Born to a modest family in the State of Zhao, Wang Lin joins the Heng Yue Sect with a talent judged mediocre. Finding a mysterious bead, the Heaven Defying Bead, changes his life and turns him into one of the most fearsome cultivators in the universe.
Personality
Cold, patient and ruthless with his enemies, Wang Lin never forgives a wrong done to his loved ones. Beneath this hardness he stays loyal to a handful of people he loves deeply, and his quest for revenge becomes a quest for meaning.
Powers & abilities
The Heaven Defying Bead speeds up his cultivation and houses the soul of an ancient master, Situ Nan, who becomes his guide. He later masters restrictions, complex seals, along with techniques built on killing intent and the laws of karma.
History
After finding the Heaven Defying Bead, he progresses in secret. The massacre of his family by the Teng clan upends his life: he leaves his sect to take revenge, then ventures into ever vaster realms. He makes as many allies as enemies on a path that spans centuries.
Relationships
Li Muwan is the love of his life, and losing her becomes his deepest wound. Situ Nan, the ancient soul inside the bead, is a master and almost an older brother. He distrusts nearly everyone else, and his list of enemies grows with every arc.
Key moments
- Finding the Heaven Defying Bead, which launches his path.
- His revenge on the Teng clan after his family's massacre.
- Meeting Li Muwan, the only person to break through his shell.
In the adaptations
The 2023 donghua, made by Original Force, is known for its high-quality 3D fights and its faithfulness to the dark tone of Er Gen's novel. It is the ideal entry point into this long saga.
Did you know?
- Its Chinese title, Xian Ni (仙逆), roughly means "defying the immortals".
- Er Gen's universe links Renegade Immortal to his other novels, including A Will Eternal.
Our take
Wang Lin is the opposite of the lucky hero: every victory costs him, and the series does not hide his brutal choices. That dark realism sets Renegade Immortal apart.
— Spidermas, for Donghua Fan