The Daily Life of the Immortal King
NovelThe Daily Life of the Immortal King — Kuxuan's novel
At a glanceover 2,200 chapters · ongoing
The Daily Life of the Immortal King adapts Xian Wang de Richang Shenghuo (仙王的日常生活), Kuxuan's (枯玄) novel launched on Qidian on 30 March 2017. Its hero, Wang Ling, reached Golden Core at three, Nascent Soul at five and Deity Transformation at seven. Now almost invincible, he wants only one thing: to live the life of a normal high school student without anyone discovering his secret.
Origins and publication
Kuxuan takes classic xianxia in the opposite direction. Instead of telling the rise of a weak hero, he starts with a character already at the top and has fun with the problems that creates: how do you sit an exam, make friends or stay out of trouble when you can destroy a planet by accident? The novel is set in a modern China where cultivation is part of daily life, with specialised high schools and secret organisations.
The novel, still ongoing, has passed 2,200 chapters. Its first Chinese print edition, from Beijing Yanshan, was announced in 2026, almost ten years after the first chapter. An English translation is available on Webnovel.
How it differs from the donghua
The donghua, launched in January 2020 on Bilibili, keeps the novel's deadpan humour and Wang Ling's impassiveness. It cuts the story into short, lively episodes close to a sitcom. The novel develops the gallery of side characters, the organisations orbiting Wang Ling and some darker arcs far more. It is also much longer: the donghua has adapted only a small part of it.
Reception and success
The novel divides readers. Its fans love its humour and original concept, while others criticise its uneven style and compare it to Japanese works such as Saiki K. The very popular donghua brought the story to an audience far beyond web novel readers, all the way to Japan.
Trivia
- Wang Ling reached Golden Core at 3, Nascent Soul at 5 and Deity Transformation at 7.
- Wang Ling's stated wish is simple: world peace.
- The novel also goes by the alternative title Wang Ling de Richang Shenghuo, "the daily life of Wang Ling".
- The donghua is also available in Japan, notably on the Bandai Channel platform.
My take
The concept is brilliant and hits home in the early arcs: Wang Ling desperately trying to be normal is very funny. But the novel drags, the humour repeats itself and the style stays uneven over the long run. For me the donghua is the best version of this story: more focused, better paced. The novel is for fans who want to know everything.
Who is it for?Fans of school comedy and overpowered heroes who want a break from epic sagas.
— Spidermas, for Donghua Fan
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The authorKuxuan 枯玄The young all-rounder of xianxia comedy