- Drama Title: The Immortal Ascension
- Also Known As: 凡人修仙传, A Mortal’s Journey to Immortality, A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality, Faan Yan Sau Sin Chyun, Fan Ren Xiu Xian Zhuan, The Mortal Ascension
- Director: Yang Yang
- Cast: Yang Yang, Gina Jin, Wang Duo, Zhao Xiao Tang, Zhao Qing
- Screenwriter: Wang Yu Ren, Jia Dong Yan
- Genres: Wuxia, Fantasy
- Number of Episodes: 30
- Date of Release: July 27, 2025
- Original Network: Youku
- Where to Watch: Youku, Viki
- Adapted from the novel “A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality” by Wang Yu
Dear readers, how are you today? I hope you’re doing well and ready for another drama talk with me. I am so sorry for the late post, I didn’t mean to keep you waiting. But honestly, this The Immortal Ascension drama was one of the hardest I’ve ever watched. So, today, I’m finally sharing my thoughts on The Immortal Ascension review, Yang Yang’s latest drama. People are still talked about it, and I felt I was going to miss a lot of things if I didn’t watch it. Anyway, before I start rambling again. Let’s get down to business. Happy reading!
The Immortal Ascension Synopsis
Han Li is just an ordinary person from an impoverished family. He dreamed of changing his family’s destiny and giving them a better life. What begin as a simple wish slowly turned into a lifelong journey when a physician took him as a disciple.
As he learned and work hard to improve his skills, Han Li realized that the path to the immortality was far from easy. He entered The Immortal Ascension trial and managed to secure a place in a prestigious sect. Along the way, he crossed path with Nangong Wan, a revered grandmaster from Moonshadow Sect.
Unfortunately, the peaceful days were short lived. Behind the scenes, the dark forces had begun to stir. The cultivation world was soon tainted by hidden schemes, betrayal, and power struggle. And Han Li found himself trapped in the middle of the storm.
The Immortal Ascension Drama Review
Two years ago, I wrote a review of a fantasy-wuxia drama titled Dominator of Martial Gods. This drama, starring Zhan Yu and Chen Yi Ying, tells a story of a powerful martial god who is forced to reborn after facing betrayal and misfortune. It took me days to finish watching before I could finally write that review. That was also the very first wuxia drama I ever reviewed.
And once again, I found myself venturing into another wuxia drama. This time, you might have guess that I chose it because of Yang Yang. Well, that wasn’t entirely wrong, but the real reason I picked The Immortal Ascension was because many people said that this drama is too good to miss. So, I give it a try. And boy! That turned out to be one of the toughest viewing decisions I’ve ever made.
For this drama, I promised myself that I would watch it until the end. And what followed was a week-long of love-hate relationship with this drama. There were days when I literally drag myself to sit in front of the screen but there also times when I told myself, “Just one more episode.”. But of course, we all know that’s a lie.
Watching The Immortal Ascension felt like trying dishes in a new restaurant for the first time. Years ago, my friend tried a new Indian restaurant in town. We never ate Indian food before and feel lost looking at the menu. In the end, we decided to try butter chicken and cheese naan.
The butter chicken had a creamy, slightly tangy-tomato flavour. My taste buds weren’t used to this kind of taste. So at first, I don’t know what to think. But when I paired it with the cheese nan, which I am rather familiar with, it started to click. It took several bites to be able to taste how delicious the food is. That’s exactly how The Immortal Ascension felt to me, like the butter chicken with the cheese nan.
And just like that, butter chicken and cheese naan combo have been my go-to dishes when I go to any Indian restaurant. And I wonder, will wuxia drama ever become my go-to genre? Well, let’s wait and see.
Okay, back to the drama.
The Immortal Ascension offers a combination of good story and great acting. Seriously, when people said that Yang Yang did a good job in this drama, they weren’t lying. Personally, I even thought that Yang Yang’s acting was even better than in Who Rules the World drama or Glory of Special Forces. He carried the emotional weight of Han Li with nuance and sincerity, making every scene feel alive and meaningful.
As usual, Yang Yang exuded charisma even while dressed as a shabby rouge cultivator. His microexpressions and subtle gestures were top-notch. You’ll notice that although he looked the same as usual, there was something different in his aura. He appeared calmer, sharper, and quietly confident.
