The Journey of Chong Zi

If you don't like to see FL being blamed for everything that goes wrong, skip this one.

First things first, the description of the show on MDL is not entirely accurate.

Since going in I already knew that this was going to be at least 3 different lifetimes for the lead couple to finally get together, i was waiting with abated breath for Chong Zi to die. I did read some reviews but majority were moaning about the actress's skills. Honestly, she isn't bad. I have seen other actresses do worse. So, to me, she wasn't that annoying, just a minor tolerable nuisance int he back of my mind.

1st Lifetime: Episode 1 to Episode 14/15
The one thing I was curious about the most was how did she die in the 1st lifetime, lo and behold, the ML killed her himself. The FL was too devoted to him, while he was devoted to her, his major concern was controlling her evil miasma. And even though he had feelings for her, they were not enough to find a way to save her in that lifetime. It was especially saddening to watch because Chong Zi though the world of him and he did seem like a intelligent and powerful sage, maybe it was his plan to kill her and allow her be reborn and he did go out of his way to ensure she was reborn again. But pretty coldhearted no.

2nd lifetime: Starts episode 15 & doesn't really end at least not until ep 39/40.
The leads are super messed up, in the second life they continue the same cycle. Chong Zi was such a goner over Luo Yin Fan that she was quick to forgive him no matter how many times he let her down. She just went right back to him. In Chong Zi's second lifetime, Luo Yin Fan decided that he would protect her at all costs but he was the most unsuitable person to protect her. He actually put her in more harm and no matter how many things his sect did wrong, they all just blindly decided to overlook those things, but Chong Zi took one misstep and it was a crime. They all, including Luo Yin Fan treated her abominably. Although he claimed to love her, he never really accepted all of her. It wasn't a love story that I rooted for.

Instead I was hoping that Qin Ke would win her over. Even though he didn't much help Chong Zi in the beginning, in her second lifetime, he always helped her, protected her and stood up for her against the sect, even when Luo Yin Fan tried to kill her on numerous occasions.

The immortal sect, all high and mighty was so corrupt. None of the people in the sect were logical at all. Its all black and white to them, immortals= good and demons= evil. All they see is evil miasma/breath, and they get murder in their eyes. Anything anytime goes wrong, kill Chong Zi! They really had so much hatred for someone who had done nothing to them. It was just plain awful to see.

And how does it all end, Luo Yin Fan sacrifices himself, but even with a powerful actor the scene was so underwhelming for me.

3rd lifetime: 3rd for Chong Zi & 2nd for Luo Yin Fan. (Episode 41 *Special mini episode*)
It was too short and not really interesting to my liking. The first 2 lifetime while not really romantic were at least interesting to watch. At times, they were intense. But its fine for people who hoped they ended up together.

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The fantasy in this drama, the martial arts, the visuals, and the music, had my emotions running all over the place. This fantasy drama is high up there. The butterflies are so beautiful even if they are animations. The chemistry between Yang Chao Yue who played Chong Zi and Jeremy Tsui who played Luo Yin Fan was very believable. I cried and cried; it was so beautiful. And another somewhat confusing ending. It didn’t end in death just more spiritual which is different. Asher Ma (Zhuo Hao) and one of my favorite actors Deng Wei who played Qin Ke were excellent. It was still a great story. Thanking the crew of The Journey of Chong Zi. Thanking the support of actors and actresses, the directors, the writers, and the costume makers. wow.

