This immortal-fantasy novel is based on the basic outlines of folk legends. It tells the story of the Lantern God, demoted to the mortal realm, who undergoes nine cycles of reincarnation and is born into the family of a poor fisherman under the assumed name Liu Latai. He suffers oppression at the hands of a fishing tyrant and a demon immortal, enduring poverty, exploitation, bullying, beatings, and even having his flesh cut away and his heart torn out, as well as being drowned and burned. He faces trial after trial, escaping death time and again and enduring countless hardships. At the critical moment, he is fortunate to receive help from kindhearted people and protection from his master and senior fellow disciples. He finally overcomes each crisis, fulfills his destiny, and becomes an Earth Immortal. The story is full of twists and turns, its characters vividly drawn, and its meaning profound. It uses the past to comment on the present and carries important contemporary relevance as well as far-reaching historical significance.
