Yi Nian Yong Heng

As someone who was initially skeptical about Chinese anime, my perspective shifted dramatically after stumbling upon Hitori no Shita: The Outcast in its Japanese dub. Discovering it was a Chinese production sparked my curiosity to explore more donghua, but most failed to capture the same magic-until I found A Will Eternal (Yi Nian Yong Heng). This series is a masterpiece that hooked me so thoroughly I've rewatched it five times from start to its latest episodes, each viewing as exhilarating as the first. With its captivating storyline, innovative power system, intricate plot, and top-tier animation quality, A Will Eternal stands as a pinnacle of Chinese animation that rivals even the best Japanese anime.

The storyline centers on Bai Xiaochun, a charmingly flawed protagonist whose fear of death and desire for immortality drive him into the world of cultivation. Unlike typical xianxia heroes, Bai's blend of cunning, humor, and genuine heart makes him instantly relatable. His journey through the Spirit Stream Sect and beyond is a rollercoaster of triumphs, setbacks, and laugh-out-loud moments. The narrative balances epic stakes-sect wars, ancient conspiracies-with personal growth, as Bai evolves from a mischievous novice to a figure of legend. Each arc, from the Fallen Sword Abyss to the Blood Stream Sect, builds seamlessly, keeping you glued to the screen. The pacing is near-perfect, avoiding the drag common in long-form cultivation stories, with 106 episodes (as of 2025) that never feel bloated.

The power system in A Will Eternal is a standout, blending traditional xianxia cultivation with unique twists. The progression from Qi Condensation to Core Formation and beyond feels organic, with each stage clearly defined yet creatively expanded through Bai's alchemical experiments and unorthodox techniques, like the Human Controlling Grand Magic. The system's depth-tied to pills, formations, and spiritual energy-adds strategic layers to battles, making them as cerebral as they are visually spectacular. Unlike other donghua where power-ups feel arbitrary, here every breakthrough is earned, often with hilarious or heart-wrenching consequences, reflecting Bai's chaotic genius.

The plot is a tapestry of intrigue, humor, and emotional depth. It weaves Bai's personal quest with larger mysteries, like the origins of the Eternal World, without overwhelming the viewer. Subplots, such as Bai's rivalries and friendships with characters like Song Que or the spirited Du Lingfei, are richly developed, adding emotional weight. The humor-often stemming from Bai's knack for causing chaos, like his infamous pill concoctions-keeps the tone light, while darker moments, such as sect betrayals, ground the stakes. This balance ensures the story resonates on multiple levels, appealing to both casual viewers and xianxia enthusiasts.

Animation quality is where A Will Eternal truly shines. Produced by B. CMAY PICTURES, the visuals are vibrant and fluid, with lush environments-from misty mountains to glowing spirit caves-that immerse you in its world. Battle scenes are dynamic, with spell effects and martial techniques rendered in dazzling detail, rivaling top anime like Demon Slayer. Character designs are expressive, capturing Bai's cheeky grin or the stoic menace of antagonists. The Japanese dub, which I discovered after Hitori no Shita, enhances the experience, with voice actors bringing nuance to every line.

In a sea of lackluster donghua, A Will Eternal is a gem that converted me into a Chinese anime fan. Its gripping story, inventive power system, layered plot, and stunning animation make it a must-watch. Whether you're new to donghua or a seasoned viewer, this series will leave you hungry for more. I'm already anticipating my sixth rewatch!

I'm not a professional reviewer or something else, I just write based on my opinion. It has a great storyline. Some may say the MC is a Gary Sue type of character, yes, it is. But idc. The world building is great and the characters are well written. Though it's mainly focuses on MC (it's gary sue, after all), but I like his personality. The comedy is funny and the animation is beautiful, too.

I'd say this is perfect for those of you who wants to relax after a long day and watch some anime that isn't too complex but still has a good story line. And if you are new to cultivation theme anime/story, this anime provides good explanations about the power systems.

P. S. It's kinda hard to find platforms that has good subtitle, even WeTV messed up the subtitle. So, good luck finding it, lol! Even I have to watch from different sources.

Combining Japanese anime with Chinese fantasy story is certainly successful because they have a good story. Regarless it is not a classic story, it's a very addictive watching experience because the story and the main hero keeps growing with dramatic events and humor.

Unlike most long lasting anime, A Will Eternal only focus on 1 main hero from zero to God-like level, trinkled with tragic love story and traditional value.

For the fans of the books, most likely they will find the storyline has adjusted for TV Series, so it is not a page-to-page adaptation. However, a good TV series must adapt in accordance to the time slot.

For western style cartoon fans, I welcome to what we Chinese called a martial art soap opera series. Unlike in the west, martial art soap opera is a family entertainment through and through. They keep the animation and story clean enough for children, parents and grandparents to enjoy together. That's something to learn rather than doing dirty jokes all the time. Nickelodeon's Avatar has tried it and quite successful. Inatead of inserting politics and cultural grooming, focus on family value and let the audience make the series as family weekly schedule to watch together.

Enjoy!

Honestly I'm shocked by how gate kept this show is. I stumbled upon it randomly and it's already in my top 10 anime list.

The power system is so good, it has such rich world building and really good characters. Bai is such a funny MC as well.

I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys either battle shonen anime or fantasy anime.

For the negatives, it definitely takes some getting used of listening to mandarin. It's a shame there no Dub because it's visually stunning. The animation budget must be insane and it's very dialogue heavy so apart from fight you will be constantly reading. The subs go very fast as well so it takes some getting used of. I found watching it on YouTube was better for finding good subs and there's way more episodes on there than anime sites for some reason. It's pretty easy to find on YouTube though at least.

Definitely a hidden gem and well worth your time. The show picks up heavily about 10-15 episodes in after they enter a forest outside the sect on a mission. Once he locks in it gets crazy.

My current top animation list now so you can judge for yourself if it's worth your time. If you like these shows, you will also enjoy A Will Eternal

1. Attack on Titan - 🥇10/10 2. Avatar: T. L. A. B -🥈10/10 (Western Anime) 3. Vinland Saga - 🥉9/10 4. Demon Slayer - 9/10 5. Jujitsu Kaisen - 9/10 6. Hunter x Hunter - 9/10 7. A Will Eternal (Donghua) - 9/10 8. Solo Levelling - 9/10 9. Mushoku Tensei - 8.5/10 10. Re:Zero - 8.5/10.

When I was 15 I first watched anime, I was always repulsed by "cartoons" because I was so "grown up" and didn't want anyone to think otherwise. The first one I watched was Sword Art Online, maybe that's why I ended up liking everything with swordsmen and magic and isekai and stuff like that. Now I'm 22 and yes, I still watch anime. In all that time I've seen about 150 titles, some I like more, despite the low ratings, than the cult ones, some less. I've never rated anything in particular, I think they're all good in their own way and it's just not fair to rate them. But now I know 100% that it's the best thing I've ever watched in my life. I don't get it wrong, it's a matter of taste and color, but this anime has given me more emotion than the screen versions of works by Hayao Miyazaki, Yoshihiro Takahashi and other famous persons. I had a hard time looking for new anime over the years and I was so happy when I found this one, I was so euphoric about every episode, I didnt even realise Chinese people can do such things. Just unrealistically recommend to all. Never wrote anything like this, I hope my opinion will be useful to someone :P

Reminded me of the Mo Dao Zu Shi, another proof that the Chinese are capable in anime.