
Rating: 9.9/10
Storyline: 9.5/10
Cast: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Music: 10/10
Rewatch Value: 10/10

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The last xianxia drama I’ve last seen was Chinese Paladin 3 and that was over 7 years ago for me. After CP3, there were Eternal Love and Ashes of Love but these two dramas somehow didn’t spark my interests.
Similarly, Love and Redemption didn’t capture my attention when it was first released. My mother was watching it and I caught a few glances and then got intrigued by this one scene played by actress Crystal Yuan in Episode 2. She was being punished and her Sixth Shixiong, Zhong Minyan visited her. She regained her taste so Minyan asked if she could cry now. She tried to cry and then adorably ask Minyan if he could see tears.
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Cast:

Cheng Yi as Yu Sifeng/Xi Xuan
I don’t need to say much here cause everyone who watched this loved Sifeng’s character (and Cheng Yi’s acting) especially his love and his devotion towards Xuanji. Cheng Yi is not the most good-looking actor but he has charisma and the acting chops (+1).
I believe he literally set the record of spitting blood in almost every episode yet still survived until the very end. Besides playing a lover who gets heartbroken many times well, he also excel into pretending to be Mo Sha Xing. I actually want to watch him play a heartless monarch in the future; I think it will be interesting since it will be very different from the characters he played in here.
Kudos to Cheng Yi for bringing life into the character. Wish him the best of luck in his future acting career.

Signature phrase/move: Spit blood beautifully
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Crystal Yuan as Chu Xuanji/God of War/Star of Mosha
Like many viewers, I started despising naive female characters in the recent years. But I have to say Crystal Yuan was spot on acting as Xuanji. It was her acting in Episode 2 that turned me into a fan. Not only were her expressions on point acting clueless and naive, she was also to exude the aloofness and apathetic nature of God of War and her character in her past nine lives.
I’ve read comments on Douban (Chinese IMDB) and some netizens remarked that Crystal is too plain and has a supporting lead appearance. I just want to say not everyone is a Fan Bingbing or an Angelababy. In the recent years, we define beauty with certain standards but I think being unique and easily be distinguishable from others are much more important.
Signature phrase/move: Sifeng! Sifeng! Sifeng!
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Liu Xueyi as Hao Chen/Bailin Dijun
Despicable character but very handsome and charismatic actor. Love his interactions with Teng She especially his expressions when Teng She hilariously tests his powers in Episode 34.

Really hated him when he framed Sifeng and making it seem like he was killed by Sifeng. This scene interestingly reminded me of a scene in those concubine dramas where a consort knew she couldn’t keep her baby so she purposely frames her rival and making it seem like her miscarriage was caused by her rival. Doesn’t this sound exactly like Hao Chen’s move?
Signature phrase/move: I am doing this all for Three Realms
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Zhang Yuxi as Chu Linglong
Pretty actress but she’s also too skinny. Such a tragic character in the middle of the drama. Really glad she was saved from Wu Tong. I’m also relieved that she didn’t let Minyan leave Xiaoyang Sect with disgrace by himself. If she didn’t speak up, I would have hated her character for her weakness.
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Bai Shu as Teng She
My most favorite supporting character! Loved it whenever Teng She showed up cause I know it would be funny or he would be powerful enough to help Xuanji fend off her rivals. Really like his dynamic with his bro Qing Long. I also laughed when others refer to him as Xuanji’s pet after Xuanji chose him as her spiritual animal.
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Li Junyi as Zhong Minyan
I feel ambivalent on his character. He didn’t believe Sifeng when he told everyone his spiritual animal is not a spy. He betrayed Sifeng when he told the Five Sect the secret pathway into Lize Palace. However, he did redeem himself a bit towards the end when he and Linglong spoke up for Sifeng. Appearance-wise, he reminds me of Thai actor Mike Angelo, anyone think so too?
