Renegade Immortal Ep 121-122: The “Hidden Villain” Explained, His Ultimate Fate, & The Live-Action Backlash New

The world of Renegade Immortal (Xian Ni) has reached a fever pitch. With the release of the explosive Episode 121, the Donghua has not only pushed Wang Lin into one of his most dangerous tribulations yet but has also planted seeds for future arcs that have sent the fanbase into a frenzy.

From the terrifying appearance of a new villain in the post-credits scene to the heated debate surrounding the inevitable live-action adaptation, there is a lot to unpack. In this deep dive, we will analyze the hidden details of the Demon Spirit Land, explain the mechanics of Wang Lin’s avatar, and discuss why the upcoming TV drama is facing such fierce resistance.

Part 1: The Episode 121 Easter Egg – Who is the “San Ma”?

For the casual viewer who skips the ending credits, you might have missed the most critical foreshadowing in the entire Demon Spirit Land arc. In the dying seconds of Episode 121, a mysterious, sinister figure appears, fixing his gaze upon Wang Lin.

The Identity of the Mystery Man

This figure is known as the San Ma (The Scattered Demon/Loose Devil).- Episode 116

Unlike typical cultivators, the San Ma possess a unique life form. His origins trace back to the ancient war between Immortals and Demons. He is an entity born from the death of an Ancient Demon (Gu Mo). Much like how a soul might linger, the San Ma is the residual, sentient energy formed after an Ancient Demon’s demise.

Why is He Targeting Wang Lin?

The San Ma is cunning, ancient, and incredibly dangerous. He has taken an interest in Wang Lin for a specific, predatory reason: Resource Extraction.

The San Ma has sensed a disturbance in the spiritual energy of the region. He detected that someone—Wang Lin—is currently undergoing the heavenly tribulation to break through to the Ascendant (Wending) Stage.

So, for a being like San Ma, the original energy of a cultivator who has just reached the Ascendant early stage is a potent tonic. He intends to devour Wang Lin’s cultivation base to restore and enhance his own power.

The Connection to Wang Lin’s Disciple

There is a cruel twist of fate involved here. The San Ma is not just a random encounter; he is the current master of Wang Lin’s second disciple. This sets the stage for a conflict that is both personal and survival-driven. Wang Lin, having honed his instincts through countless battles and near-death experiences, has already sensed this malice. The clash between the hidden master (Wang Lin) and this ancient demonic remnant is imminent.

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT: The Ultimate Fate of the Sanma

Does the Sanma survive to the end of the story? Many fans are asking if this new villain will be a long-term threat. Based on the original novel and future plot points, here is his fate:

He Does Not Survive

The Sanma made a fatal error: he targeted the Protagonist. While he appears powerful now, he is destined to become a stepping stone for Wang Lin.

• Although Wang Lin cannot kill him instantly right now, he eventually uses his wits and restrictions to trap the Sanma. Later in the story, when Wang Lin reaches the peak of the Corporeal Yang (Yang Shi) stage, he completely refines the Sanma. The Sanma wanted to eat Wang Lin to heal himself. Instead, Wang Lin eats him. The Sanma becomes the critical fuel/nutrient that allows Wang Lin to break through into the Nirvana Scryer (Kui Nie) stage.

In short, the Sanma is “delivering a care package” of experience points to Wang Lin. He does not survive to the finale.

Part 2: The Mechanics of Tribulation – Why Didn’t the Main Body Help?

One of the most debated topics following Episode 121 is the logic of the battle. Wang Lin’s Avatar is facing a world-ending tribulation. Since Wang Lin’s Main Body and Avatar share a consciousness, why didn’t the Main Body rush to the Demon Spirit Land to assist?

Reason 1: The Barrier of the Demon Spirit Land

The first reason is logistical. The Demon Spirit Land is a sealed realm, heavily guarded by powerful entities. The Avatar is already inside, but the Main Body is outside. Even if the Main Body wanted to enter, he would be blocked by the guardians of the East Sea Demon Spirit Gate.

Reason 2: Secrecy & The Ancient God Risk

This is the most critical lore point.

