Synopsis

Xie Lian was once a beloved martial god, the Crown Prince of Xianle, powerful, admired, the whole deal, eight hundred years ago. Eight hundred years later, he ascends to the heavens for the third time, except now he's basically a scrap-collecting deity with zero followers and even less dignity. His first divine mission? Investigate why brides keep vanishing near a remote village. Along the way, he crosses paths with a mysterious figure in red named Hua Cheng, who turns out to be one of the most feared Ghost Kings in existence, and who, for some reason, seems oddly interested in helping him. Their dynamic is the heart of this 11-episode ONA, and it's genuinely one of the more compelling relationships I've seen in a while. The animation from Haoliners is gorgeous: the fight sequences have weight, and the spirit world feels layered and lived-in, drawing heavily from Chinese mythology in a way that actually rewards your attention. The tone sits in this interesting space between lighthearted banter and real emotional depth, peeling back Xie Lian's past slowly enough that you stay curious without feeling dragged along. If you liked Mo Dao Zu Shi, this is from the same author and hits a similar blend of action, mystery, and character work. Fans of Noragami's down-on-his-luck god premise or Kamisama Kiss's supernatural dynamics will find a lot to connect with here too. Based on a web novel, and the story's only getting started.