Yang Yang’s last drama before taking the role in The Immortal Ascension was Fireworks of My Heart. In that drama, he partnered with Wang Chu Ran. Unfortunately, his role as Song Yang was not well received and faced many critics.
So, Yang Yang decided to take a break. He used his time to improve his acting and choose projects more carefully. And I think Yang Yang is wise. Without criticism from his fans, he wouldn’t have shone so brightly in this drama. Kudos for Yang Yang.
As a viewer, there were things that I liked about The Immortal Ascension and things that I wish I hadn’t noticed. I loved that this drama featured many background places. Han Li’s journey started from the grassland, then moved to the valley, forest, hill, desert, underground, city, and village.
He start living in shabby hut, his next home is a cave, he also experiencing how its feel like to stay in a mansion, surrounded by luxury. His journey in The Immortal Ascension ended up in a place that has the vibe of Hawaii in the Jurassic era. It’s definitely far from boring. And as a viewer who loved different backgrounds and scenes, this drama is amazing!
As I was happy with the different backgrounds, I have to accept that this drama has so many characters in it. This is a troublesome matter for me. Too many characters mean too many names and too many stories behind each of them.
Many characters come and go in Han Li’s life. It felt like they were just passing by in Han Li’s life even though he felt some connection with them. Yet, ironically, this has become a perfect description of how long and lonely an immortal life is.
Han Li is not a typical main character who is brimming with talent or destined for greatness from the start. Nope. In the cultivation world, he was nothing more than an ordinary person. Mediocre, if I must say. But that doesn’t mean he was born empty-handed.
For 30 episodes, you’ll watch how Han Li find treasures in the most unexpected way, slip through danger, and meet the right people at the right time. It’s almost as if he were favored by fate. Han Li is the proof that luck can be considered a kind of power.
There were five main roles in The Immortal of Ascension. Aside from Yang Yang, there’s Gina Jin, Wang Duo, Zhao Xiao Tang, and Zhao Qing. Gina Jin is my favorite. She plays Nangong Wan, a proud grandmaster from the Moonshadow Sect.
Nangong Wan is a very, very serious person. Yet, she can be comedic at times. And Gina Jin did a great job when it comes to those scenes. I didn’t sense the strong chemistry between them, but Nangong Wan could be a balanced partner for Han Li.
However, my favorite character is Zhao Qing’s character, Mo Cai Huan. She did a good job in portraying the quiet, gentle, and talented Mo Cai Huan, the daughter of Mo Ju Ren or Physician Mo. Whenever Mo Cai Huan appeared on screen, you could sense the iron determination behind her gentle appearance.
Like Han Li, Mo Cai Huan is a skilled physician with a compassionate heart who helps the weak. Unfortunately, Mo Cai Huan is a mortal with a short lifespan.
I love the subtle comedy in this drama. Even though most of the story was serious, the sporadic comedic scenes were much appreciated.
For instance, the scene where Nangong Wan got angry with herself when Han Li’s face suddenly appeared in her mind. She expressed her frustration by kicking and throwing BIG stones. This was an utterly out-of-character moment that had me laughing so hard.
In public, Nangong Wan is the revered grandmaster of the Moonshadow Sect. But in private, she is just an ordinary woman who can be emotional, proud, and overthink things. Nangong Wan can also totally lose her mind when she is embarassed.
The Immortal Ascension drama is only part of the whole story of A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality. Sadly, there is no romance in this part.
Although Nangong Wan, Mo Cai Huan, Cheng Qiao Qian, and Dong Xuan’er had feelings for Han Li, he didn’t reciprocate. In fact, he didn’t seem to have any feelings towards the opposite sex. Therefore, I’ll wait patiently for the next season.
Hoping for a budding romance between Han Li and Nangong Wan, since their personality and skills were compatible than those of the other girls.
The Immortal Ascension was directed by Yang Yang, a veteran female director who has created so many dramas, including Ever Night, A Dream of Splendor, and Have a Crush on You.
The Story – From Flatbread to Immortality
Han Li’s journey began with a flatbread. There was a custom in his village to eat a flatbread made from white flour before setting out on a journey or doing something important. Since his family were poor farmers, Han Li’s father had to borrow the flour from their neighbour. The same happened to his friend, Zhang Tie, who will also set on a journey with him.
