Tag: Li Gengxin

The Legend of Shen Li (Chinese Drama Review & Summary)

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Chinese Drama 2024

The Legend of Shen Li (Chinese Drama Review & Summary)

 

The Legend of Shen Li poster

  • Genre: Historical Costume Drama Fiction, Xianxia, Wuxia, Fantasy
  • Release Date:  18 March 2024
  • Origin: China
  • Cdrama: 39 Episodes

 

Cast

  • Snippets
  • This drama is a much awaited reunion of Zhao Liying and Lin Gengxin after the very successful but rather open-ended drama, the Princess Agents.
  • 14 June 2022: Filming ceremony was held today.
  • Zhao Liying is producing this drama.
  • 4 November 2022:  It is a wrap after 144 days of filming.
  • 19 February 2024: Rumour has it that Shen Li will broadcast on both Tencent and MangoTV beginning 18 March 2024.
  • 19 March 2024:  This drama continues to break records.  It has now broken the 30,000 heat mark for Tencent.

Quick Precis

Apparently, phoenix Shen Li fell into the mortal world as a chicken being sold in the market.

Xing Zhi bought the chicken😭😭😭

And their story begins.

Episode 1

The CGI is so good and it is very panoramic.  Lin Gengxin is just so handsome as he gets close up shots.  He should really do more historical drama.

Liying never ages.  Still as gorgeous as in her early twenties.

It was Lunar New Year’s Eve and children were excitedly setting off fireworks but then they got distracted by a more spectacular fireworks happening in the sky.  Above the sky were immortals begging Lord Bi Cang to return back with them in order to fulfill a political marriage within the Divine Realm.

Lord Bicang, however, refused to return as no way in hell would she marry the loser, General Zhu Fei.

Lord Bicang was chased by soldiers including her subordinate, Mo Fang.  To her shock, Mo Fang stabbed her in the chest.

Mo Fang then whispered to her that this was all he can do for her.  She understood as she looked at the worried sad eye of the loyal Mo Fang as she began to fall into the mortal realm.

Looking up the sky, Xingyun saw what was falling from the sky and knew that something was wrong.

The next day, Xingyun went to the market and bought a chicken.  The vendor tried to dissuade him from buying a particular chicken as it looks too ugly.  The vendor offered to give Xingyun a discount but he declined to accept as he said the chicken will be affronted being bought at a bargain price.

Xingyun looked after the grumpy chicken who was cursing Xingyun as a silly mortal.

The chicken who said she was a phoenix was surprised to find out that Xingyun could read or understand her clucking.

By the light of a full moon, Xingyun could briefly see that the chicken is a beautiful woman.

Episode 2

Xingyun decided that they need meat so he went to the market with the chicken who insisted that she should go with him.

At the market, Xingyun stopped to listen to a fortune teller telling a guy that he needed to get married first to pass the imperial exam.  For extra 10 taels he will tell the guy where to find the woman he should marry.

Xingyun interupted and said that the man should go home instead otherwise his house will burn down.

The man did not know who to believe so Xingyun told him that he will be at the pier market till the afternoon and if he is wrong the man could come back to find him.

The man left.  The fortune teller was upset as he lost his costumer.  He wanted Xingyun to pay him but Xingyun said that they should make a bet.  The fortune teller agreed.  He said that if he wins he get the chicken and if he loses he will pay 10 taels to Xingyun.

At midday, the guy came back with to fat slices of pork belly to give to Xingyun.  He was so grateful because if he did not go home, his mother would have died in the fire at the woodshed.

Xingyun’s prowess with divination spread quickly.

Yuniang who had been waiting for her husband to return after the war wanted to know where her husband.  Xingyun declined to give a divination.

Chicken who overheard the request got curious and went to find Yuniang that night.

She saw her with the the spirit of her husband guarding Yuniang.

The husband went berserk at the intruder, although it was only a chicken.

Anyway, Xingyun turned up as well and helped Chicken to get away from the pugnacious spirit.

Chicken said that the husband is a divine being who had refused to ascend as he wanted to guard his wife.

Xingyun said that staying around, the husband is shortening the life of his wife.

So Chicken said that she needed to get her physical body to help.

