The Legend of ShenLi

When the ancient gods have fallen, only one deity remains above the world, the aloof God of Action known as Xing Zhi. Shen Li is a devil-world queen born with a pearl, living a life of privilege until her thousand-year celebration brings a forced political marriage she refuses. During an escape she reverts to her true phoenix form, is cast down and badly wounded. Found by a mortal hawker who mistakes her for a plucked chicken, she ends up caged for sale. A routine transaction ties her fate to Xing Zhi, setting up an unlikely alliance that mixes celestial history, mortal politics, and personal change without giving away how things resolve.

Released in 2024, the series is directed by Deng Ke and created by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang and Deng Shu Yue. It stars Zhao Liying, Lin Gengxin, Xin Yunlai, He Yu, and Jackie Li, and leans into lavish costume work and special effects to build its mythic setting.

Viewer reaction has been largely positive, with an average of 8.5/10 from 24 votes, praising the leads' chemistry and the show's visual design. The series centers on themes of loneliness, identity, power struggles and the costs of immortality, while threading political intrigue and moments of gentle humor to balance darker beats.

The show has sparked active fan engagement online, with clips, fan art and cosplay highlighting its distinctive costumes and creature design. Conversations often focus on the relationship dynamics between Shen Li and Xing Zhi, and fans share scene breakdowns and theories about the worldbuilding.

As of its initial run there are no widely reported major industry awards for the series, though it has generated notable fan support and attention in online rankings and community polls, suggesting strong grassroots enthusiasm even if formal accolades are still pending.