In Han Li’s world, humans were divided into two kinds. Mortals, who only live for a few decades, and an immortal whose lifespan can last as long as the universe. And then there were cultivators. Mortals who were born with spiritual roots and could walk the path towards the immortality.
Cultivators are further divided based on their spirit roots. Those who possess four or five spirit roots are considered fake. The true one possessed two or three spirit roots. The rarest of them all are those who possessed the single heavenly spirit root. These roots are crucial because the cultivation world is a place where power reigns above all. It’s a wild jungle where you either strike first or get struck down.
And if the classification of spirit roots isn’t enough, cultivators were also divided by their privilege. Those who came from prestigious sects often see themselves as superior to rogue cultivators who rely solely on their own strength.
You should also pay attention to the sects and the clans in the story. There are tons of it. While binge-watching, I often found myself checking the fandom sites for explanations. And trust me, it helps a lot. 😁
Han Li spends about six years in the valley. He learns the craft of a gardener and a physician. It may seems less important compared to mastering the martial arts or magic. But Han Li proves that his skills were crucial. With his skills and the magical Green Vial, Han Li create countless pills that help him reach higher stages of cultivation.
Han Li used to be a naïve person. But his first master, Mo Ju Ren, is a complicated person who was sincere and sinister at the same time. His role was short, only 3 episodes. But his influence lingers throughout the series. He was the one who taught Han Li to hide his strength, act with caution, and stay pure in the world of darkness.
As the story goes on, you’ll see that Han Li has chosen a solitary road. Aside from Zhang Tie and Qu Hun, he prefers to walk alone. It should have been a lonely journey, but Han Li was focused on his cultivation career, so being alone is okay for him.
After leaving Mo Ju Ren’s valley, Han Li enters the Immortal Ascension trial. This is a recruitment event for cultivators. If I had to describe it, it’s like The Voice, but for cultivators.
Each sect acts as a mentor, scouting for potential disciples to train. The winner gets to choose which sect they want to join. The only difference is that a single misstep might get you blasted off the stage. Literally. 😂
Han Li passed the Ascension trial due to his uncanny luck. And this marks a new chapter in his life. He joined the Yellow Maple Valley, gained new friends, mentors, and masters. He soon discovered that the demon clan is humanity’s greatest enemy.
Han Li followed Mo Ju Ren’s teaching of staying low profile. He secretly uses his knowledge of medicine to create all kinds of pills. He did it so effortlessly that it feels unbelievable.
While others were fighting for the coveted Foundation Pills. Han Li simply makes them himself. Not only one, but plenty as well as other kinds of pills. He gave away so many pills to others. Beauty-enhancing pills or ageless pills, for the ladies to preserve their youth and beauty. And the power-enhancing or skill-enhancing pills for his friends.
At this point, it’s clear that Han Li’s love language is gift-giving. Especially in the form of pills 😁.
Fun thing to do, I watch the scene where Han Li tours in the Yellow Maple Valley with Wu Mian at 2x speed. I found it funny to see Han Li running around following Wu Mian who walked very fast. Han Li’s politeness showed when he reminded his mentor to watch his steps, while in reality, he was the one who kept tripping. I feel like watching myself catching up to my tall friend, with my short legs. 😂
The biggest enemy of Han Li in this season is Wang Chan, the young heir of the Ghost Spirit Sect. He is a temperamental young man who has the skill of a company manager and good instincts to find new talents.
In my opinion, Wang Chan hated Han Li very much, not because he obstructed his plan over and over again. But because he hurt his pride. When they first met, Han Li told him his name was Li Fei Yu, his alias. Wang Chan believed it. But when he learns about Han Li’s real name, I sensed that his anger doubled. So, it must be because he feels stupid for believing Han Li’s nonsense. 😅
Han Li’s journey was full of hardships and adventures. It was full of betrayal, death, a touch of romance, and moments of quiet reflection. Through it all, Han Li grew stronger, wiser and more cautious. Every setback became a stepping stone towards greatness.
The Immortal Ascension ends with an open ending. But the journey was far from smooth. There were farewells to loved ones, unspoken feelings, and a foolish lie born from pride. All of these were waiting to be resolved in the next season. Let’s just hope we won’t have to wait for too long.