Xingyun said he could help her but she has to distract the husband while he does a stone circle.

When it was ready, Chicken went into the circle and then turned into the beautiful Shen Li.

She explained to the husband that they could make him physically appear to his wife.

Episode 3

Shen Li wanted the moment between Zhou Sanglang and Yunniang to last a little longer but Xingyun told her that the formation he created could not last much longer.  They decided to make the couple decide for themselves by giving them the full info on their situation.

Yunniang said that she did not care if her life is short as long as she was with Sanglang.

Sanglang decided for them, he was going so Shen Li called the power of forgetfulness and sent Sanglang to his final destination.

Anyway, Shen Li and Xingyun was just walking the narrow path across the lake when Xingyun slipped and fell into the deep lake.

It then became the last scene of Princess’ Agents were Chu Qiao had to rescue the heavily wounded Yu Wenyue💜💜💜 from drowning. Now we have a little closure for the excellent Princess’ Agents.

But in this scene, it was not romantic but rather on the sadistic side because ShenLi pulled Xinyun to the surface by the hair.  Later on when Xingyun complained, ShenLi noticed the thick wad of hair in her hand.  Oops she unknowingly or rather uncaringly scalped him. LOL

Anyway, Shen Li returned back to being a chicken which was witness by Yunniang’s brother.

The brother immediately went to report what he saw.

Some guards arrived at Xingyun’s house forcefully dragging him away but Shen Li appeared and sent the guards flying.

Shen Li saw the stone that seemed to inhibit her spiritual essence, the delay in her acquiring a human body.

She was so annoyed with Xingyun, she manhandled him a little which he milked so she stayed and look after him.

But he found that she does not have enourmous patience and used her superpower to show her annoyance.  This only made Xingyun gleeful.

Episode 4

Shen Li is feeling like a normal girl.  She even started blushing when near Xingyun.  She was actually was liking feeling ‘normal’; not treated like a feared and respected killing machine.  She likes that Xingyun tells her that she is a girl and not to act like a man.  She likes that he calls her Shen Li rather than Lord Bi Cang Wang.  She likes that he seemed to want to know where she was and what she was doing.  She likes the feeling of being protected rather than always the protector.

Though she complains, she also likes that he asked her to do chores.

So despite being detemined to leave, she gives herself time to treat Xingyun better and be a little kinder to him.

So cute.  The chemistry is still smoking.  Love them.

Anyway, Gu Chengrui, who was expecting to be the heir to the City Lord of Qingsheng City came to see Xingyun as Xingyun would not visit him.  He made an offer that Xingyun can’t refused but Shen Li refused it for Xingyun as she beat the many guards and Gu Chengrui himself.

Shen Li asked Xingyun what would he have done if she would have not been there to protect him.

He told her that he had a plan.  He took Shen Lin to visit the other master Gu, the younger illigitimate brother but known to be a little kinder and more approachable.

When then got to Gu Chengjin mansion, Shen Li found that Chengjin is keeping a pretty little demon, Miss He, which surprised Shen Li.  What they did not see was that Chengjin had another woman tucked away inside a secret chamber in the library.  The girl is in a coma.

Xingyun seemed to have a deja vu, when he saw Chengjin.  He knew him a long time ago.

The scenes are picture perfect; just like what you see in glossy magazines. Stunning.

Episode 5

That night, more Gu assassins turned up at Xingyun’s cottage.  But Xingyun had it covered with his formation.

Unfortunately, Shen Li forgot about it and went out and got caught within the formation.  Xingyun had to help her out but it was too late because Shen Li’s master Shen Mu Yue was able to pinpoint where Shen Li was when Shen Li used a spell.

Shen Li was not aware of this but what she realised was that she was beginning to like Xingyun and told him so.  But all he said was “Got it” which disappointed Shen Li.

As the cottage was set on fire, Shen Li transported Xingyun and herself to Gu Chengrjin’s mansion, just in time when demon Miss He was going berserk after she  found the secret chamber where Ye Shi lies in a coma.

Miss He found out that Chengjin was not really into her but cultivated her affection to use her as an ingredient to a spell to wake Ye Shi up.  She was so pissed that she was ready to kill Chengjin and Ye Shi. Shen Li intervened. She tried to make Miss He understand that Chengjin was just using her and it was better for her to disappear and go somewhere else.

