Unlikely hero series inspires regular folk to realize their dreams

How does an ordinary person from a humble background rise to become a hero who saves the world?

This pursuit — a universal theme in many hero-themed movies and TV series — is re-explored in The Immortal Ascension, a 30-episode fantasy drama starring actor Yang Yang as the heroic protagonist.

With a stellar cast that also features actress Jin Chen and actor Wang Duo, the drama began its run on the streaming platform Youku on Sunday.

Adapted from writer Wang Yu's popular eponymous online novel, the story follows Han Li, a young man from a poverty-stricken village who stumbles into a fantasy world where ordinary people can become celestial beings through perilous and rigorous magical cultivation. Despite facing constant oppression and repeatedly being framed, Han overcomes his rivals with resilience and strategy, ultimately breaking barriers to enter a new realm and begin a fresh adventure.

Featuring rich Eastern aesthetics, the drama draws inspiration from traditional brush paintings, martial arts, and ancient dance, weaving cultural heritage into a boldly imaginative storyline.

Most of the natural scenes, showcasing lush mountains and clear rivers, were shot on location. The production crew, comprising over 1,300 members, spent 158 days filming across China, from Hengdian town in Zhejiang province to Karamay and Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, as well as Libo county in Guizhou province.

Wang Yuren, the drama's chief scriptwriter and chief producer, shared that he has been a fan of the novel since it began online serialization in 2008. Some of the key creative team members have also worked on the animated adaptation, which has aired since 2020.

"Many readers feel a deep connection with the novel, which has been serialized for over a decade, accompanying them from college to achieving career success as adults. The protagonist is like a fresh graduate — starting from the bottom and advancing step by step toward realizing his dreams," Wang said.