The Visual – Beauty in Motion, Flaws in Illusion
The Immortal Ascension offered you great storytelling and acting skill. Unfortunately, not with the CGI. I thought that since The Immortal Ascension was made in 2023, the CGI will be good. But I was wrong. This drama reminded me of Eternal Love: Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms. A perfectly good drama with bad CGI.
The best part of the visual are the fighting sequence. The intensity, the precision of each move and the way camera captured every strike are insanely remarkable. You could feel the power, the killing intent, and the determination.
It didn’t feel like just a fighting. It was more like a conversation between two enemies, told through every strike. It was so perfectly choreographed that you couldn’t take your eyes off from the screen. The martial arts choreographer from this drama also the one who made The Legend of Shen Li interesting. Mu Ning also played a small role in this drama as Feng Yue from Skyfort Castle Sect.
If I must say another visual that bothers me a lot is the glowing herbs. The visual made me feels like I’ve watching something through and outdated lens or watching movie from a very old monitor. 😜
The Characters
Han Li (Played by Yang Yang)
Han Li started his journey as an ordinary mortal. Yet, his loyalty was shown when Mo Ju Ren decided to take him as his disciple. Han Li didn’t want to leave his best friend alone and begged for Mo Ju Ren to also take Zhang Tie along with him.
This showed how close their ties are. Zhang Tie is the only friend who stayed beside him all along. Although he has more friends, his cautious nature made him choose to be a lonely warrior.
As a person, Han Li is humble, kind, but emotionally unreachable. He is smart and very good at devising plans and strategies. Yet, he always kept a low-profile following Mo Ju Ren’s teaching. Han Li was admired by others, but he avoided attachments that might distract him from his path.
Nangong Wan (Played by Gina Jin)
Nangong Wan is the Grandmaster of the Moonshadow Sect. She is a Core Formation stage cultivator with strong power. Her opinion was respected by the sect leaders.
Nangong Wan was famous for his elegant and noble appearance. She is a kind-hearted person, but a strict elder. He kept a quiet and detached bearing in public but was proud and quite lively when in private.
Wang Chan (Played by Wang Duo)
Wang Chan is the heir of the Ghost Spirit Sect. His cultivation level is on the Mid Foundation Establishment stage. He is an ambitious, ruthless person, and cunning to the extreme. His is arrogant and very annoying.
Wang Chan is also a proud and calculating man. He will never stop before he reaches his goal. his greatest ambition was to seize control of his sect from his aunt.
Chen Qiao Qian (Played by Zhao Xiao Tang)
Chen Qiao Qian came from the influential Chen family. She was expected to marry someone who could bring benefits to the family. Chen Qiao Qian resented her fate because she had already fallen for Han Li. Unfortunately, Han Li rejected her. And with no other choice left, she decided to follow her family’s arrangement for her.
Chen Qiao Qian’s abilities are quite good but not exceptional. She doesn’t seem like a person with grand ambitions and strong determination. To me, Chen Qiao Qian feels more like a damsel in distress waiting for someone to rescue her.
Mo Cai Huan (Played by Zhao Qing)
Mo Cai Huan is the daughter of Mo Ju Ren. She is skilled in medicine because Mo Ju Ren passed all his knowledge to her. Unlike her sisters, Mo Cai Huan is a quiet, shy and gentle. She is kind-hearted and compassionate. She used her talent to help the weak and those in need.
However, beneath her soft and gentle appearance, lies a strong determination and a quiet unwavering affection for Han Li. Sadly, her feelings were not reciprocated. Still, Mo Cai Huan understood that they belonged to different world and they couldn’t be together.
The Conclusion
You should definitely watch The Immortal Ascension. This drama so much more than just a wuxia story. The plot is so intricate yet fascinating, that a non-wuxia lover like me could enjoy it. However, you’ll need a bit of patience when it comes to this drama.
These 30 episodes are just the beginning of Han Li’s long journey, and surely there’ll be another season to continue the story. So, just like me and the rest of the fans, you’ll have to wait patiently for what comes next.
Well, that’s all for today, dear readers. I hope this review encourages you to give The Immortal Ascension a try. And if you already did and are curious about the ending, don’t forget to check out my Ending Explained post. Thank you for stopping by dear readers. I’ll see you again in my next drama review. Happy watching!
