Immortal Samsara

Immortal Samsara is a 2022 Chinese Xianxia television series based on the novel Agarwood Like Crumbs by Su Mo. It stars Yang Zi as Yan Dan and Cheng Yi as Ying Yuan. The 1st part premiered on Youku on July 20 and ended its run on August 17. The 2nd part aired from August 18 to September 2. Youku released 2 special episodes on September 7. The series ranked as the top streaming series with 2.4 million online reservations pre-air and 18.99% of market share after release according to Lighthouse Data. Since airing, the series has received international attention for its rich depiction of the Xianxia (genre) world and traditional Chinese culture. Plot Yan-Dan is, originally, one of the twins of a rare four-leaf hanli twin lotus blossom, a relic of the ancients. Her body has been a treasure of medicinal cures since ancient times. She and her twin sister Zhi-Xi transformed into human form during the Jade Pool festival of the Supreme Emperor. The Demon clan tried to kidnap the lotus twins for their Emperor, to increase his Immortal powers. They are stopped by Lord Ying-Yuan who then gives the lotus twins their names. The twin lotus sisters had very different lifestyles. Zhi-Xi is always trying to better herself & elevate her status. Yan-Dan is not interested in cultivation or raising her status. She leaves it up to her sister to do it. She just wanted to write plays, relax, & enjoy a care-free life. Zhi-Xi became assistant Curator at the Palace of Magical Pavilion & was despised by Curator Ying-Deng who made her life difficult. Yan-Dan was originally assigned to the Pavilion of Books, where she was writing a play about the War of Genesis Heroes, a war against Demons won by the collaboration of many mystical magical tribes. Many fought bravely & died during the war. One, in particular, had been forgotten & who contributed greatly to the war effort, the Nine Fin Tribe. Nine Fins descendant Yu Mo-Shan, from ancient times, was saved by Celestial Deity Bei-Ming who helped him attain human form through cultivation. He became friends with Yan-Dan & helped her with her play. While writing the play, Yan-Dan noticed someone kept flipping the Divine turtle onto his back & was determined to find out who was the culprit. She was unsuccessful, even though she tried many times & set many traps.