A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality, Oh

A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality is an Eastern fantasy cultivation novel by Wang Yu. It tells the story of Han Li, an impoverished boy from a mountain village who enters the world of cultivation through a twist of fate. Though his natural talent is mediocre, he relies on his cautious nature, unyielding will, and a heaven-defying treasure he happens to acquire, the Heaven-Connecting Bottle, which can accelerate the growth of spirit herbs, to take one careful step at a time in a world of ruthless competition. Starting with Qi Refining, he advances through nine major realms, including Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, and Nascent Soul. He rises from the mortal world, ascends to the Spirit Realm, and ultimately reaches the Immortal Realm, achieving the Great Dao in a mortal body. The novel pioneered the “mortal cultivation” subgenre and emphasizes competition for resources and the wisdom needed to survive. It is hailed as a milestone in cultivation fiction.