Little Duan Tan Hua's Exiled Immortal was a grand, sweeping cultivation novel of immense scale. With the meticulous brushwork and scattered perspective of Along the River During the Qingming Festival, it recreated True Person Xiao's adventures across the Four Great Continents. Ambitious and aspiring, Little Duan Tan Hua aimed to create an unprecedented cultivation novel—a novel with its own self-contained system, a cultivation novel of "Once you enter Exiled Immortal, the sea runs deep; from then on, no other immortal-hero tale is worth reading."
Thus, unlike other cultivation novels that followed a single plotline from beginning to end, Exiled Immortal adopted multiple narrative threads: parallel montage, cross-cutting montage, inverted montage, and more. Coupled with Qidian's circumstances, Exiled Immortal and Light Escape sat side by side on the same shelf, and their enormous word counts made many newcomers stop in their tracks. So that this wonderful novel would not miss even more readers, I have presented those irresistible, impossible-to-put-down highlights from Exiled Immortal in the form of a brief report.
If Exiled Immortal were completed, it would be divided into four parts: 1. Exiled Immortal: Zhang Xiao Hua went from an ignorant village boy to setting out on his path of immortal cultivation, gradually stirring the martial world before finding, step by step, the proof of his own godhood. 2. The Light Escape arc: Zhang Xiao Hua was sent through an ancient teleportation array to another realm. Because his Demigod Body was sealed, he lost all his memories and was renamed Xiao Hua. From then on began True Person Xiao's adventures across the Four Great Continents. 3. The Immortal Realm Arc was now preparing to begin serialization. 4. The Primordial Divine Realm was the true grand finale longed for by countless Exiled Immortal fans. Who knew whether we would live to see it?
I. Highlights from Volume One of Exiled Immortal
1. From Chapter One, "Pioneering," to Chapter Sixty-Three, "Leaving Home." Enjoyment rating: one star.
Though it had nothing to do with cultivation, it established Zhang Xiao Hua's experiences, background of growth, and the work's overall tone. Though the pace was slow, the genuine emotions flowing between the lines and the recreation of real-life scenes were still worth reading. Zhang Xiao Hua's bracelet was likely the first great unresolved mystery of the book.
2. From Chapter Sixty-Nine, "Escort Agency," to Chapter One Hundred Ninety-Eight, "Reward II." Enjoyment rating: three stars.
Zhang Xiao Hua entered the Dao through martial arts, fused the strengths of a hundred schools, and mastered the Big Dipper Divine Fist, a bone-tempering, body-refining technique—namely, the famous ancient Great Circulation Stellar Fist. This fist art greatly benefited Zhang Xiao Hua's future cultivation and could not be skipped. He obtained an eighteen-layer Qi Refining technique from the Misty Sect and formally began immortal cultivation in the Age of Dharma Decline.
3. From Chapter Two Hundred Eighty-Seven, "Desolate Island," to Chapter Three Hundred Nine, "Finally Reaching Shore." Enjoyment rating: three stars.
After spending several years on a desolate island, Zhang Xiao Hua found the inheritance of an ancient cultivator and mastered Fire Escape, methods of training divine sense, alchemy, and other inheritances of the Cultivation World.
4. From Chapter Three Hundred Twenty-Five, "What Happened to the Misty Sect?" to Chapter Five Hundred Six, "Since Ancient Times, Parting Has Wounded the Sentimental." Enjoyment rating: four stars.
Zhang Xiao Hua formally entered the martial world and escorted Nie Qianyu to Returning Spring Valley. In order to save her and pass through Returning Spring Valley into the Incense Transmission Sect, he began to dabble in the medical Dao, array Dao, and more within Returning Spring Valley.
5. From Chapter Five Hundred Twenty-Three, "The First Night at the Incense Transmission Sect," to Chapter One Thousand Forty-Three, "Martial Arts Convention (Eighteen)." Enjoyment rating: five stars.
This was the book's greatest climax. Here, Zhang Xiao Hua adopted Little Yellow and Little Black, acquired the Eight Trigrams Purple Gold Furnace, obtained the Earth Core, achieved a Dragon Vein, and encountered a whole series of extraordinary fortunes.
6. From Chapter One Thousand One Hundred Twenty-Nine, "An Immortal Mansion... Is Difficult Indeed," to the ending. Enjoyment rating: four stars.