In the end, Miss He sacrificed herself to wake Ye Shi.

But poor Xingyun was injured by the jelly demons blobs.

Mo Fang turned up to give Shen Li a heads up..  He told her that Master Shen was sending guards to take her back.  He told her to leave now as they’ve got intel on her whereabout.

Shen Li asked Mo Fang to delay the soldiers for at least half a day as she has still some unfinished business to wrap up. She also unabashedly confessed that she had fallen for someone.

Mo Fang was surprised especially when he saw Xingyun acting silly with Shen Li’s spear.🤣

Episode 6

Shen Li warned Chengjin that he might regret sacrificing Miss He for Ye Shi.  But Chengjin loved and owed Ye Shi so much.

Meanwhile, Xingyun got so ill from his demon wound. Shen Li had to go but she can’t just leave Xingyun.

When the guards turned up and surrounded her, she still assured Xingyun that she will protect him no matter what.

Shen Li refused to leave and even told Master Shen that it was unfair how she was treated.  She spent her life fighting in the borders but now being forced to get married.

Master Shen said she understood but everything had been decided.

Shen Li knew that resisting is futile so she said goodbye to Xingyun by kissing him.  I must admit this was the most chaste kiss I have ever seen in Cdrama.  Probably, it was not a kiss but she was giving him some of her qi to make Xingyun better.

Episode 7

Upon return to the immortal realm, Shen Li was confined to the frozen cave for a month.  When she was finally allowed out, she found out that Xingyun had already died.  Apparently a month is the immortal realm is 30 years of longing in the mortal world.  Yes, the two missed each other.

Anyway, despite the wedding a certainty, Shen Li continued to argue about it.  And it seemed her intended, Fu Rong Jun was also complaining about marrying someone he had not seen.

Furong is  a spoilt immature young divine.

Tian Jun, his uncle, told him that Xingzhi himself had especially chosen Furong for the marriage to Lord Bai Cang.

Xingzhi is the last ancent god who is still alive so his word and action are the law.

Xingzhi had been to the mortal world to cultivate in peace; he was of course Xingyun.  He laments that he lost all his divine powers as a mortal but he can remember everything.

Xingzhi told Fu Rong that he can postpone the wedding knowing that the bride is Shen Li or Lord Bai Cang.

The reason for the marriage was to form a closer alliance between the immortals and the divine.

The immortals had been guarding the Xituan Abyss but it had become more unsettled that it was spueing miasma and chimei.  The immortals need a divine to seal in the abyss.

Episode 8

General Mo Fang and General Zixia were sent to lead the investigation of the Xituan Abyss.  Unfortunately, General Zixia was attacked by chimei.

Shen Mu Yue sent out more guards to XitualnAbyss.  Shen Li volunteered but she was confined to her villa instead.

However, Shen Li sneaked out and went to Xitual Abyss.  She was just in time to save her comrades from a ferocious shape-shifting chimei.

The chimei was so strong it even swallowed Shen Li at one point.  But after a prolonged battle were many of the immortal soldiers were fell down, including poor Mo Fang, Shen Li was able to defeat it finally.

She was all spent from the fighting when a figure came into view.

Shen Li saw Xingyun.  She dropped her spear and walked fast towards him.  She touched his face and told him she missed him.  She then fainted into his arms.

The soldiers were aghast and tried to prise her out of his arm as it was unseemly for a girl who was about to be married.

Xingzhi would not let her go though and of course they could not say anything more because he is the last living ancient god.

When Shen Li woke up, she was disorientated for a while after having a dream where she was begging Xingyun not to leave her.

Shen Li was bandaged all over and needed to recuperate from her injuries.  Mo Fang came to see her and confessed that he had always like her.  She was not ready for it and told him that they can never be and ordered him to put if out of his mind.

Meanwhile, Xingzhi turned up.  Now, Shen Li realised tha the was not her Xingyun as he is already dead.

Xingzhi wanted Shen Li to be his tour guide as he wanted to see the area.  He said that she will be standing and walking within three days because he will heal her.

