultivation skills if he possessed no "qi root"? I find this to be the one of the 2 flaws in the story.
I love watching the drama because it is a story with no love interest ( so far in season 1. There is another season 2 coming up. Dunno if they will inject a love interest to it).
We can see that 4 ladies were smitten with him. They are The daughter of his shifu( mo), 2 sect-sisters and 1 core cultivation master by the name of nangong wan. 2 were subtle with their feelings while the other 2 had openly declared their love towards him But he is unmoved because of his desire to reach the top in cultivation, besides being free spirited. He is not a person without feelings. He has a strong brotherhood feeling towards his neighbor friend who went with him to practise cultivation. He is kind to his sect mates and respectful towards his masters. But he did not allow " worldly love" into his life yet so he won't be distracted with his meditation, his herb gathering to make elixir and power pills and he can attain becoming a "core practitioner" faster. What i also admire hanli about is his flexibility not to go into a difficult situation if he knows he can't win it. Like he won't risk his life joining the battle if his opponent is a "core cultivator". He deals with anyone of the same level skills he has or lower than his.
Also in
daoism, not all things are in absolute black or white. Black and white are together just like evil and good. One does jot exist without the other, so we see in some dramas that good immortals can be devious and some bad immortals can be kind too. Since mythology is pure fiction, authors of mythology novels write their characters like they have human attributes( not far from Greek mythology,isn't it?)
This drama is packed with long minutes of " xianxia battles" taking up almost a whole episode. Lol. The cgi effect is ok( I am easily pleased). What i don't like is their sword-riding ( Cgi effect isn't that great for this). in chinese mythology, sword riding is part of a cultivator skill and it is NOT a borrowed concept from Harry Potter at all. The most powerful cultivators have their mythical beasts as carriages, FYI!
I love also 2 songs of this series, namely " a moment" and " Mayfly aspiration. It somehow,imo, likens hanli to a Mayfly ,a lowly insect and has a very short life span who wants to fly "higher"( attaining an almost impossible task?)
The 2nd flaw i found is ... where he got his skills when at the last episode his powers were ABSORBED by nangong wan. Maybe the manhua mustn't have touched on this topic but was not delved too much on the screen?( It was hinted that he should lose his powers 3x before he could reach the more powerful " core power").
So far this drama is quite entertaining. It has a good rewatch value.
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A Cultivation Extravaganza!
Majority of productions that tag cultivation, focus more on the Romance/Political side of things. Not this one!Follow MC with his medicore talent as he fights fate through sadness, laughter, defeat and victory on the road to Immortality.
Martial Arts, Magical Skills, Alchemy, Sects, Factions, and Epic Battles galore!
This is how i'd imagine a full length/live-action Cultivation Story to be depicted, and it nails every aspect!
Highlights
- Cinematography that shows how vast the world is.
- VFX / Battle scenes that are as martial, magical, thrilling and impactful one would imagine reading a cultivation novel.
- The most fitting OST for every scene, whether it brings a tear, or gets the blood pumping.
- A strong lead actor and supporting cast.
All the above combined made every scene a treat for the senses!
Even scenes with minimal dialogue, reminded me of the saying "a picture is worth a thousand words".
There are some minor plotholes here and there, but nothing that affects the overall product.
With a market oversaturated with Romance/Detective Stories, this is a refreshing change.
Cannot wait for Season 2!
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A drama about cultivating immortality can actually expand my depth of reflection on life
The plot and drama are captivating, and the action sequences are truly eye-opening, but what captivated me even more was Han Li's growth and transformation. This approach of "hiding one's ingenuity within clumsiness, using obscurity to achieve clarity"—a cautious, low-key, and steady approach that is both profoundly wise and seemingly foolish—is worth learning. Such a style of action ensures peace of mind.A person's life is a process of experiencing and understanding the world. But even throughout their lives, they may not be fully aware. It's even possible to remain unaware for their entire lives. Being able to realize something afterward is a worthwhile journey. To foresee the future, plan carefully before taking action, and act with every step carefully requires meticulous and thorough thinking.
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This series drama really worth to watch
The acting and storyline really perfect. The cinematic level is really great hoping this series will be available in Netflix soon. Some fans they annoyed by FL doesn’t appear in the first few episode but for me i think writer did a great job for keeping us wonder about FL. I love how ML have ambitious and clear commitment to be an immortal without entangle with any FL yet so far. I find it really interesting and funny how ML try to buy and create many artifacts to protect himself and boost his cultivation level. Everyone keep surprising by his artifacts when they have dual match with him I think he’s have enough artifacts weapon and medicine pills to open a shop himself 🤣. He’s been visit YUE KINGDOM many times yet he’s can’t have a proper chit chat with his family and can’t even see his sister off during wedding ceremony that part really left me disappointed. Even though this drama only have 30episodes but I hope the ending will be satisfied for us viewer.Was this review helpful to you?
The Immortal Ascension Earns Its Place Among Xianxia’s Best
I don’t give rave reviews lightly, but The Immortal Ascension stands out. It's a gripping odyssey of breaking free from the shackles of fate to forge your own path. A rare xianxia that stays grounded despite increasingly heavy CGI, and feels refreshingly free of toxic tropes, with a more male-centric focus in an industry that leans heavily toward female audiences.We follow Han Li, a lowly peasant with poor spiritual roots/magical potential, as he ascends the cultivation ladder through ambition, willpower, and cunning pragmatism - hardened by early betrayal, tempered by an unshakable moral core, and enabled by a single, extraordinary stroke of fortune that turns his limitations into fuel for his rise.