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Hou Mengyao as Zi Hu
To be honest, I thought she was just a passing by character. However, I’m glad she is a recurring character because she also helps push the story forward. Some say she is very pretty but lack the aura of a temptress. I think otherwise and I don’t think every spiritual fox has to be that way. She plays her role well as the devoted lover and the trustworthy/knowledgeable friend.
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Jacky Zhou as Ruo Yu
A handsome face and a pitiful character. I recognized him from Put Your Head On My Shoulder and here’s a fun fact, he is known as a 学霸 (roughly translated as a straight-A student). He’s currently partaking in the second season of Great Escape: Brain Version as one of the smartlings.
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Han Chengyu as Liu Yihuan
His relationship with his daughter is hilarious. It took quite an adventure before he gained his daughter’s respect but glad his daughter learned her lesson after being imprisoned in the Demonic Realm. He did betray Sifeng and others once when he led them to the mirror per Yuan Lang’s instructions. But I forgave him cause deep down, I wanted to find out their backstory too.
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Zhu Zixiao as Yuan Lang
The main evilest villain in the series. When I watched the end a second time but with comments on, viewers were like he is the true entrepreneur, the only one who cared about his career goal to become the Supreme Leader of the Three Realms. Everyone else only cared about love.
Some viewers were annoyed by his character but if you look back, you’ll notice he is the one pushing the plot forward. He was the one who helped Xuanji realize she is the God of War. He was the one who helped Sifeng realize he and Xuanji had been through nine lifetimes together. He was the one who collected all the spiritual keys to help save Wu Zhiqi.
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Fu Fangjun as Wu Zhiqi
His character’s name has been mentioned multiple times in the first half of the series but he doesn’t actually make an official grand appearance until the later half of the series. Wished he appeared earlier cause like how Zi Hu described him, he is 有情有义 (having affection and faith). Loved his interactions with Sifeng.
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Yang Xizi as Lu Yanran
I think she is the only character who I never liked at all in the series. She was used by Yuan Lang to destroy the special Reishi mushroom and made Sifeng lost hope. You can also say she helped push the plot forward however she didn’t do this on her own will. Even Ruo Yu questioned all the coincidences, she was just too stupid.
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Ethan Yao as Ting Nu
A drama with constant fighting is not complete without a powerful physician. Or else, how can the main leads survive their injuries? How could anyone hate his character since he is the one who treats Sifeng’s injuries? Personally, I think he is also one the wisest characters on the show.
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Huang Youming as Wu Tong
Didn’t get his obsession with Linglong. Guessed it was love at first sight for him. But I do want to applaud him for his ambitions to annihilate the Five Sects. He was pursued by the Five Sects just because he wasn’t willing to accept his loss in the tournament. His body was covered with scars and he also lost a limb. Let’s just say he’s a very 命硬 person, or a person who is able to endure a hard life.
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Mickey He Shengming as Leader of Lize Palace
A familiar face in Yu Mama’s dramas. Didn’t really like him that much when he was in YMM’s shows. However, he made this character come alive. I love his flamboyance as the Leader of Lize Palace. I love his fatherly love as Sifeng’s sifu and father.
I also watched his BTS and he is a troll. If you didn’t watch it, I recommend you to watch it to get a good laugh.
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Li Xinze as Luohou Jidu
Really wished the series spent more time on his character because I love his presence, both the actor and the character. There’s no doubt he is the most tragic character in the show. He was betrayed by his “friend” and was rebuilt to become a weapon of the Heaven Realm. I just felt very happy that he serve Bailin the poisoned wine because after all, that was his goal – to fight for his own justice and avenge the thousand years pain he had gone through.
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What I Liked:

- Sifeng & Xuanji – They’ve gone through so much with 10 lifetimes together. Enjoyed watching them grow up together in their 10th lifetime. Very, very grateful that they got their happy ending. Unlike others, I was okay that their nine lifetimes didn’t take up too much screen time. I just think it’s too hard to tell all of the stories well. It’s better to keep it short and let the viewers use their imaginations. Or even better, come up with spin-offs on those nine lifetimes.