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First of all, I must say that I was surprised to see those who did not like the series and gave very low grades. However, I found it strange that I was angry at some things in the series and that it was given such low grades. Because this type of wrong, mistake or conscious and unconscious scenario movements exist in all series. Sometimes the main actor does not love anyone, does not kiss, does not pick a hair from his nose. It could be. In some TV series, female actors shoot themselves. You watch a love drama, but it's like a war drama. Jealousy, trips, fights, not even holding hands, not hugging, what do you think is romantic about that? Our drama reminded me of Song Of The Moon I watched in 2022. They have very similar aspects like almost the same. Again, the battle of the demon and the undead, the love of the mortal and the immortal, there is no union. Again, the unjust attacks of an immortal elder on the woman's side. Those who were involved in the incident from right to left, undermining, what are they saying, heartache, for example, it was here and there, it was there. Immortal is supposed to be the lord of immortals, but he is no good to himself. There is so much to criticize. But overall I liked the series. I watched hard. Love, the feeling passed to me. I've had tears in my eyes at some dramatic events. There were moments when I felt that emotion. I really liked the actors. I really liked their acting. I watched a group of valuable players. There were young and handsome male actors. They performed above expectations. However, I didn't like the ending of the series. It didn't end as I expected. Don't be a demon for two and then become a student again. Dying and resurrection or something like this really sounded wrong to me. It's like a toy. But especially the female performance was top notch Yang Chao Yue stood out. Well done. He never tensed himself in kissing scenes. She played it properly, she. He had too many roles. He played several roles at once as disciple, warrior, demon, mortal strange man and noble man. It was very successful. Jeremy Tsui gave lots of PICTURES. They say your presence is enough. That's how he played. Congratulations. Asher Me, Deng Kei, Wang Zho Cheng I liked them all. We had several other couples in love. It was all beautifully crafted. Congratulations to our screenwriter and director. Errors happen. Mistakes happen. There may be simplifications in the script. But on the whole I found it GOOD. I recommend everyone to watch it.

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not worth your time

I've tried my best for 12 episodes. I'm really sorry for the actors in this series, they tried their best. How is this level if writing even got the passed to be made into a series, total waste of money. Was the writers drunk? or was it written by a 6 yo? The story was so consistently bad from the beginning. Main Characters were shallow, unlikable, undeveloped. Not even a single character was properly written. The storyline is crap. Watch this drama, if your purpose is only to see the actor's pretty faces, there're plenty of beautiful people in it. I'm dropping it, and really regret wasting my time on the 12 episodes I've watched.

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Can be dropped in the first episode...

TWO WORDS FOR THIS SERIES: SIMP AND FOOD

thats literally the entire series was all about the ML is a literal simp for the FL and also twice his age for her. I dont understand the concept of caging and blocking the FL from ever training her "demon" abilities to avoid the calamities.
What these so called "Nianhua" sects are just literal hypocrites to that "traitors".


I literally had to skip all the scenes that involved the ML and FL cause they dont make any sense and have zero chemistry between them. It was all one day we should be together cause the script says so. It just makes my blood boil whenever I see them together.
The ML was just to be a SIMP/ predator towards to FL, and is written that he doesnt think before he acts. I think what goes in his head is "girl disciple lost = DESTORY ALL" (eye twitches). HOW IS HE THE SECT LEADER FOR A WELL-KNOWN SECT!!!

The only character that matter was the sect Uncle who literally died third of the way of the series (pure headache).

The FL is also written poorly, she's only there cause she is special with "demon blood" in her, and will ruin this world. Also they try to add this quirk that she likes to eat, and all she does is eat and beg to food shops to eat with all the male characters. Sadly she's only there to supposedly push the story forward (cause of her demon nature) and enjoy eating the food she never had when she was homeless.

I want to drop it soo bad, but I have to see how bad they end this series. This series is literal brain-dead story. These xianxia dramas lack story and character, and it just hurts my brain.

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Yikes

I started watching this Xanxia because I had previously seen the FL actress in another Xanxia, the exact name of which alludes me at this moment.

She is one of the most beautiful Chinese actresses working today, and unlike most Chinese actresses, she can actually act.

Maybe she will never have the opportunity to rise above the usual Xanxia FL character, but she has more expression in her eyes than most Chinese actresses hold in their entire face. What an outstanding beauty she has been gifted with. Truly, an exceptional beauty and she isn't the least bit wooden or prone to act out naivity as stupidity. She doesn't ride out her time in the story as the village idiot. She went through the obligatory "love blocking poison" Xanxia story trope without completely losing her brain in the process.