This drama is really.  The script is well set out and of course the CGI is so good but having said that it was rather let down by the fake grapevine in trellis.

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Episode 11

Shen Li finally met Furong who at first thought that she was a luminous goddess.  But found out that she is feisty.

Shen Mu Yue said that it was about time that Shen Li received the blood pearl left to her by her mother.

Mu Yue transferred the pearl into Shen Li’s chest.

Episode 12

Shen Li can’t get used to the pearl embedded into her chest.  She was finding it hard to sleep.

Furong is making as much nuisance of himself as possible.  He is determined to make Shen Li give up on marrying him.

Shen Li, however, had already accepted that there should be an alliance between the immortals and the divine so she is resolved in marrying Furong.

Xingzhi could see how annoying Furong was so he offered Shen Li help to deal with Furong.

Shen Li turned Xingzhi down. She said that Furong is now her family, her soon to be husband so she has a course of action on how to handle him.

Meanwhile, Xingzhi is overstaying his welcome but he does not care.  He said he would like to stay a bit longer as the Immortal realm seemed more exciting than the  extranatural realm.

Episode 13

Xingzhi was rather jealous of Mo Fang who spent a lot of time with Shen Li even drinking overnight.  Xingzhi told Shen Li that she was a woman and it was unseemly to be spending nights with other men.  Shen Li just dismissed what he said.

Shen Li mentioned again to Xingzhi that he should really go back to the extanatural realm and to take Furong back with him.

Xingzhi just ignored Shen Li’s words because he said there are more places to explore in the immortal realm plus he like the ice pops especially the durian flavour.

It was Shen Li’s 1000 birthday which she had forgotten but her maid, Rouya, did not and they had a mini celebration.

Still, the Azure pearl in her chest is troubling her.  She became ill because of it.  Poor Rouya was beside herself.  She knocked on Furong apartment to cure Shen Li as he is a divine but he was out carousing once again.  So Rouya knocked for Xingzhi who immediately went to look after Shen Li.

Shen Li was as bright as a button the next morning and decided to train the men at the barracks.

She issued a challenge that whoever could defeat her in 10 moves will have his request granted.

Shen Li was too good that is until Xingzhi rose up to the challenge.  Everyone was shock because he was not a soldier and not really one of them.

Shen Li, however, took him up to it.  The fight was so balletic that it became a flirtation that made the hardened soldiers blush🤗🤗🤗

Most of the time Shen Li ended up in Xingzhi’s arms. Xingzhi won and ask Shen Li for his prize.  He said he has three questions.

His first question was who is Shang Bei to her.  Shang Bei was shocked.  He said he is married.

Shen Li said he is a colleague.

The second question was ‘who was Chu Fei to her?’.  She said he was a colleague as well.

The third question was who was Mo Fang to her.

Shen Li had to be more careful with this answer.  She told Furong in order to intimidate him that Mo Fang is her lover but she could not say that now in front of everyone as Mo Fang had already confessed to her and did not want him to harbour feelings for her.

So she had to say that Mo Fang was a colleague which made Furong laughed uproariously.

The soldiers asked Shen Li to go to that drink she promised them.

Furong thanked Xingzhi for clarifying things for him but Xingzhi said he did not do it for Furong but he was just having fun.

Furong noticed that Xingzhi did not look like he was having fun.

Xingzhi told Furong that he had sent mails to the heavenly emperor about Furong so the emperor will deal with him.

I say this again.  Lin Gengxin is made for xianxia.  He is the most deity/godlike that I have ever seen in Cdramas.

Episode 14

Xingzhi is like a broken record.

Episode 15

Xingzhi divided the task between him and Shen Li.  He said he will be the brain while she will be the brawn.

Episode 16

Fusheng Sect of the Mortal Realm.

Episode 17

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Episode 21

Shen Li got curious why Xingzhi seemed to be going to a room nearby.  Shen Li investigated and saw a dais where memorials of the past ancient gods were kept.

She Li learned more of how Xingzhi became a god and also some of the ancient gods.  She was found by Xingzhi and told her that one day he will be one of the memorials.But then it was not easy as Xingzhi teases her all the time. He pulls her and then pushes her away.