- All the songs in this drama – Been looping through Liu Yuning’s Liu Li, Ayunga and Yisa Yu’s Lover’s Curse, and Charlie Zhou’s Love Like Liu Li, and Mickey He’s If Just Like This.
Fun fact: Liu Yuning, Ayunga, and Charlie Zhou all appeared on variety music show, Our Song as competitors. - The storyline with all the different identities – So exciting to unravel the mysteries behind each character’s identity (Xuanji, Sifeng, Hao Chen, Yuan Lang, etc)
- The bad sect is “better” than the good sect – Find it boring when the good sect is so goodie-two-shoes and promote righteousness and morality. Face to Fate (TVB drama), though not a xianxia drama, is a perfect example of a drama that portrays this irony well.
- Supporting characters: Teng She, Wu Zhiqi, Yuan Lang, Zi Hu, Leader of Lize Palace – I don’t need to explain more because if you watch the show, you will understand why.
- All the BTS videos released
What I Disliked:
- 72 episodes cut down to 59 episodes – With 13 episodes cut, there’s bound to be some discontinuity. I didn’t actually notice that huge of a discontinuity. The only part I noticed was in Episode 55 where the Demon Sect returns from their failed attempt in attacking the Heaven Realm to an imprisoned Sifeng. But still, I have respect for the director for not wasting time on unimportant characters (throwing shade at Princess Agents).
- Storyline picked up much more after Sifeng and Xuanji separated for four years.
- Is it me or are there too many close-ups of the characters’ clenching fists?
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Questions About The Drama:
- What happened to Luohuo Jidu? My interpretation: He and Bailin entered the reincarnation loop together.
- What happened to Wu Zhiqi and Zi Hu? My interpretation: Zi Hu didn’t end up drinking the wine before reincarnating and reuniting with Wu Zhiqi in the Human Realm.
- Are Sifeng and Bailin brothers? My interpretation: Don’t think so since the Heavenly Emperor only refers to Xi Xuan as his son. Though would be interesting if they were brothers and Bailin didn’t know and feels a bit remorseful for what he did towards Sifeng.
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Favorite Scenes:
- Episode 24 – Sifeng has to take three whips to prove he is not a demon. Xuanji saves him and destroys the demon whip. His father also arrives with a grand entrance and basically “slapped” the Five Sect’s faces and called them stupid. Also loved the conversation Sifeng and Xuanji had at the end of the episode. Sifeng teaches Xuanji to chase away guys that have ulterior motives.
- Episode 32: Xuanji and Sifeng meets Teng She and she takes Teng She as her spiritual animal.
- Episode 34: Teng She and Hao Chen’s interactions are so funny. One of my favorite part in this episode was when Hao Chen tells Si Ming to help him get rid of the “annoying thing” AKA Teng She and Si Ming comments that Teng She has been reduced to become someone’s pet LOL.
- Episode 55: The appearance of Luohou Jidu and how he easily chased Bailin away.
- Episodes 26-27: The storytelling of Sifeng and Xuanji’s past nine lives; Xuanji also regains all her six senses and learns that she loves Sifeng
- Episode 17: When Yuan Lang wants to take Sifeng back to Lize Palace and Xuanji fights with Yuan Lang with her God of War powers.
- Episodes 13 – 15: Misunderstanding between Sifeng and Xuanji clears up and they meet Zi Hu
- Episode 46: The “fake” demise of Yuan Lang. I enjoyed watching how Sifeng and Wu Zhiqi work together to take down Yuan Lang.
Music:
Not going to embed the music videos but you can easily search it up on YouTube. Charlie Zhou is so popular nowadays that he is literally singing a song in a new drama that get released. I like him and his voice so no complaining from me 🙂
The last review I’ve written was in 2018 for Story of Yanxi Palace. Looking back at all the dramas I’ve seen, I can confidently say this series is in my top 3 Chinese dramas of all-time because it has all the elements I like to see from a drama.
