What happens when an overpowered cultivation genius just wants a normal high school life? You get The Daily Life of the Immortal King—a wildly entertaining donghua that blends supernatural action with hilarious slice-of-life scenarios. Produced by Haoliners Animation and first aired in 2020, this series has steadily built a loyal fanbase in both China and abroad.
Adapted from the popular Chinese web novel by Kuxuan, The Daily Life of the Immortal King takes the overpowered protagonist trope and flips it into a comedic commentary on power, adolescence, and fitting in.
Story Summary
Wang Ling is a quiet, stoic teenager who has cultivated to god-like levels since infancy. By age 6, he had defeated a powerful demon king. By age 10, he could flatten entire cities without trying. But all Wang Ling wants is a peaceful, uneventful life—especially as he enters high school.
However, keeping his overwhelming powers under wraps isn’t easy, especially when his school is filled with aspiring cultivators, rival sects, evil organizations, and demonic invasions. As situations spiral out of control, Wang Ling must use his immense abilities discreetly while navigating the awkwardness of teenage life.
Key Characters
Wang Ling
The ultra-powerful yet expressionless main character. He speaks very little but conveys everything through his actions. His internal monologues often contrast hilariously with his stoic exterior.
Sun Rong
A popular, talented student from the Hua sect and the class monitor. Despite her confidence and strength, she’s often flustered by Wang Ling’s aloofness. Their relationship slowly becomes a romantic subplot.
Chen Chao & Guo Hao
Wang Ling’s best friends. Chen Chao is the athletic, hot-headed one, while Guo Hao is a nerdy, perverted strategist. Their antics provide much of the show’s comedic relief.
Froggy 2
A demon beast accidentally absorbed by Wang Ling. He becomes both a pet and an unwilling ally, often finding himself caught in ridiculous predicaments.
Themes and Style
Power and Restraint
While most cultivation stories focus on gaining strength, Immortal King explores the burden of unlimited power. Wang Ling must constantly suppress himself to live a normal life—a metaphor for emotional control and self-identity.
Adolescence and Social Pressure
From friendship dramas to awkward crushes, the show portrays high school life with exaggerated humor and fantasy tropes, making it both relatable and absurd.
Parody and Satire
The show doesn’t take itself seriously. It pokes fun at shonen clichés, cultivation absurdities, and even other donghua series. It thrives on self-awareness and fourth-wall-breaking humor.
Hidden Depth Beneath Comedy
While its tone is lighthearted, moments of emotional vulnerability do appear—especially around Wang Ling’s loneliness, fear of hurting others, and his struggle to form genuine connections.
Art and Animation
The animation is clean and expressive, leaning more toward modern cartoon styles than traditional Chinese aesthetics. Action scenes are well-animated with dynamic power effects, while comedic segments use exaggerated reactions and visual gags.
Season 2 and beyond show improvements in animation fluidity, background detail, and visual effects.
Popularity and Global Reach
- Streaming Success: Widely streamed on Bilibili and Netflix.
- International Fandom: Subbed and dubbed in multiple languages, with growing communities on Reddit and Discord.
- Memes and Quotes: Wang Ling’s blank stare and overpowered moments have become meme material.
Season Breakdown
- Season 1 (2020): Introduces the world, characters, and comedy-action tone.
- Season 2 (2021): Dives deeper into lore, secret organizations, and develops the Wang Ling-Sun Rong relationship.
- Season 3 (2022): Raises the stakes with multi-dimensional threats and explores Wang Ling’s emotions more seriously.
Why You Should Watch It
- You enjoy overpowered main characters with a twist.
- You love school comedies mixed with high-stakes action.
- You’re looking for something both funny and heartwarming.
- You appreciate parody and donghua that subvert expectations.
Final Thoughts
The Daily Life of the Immortal King is a fun, accessible entry point into the world of donghua. It delivers laughs, epic battles, and surprisingly poignant moments, all wrapped up in a fast-paced, binge-worthy format.
Whether you’re a fan of cultivation epics or school-life anime, this series offers the best of both worlds—with a uniquely Chinese flavor. Wang Ling may be a god, but his greatest challenge is surviving high school. And that’s what makes his journey so relatable—and so much fun to watch.