Despite her impish stature, she's still convincing as a paragon of "spiritual energy", because of the strong way she carries herself.

Yes, I wanted to talk about this actress first because I can't think of anything positive about this drama apart from her performance.

The story itself is very flawed. It's not even much of a story to begin with. It's the same Xanxia "Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms" story that could easily fit in 4 episodes, but because it is a Chinese drama, it must be stretched well past its breaking point.

There were the usual characters seen in every single Xanxia, and then there was Jeremy Tsui.... the ML... China's very own version of Christopher Walken. Weirdly stilted acting with bizarre, wild glances which never quite make sense. Christopher Walkens can pull off his trademark weirdness, whereas Jeremy Tsui's signature weirdness is just.... so bizarrely out of place or without reason.

There is a moment in this Xanxia that I had to watch several times to absorb, where Jeremy Tsui's character is given a comically large pill of some sort, and told the FL is in danger. He had the funniest look on his face as he popped that absurd pill into his mouth. I almost couldn't believe how absurdly bad the acting choices I was seeing actully were. This also has to do with the directing though. The director could have easily said something to help out their actors on so many occasions.

Now, we come to the part of my review where I am forced to talk about the inappropriate master - deciple relationship. It's disgusting, as it always will be, to have the deciple fall for the master. A young woman falling in love with her master over what I can only guess are daddy issues. The master knowing the deciple from birth during her rebirth just made it that much more incestuous and gross. I can't even really talk about that aspect of the plot without feeling disgusted all over again.

Overall, a real yikes of a drama, but even the story was a yikes to begin with, so it didn't have much of a chance to be anything other than what it is.

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I Can't Even

FL lead babytalking is a serious turn off. The fact that her creepy shifu who is hundreds of years older than her is attracted to her babyish behavior is a major creepy-ass red flag. Then he reincarnates her and gives her the same name! Okay weird. But if he just admitted he was obsessed with his ex-disciple, her second incarnation's time on the mountain wouldn't have been so tough. "Oh he's just weird, let's let it go." Then there's Sexual Harrassment Guy Zhou Hou who claims he loves her and won't let it go, even when she always says no all the time, after 2 lifetimes. And the two-dimensional, biased head of the sect who can't see past his nose. Don't forget the compulsory Annoying Shitty Princess who can't ever grow up. These are terrible, very boring, unsympathetic characters.

Best parts of this show:
- Wan Jie/Chu Bufu: best character so far, sweetest, best, most misunderstood, and died way too early. I wish he would come back. But in this show, probably not. The stars of this show are the most annoying.
- Qin Ke: even though all he does is be uptight and sulk, he is played by Deng Wei, and I can watch him pout sulkily with that mouth of his all day long. He's also the only one of her male friends who respects her feelings and doesn't objectify her even after she was reincarnated. I wish she would stop being a baby and hook up with him instead. Or that he would just stop being so uptight and find a nice girl to make out with.
- Mu Yu: I don't know yet, but I think he's actually a bad guy. But he's cute and sweet, so I'm all for it, whatever side he's on.
- Her bff Zhenzhen (I think), she's nice and normal. And her boyfriend is sweet too.
- Shifu's girlfriend Zhou-something. She's actually pretty cool, even though her destined boyfriend is obsessed with a child. I mean, she deserves way better and I hope she moves on soon.
- The demons are more interesting than the immortals, that is clear.

Anyway, I'm about to give up but I read in a spoiler that the FL turns into a demon, so it might be worth continuing on to see that.

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a very tired tropy drama going through the motions

The leads have no chemistry. The acting is wooden and subpar between them, it's a tired old trope of immortal master and student that becomes cringy boarding on completely repellent.

I came to watch some of my favorite young actors. The director didn't give many of these characters personality yet a few manage to try and put their best foot forward, these would be Wang Zhoucheng who manages to allure in heavy makeup as the Demon King Wang Yue, Asher Ma, who is a headstrong and rambunctious Young Master, Lin Si Yi as the Princess turned Immortal but bound to the jealous nemisis stereotype, Hu Yun Hao as a senior Immortal Master with the one brain cell this Sect contains, but poor Deng Wei, so bright in I Am The Years You Are The Stars is completely wasted.

