Produced by Huanrui Century and directed by the visionary duo Mai Guanzhi (Eternal Love) and Li Weiji (The Untamed), Destiny and Saving emerges as 2024's most ambitious Xianxia drama. Starring Zhang Yuxi (张予曦) and Tong Meng (佟梦), this 40-episode saga blends celestial warfare, reincarnation, and a love story that defies cosmic laws. Slated for an April 8 premiere on Mango TV, the series promises lush visuals, morally gray characters, and a narrative that asks: Can love rewrite fate?
The Plot: A Phoenix's Ashes and a God's Burden
At its core, Destiny and Saving is a tale of cyclical destiny. Feng Lixue (Zhang Yuxi), the fiery phoenix reborn from ashes, embodies resilience and rebellion. Once a revered deity, she falls from grace after defying heavenly edicts to save mortals, only to reincarnate as Nihuang—a demoness with fragmented memories and a heart scarred by betrayal.
Opposite her is Mo Xiao (Tong Mengshi), the stoic Shushan sect master burdened by a 1,000-year-old karmic debt. His past life as the God of War left him sealed in ice for millennia, awakening to a world where the lines between righteousness and demonic influence blur. When Nihuang's path collides with Mo Xiao's mission to eradicate demonic forces, their connection ignites a conflict that threatens the Three Realms (Heaven, Earth, and the Demon Domain).
Key Themes:
Sacrifice vs. Survival: Nihuang's mantra—"I'll burn the world to protect what's mine"—clashes with Mo Xiao's vow to "serve the many, even if it breaks one."
Identity and Memory: As Nihuang regains her divine memories, she grapples with whether her past self and present desires can coexist.
Moral Ambiguity: The demon realm, often portrayed as inherently evil, is humanized through characters like Wuchen (Li Kaixin), a mischievous demoness who challenges sect prejudices.
Trailer Deep Dive
The recently released trailer is a masterclass in emotional whiplash. It opens with Nihuang floating through a celestial abyss, her white robes swirling like smoke—a stark contrast to Mo Xiao's first appearance: armored, frost-covered, and emerging from a glacial tomb. Their initial interactions crackle with tension, blending poetic dialogue ("Your flames could melt eternity, yet I'm the snow that dulls your light") with visceral action.
The Dragon Pearl Deception: Mo Xiao hides a cursed dragon pearl to mask Nihuang's demonic aura, a "noble lie" that backfires when she discovers his secret. Her tearful accusation—"You used me as a pawn in your righteous game!"—echoes with betrayal.
The Blood Oath Battle: A mid-trailer fight scene sees Nihuang wielding her phoenix-feather sword against Mo Xiao's ice-forged blade. The choreography merges wuxia-style precision with Xianxia flair, sparks flying as their weapons clash—a metaphor for their ideological divide.
Wuchen's Subplot: A lighter thread follows Wuchen, a demoness who infiltrates the Shushan sect disguised as a novice. Her chemistry with Qingyan (Zhang Linghe), Shushan's rigid young master, offers comedic relief—until a forbidden kiss triggers a sect-wide scandal.
Visuals & Symbolism: A Canvas of Conflict
The drama's aesthetic is a character in itself. Production designer Lin Miaoke (Ashes of Love) drew inspiration from Song Dynasty ink paintings and Dunhuang murals to create a world where beauty masks danger.
1. Costumes:
Nihuang's Transformation: Her wardrobe evolves from fiery red demoness robes to ethereal white gowns as she reclaims her divine identity—a visual nod to her internal duality.
Mo Xiao's Armor: Weighing 30 pounds, his battle gear incorporates real steel and CGI enhancements to mimic glacial textures. "It's heavy, like his duty," Tong Mengshi remarked in a behind-the-scenes interview.
2. Sets:
Shushan's Cloud Pavilion: Filmed at Hengdian's replica of the Forbidden City, the sect's headquarters feature jade pillars and floating lanterns—a testament to mortal ingenuity.
Demon Realm's Blood Moon Valley: A mix of practical sets (built in Guizhou's karst caves) and CGI creates a labyrinthine world where shadows whisper and rivers run crimson.
3. Symbolism:
Phoenix Feathers: Recurring in dream sequences and battle scenes, they represent Nihuang's cyclical rebirth—and fragility.
Ice and Fire Motifs: Mo Xiao's frost magic often smothers Nihuang's flames, symbolizing their push-pull dynamic.
Behind the Scenes: Crafting a Xianxia Epic
The production faced challenges familiar to the genre—balancing CGI with practical effects, adapting a dense novel—but innovated in key areas:
Script Revisions: Chief screenwriter Bu Feiyan (The Journey of Chong Zi) condensed Wen Rui'an's 800-page novel by focusing on Nihuang's perspective. "Her duality—divine yet demonic, vengeful yet compassionate—let us explore gray morality," Bu explained.
Action Design: Stunt coordinator Guo Yalong trained the cast for three months. Zhang Yuxi performed 70% of her wirework, while Tong Mengshi mastered swordplay with his left hand to reflect Mo Xiao's "unorthodox" combat style.
Music: Composer Lin Hai blends guqin melodies with electronic beats for the OST, mirroring the clash between tradition and modernity.
Why This Drama Matters: Xianxia's Crossroads
While Xianxia remains China's most exported genre, critics argue it's grown formulaic. Destiny and Saving tackles this by:
Humanizing "Villains": Demons aren't mindless foes; Wuchen's arc reveals their persecution by self-righteous sects.
Female Agency: Nihuang isn't just Mo Xiao's love interest—she drives the plot, challenging patriarchal celestial laws.
Modern Parallels: The Three Realms' strife mirrors today's polarized world, asking if coexistence is possible without compromise.
Early buzz suggests Destiny and Saving could be 2024's Eternal Love—if it sticks the landing. Potential pitfalls include:
Pacing Issues: With 40 episodes, filler subplots could dilute the main narrative.
CGI Overload: Leaked clips show occasional green-screen awkwardness during aerial battles.
Yet, the cast's chemistry and thematic depth hint at something special. As Zhang Yuxi teased: "This isn't just a love story. It's about choosing who you become when the world demands you break."