Mount Yao Immortal Mansion was also one of the book's great unresolved mysteries. After the various powers appeared onstage, Little Hua relied on the Kunlun Mirror's most rudimentary control over the immortal mansion to obtain the Innate Phoenix Body and Primordial Violet Qi, achieving a Demigod Body. At the end, he found the ancient teleportation array leading to another realm.
II. Highlights from Volume Two, Light Escape: Xiaoyu Continent (Zhang Xiao Hua lost his memory and was renamed Xiao Hua by his master; in memory of his master, he would henceforth be called Xiao Hua)
1. From Chapter One, "A Small Sect with Only Three and a Half Disciples (Part One)," to Chapter Two Hundred Seventy-Three, "Rescued." Enjoyment rating: four stars.
Low-level disciple Xiao Hua crossed over from another realm—soul searching, memory loss, being taken in, refining pills, destruction, obtaining the Dragon Transformation Art, becoming a rogue cultivator, gaining the Heavenly Heart in Mirror Lake City, practicing talismans, obtaining the Ice Insect King, obtaining the Water Pattern Butterfly, meeting Xue Xue, Cai Zhuoxia's death, entering the Talisman Sect, being hunted down, obtaining the Thunder-Annihilating Pearl, meeting Her Highness and Little Yellow. Xiao Hua's experiences in this stretch flowed like drifting clouds and running water, magnificent and varied, like one's university years unfolding into dazzling encounters in life.
2. From Chapter Two Hundred Eighty-Five, "Testing Attributes," to Chapter Three Hundred Sixty-Two, "Setting Out." Enjoyment rating: four stars.
This was the story of rogue cultivator Xiao Hua entering the Imperial Thunder Sect. From displaying his prowess in the initial trial, through every twist and turn of passing it, to his various experiences after joining, every warmth-filled moment made readers envy him beyond measure.
3. From Chapter Three Hundred Sixty-Three, "Flying Leopard Beast, Seeking Seclusion," to Chapter Four Hundred Twenty-Nine, "Using the Fire Marrow Flame Crystal Again." Enjoyment rating: five stars.
Xiao Hua's participation in the Feathered Immortal Convention was written brilliantly. He won Xun Shu's heart, took first place at the convention, regained his heavy sword, captured Hongxia Fairy's heart, and received Xue Xue's confession, making cultivators across the world green with envy. Of course, there was also everyone's incomprehension at his failed Foundation Establishment.
4. From Chapter Four Hundred Forty-Five, "Preparing for Experience," to Chapter Six Hundred Three, "Xiang Yang's Knot in the Heart." Enjoyment rating: three stars.
During Xiao Hua's second period of experience in the Imperial Thunder Sect, he encountered a small bottle like Han Li's, was plotted against by Kun Feiyan, achieved the Phoenix Dharma Body—namely Huang Tong—cultivated jointly with Hongxia Fairy, met Yu Tong, and laid the groundwork for future grudges and entanglements.
5. From Chapter Six Hundred Four, "Xue Xue's Experience," to Chapter Nine Hundred Thirty-Eight, "Teasing a Nascent Soul." Enjoyment rating: five stars.
Xue Xue and Xiao Hua's journey of experience was the favorite of Xue fans. The thunder beast inner core brought the opportunity that made the three heroes of Myriad Thunder Valley. Xiao Hua established his foundation; little Chinese cabbage Huang of Heavenly Gate Mountain obtained a ghost cultivator inheritance; in Black Forest of Ink Boa, he obtained Sword Heart Seed Origin and split his Primordial Spirit; at the Zhong Clan, he obtained ancient artifact-refining methods. Xiao Hua's incarnation as True Person Xiao first appeared in the world. Xue Xue established her foundation in Qianghe Sea, Xiao Hua obtained the Celestial Being Body Infusion Art, and was pursued by a Nascent Soul cultivator.
6. From Chapter Nine Hundred Forty, "First Meeting Xiang Zhili," to Chapter One Thousand Seven Hundred Forty-Seven, "Returning to the Mountain." Enjoyment rating: five stars.
