The Sacred Ruins — the manhua
Long before the donghua was announced, Sheng Xu was adapted into a full-colour manhua published on the Kuaikan platform from 7 November 2018. Produced by Gaia Huyu and the Changpan Yongzhe (常盘勇者) studio, it follows Chu Feng from his trip to Kunlun to the awakening of his bloodline.
Origins and publication
The manhua is a true studio effort: paneling, lead art, colours, backgrounds and even 3D elements are handled by different team members. This production method allows a steady release schedule and a polished look, in a vertical format suited to smartphones. The manhua first served as a showcase for the novel among Kuaikan readers.
How it differs from the donghua
Until the donghua airs, the manhua is the only visual version of the story. It highlights the contrast between the everyday modern life of the opening and the irruption of mutated creatures, with detailed backgrounds. It follows the novel closely but condenses some passages and plays up the action. The donghua is expected to offer a different 3D vision of the characters and creatures.
Reception and success
Kuaikan readers welcomed the manhua, praising its backgrounds and colours, and it holds a 7.5 rating on Bangumi. Until the animated series arrives, it remains the most accessible way to discover Chu Feng's story without tackling the novel's roughly 1,700 chapters.
Trivia
- The manhua launched on 7 November 2018 on Kuaikan.
- Its team has separate roles for paneling, lead art, colours, backgrounds and 3D.
- Chu Feng awakens the bloodline of the "Supreme Human King" (至尊人王).
- The mutated creatures of the opening, transformed by strange fruits, are one of the art's highlights.
My take
A well-crafted manhua that does justice to the first part of the novel, its most original. The backgrounds are superb and the action is easy to follow. It does not replace the novel for the rest of the story, but it is a very good entry point while waiting for the donghua.
Who is it for?Webtoon readers and Chen Dong fans who want to discover Chu Feng in pictures.
— Spidermas, for Donghua Fan
The authorChen Dong 辰东Qidian's "god of plot holes"