Shen Li realised more than ever how Xingzhi’s life as a god is of paramount importance as he is responsible for the three realms.

A love affair will certainly jeopardise his position.  So she mentally adjusted herself not to get involved with Xingzhi.  Any love idea will now be vanised from her head.

Xingzhi told Shen Li that he hopes that when he becomes a memorial that she would often visit him.

The Flower party at Divine realm had started.  There were dancing, there were singing.  Shen Li decided to go but then she god waylaid when maiasma became a firey bombs which bombarded the Western Realm.

The Divine noticed it too that they were under attack.  Shen Li was not strong enough because she had a bath at the divine pool to remove the residue of miasma inside her body.  The bath unfortunately only dissipated her spiritual energy.

Xingzhi saw to the miasma and then carried the spent Shen Li into her room for treatment and to recuperate.

Episode 22

Shen Li was looked after by Xingzhi himself to make sure that she recovered well.  Shen Li was not very happy to being cooped up in her room.  But then You Lan turned up to inform Shen Li that the heavenly emperor wanted an urgent word with her so Xingzhi had to let her go.

Shen Li was informed that the immortal realm was attacked by the Northern Sea sect and the Immortal empress was badly injured and currently in a coma.,

Shen Li left immediately after being seen off by Xingzhi.

Shen Li was shocked how badly hit the immortal world was.  Her elite army did not stand a chance against the enemy which they found out was another faction of immortals.

She realised that their enemy was led by Fu Sheng and they had a mole in the immortal world.

Xingzhi inspected her army  who were a sorry sight. She also looked at the coffins of her dead  soldeirs until she came into an empty coffin which contained a broken sword, etc.  When she asked who the coffin was for, she was told by Shang Bei that it was for Mo Fang.  Mo Fang is dead.

Shen Li was shocked and bereaved.  She said that she would not believe Mo Fang was really dead unless she saw a body.

Shang Bei said that he personally saw Mo Fang being devoured by their enemy.  Zhu Fei confirmed it as well.  Shen Li promised that she will have her revenge.

Fu Sheng meanwhile was preparing to battle it out against Shen Li who he thought had the Azure Sea pearl.  Fu Sheng mentioned the young master…

It sounded that it could be Mo Fang.

Episode 23

The CGI is spectacular.

Shen Li in red firey pheonix mode is stunning.

Anyway, Fu Sheng and Shen Li ended up battling over the ocean.  Fu Sheng usrd the Wate Halting Spell but it had no effect of Shen Li.

Episode 24

 

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Episode 37

Out of the Xutian Abyss came out Feng Lai, the king of Chimei.  He was a pheonix who started attacking Shen Li.

A badly injured Xingzhi protected Shen Li and told her that he could purify the mad Phoenix King.  Shen Li immediately said that she would help as she lend her energy to Xingzhi.

Feng Lai was eventually purified and became compos mentis.  His first thought was to find Liu Yu.  He flew to Lord Bai Cang Mansion to find Liu Yu.

It was Shen Mu Yue who he saw instead.  He asked her where Liu Yu was but Shen Mu Yue said that Liu Yu is dead.  It has been 1000, there is no relic to be found.

Feng Lai was heartbroken and still disbelieving because he can still feel the essence of Liu Yu in the mansion.

Shen Mu Yue said that that was not Liu Yu.  Liu Yu gave birth to Feng Lai’s daughter.  To prolong Shen Li’s life Liu Yu gave Shen Li her inner core.

Mu Yue confirmed that Liu Yu loved Shen Li and this was all Feng Lai needed to know as he flew back to the Xutian Abyss.

At that moment, Xingzhi was with Shen Li who was bound by a firey chains holding her against the four corners inside Xutian Abyss.  Shen Li knew that to contain the abyss, she had to be the seal.  Xingzhi who had lost most of his divine power was going to stay with her.  They knew this would be the end for them after Xingzhi managed to connect the extranatural realm to the Xutian Abyss.  He invoked the ancient gods to help him.

The divine and immortals were working together to prevent more chimei to come out of the Xutian Abyss.  They noticed that it was slowly closing but then the pheonix king turned up.

