Yong Sheng: Hai Shi Xian Ling

As the latest entry in the series, Immortality Season 4 is by far the most disappointing chapter, plagued by glaring inconsistencies and poor writing decisions. While prior seasons had their moments of brilliance, this one falters under the weight of its own flaws, leaving viewers frustrated and unsatisfied.

The writing undermines its characters at every turn. The "MC vs. the world" dynamic, which was once a compelling underdog narrative, has spiraled into absurdity. Nearly every character is irredeemable, offering no nuance or complexity, making it feel like the protagonist exists solely as a punching bag. Even within the world’s established rules, his journey is riddled with ... contradictions. Despite achieving the prestigious rank of an authentic disciple, the narrative and supporting cast continue to demean him as a lowly servant, completely disregarding his progress.

Among the key players, there are some highlights, but they fail to salvage the season. The demon girl shows flickers of growth, albeit inconsistently, while the dragon girl remains a rare beacon of quality characterization. Qingxue’s kindness and loyalty shine through, but her near-absence from the season undermines her impact. Meanwhile, the rest of the cast oscillates between overt hostility and indifference, leaving the MC isolated without any plausible justification for such relentless vitriol.

Thematically, the show’s portrayal of cultivation as inherently breeding evil could be an interesting critique of the genre, but the execution is heavy-handed and one-dimensional. The entire system seems unrealistically focused on tormenting the MC to the point where disbelief sets in. For example, attacking an authentic disciple was once an unthinkable crime, yet when the MC ascends to that status, nothing changes. The sea journey attack encapsulates this inconsistency—viewers are led to believe such actions would merit harsh consequences, yet the narrative provides no payoff. Although it may in the future, it's lost my trust.

This lack of follow-through permeates the season, with "we will investigate" becoming a hollow refrain. No effort is made to show investigations or consequences, turning these promises into cheap placeholders. Either the entire world is evil and against the MC or the entire world is incompetent. Coupled with an abrupt ending and no sequel in sight, the season feels unfinished and unearned.

While the series retains a glimmer of hope for future redemption, this season earns a 6/10 at best. If upcoming installments address its many shortcomings—restoring character depth, resolving plot threads, and respecting its own world-building—there is a chance it could recover to a 7. As it stands, however, Season 4 leaves much to be desired.