Source: 1
Mel
I’m glad you like the drama as much as I do. I’m hoping Cheng yi and crystal yuan will collaborate in the near future. I laughed and cried, but after all our otp got their happy ending they deserve.
My favorite character is teng she. He’s so adorable when he come on screen. He doesn’t give a shit and only care for our otp. Bai shu did a wonderful job as teng she and I love his song, fated one.
Second favorite is hao Chen. I want him and crystal to be a main couple in the next future drama.
Helen
I also really like how they switched up the role where the ML was the one always sacrificing for the FL and the FL was the one to save the day. It was so satisfying watching this drama with a strong, smart female lead who still trusts the ML and isn’t dumb enough to be tricked and swayed by others words all the time. Also when Xuan Ji turned into a dude, I was stupefied. When he pretended to be Xuan Ji those two times and was so close with Si Feng, I was squealing – can’t believe the directing team snuck those scenes in the drama.
Elle
You also don’t know how to write a review. Your contempt is noticeable in your every word. You remind me of toxic Kpop fans, who can’t see beyond their personal considerations. You are obsessed with beauty but you don’t even have a basoco intellect.
Xanna
To oversea people the lead actress is ok but in China, uh she’s too plain or not pretty enough. She would been a great maid or support. Her weight is skinny as hell just like Ling Long so I don’t really get your bias. Hate Ling Long for her weakness? Ahem, the lead she was really weak at so many points throughout I just didn’t get how fans managed to put in good words all the time. Not saying I want to see criticism but fans overly stated how good this show was, it’s really mediocre at best.
Haiku
I love this drama, especially on CGI, Directing, Music and plot.
In acting-wise, Cheng Yi is the one who is carrying the whole show. I really dislike female lead’s acting. She lacks of female lead charisma and aura on screen. She is okay in early episodes when Xuan Ji is naive and clueless, but, she did very bad in emotional/crying scenes when XJ finally knows the truth about Si Feng and all his sacrifices for her. She was very bland in those expressions.
You will see the difference between the acting range of the leads on those emotional scenes.
Rosie
I tried a few episodes. I dropped it because I can’t stand FL’s acting. She is trying to act a lot like Zhao Liying. It’s so annoying to watch someone who lacks of six senses, act cute and smile all the time. She is not even close to Zhao Liying’s beauty and talents. Why did she try so hard to be like her?
Elle
You are basically exposing your low mental capacity. You are insensitive and pretend to have analytical thinking. Are you anywhere near the beauty of Zhao Liying? Why are you obsessed with beauty. Why do you act like Liying is royalty? You could have made a proper comment, addressing acting skills, not physical appearance. The latter has no bearing on acting talent generally. I thought the Asian TV series communities were nice, but I was wrong. Their consumers are as childish and toxic as Kpop fans. You are a case in point.
Riley
Oh shut up Liying fans always attack Bingyan and anybody else with a large face. Is she the goddess of large face or what? Liying used to be uglier. Even though Bingyan isn’t that pretty at least she is all naturale. Liying’s true face was not better than Bingyan.
Liying’s face went under such a huge transformation that people mistook her for Yang Mi. She took it to social media and cursed at Yang Mi but never properly acknowledge and apologize, she chose to go inactive to cause her fans resent Yang Mi for Liying’s silentness. People also hate how she tries hard to act like Yang Mi too, her acting is nothing far from Yang Mi. Even if she tries to act differently, the same set of eyes and mouths can only express the same thing LMAO.
She has the government behind her back. Regular news station would not promote actors but they did that to her only. It’s why nobody ever dare to question why her poor acting contradicts what fans boast online. Everybody else gets hate comments except her, even if they suspect the haters are her fans they don’t dare to question it. Maybe somebody looks better, but their attitude can change how others feel.
