Spoiler Alert
The episode begins with a flash-forward, introducing a powerful cultivator named Han Li, who is at the Mid-Stage of the Core Formation realm. In the Distant Seas Realm, he calmly sets up a "Four Symbols: Black Tortoise Formation" and hunts a Tier Six Demon Beast with practiced ease. His voiceover explains that his story began 200 years prior.
The narrative shifts to Wuligou Village, where a young boy known as "Blockhead" is awakened by his younger sister, Han Xiaomei. She brings him flatbreads, a luxury his family could only afford by borrowing flour. This simple act, born from his family's love and sacrifice, becomes the catalyst for his entire journey. His family, farmers for generations, sees the local Seven Mysteries Sect as their only path to a better life, inspired by his Third Uncle who is an outer disciple there. Before leaving for the sect's entrance exam, his family gives him an official name: Han Li, meaning "to stand upright between Heaven and Earth." His best friend, the chubby and good-natured Zhang Tie, also prepares for the journey with flatbreads of his own.
At the Seven Mysteries Sect's Boneforge Cliff, the entrance exam is a race to the peak, with only the first seven participants being accepted. Despite their best efforts, Han Li finishes eighth and Zhang Tie ninth. Dejected, their hopes are dashed. As they despair, Zhang Tie, who had eaten three flatbreads before the strenuous climb, collapses from severe abdominal pain.
Their misfortune attracts the attention of Physician Mo, a highly respected and enigmatic figure known as the sect's divine healer. After casually treating Zhang Tie, Mo decides to take both of the failed boys with him. He brings them to his secluded and beautiful residence, Shenshou Valley. There, he has them bathe in water infused with "Divine Grass Dew" to wash away their "mortal stench." Mo establishes three strict rules: they must care for everything in the valley, they must not contact anyone from the outside, and most importantly, they must diligently practice a mantra he will teach them.
The two illiterate boys struggle to learn the profound and abstract mantra: "Attain ultimate emptiness. Maintain profound tranquility. All things flourish. And I watch their cycles of return." After three months, Mo tests their progress. Zhang Tie has made none, dismissed as a "blockhead" with no aptitude. However, when Mo places his hand on Han Li, he senses a faint reaction, realizing Han Li possesses a "spirit root"—the latent talent for cultivation he has been searching for.
Ecstatic, Mo declares Han Li his direct disciple. Han Li, loyal to his friend, threatens to leave if Zhang Tie is cast out. To keep Han Li, Mo agrees to let Zhang Tie stay, teaching him a brutal physical cultivation art called "Mammoth Skin," which promises immense strength at the cost of unimaginable pain. A conversation with a mysterious, disembodied voice reveals Mo's true purpose: he and his unseen partner need a mortal with a spirit root for their own mysterious ends.
Years pass. Han Li's cultivation progresses under Mo's intensive training, which includes frequent, agonizingly hot herbal baths filled with precious ingredients. He successfully reaches Tier 1 of the mantra. As promised, Mo begins teaching him medicine, reading, and writing. Meanwhile, Zhang Tie endures daily torture practicing Mammoth Skin, his body covered in cuts and bruises. Han Li uses his developing medical skills to create ointments to ease his friend's suffering. They send their monthly allowance home, improving their families' lives. During this time, Han Li finds a small, indestructible, and mysterious green vial while gathering herbs.
As Han Li reaches Tier 2, his mind sharpens, and he begins to ponder the deeper meaning of the mantra. His independent thoughts alarm Mo, who abruptly confiscates all his books and orders him to focus solely on cultivation. Mo's moods become increasingly erratic, and a deep sense of unease grows in Han Li.
One night, Han Li discovers that the mysterious green vial glows faintly, seemingly absorbing moonlight. He takes it outside to test his theory and accidentally overhears a Seven Mysteries Sect disciple named Wu Yan conspiring with a member of the rival Wild Wolves Gang. He learns that Wu Yan is a traitor.
Han Li rushes back to report the betrayal to his master. To his shock, Mo is completely indifferent, stating that the squabbles of mortals are irrelevant and that Han Li's life is more valuable than the entire sect. Just then, the traitorous disciple, Wu Yan, appears and attacks Han Li. In a flash, Mo reveals his true nature, displaying incredible and deadly martial arts skill. He kills Wu Yan with a single, brutal strike.
The episode ends with Han Li staring in horror at his master and the dead body. He is paralyzed by the realization that Physician Mo is not just a healer but a hidden expert with a dark, violent side. The master he has lived with for years is a complete stranger, and his purpose for keeping Han Li in the valley is a terrifying, unknown secret.
Episode 1 Review: A Masterful Blend of Wuxia and Suspense
The premiere of A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality is a compelling and expertly paced introduction that successfully sets a tone that is part classic Wuxia adventure and part slow-burn thriller. It avoids the common pitfall of rushing into action, instead taking its time to build a world grounded in relatable, human motivations before peeling back the layers to reveal a much darker, more mysterious reality.
The Mentor and the Mystery
The absolute standout of the episode is Physician Mo. He is the narrative's linchpin, a character who is at once a savior and a potential predator. His initial kindness—saving Zhang Tie, taking in two failed disciples, teaching Han Li to read—paints him as a benevolent, if eccentric, mentor.However, his strange mood swings, his cryptic mutterings to an unseen entity, and his ultimate, brutal display of violence create an atmosphere of deep unease. The central question is not if Han Li will become a great cultivator, but why Physician Mo is so invested in making it happen. This suspense is the episode's strongest hook.
A Tale of Two Friends
The dynamic between Han Li and Zhang Tie provides the story's emotional core. Their shared journey from a poor village to the sect highlights themes of friendship and loyalty.Their diverging paths—Han Li's success due to his innate "spirit root" versus Zhang Tie's painful, seemingly fruitless labor—poignantly illustrate a key theme in cultivation stories: the cruel lottery of natural talent versus hard work. Zhang Tie serves as a tragic reminder of the fate Han Li narrowly avoided, making Han Li's "luck" feel both a blessing and a burden.
Foreshadowing & World-Building
The episode excels at subtle world-building and foreshadowing. The introduction of concepts like "mortal stench" and cultivation through a specific mantra immediately separates this world from a typical martial arts story. The mysterious green vial is a classic MacGuffin, an object of unknown power that is clearly destined to play a major role in Han Li's journey. The flash-forward at the beginning serves as a brilliant narrative device, assuring the audience of Han Li's eventual success while deepening the mystery of the path he takes to get there.
Conclusion
Episode 1 is a fantastic start that promises a rich and complex narrative. By grounding its protagonist in a simple, relatable goal—to provide for his family—it makes his subsequent plunge into a world of hidden motives and deadly secrets all the more impactful.It successfully establishes its main characters, plants the seeds of a compelling central mystery, and leaves the audience with a palpable sense of dread and anticipation. It’s a story that begins not with a grand destiny, but with a single, terrifying question: who can you trust when the path to power is paved with secrets?