Feng Lei saw Xingzhi and Shen Li couching together.  He cast Xingzhi aside as someone not expectacular but he looked at Shen Li and was proud of her.  He thought she was impressive.  He touched her face tenderly while she looked at him like a little girl longing for her father. He told her that she has Liu Yu’s eyes.  He quickly removed the chains holding her pushed her away while he bound himself with the chains instead.

This was so sad but heartwarming the familial love is so affecting.

Episode 38

Xingzhi used up all of his energy and had only enough left to say goodbye to Shen Li.  He told her that he has become redundant as there is no longer any need to protect the three realms as the evils had been vanquished.

Shen Li told him that he had more use as she needs him, but alas the last ancient god died in Shen Li’s arms.

The divine light showered from the sky heralding the demise of the ancient god.

Not long after, the divines and immortals turned up led by the heavenly emperor, Tian Jun,  He asked Shen Li to allow them to take Xingzhi’s body for cremation to complete the ascent of Xingzhi.

Shen Li went mental and created a firey divide preventing the immortals and divine to come near her and Xingzhi.  She told them that in life Xingzhi gave his whole life protecting the three realms, now that he is dead, Shen Li was keeping him.

For days, weeks, Shen Li held on the the corpse of Xingzhi.  Finally, Shen Mu Yue turned up, hugging Shen Li telling her that it was time to let go.

Shen Li put Xingzhi’s body in a mountain crevice in a Buddha poise, sitting calmly as if meditating. She visited him often, talked to him as if he was there to listen.

A year later, Furong came to visit, bringing with him a novel written by Youlan on the legendary life of Xingzhi and Shen Li.

Shen Li laughed about the story and she hoped to share it with Xingzhi so she brought the book the next time she visited him.

She started telling him laughingly about the story but noticed he was no longer inside the crevice.  Instead of being alarmed and upset, Shen Li got more excited.  Then she heard Rouya telling her of a commotion in the flower field as a snow demon had turned up.

Shen Li knew better and ran to the field.  She saw the backview of a man that can only be Xingzhi but with pure platinum blond hair.  Then he called her name, ‘Li’

Shen Li did not need any more words, she  hugged Xingzhi like she will never let him go.

Episode 39

Shen Li and Xingzhi received a wedding invitation from Lady Jin, the golden snake demon.  Shen Li was surprised that the self-reliant Lady Jin was getting married.

They went to the snowy mountain, the lair of Lady Jin.  They found out that she was marrying to a rather unwilling groom.

Shen Li noticed that her friend has weak energy. What she did not know was Lady Jin had been using her energy to transfer to Mu Zi Chun to cure him of his body coldness.

Shen Li said that she could not believe that Lady Jin was getting married.

Lady Jin was rather wary about it.  She said that she had been looking after Mu Zi Chun for twenty years but not once he showed that he cares about her.  He was only marrying her now because she put pressure on him to repay her kindness to the members of his sect who she saved and had sent back to the mortal world.

Anyway, Xingzhi said that Mu Zi Chun must like Lady Jin too otherwise he would not countenance a marriage.

They made a bet that Mu Zi Chun would confess his love for Jady Jin before their wedding.  Lady Jin accepted the bet and said if Xingzhi win, he can have the ancient jade which could rejuvenate divinity, just what Xingzhi needed.

Shen Li and Xingzhi worked together to make Mu Zi Chun jealous.  ShenLi shapeshifted into Xingzhi and pretended that he was into Lady Jin.

It worked too so they had a good wedding which seemed contagious because, Xingzhi said that he wanted to have a grand wedding with Shen Li where he could show her off to thousands of deities.

Shen Li accepted his offer but she said they had to make it sooner before her belly gets bigger.  Xingzhi twigged and could not be happier.  He is going to be a DADDY!

I really enjoyed this drama.  The special effects are really super special, they did themselves proud.

The End

#PS

Apparently, this adaptation is very true to the novel.  But the only thing missing is the epilogue in the book.

The next year, two babies can be heard at the courtyard.

The year after that, Lady Jin with Mu Zi Chun brought their baby to visit and found that Shen Li is pregnant again.

Whoa, it looked like there was peace at last at the realms so Shen Li is only kept busy in the bedroom by Xingzhi. LOL

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The Legend of Shen Li

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