What would have made a much more compelling story are doomed lovers, the possessed immortal Chu Bu Fu/Wan Jie and Zhang Zhi Xi, a pair of actors and theme I actually wanted to follow.

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casting is great except main actress ?

let me tell you, it's so great to watch so handsome actors in one place but story is so unfortunate and main actress is my the most least favourite one, i just feel so sorry for actors.
i hope that won't make this kind of mistake again.
i wouldn't write a review if it wasn't for DW( lost you forever actor✨✨)
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Overall Not That Bad

I agree with most of the reviews but it's not that bad. I watched the whole thing and its a lot better than many other dramas out there. give it a shot don't judge it by all negative reviews u read here.

This show doesn't have a proper story, all males love FL for absolutely no reason, and all female characters that like those males hate FL for obvious reasons. and I didn't like ML's character in normal times he talks about protecting FL but when she needs him the most he has no clue what's going on with her or who tried to kill/hurt her. and their chemistry was off. In many scenes, it felt like FL deserved the torture, betrayal, etc cuz throughout the show she was sooooo dumb. There was no character development for FL and ML.

Honestly, i didn't understand what made her fall for ML, cuz other male characters did a lot for her in comparition with the actual ML, they were sooo devoted to her even though there was no particular reason for them to fall for her. most of them lost their lives, one lost his family, and one was expelled from his sect, they did what not, ML only took her side in front of his superiors but was not with her when she actually needed him. u will understand when you watch.

I liked Zhuo hao the most, he was always there for her, except when she was in ice prison for years ( no one saved her lol) and i think his character is the only one in which you see some growth throughout the drama, all others are useless. His character is a lot better than ML. he was funny, handsome, brave, truly loved FL, he feared nothing, and even went against his father and everyone for FL when FL showed zero interest in him. That was heartbreaking.

Mu Yu falling in love with FL was out of the blue, I mean i watched it with subtitles and it says 'Uncle Mu Yu' whenever their scenes are shown but turns out even he fell in love with her all this time and he suddenly wants nothing but her happiness. lol.

The demon lord was the hottest male character in this show but he never had any feelings for FL, all other useless characters sacrificed their lives for FL.

They literally killed every character that ever cared for FL or loved FL, except zhuo hao but her was tortured in other ways like he became a demon, lost his father, aunt and ended up being alone thinking about FL even in the very last episode., i felt very bad for him, he deserved a better ending.

I cried a lot in many scenes cuz many side characters die in btw and the ending was also so.. so.. cuz i didn't like the ML so didn't matter if they ended up together in the special episode or not. all i was concerned about was for side characters...lol....i cried buckets when Mu Yu died.

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Wow I am actually doing another review just because I am surprised with all the bad reviews for this. I admit when I started watching this I wasn't expecting to like it at all just because I am very bad for sticking to dramas where I have seen most of the actors in a few things before and this one barely seen any of them, but I thought they all did very good with the drama they were in. I get that not everyone likes the cry baby clingy female lead that is in a lot of dramas but that is not the actors fault that her character is portrayed that way, and I thought Yang Chao Yue did very well in this drama. I will say that I did like a lot of the other male characters then the male lead in this but not because of the actor but because of how his character was portrayed he made you literally want to yell at him through the screen in the whole thing. My favorite characters in this was really Mu Yu/Tian Zhixie yes even though you find out that he basically used and lied to her and Qin Ke he just showed that even though he was in love with her that he didn't expect anything in return just that she was safe and happy. There was times I so wished that she would forget about the male lead and just look at these two guys. My one other nit pick is that for these dramas if you are going to do a sad ending commit to it I'm sorry but I really don't think that makes a show bad is it sad yes but its not bad. Doing a nine minute episode just to try to show that yes they are living happily is just pointless to me. So even though I didn't think this drama was perfect but it wasn't awful either I also had things I liked and didn't like in it.

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