Cat
When a story is well constructed, from the script, characters and plot, the physical appearance of the actors is the least that should matter. I don’t understand why we are obsessed with beauty when it comes to East Asia. We are becoming superficial creatures with each passing day. Actors’ abilities are often unrelated to their appearance. I’ve seen so many beautiful actors and actresses who lack talent. It is not proportional. I am sorry that the audience makes reviews based on superficiality. Let no one forget that none of us choose how we want to look at birth. We do not ask to have or not to have attractiveness. Our beauty is not our choice, except if we undergo processes to alter our nature. Actresses who are “thin” are likely to have trouble gaining weight and low self-esteem, but here we are all criticizing them, as if we were flawless Greek sculptures. The comments section is unfortunate, the person who wrote this entry, too. Apparently you have never been treated harshly. Learn to put on other shoes. The world is a sco because we are cruel and ruthless.
Elle
At last someone with basic reasoning. Apparently they get paid to attack other actresses who are not Liying. She’s not going to thank them for their low mental capacity, she’s not going to thank them for belittling her colleagues to give her wings. I don’t understand why they act like Liying is royalty. Her fans would not like her to be criticized, but they like to criticize. Let’s learn to put toxicity aside, it won’t get us far. There are many, many ways to approach the issue, making snide remarks, is not one of them. Empathy is not part of their lives, negativity has consumed their brains, they cannot form a coherent sentence without falling into gratuitous contempt.
Yooi
I dont get why some people compared the FL with ZYL. Bot a fan of both and for me personally, their acting skills are just the same. Nothing special. It’s not like their eyes can speak without any dialogue.
Back to topic. I havent finished watching this drama due to the engsub availability but then, so far so good. As long as the story is good, i dont have a problem with acting.
Despite the lack of their acting skill, but i really like ZLY’s face. Small with large eyes. She looks cute and ageless. If in Korea they have Jang Nara, then in China they have ZLY.
If she went under the knife, well, everyone wants to be pretty. Who doesn’t want to be pretty?
I haven’t finished watching this drama due to the engsub availability but will continue watching it. I have no problem with the acting skill as long as the story is acceptable.
Ops
It was an okay show. I just didn’t like the ending. I was expecting some grand battle at the end. But just ended with one guy (you would know who when you watch the show) just showing up at the end and making decisions and punishments.
3naVIP
OMG!!! Love your analysis it’s on point!! We love the same things about the drama….The leads have amazing chemistry and the way Xuanji says Sifengs name will forever be embedded in my mind….Hard to move on from such a great drama..wish they could have made longer (not 72 eps though)…
Sunny
Great review, CHAIERIE!
Signature phrase/move: Spit blood beautifully
Signature phrase/move: Sifeng! Sifeng! Sifeng!
Hahahaha! This is so accurate!
It wasn’t perfect but I’m surprised how much I liked this drama. I think 72 episodes would have been much too long. I was impressed with how well they edited the drama considering they had to cut 13 episodes worth of material. Teng She was my favourite character. He was so arrogant, loyal and hilarious.
Liu Yi Huan, Zi Hu, and Wu Zhi Qi are my other favorite characters. They are the most likeable and common sense characters in the drama. I thought Zi Hu was very pretty, much prettier than the Madame Dongfang character who was supposed to be the most beautiful woman in the world.