The Sword Dao Great Battle was the greatest climax of Exiled Immortal's second volume. The Imperial Thunder Sect's First Squad became famous in one battle at Rooster Crow Mountain; they were trapped on Spring Brocade Mountain for five years and returned safely; they slew Tu Hong and shocked True Person Xueyu; rescued Xiao Mao and repelled Feng Buping; obtained the Innate Water Mother and Innate Gold Mother; repelled tens of thousands of soldiers at Seven Absolutes Ridge; saved ten thousand cultivators in Flowing Ice Valley, slew Qin Jian, and earned the First Squad of the Council Hall its illustrious battle merits. They met Zhong Haoran and founded the Gate of Creation; ruined Yu Tong's plans and obtained the Sword Gourd; formed a Golden Core, frightening Yu Tong out of his wits, annihilated Sword Tomb, and rescued another hundred thousand Daoist cultivators. The Sword Dao Great Battle established the terrifying renown of Phoenix and the Nascent Soul Wu Ming. Xiao Hua underwent experience in Meng Mountain with Hongxia Fairy and a million others, met Jiu Xia, saw Hongxia's Dharma Body advance and gain an inheritance, learned that Xiao Mao's origins were a mystery, cultivated the Cloud-Spreading Rainmaking Art, and used an immortal seed to save millions in Meng Mountain. Li Zongbao formed his core, Hongxia Fairy grew jealous, and Xiao Hua was determined to become one above the heavens and above all others. Only after much bustle did the curtain finally fall.
7. From Chapter One Thousand Seven Hundred Forty-Eight, "Still Two Questions," to the ending. Enjoyment rating: four stars.
Xiao Hua's great achievements made others jealous. He witnessed all the myriad faces of worldly affairs within his sect, took Xue Xue to Misty Mountain to avoid the world and obtain an ancient lightning method, returned to the sect, committed an offense, and was expelled. He met Han Zhu, entered a Buddhist sect ruin, gained many opportunities, was hunted by a Nascent Soul cultivator, and lost both master and beloved. The yin and yang of his space opened, he passed through the Buddhist Sumeru Array, the Daoist Five Elements Annihilation Grand Array, and the demon sect's Time-Singing Array, then left Xiaoyu Continent.
III. Highlights from Light Escape: Adventures Across the Four Great Continents, in which Xiao Hua became a supreme cultivator and began to stand proud across the Four Great Continents.
1. From Chapter One Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty-Six, "A Hundred Years of Cultivation," to Chapter One Thousand Nine Hundred Eighty-One, "Bright Moon Market." Enjoyment rating: three stars.
Xiao Hua drifted to the Three Great Continents, which differed from Xiaoyu Continent. After a hundred years of bitter cultivation, he searched for the relics of the Western Sea and then went to River Tide Temple. This was likely the calmest period in Xiao Hua's heart. He had left behind mainstream cultivation circles; only when he reached Bright Moon Market and attended the Star Moon Palace auction did he begin to integrate into the Three Great Continents.
2. From Chapter One Thousand Nine Hundred Eighty-Two, "Free Dragon Horse," to Chapter Two Thousand One Hundred Three, "I Shall Sing Loudly and Walk the Heavens with Confident Steps." Enjoyment rating: three stars.
From this point onward, Xiao Hua was no longer merely Xiao Hua, but True Person Xiao. He began to shoulder the responsibility and commitment of a high-level cultivator, taking upon himself the revival of the Daoist Sect in the Three Great Continents.
3. From Chapter Two Thousand One Hundred Four, "The Land of Light Trials," to Chapter Two Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety-Nine, "Black Ruins Mountain Heavenly Prison." Enjoyment rating: three stars.
The experiences in this section were relatively complex, with twists and turns rising and falling. They chronicled Xiao Hua's adventures in the Three Great Continents as a mid-level cultivator. First, he cultivated a Starry Sky Nascent Soul; then he took part in the magnificent Yao Terrace Mountain Convention; finally, he was pursued into the Heavenly Prison. From then on, Xiao Hua became a supreme cultivator of the Four Great Continents.
4. From Chapter Two Thousand Eight Hundred, "Celestial Being Remains," to Chapter Two Thousand Nine Hundred Ten, "Time Light Knot." Enjoyment rating: five stars.
