“‘A Record of Mortal’s Journey to Immortality’ Ends, Marking a Milestone for China’s Web‑Novel Revolution”

The title itself is a study in translation. “凡人修仙传” is most commonly rendered as A Record of Mortal’s Journey to Immortality or Mortal’s Journey to Immortality, and the suffix 大结局 simply means the finale or the grand finale. Whether a viewer picks up the novel, binge‑watches the live‑action drama, or follows the ongoing animated adaptation, each medium has been working toward what Chinese audiences refer to as 凡人修仙传大结局.

In the original novel, the story’s protagonist Han Li (韩立) is a deliberately unremarkable young man who, through painstaking diligence and shrewd calculation, climbs the notoriously brutal ladder of cultivation. By the final chapters he has attained the apex of power—yet, rather than revel in his god‑like status, he chooses a quiet life of “wine and tea” with family and friends. That choice, a nod to the Daoist ideal of returning to simplicity after attaining the supreme, resonated deeply on the Chinese micro‑blogging site Weibo, where users repeatedly emphasized the humanity behind the mythic ascent.

The drama adaptation, which wrapped filming in late June, mirrored that sentiment in a more action‑filled climax. In the series’ last episode Han Li escapes the clutches of the Black Fiend Sect, only to confront a hidden enemy that forces him into a dangerous form of closed cultivation. Earlier, the drama’s infamous Doctor Mo (墨大夫) tried to usurp Han Li’s body—a twist that revealed the broader, hidden world of cultivation to the protagonist for the first time. Fans took to Weibo with a mixture of awe and laughter, posting memes of Han Li’s “double‑eye” expressions that alternated between tears and grin.

The animated version, meanwhile, is still far from its ultimate conclusion. The studio has announced a multi‑year plan that will stretch the story across more than twenty seasons, with the next major milestone—a core formation for Han Li—scheduled for October 2025 and the true series finale projected beyond 2040. In its latest season, the anime featured Han Li acquiring the mystical Wind‑Thunder Wings (风雷翅), his return to the Inner Sea, and the grim fate of his early master Li Huayuan, who survives a brutal battle only to die shortly thereafter at the hands of demon cultivators (妖修).

The divergent timelines have not prevented a unified wave of fan sentiment. Across all platforms, viewers lauded the emotional weight of the ending, praising the way Han Li’s journey—“from a plain boy to the pinnacle of the cultivation world” (韩立从平凡少年一路披荆斩棘，历经无数生死考验，终于站在了修仙界顶端)—was resolved with humility. One commenter summed up the prevailing mood: “He gave up supreme power and glory to return to a simple life with family and friends, drinking wine and tea. His story taught me that true success is not fame, but staying true to yourself and cherishing those around you.” Another highlighted the series’ inspirational power: “The blood‑pumping spirit and heartfelt moments will keep urging us forward in our own lives.”

Beyond the emotional resonance, the finale provoked a broader discussion about the series’ commercial success. The drama, starring popular actor Yang Yang (杨洋), consistently topped viewership charts, with average episode durations and ratings both leading the market. The franchise’s expansion into games, comics, live events and a staggering array of consumer products turned it into one of the most lucrative IPs to emerge from China’s web‑novel boom.

Industry analysts point to the series as a watershed moment for Chinese digital storytelling. By pioneering the “凡人流” (mortal‑type) cultivation narrative—where a seemingly average protagonist rises through sheer grit— A Record of Mortal’s Journey to Immortality set a template that countless later works would imitate. Its success demonstrated that a long‑form, “hyper‑serial” novel could be shepherded through multiple media, spawning a full‑stack entertainment ecosystem that includes anime, television, mobile games and merchandising. This model has become a cornerstone of China’s strategy to turn internet literature into a new driver of cultural export, giving the nation a fresh vehicle for soft power that resonates with global audiences hungry for Eastern fantasy.

The series’ impact reaches even further into the cultural fabric of modern China. Han Li’s unrelenting perseverance mirrors the aspirational narrative of social mobility that many young readers cherish, feeding a collective belief that diligent effort can overcome innate disadvantage. The gritty, cut‑throat world of cultivation—filled with alliances, betrayals, and strategic scheming—offers a hyper‑bolic reflection of real‑world competition, shaping how some readers perceive success and survival. At the same time, the massive fan community that grew up with the story has become a digital tribe, preserving a shared memory of an era when reading on smartphones became a communal ritual.

In the final showdown of the novel, Han Li’s evolution reaches its ultimate expression. He confronts the ultimate antagonist, the Chaos Dao Ancestor (混沌道祖), alongside the Space Dao Ancestor (空间道祖) and the Samsara Dao Ancestor (轮回道祖). Their combined forces crush the chaos that threatens the very fabric of the immortal realms. Han Li emerges as the sole survivor, later assuming the mantle of the Time Dao Ancestor (时间道祖), a position that consolidates his mastery over temporal flow. Side characters such as his love interest Nangong Wan (南宫婉), who finds peace in the Immortal World, and his early mentor Li Huayuan, who set him on the path to the Foundation Establishment stage, receive fitting closures that tie personal stakes to the cosmic finale.

The convergence of narrative, fan reaction, and industry implications makes the conclusion of A Record of Mortal’s Journey to Immortality more than just a story’s ending; it marks a milestone in the maturation of Chinese digital media. As the franchise moves forward—whether through the next season of animation, new game releases, or international translation deals—it will continue to shape how Chinese mythology is packaged for a global audience. For the millions who followed Han Li from his humble beginnings to his ascension as a Time Dao Ancestor, the final chapters affirm an enduring truth: that the most powerful journeys are those that end not with the accumulation of power, but with the rediscovery of simplicity, community and the quiet joy of “wine and tea.”