★Japanese edition already licensed – published by Kadokawa Corporation.
★ 2 billion-plus exposures across platforms; 820 million Weibo (Twitter-like) topic reads; 9.2/10 on Douban (China’s benchmark rating site); 100 k+ print copies in circulation; 95 % “masterpiece” rating on WeChat Books (China’s Kindle-equivalent).
★ Official prequel to the global fan-favourite The Legend of HEI – whose feature film took JPY 580 million at the Japanese box office and competed at Annecy (the “Cannes of animation”).
★ Swaps the parent series’ bright tone for a darker past, dissecting war, sanctuary and coming-of-age.
★ Written by franchise creator MTJJ himself; visual execution guaranteed by artist Sun Gua.

In an age scorched by war, the immortal guardian Lao Jun—eternal, all-powerful—roams the land gathering humans and spirits displaced by carnage. He fashions Lanxi Town, a pocket of spirit matter (think magical dimension and refuge rolled into one) to serve as their temporary home.

The narrative centres on Lao Jun’s encounter with Qing Ning, a young healer, and her growth inside the sanctuary. Together with Lao Jun’s companion Xuan Li—who wields a rare dual-spirit constitution—she forges bonds while facing the threat of Nagga, a villain bent on stealing her powers. The conflict draws in Chinese mythic figures such as Nezha and Emperor Yan, unfolding a rich spirit-craft system (Life, Space, etc.—a parallel to Western schools of magic).

Told at break-neck pace, the saga explores shelter in wartime, loyalty and identity, fleshing out The Legend of HEI’s mainline lore while captivating readers with a weave of warmth and darkness.

Mu Tou,
also known as MTJJ, China’s indie animation auteur, comic artist and director.His flagship works include The Legend of HEI franchise and Soul Journey.

The Legend of HEI was first released as a FLASH animation series in 2011. The animated film adaptation, released in 2019, achieved box office success with RMB 315 million in China. It also earned JPY 580 million in the Japanese market, demonstrating its strong cross-cultural appeal.

Laurels for The Legend of HEI:
Film: Best Animated Feature nominee, 33rd Golden Rooster Awards; competition title, Annecy International Animation Film Festival (the Oscars of animation).
Series: Golden Petal Award, 2012 iQiyi Animation Carnival; Best Web Series, 2013 Tudou Image Festival.

As author of the manga, MTJJ debuted the print edition in 2015, widening the animated universe and deepening the interplay between spirits and humans. His signature blend of singular visuals, warm themes and witty storytelling has made him the flag-bearer of China’s independent animation scene.