The animated adaptation of Wang Yu’s (忘语) popular Xianxia novel, The Gate of Mystical Realm (玄界之门), has premiered on Bilibili with a compelling three-episode launch. Introducing protagonists burdened by profound loss, the series immediately dives into a world of cultivation, vengeance, and hidden legacies. For fans of the author's previous work, A Mortal's Journey (凡人修仙传), this new story offers both fresh faces and tantalizing threads that suggest a shared, expansive universe where destinies are intricately woven.
A Bleak Beginning
The story opens not with grandeur, but with grief. We meet a young Shi Mu (石牧) in the coastal Shiquan Village (石泉村). His life shatters when his father, Shi Ting (石亭), is murdered. The tragedy deepens as assassins arrive, claiming the lives of his adoptive family. Only a mystical pearl, a gift from a celestial being he once rescued, preserves his life. This artifact becomes his silent guardian, a crucial tool for survival in a world that has shown him only cruelty.
Orphaned, Shi Mu is taken to Feng City (丰城) by Jin Zhen (金珍), becoming a ward of the Jin family and gaining a gentle stepsister, Jin Yuhuan (金玉环). His path crosses another soul marked by sorrow when he encounters Zhong Ming (钟明) and his daughter, Zhong Xiu (钟秀). Their hope for a secure future through a marriage alliance dies with Zhong Ming, who falls victim to a zombie attack. With his final breath, he entrusts Zhong Xiu to Shi Mu’s care, binding their fates through shared tragedy.
Delivering Zhong Xiu to the influential Wu family reveals further complexity. Patriarch Wu Tong’s outwardly warm welcome masks calculating intentions, placing the vulnerable Zhong Xiu in a precarious position regarding her promised marriage. Meanwhile, Shi Mu, driven by the need for resources and answers, operates in the shadows. Adopting the alias "Fierce Fist," he works with the Heihu Hui (黑狐会) to earn money for medicinal resources and secretly investigate his father’s killers.
A Shared Universe
The Gate of Mystical Realm is not a standalone tale. It is the third Xiuzhen (修真) cultivation work by author Wang Yu, building upon the foundations of his renowned universe. Astute viewers have noted profound connections to A Mortal's Journey. These links are not merely Easter eggs but narrative cornerstones, suggesting these stories unfold in the same world but in different realms and eras.
This interconnectedness adds rich layers for dedicated fans. For instance, the powerful Fan Sheng Zhen Mo Gong (梵圣真魔功) technique cultivated by Han Li (韩立) in A Mortal's Journey is said to originate from Shi Mu’s own Great Brahman Martial Sacred Body Art (大梵盘武圣体功). Furthermore, one of Shi Mu’s future companions, Yan Luo (烟罗), is intricately linked to the legacy of the Saintess Baohua (宝花) from the Spirit Realm of the previous series. These threads transform the viewing experience into a deeper exploration of a cohesive mythological timeline.
The convergence extends beyond plot. In a pivotal moment, Shi Mu falls into a trance, witnessing the disciplined practice of a Stone Monkey—a vision hinting at his unique heritage and potential. This revelation is compounded when Aunt Jin reveals the truth about his father’s mission to the Jin family: to obtain a Qiling Dan (气灵丹) to save a young Shi Mu’s life, dispelling his long-held misunderstanding. Each piece of history reshapes his journey.
Familiar Voices
The connection between the two series is powerfully reinforced through voice acting. Several key actors reprise similar archetypal roles, creating an immediate sense of familiarity. Zhong Xiu, the female lead portrayed by Li Shimeng (李诗萌), shares her voice with A Mortal's Journey' iconic heroine, Nangong Wan (南宫婉). This casting choice subtly links the spirit of the two characters in the audience’s mind.
Similarly, the voice of Shi Mu’s (石牧) kind stepsister, Jin Yuhuan, belongs to Zhao Shuang, who previously voiced the beloved character Mei Ning (梅凝) in A Mortal's Journey. Fans have quickly embraced Jin Yuhuan (金玉环), describing her with the classical phrase "wo jian you lian"—"she inspires my tenderness." Her gentle and supportive nature, amplified by this vocal familiarity, has made her an instant favorite, playfully dubbing Zhao Shuang a "specialist in endearing younger sisters."
With the formidable martial prodigy Wang Tianhao now setting his sights on the mysterious "Fierce Fist," a major confrontation looms. The stage is also set for the arrival of another significant female character, Ximen Xue (西门雪), promising to expand the narrative. For viewers invested in Wang Yu’s meticulously crafted world of cultivation, The Gate of Mystical Realm presents a compelling new chapter, asking whether profound tragedy can be the forge for an immortal’s destiny.