Xiao Hua and his many clones entered closed-door cultivation unto death in the Heavenly Prison for twenty thousand years, cultivating to the Mahayana realm. The many Gate of Creation disciples of Shenhua Continent also reached the Void Refinement and Body Integration realms. Then began the adventures in Moonlight Ruins, during which they suppressed the Devil Race, slew the Demon Emperor, gathered primordial magnetism, and also filled in the unresolved mysteries of Di Shitian, Ming Yuexin, and others from Volume One.
5. From Chapter Two Thousand Nine Hundred Eleven, "True Person Xiao Enters the Ruins of Shenzhou," to Chapter Three Thousand Seven, "Great Snow Mountain, Exquisite Temple." Enjoyment rating: five stars.
This was True Person Xiao's adventure in the upper realm's Ruins of Shenzhou. During it, he tamed the four young primordial beings, acquired Pangu's axe, pushed through Heaven-Reaching Peak, annihilated Truth Listener and Heaven Swallower, and gained the merit of opening heaven and enlightening the people. Confucian cultivator Xiao Hua became Wen Qu and forged the Gate of Creation's iron army.
6. From Chapter Three Thousand Eight, "Welcoming the Buddha Lord," to Chapter Three Thousand Sixty-Two, "The Ancient Truth." Enjoyment rating: three stars.
True Person Xiao and his clones, having returned across realms, began laying out the Gate of Creation's plans in the Three Great Continents and began uncovering the karmic causes and effects of the Three Great Continents.
7. From Chapter Three Thousand Sixty-Three, "Encountering Danger," to Chapter Three Thousand Two Hundred Twenty-Two, "Shocked Beyond Measure." Enjoyment rating: five stars.
The changing winds and clouds during Xiao Hua's two hundred years away from the Three Great Continents unfolded one by one, presenting the love and hatred, life and death, sorrow and joy of figures connected to Xiao Hua. Little Duan Tan Hua employed the parallel montage of "last-minute rescue" with divine mastery. The stretch was splendid and varied, with climax after climax, leaving us shocked beyond measure.
8. From Chapter Three Thousand Two Hundred Twenty-Seven, "Signs of the Star Moon Palace's Emergence," to Chapter Three Thousand Three Hundred Eleven, "Return." Enjoyment rating: four and a half stars.
The Star Moon Palace was the greatest opportunity Xiao Hua encountered in his cultivation. Its many marvelous moments could not be missed.
9. From Chapter Three Thousand Three Hundred Sixteen, "Returning to Yao Terrace Mountain," to Chapter Three Thousand Four Hundred Ninety-Five, "Realm Barrier." Enjoyment rating: three and a half stars.
The Gate of Creation, returning in overwhelming strength, played games of strategy with every power amid the undercurrents of the Three Great Continents. Who could have expected the winds and clouds of the Three Great Continents to change so suddenly, bringing a crisis of annihilation? To save the world, Xiao Hua had to cross realms.
10. From Chapter Three Thousand Four Hundred Ninety-Six, "First Entering the Myriad Monster Realm," to Chapter Three Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty-Two, "Preparation." Enjoyment rating: five stars.
True Person Xiao entered the Myriad Monster Realm and left his name upon the Sacred Rankings, astonishing all the saints. He gathered primordial magnetism and destroyed two saints; was plotted against, and Nine Origins crashed through the realm, leaving him injured in Yilin Continent. Spiritual energy changed abnormally and lifespans drained away; Xiao Hua modified his cultivation technique and obtained an Innate Dao Seed. He resolved an age-old crisis, extinguished the evil karmic ties between the Dao Alliance and Heavenly Alliance, joined the selection, met Bai Fei, passed through the innate divine restriction, and finally reached Xiaoyu Continent.
11. From Chapter Three Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty-Three, "White Bone Flying Boat," to the ending, Xiao Hua understood the karmic causes and effects of Xiaoyu Continent. Enjoyment rating: five stars.
To save the world, he was forced to ascend; because he ascended, karmic ties were settled. Those who had recognized and recommended him, Dao companions and lovers, sect masters and brothers, younger generations and descendants—all rose to heaven, even chickens and dogs ascending with them. When the three arrays broke, the Four Continents were restored; before parting, all arrangements were made, and what came afterward was left to those who followed. If they wished to meet again, they would journey through the Immortal Realm. Here the text had reached its end; for the continuation, await the Immortal Realm Arc, where immortals would contend for supremacy!
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