“For some people, the mere existence of someone in this world is hope- Hua Cheng”

These lines symbolize the unwavering love and support of a man whose entire world revolves around Xie Lian. Haoliners Animation League’s picks up the second season from where Funimation’s prequel ended. Adapted from a 2017 webnovel, Tian Guan Ci Fu (TGCF) by popular author Mo Xian Tong Xiu (MXTX), the sequel follows Xie Lian as he embarks on another mission to find a missing heavenly official. It is easier said than done, because the mission takes him to Ghost City, which is ruled by his new friend, Crimson Rain Sought Flower/San Lang/ Hua Cheng. While the prequel was too focused on the Banyue adventure while introducing the characters; the second season comprehends the bold romance between the main lead’s. There is little to no speculation about Hua Cheng’s feelings with Xie Lian meekly accepting the same. Obviously this is a Chinese anime, so the romance comes with abundant censorship; but make no mistake. Hua Cheng has spent 800 years awaiting for his loved one and as such, the Ghost City arc develops their love story while dwelling into Xie Lian’s disturbing past. They only scrap the surface, because Xie Lian’s past is more painful than portrayed in the sequel. The second season tries to set the stage for further development, while introducing new characters that add mayhem and melodrama to the slowly paced story line.

Characters

Lang Qianqiu

☆ Lang Qianqiu titled as General Tai Hua is the Martial God of the East. He was the crown prince of the Yong’an Kingdom and a student of Fang Xin, the former State Preceptor of Yong’an.

Fang Xin

☆ Xie Lian masqueraded as Fang Xin during Yong’an’s golden age and as the former State Preceptor, he was Lang Qianqiu’s mentor.

Jun Wu

☆ Jun Wu is the Heavenly Emperor who presides over the Heavenly realm, as well as the oldest and most powerful Martial God.

Qi Rong

☆ Qi Rong is a savage level ghost who is close to becoming a Supreme. Despite not being a ghost of the highest rank, he is still regarded as one of the Four Great Calamities, known as the Night-Touring Green Lantern. During his mortal life, he was a maternal cousin of Xie Lian.

Shi Qingxuan

☆ Shi Qingxuan also known as Lord Wind Master is one of the five Elemental Masters in the Heavenly Court. He is also worshiped as a female version of himself and often transforms into a woman, so he was given the nickname Lady Wind Master.

Ming Yi

☆ Ming Yi also known as Earth Master is one of the Five Elemental Masters in the Heavenly Court. He was sent to the Ghost City on a secret mission by the Heavenly Emperor and went missing. Xie Lian is sent to investigate his disappearance. He is also Shi Qingxuan’s close friend and both often transform into their female versions.

Source-Heavens Official Blessing Wiki

Xie Lian’s Painful Connection With Lan Qianqiu

Lang Qianqiu, alongside Shi Qingxuan and Xie Lian, is sent to Ghost City in order to investigate the call for help in the shape of an Ascending Fire Dragon spell sent by a Heavenly Official. The sequel heavily leans on portraying Xie Lian’s painful past and his tumultuous relationship with the former Yong’an Prince, Lan Qianqiu. Qianqiu appears in the prequel but it is only after Xie Lian saves him in the sequel, that Qianqiu recognizes his alternate identity. When they return to the Heavenly Palace, Qianqiu discloses the fact that Xie Lian was also Fang Xin, the former State Preceptor of Yong’an. Qianqiu firmly believes that Fang Xin assassinated his parents and the entire Yong’an royal clan. He challenges Xie Lian to a duel, which puts the Heavenly Emperor in a dilemma. Hua Cheng intrudes the Xian Le palace to rescue Xie Lian and transports them to the lair of Night-Touring Green Lantern, Qi Rong. Shi Qingxuan and Qianqiu follow them and thereby Xie Lian’s distant past is unraveled as it is revealed that Qi Rong was responsible for the mass massacre of the Yong’an royal family. This storyline is important because it establishes the fact that Xie Lian isn’t as pure and pristine as everyone believes. He had his own reasons for hiding the truth, but they weren’t exactly discernible.

The Visibly Obvious Romance

With no updates about the probable release of the live action “Eternal Faith”, avid fans have to surmise with watching the Xie Lian- Hua Cheng romance in the anime. The donghua doesn’t fail and it sets the stage for the impressionable love story between our adorably oblivious martial God and devilishly handsome Supreme Demon. Their character arcs are well plotted which obviously lays emphasis on Hua Cheng’s long rooted feelings for Xie Lian. It also shows that Hua Cheng knows much more than he shows, he seems to have first-hand information about everything relative to Xie Lian, may it be the past or present. Xie Lian’s past seems to deeply etched in Hua Cheng’s memories, which makes us question his intentions or how he knows so many secrets about Xie Lian. The sequel doesn’t dwell much on these doubts as Hua Cheng helps Xie Lian dispel the centuries long suspicions that depict him as a mass murderer.

Is it a Worthwhile Watch

As compared to the prequel, the sequel is slightly oddly paced, but that doesn’t affect the Xie Lian- Hua Cheng magic

It is only right to say that a huge part of this story line’s popularity can be attributed to the chemistry between the lead pairing. And season two manages to hold onto that magic. But it refrains on adequately presenting the facts; the storytelling has abundant pitfalls. Not sure if it because the production house changed and the new ones weren’t as adept as the previous ones. But the storyline does drag in some places and it gives importance to inconsequential subplots that seemed unnecessary. Despite that, the Ghost City arc is important to driving the narrative forward, and we are ready to dive deeper into Xie Lian’s troubled past and future.

Rating- 3 out of 5

Streaming on- Crunchyroll