I almost skipped this drama because I haven’t liked Crystal Yaun’s acting previously but i thought she was very good as Xuanji and acting the character growing from an innocent, senseless girl to a woman experiencing heartbreaking emotions. She is very pretty even if she isn’t an out of this world beauty. Her features also appear to be pretty natural so good for her rather than shaving half her jaw off, getting her lips plumped up, nose chopped and whatever else
Linglong annoyed me just because she had such a big mouth and was always charging into trouble but her marital art skills were so trash. If you are going to run your mouth all the time then you had better be able to back it up especially living in a martial arts society. I did appreciate that the drama addressed the slutshaming Linglong suffered when she went back to the “righteous” sects after her capture (in ancient times it would be considered more honorable for a woman to kill herself after capture rather than survive) and her trauma from the mental rape and violation of her character by Wu Tong. Because even though it was the Flower Demon’s body, Linglong’s mind and soul were still trapped and experiencing all the nasty things the demon did. Other than that I didn’t care about the second couple’s romance at all.
lalala
“ Oh shut up Liying fans always attack Bingyan and anybody else with a large face. Is she the goddess of large face or what?” this is cracking me up
Sunny
I thought Zi Hu’s actress is the pretties of the female actresses in L&D followed by YBY.
Sunny
*L&R
Cindy
Never have I ever loved two lead characters, from any Chinese colossal fantasy drama, as much as I love SiFeng and XuanJi. I think their on-screen chemistry is probably the best out of all on-screen couples from any Chinese drama I’ve ever watched! In Love and Redemption, they beautifully share how SiFeng and XuanJi’s relationship developed.
All of their getting to know each other phase is awesomely played out for viewers to see that we fell in love with them while they were falling for each other. Their crushing moments, their adventure, their protecting each other moments, their sweet cute moments, their silly moments, and even their awkward moments are just so satisfying to watch.
I love how XuanJi’s character is so cutely attach to SiFeng, even before she knew what love is. XuanJi is also very protective of SiFeng even before she regained her 6 senses. Loved how strong she is when it comes to defending SiFeng.
In short, I heart this drama with a big capital L.
Cherry
I disagree this drama was clearly 10/ 10 nothing less
CRNAT
I just watch eps 1-13 and continue watch based on your favorite scene eps (actually i’m not a 60eps fans even each eps was 45min, me team 16-24eps lol kwkwk) The story is great, amazing cast, nice teleport effect. I set my eyes on this drama bcz this drama having a high review from internet and it based on a novel also I was so bored with Kdrama and Jdrama these days. I categorize this drama as a slow romance (slow romance in positive good way)
Bells
Only up to Episode 15 at the moment, when she removes his cursed lover’s mask and the pure joy on his face!!! I absolutely loved Cheng Yi’s facial expression . I mean, wow… the cave moments. The Chrystal, the FL is wonderful as the innocent, naive girl. And people should look in the mirror before saying she needs to go under the knife. The woman is gorgeous.Excellent analysis of the show and characters. The two leads should team up again, I’d watch them in anything. Plus Teng She!! In all shows there will be things t improve, but so far, this is in my top 5 Chinese dramas, of all the ones I’ve seen (historical/fantasy). The drama is 100/100 nothing less. Next, The Untamed… Happy days in lockdown.
Camie
How disgusting the comments section is. No one has any basic manners and decency. Everything is based on hate and superficiality, as if we were perfect. We are far from perfect, even more so when negativity has consumed our being. I thought doramas were free from the hatred that Kpop suffers because of its mindless fans, but I’ve realized that it’s the same story: hateful comments everywhere, comments that can destroy the confidence we are working so hard to achieve.
Ngoc
I am just watching the series now, almost dropped it a few times because Xuan Ji was so annoying, glad she got better. I would be very happy if there was a character that interfered and bug Hao Chen keeping him away from his self serving schemes in the name of righteousness. I am not bothered by Wu Tong or Yuan Lang as much. I know they are the bad guys of the story but all my hate is directed at Hao Chen, I don’t care if he’s the white king or the black king. The Jade Emperor should take him back and punish him for interfering with mortals and their relationships. I was bored after finishing Word of Honor and came across this one.
leila
lmao at all your “signature move/phases”!!! they’re all so true!
i liked the show and i agree our OTP had amazing chemistry but some episodes had me pulling my hair out cuz of all the misunderstandings and injustice lol. it still had a good story and epic romance to tell though and still enjoyed it