天官赐福
Heaven Official's Blessing
Three ascensions, eight hundred years of waiting and a ghost king dressed in red
Synopsis
Crown prince of the kingdom of Xianle, Xie Lian became a god at seventeen before being cast out of Heaven, then rose again only to be banished almost at once. Eight hundred years later, his third ascension shakes the heavens… and makes him the laughingstock of the three realms.
With no worshippers and no resources, he agrees to investigate cases for Heaven in the mortal world. There he meets San Lang, a charming and mysterious young man who is none other than Hua Cheng, the most feared of the ghost kings.
Adapted from the novel by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, author of Mo Dao Zu Shi, the animated series has aired on Bilibili since 2020 and has become one of the most-watched donghua worldwide.
World
The world is split into three realms: the Heaven of the gods, whose power depends on mortal prayers and temples; the human world; and the ghost realm, ruled by four dreaded "Calamities", including Hua Cheng and his Ghost City.
Power system
A god's power rests on the devotion of their worshippers, while ghosts are ranked from mere spectres up to "Supreme". Xie Lian, lacking worshippers, relies on his martial skill and his silk band Ruoye.
Reception & popularity
The first season was a huge hit on Bilibili in 2020 before being picked up by Funimation and then Netflix. Season 2, released in late 2023, confirmed the franchise's worldwide appeal, further boosted by the success of the novel's English translation.
My take
Heaven Official's Blessing is probably the most beautiful 2D donghua in the catalogue. Every shot takes care over light, colour and detail, and the music accompanies the story with great delicacy.
The relationship between Xie Lian and Hua Cheng is the heart of the series, built on patience, respect and mystery. My only regret: two short seasons, and an endless wait for more.
Who is it for?Watch it if you like slow-burn romance, supernatural investigations and series that take time to breathe.
Main characters
More character profiles are coming.
Adaptations
This franchise also exists in other formats — each with its own pacing and audience.
Trivia
- Mo Xiang Tong Xiu is also the author of Mo Dao Zu Shi, already in our catalogue.
- Volume 7 of the novel's English translation (Seven Seas) reached No. 5 on the New York Times Best Seller list in October 2023.
- The two seasons were animated by different studios: Haoliners Animation League for the first, Red Dog Culture House for the second.
If you liked…
More donghua to discover after Heaven Official's Blessing: same author or same genres.
