诛仙
Jade Dynasty
Between the righteous and demonic paths, the broken destiny of an ordinary disciple
Synopsis
One of only two survivors — with his friend Lin Jingyu — of his village's massacre, young Zhang Xiaofan is taken in by the Qingyun Sect, one of the most prestigious of the righteous path. Deemed talentless, he hides a secret: a monk passed on a forbidden Buddhist technique to him.
Between his encounters with the swordswoman Lu Xueqi and with Bi Yao, daughter of the Ghost King, he is drawn into the age-old war between righteous and demonic sects, until he must choose his own side.
Adapted from Xiao Ding's cult novel, the donghua produced by Tencent Penguin Pictures and animated by Yuntu Animation has aired on Tencent Video since 2022, with a fourth and final season launched in August 2026.
World
The world of Zhu Xian pits the three great sects of the righteous path (Qingyun, Tianyin Temple and Fenxiang Valley) against the demonic sects led by the Ghost King Sect, in a struggle where the lines between good and evil gradually blur.
Power system
Cultivators follow Taoist, Buddhist or demonic paths, relying on artifacts bound to their souls. At the summit of Qingyun stands the Zhu Xian sword formation (诛仙剑阵), the ultimate weapon that gives the story its title.
Reception & popularity
Long awaited, the animated adaptation grew in scope with each season: the second scored 8.7 on Douban, and the third quickly ranked among Tencent Video's most popular series on release.
My take
Zhu Xian is a founding classic, and its adaptation does it justice. Yuntu Animation's 3D is among the most elegant around, with superb mountain landscapes.
The first season takes its time to establish Zhang Xiaofan and the Qingyun Sect, but tension then builds to tragedy. The triangle between Zhang Xiaofan, Lu Xueqi and Bi Yao is among the most poignant in the genre.
Who is it for?Watch it if you enjoy tragic stories where the line between good and evil blurs.
Main characters
More character profiles are coming.
Adaptations
This franchise also exists in other formats — each with its own pacing and audience.
Trivia
- First published in 2003, Xiao Ding's novel is considered one of the "three great wondrous novels" (三大奇书) of early Chinese web fiction.
- Announced in August 2025 alongside a film titled Jade Dynasty The Movie: Ten Years of Different Paths, the fourth and final season premiered in August 2026.
- The name "Jade Dynasty" originally comes from the MMORPG based on the novel by Perfect World, which introduced the franchise to Western audiences.
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