A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality [Episode 173]

A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality Episode 173: The Nascent Soul That Broke Bilibili

If you’ve been following Han Li’s grind from a village nobody to a cultivation legend, Episode 173 of A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality is the payoff you’ve been screaming for. Let’s cut to the chase: this episode didn’t just air—it exploded. Fans flooded Bilibili so hard the site crashed for an hour, peaking at 450k viewers before the meltdown. As one fan put it, “Would have hit 1M for sure if it wasn’t broken.” And honestly? No cap.

The core of the hype? Han Li finally ascends to Nascent Soul. For non-cultivation heads, that’s like leveling up from a side character to a main boss in one go. The animation team didn’t just phone this in—they went all out. The celestial phenomenon of his four false roots merging into a single, glowing energy ball? Never seen anything like it in a donghua before. “The 4 energy balls combined into one in the air,” a fan noted, “this looks like you’d have to be a 4x false root cultivator to get that specific visual, which probably never happened before.” Even the disciples in the show were confused—most of them are under 50 and have never witnessed a Nascent Soul ascension. Can you blame them? This was history in the making.

But let’s talk about the feels. The slowed-down remix of the opening theme during the ascension scene? Chef’s kiss. “The whole nascent soul process and the ‘Extraordinary’ OP remix almost made me shed a tear,” one viewer admitted. Another rewatched it five times and still got goosebumps. This isn’t just a power-up—it’s a victory lap for Han Li’s 156-episode (and counting) struggle. Remember his mediocre spiritual roots? The show didn’t forget. They wove that back into the visuals, making his success feel earned, not handed.

Then there are the elders—Cheng Tiankun and Lu Luo. These two are the comic relief we didn’t know we needed. Their bickering over recruiting Han Li as a Grand Elder had fans cracking up. “The two elders are so comically funny!!!” one commenter gushed. And let’s not overlook the tiny, chibi-sized Nascent Soul itself. Adorable? Yes. Symbolic? Absolutely. It’s Han Li’s essence, condensed into a little ball of power—proof that even the smallest beginnings can reach for the stars.

Of course, no episode is complete without fan theories and questions. “If those 2 grand elders are the only Nascent Soul cultivators in the sect, then what about the sect leader???” one user asked. Turns out, Han Li’s Fallen Cloud Sect is now the only one of three with three Nascent Soul experts—if he stays, that is. And let’s not forget the next big hurdle: the heart demon. “Next week, heart demon,” a fan teased. We’re already on edge.

What makes this episode hit different is how it’s more than just action—it’s about joy. “This brought me so much joy… Had to pause while watching to punch air… Shit made me so so happy. Made my whole day,” one viewer wrote. Another said it best: “This show is so unapparelled, not a single detail is ever forgotten or overlooked.”

If you haven’t watched it yet, drop everything. And if you have? Rewatch it. Because Episode 173 isn’t just an episode—it’s a celebration of Han Li’s journey, and a reminder that even mortals can touch immortality.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to rewatch that OP remix for the sixth time. No regrets.