The ongoing Xianxia C-drama, The Legend of Shen Li, featuring Zhao Liying and Lin Gengxin, released its first set of episodes on March 18, 2024. The drama tells the love story of Xing Zhi (Lin Geng Xin), the last surviving deity, and Shen Li (Zhen Li Yang), a female demon lord. Shen Li falls into the mortal world in her phoenix state while escaping a forceful marriage. A vendor finds her and mistakes her for a chicken. Then, he keeps her in a cage and torments her. Soon, she catches the eye of Xing Zhi in her captive state.
Episode 1 shows a city engaging in a celebration. But a sudden rumbling in the sky catches everyone’s attention. Lord Shen Li of the immortal realm is being forced to marry into the divine realm for political allegiance. She rebels against it and escapes from her palace. The general of the army, Zhufei, and other soldiers have come to take her back. Shen Li opposes it strictly. As Zhufei continues to pursue her, she has no other choice but to go head-on against her underlings.
She fights bravely against an army alone. Shen Li successfully tackles every blow that comes her way. However, the fight comes to a halt when Mo Fang (Xin Yun Lai) deceitfully stabs her in the heart.
The Legend of Shen Li Ep 1: Lin Gengxin gives Zhao Liying shelter
The fatal attack from a close companion leaves her utterly shocked and turns her into a phoenix that falls into the mortal world.
As she falls from the sky, Shen Li resembles a meteor. The phenomenon catches Xing Zhi’s eye, who finds it fascinating. In her phoenix state, Shen Li is kept captive by a butcher. Meanwhile, her subordinates search for her everywhere. But, as fate may have it, Xing Zhi comes to the market at the very moment. The beautiful fowl attracts him, and he takes her home.
Xing Zhi cares for Shen Li in every way possible. He treats her wounds, feeds her, and gives her medicine that will help her regain strength. Shen Li resents him at first as she is not sure what his intentions are. But slowly, she takes a liking to him. But no matter how much she tries, she can not turn herself back into her demon state. In the meantime, Xing Zhi’s associate arrives at his house and almost cooks Shen Li. But Xing Zhi comes home just in time and saves her.
It surprises Shen Li that Xing Zhi can hear her thoughts and seems to be able to talk to her. Xing Zhi has a recurring nightmare where he is all alone in this vast world. As he comes outside to get some fresh air, he sees that the moonlight has turned Shen Li into a beautiful woman for a brief second. He goes inside to get some clothes to cover her up. In the meantime, she is turned into the phoenix once again.
Shen Li decides to look around the hut. She finds herself back in the same market from where Xing Zhi brought her home. As she slowly understands how the outside world will continue to try to harm her, she decides to stay with Xing Zhi for the time being.
The Legend of Shen Li is available for streaming on Tencent Video, WeTV, and Viki.