Romance is deliberately restrained, reflecting the cold realities of the cultivation world, yet still delivers a deep range of emotions. His connections with a gentle mortal, an admiring senior sister, and others feel meaningful but fleeting, while his bond with Nangong Wan stands apart as the only relationship to fully transcend that distance. Each carries a quiet emotional weight and lingering regret, reinforcing that love is a luxury in a harsh, unforgiving world - and that some bonds are destined to be left behind.
Visually striking, with a strong musical score, solid pacing, and a compelling lead, this is the best xianxia adaptation in years. It ends on a cliffhanger and fully earns a sequel. Highly recommended!
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No deeper meaning
The first three episodes of THE IMMORTAL ASCENSION were promising – they take place in a gorgeous setting and show a warm relationship between the two boys. Both boys are under the care of a menacing antagonist, in the guise of an old “master.” Yang Yang’s acting was superb in these episodes.Then the series fell apart.
The rest of the drama seemed to be slapped together without much effort or forethought. This version of taoism seems too materialistic to me. Shouldn't the “masters” who represent the epitome of sagacity be looking for truth and enlightenment? Instead they seem to be bereft of any real wisdom and to have no real moral compass.
Han Li was a constant puzzle. Where was the meaning in his life? His goal seemed to be to acquire magical artifacts, to rise in status, and eventually achieve immortality. He's not interested in creating any meaningful connections with anyone--male or female, human or immortal. He did have a few tender moments with an animated mouse. Even his affection for his family seemed almost non-existent.
A number of mostly forgettable women pursue him. Does he have a capacity for intimacy? For love? If he did, I sure couldn’t detect it.
Generic demons and bad guys show up, fight Han Li, and are destroyed. We know they’re evil because, they scream at their underlings, smirk and laugh diabolically, and try to kill the good guys. Monsters include lizards with glowing eyes, a serpent, and a mantis demon or two, each, in turn, dispatched to the great beyond. Lots of spiky golden wheels turn in the sky.
I DID like the ending, and I’ll probably watch Season 2.
As for Yang Yang the actor, I understand he studied dance and plays the piano. I’m glad he’s got other interests. Hope there’s someone around him encouraging him to build a life on something other than his youthful good looks (which are mentioned by reviewers incessantly) so that he’s not totally devastated when they’re gone.
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Leave your brain at the door....
The number of people praising The Immortal Ascension as being the best xianxia of 2025 have set the bar shamefully low.Absolutely everything about this show is overhyped. In fact, the success of this show is possibly powered entirely by Yang Yang's fans, who insist that Yang Yang "delivered a captivating performance." I think we need to be clear about which aspects of his performance were captivating. First, he really is very good at the combat choreography aspect of his role, and it doesn't seem like he needed a stunt double (based on the behind-the-scenes footage). However, acting-wise, it's like watching paint dry. He doesn't emote in a convincing way, and though he does display some degree of "spatial awareness," it feels forced (that is, he doesn't come across as being fully immersed in the role). Simply put, his acting feels very wooden, which is exactly how I feel about Zhao Xiao Tang's performance as well. This proves that having an attractive cast doesn't guarantee a show's success, especially when the actors are a mismatch for their roles.
To make matters worse, the storyline was all over the place. The first few episodes served as a clever smokescreen that piqued my curiosity, but after that, it starts going downhill fast. By episode 20, it becomes evident that the key to enjoying the show is not thinking too deeply about the plot or caring at all about character development. Just enjoy the combat sequences and CGI because that's literally all that's being served here.
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Season 2 Announcement
Yes, Season 2 of the live-action adaptation of A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality has indeed been confirmed—though an official announcement hasn’t yet been made, several credible sources strongly suggest it’s in development.What’s Confirmed So Far
The end of Season 1 clearly displays “第一季终” (“End of Season 1”) rather than “The End,” signaling the intention for a follow-up installment .
According to multiple reports, Yang Yang (the actor portraying Han Li) has reportedly signed on to complete the Ren Realm arc, which spans three planned seasons .
Additionally, the production team is actively preparing for Season 2 and aiming to retain the original cast (“原班人马”) .
What’s Still Unknown
No official press release has yet confirmed Season 2’s filming start date or premiere schedule.
Actor lineup and storyline details—beyond speculation about where the story will continue—have not been publicly announced .
In essence: Yes, Season 2 is both expected and reportedly in early preparation, with Yang Yang likely to reprise his role. However, the specifics—like a release date or new cast confirmations—are still pending from official channels.
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Very High Energy show, great direction and performance by Yang Yang.
It's different from the usual Xianxia romance plots, and that makes it refreshing. It's about a young man's journey to immortality. He battles his own impulses, as well as monsters and evil. I had watched the anime at YouTube, and this show is an excellent live version. Couldn't ask for better!!I only wish they hadn't cut out so many episodes. I heard it was 10. Someone in China--please petition the producers to release those episodes. Hope they start season 2 soon.
Animated is on Youtube, Dailymotion and Billibilli. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXDouB-6zMM
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