• Wang Lin’s Main Body is a 4-Star Ancient God. Physically, it is incredibly powerful—likely even stronger than the Avatar.
• However, the Main Body cannot enter because of danger from others. If the Main Body enters the Demon Spirit Land, powerful experts like Tian Yunzi (Wang Lin’s master) or the Demon Emperor might detect the unique scent of an “Ancient God.” If they find him, they would hunt him down to study or possess his body.
• Therefore, Wang Lin keeps his Main Body hidden in safety while the Avatar (which practices standard cultivation) takes the risk.

Part 3: The Ancient Secrets – Ancient Gods, Demons, and Devils

During the tribulation, Wang Lin takes a desperate gamble: he beats the Tian Yao Drum. This action inadvertently wakes a sleeping giant—the Tian Yao (Heavenly Demon). This interaction reveals the deep history of the Renegade Immortal universe.

The Tripartite Division

The Tian Yao reveals that in ancient times, the “Ancient Clan” was a singular, all-powerful race. However, they eventually split into three distinct lineages:

1. Ancient Gods (Gu Shen): Power and Force (Wang Lin’s Main Body).
2. Ancient Devils (Gu Mo): Slaughter and Blood.
3. Ancient Demons (Gu Yao): Spells and Divine Abilities (The Tian Yao belongs to this group).

The Deal with the Tian Yao

The entity inside the drum is merely a wisp of an Ancient Demon’s soul. He chooses Wang Lin for a specific mission: To collect the scattered souls from the other eight counties. Why Wang Lin? Ordinary cultivators cannot withstand the pressure of an Ancient Demon’s existence. However, because Wang Lin carries the aura of an Ancient God, his body is “compatible.” It is a case of God and Demon sharing a common origin.

Part 4: The Live-Action Controversy – Why Fans Are Boycotting

While the donghua is thriving, the announcement of a live-action TV adaptation has caused an uproar. The rights are held by Huanrui Century (H&R Century), and the fanbase is overwhelmingly negative (over 80% opposition) regarding the project.

The “Uncastable” Lead

The primary issue is the character of Wang Lin. He is widely considered one of the most difficult protagonists to portray in a live-action setting.

• The Look: Wang Lin requires a “White-Haired, Broken” aesthetic that is incredibly hard to pull off in real life without looking like bad cosplay.
• The Vibe: Unlike typical Xianxia protagonists who are warm, heroic, or romantic, Wang Lin is defined by solitude, coldness, and killing intent. He does not show much emotion; his face is a mask of stoicism born from centuries of suffering.
• The Fan Consensus: There is currently no actor in the Chinese entertainment industry who possesses both the visual “shattered beauty” and the acting range to portray Wang Lin’s transition from a naive boy to a cold-blooded demon.

The Problem with H&R Century

Fans have cited specific grievances with the production company:

1. Talent Drain: H&R Century’s top stars (like Cheng Yi and Liu Xueyi) are reportedly leaving or not renewing contracts. This means the role of Wang Lin will likely go to a “newcomer” intended to be pumped for quick fame, rather than a seasoned actor.
2. Censorship and Tone: This is the death knell for the adaptation. Renegade Immortal is a “Dark Cultivation” story. Wang Lin’s path is the “Dao of Slaughter.”
   • The Fear: Due to strict censorship laws, the “Tower of Heads” and the extermination of the Teng Family—crucial plot points—will almost certainly be sanitized. Wang Lin will likely be rewritten from a ruthless anti-hero into a generic, “save the world with virtue” protagonist, destroying the soul of the story.
3. Romance Injection: The novel is light on romance. Wang Lin loves Li Muwan, but she is absent for huge chunks of the story. TV adaptations almost always force a romantic subplot to appeal to female demographics. Fans fear the show will turn into a melodramatic love story rather than a cultivation saga.

Part 5: The Unsolved Mysteries of the Demon Spirit Land

For the theory-crafters, the Demon Spirit Land arc has introduced several plot holes or mysteries that even the novel readers debate.

1. The Mystery of Yellow Dragon

When Wang Lin first arrived, he saw a portrait of Master Huang Long (Yellow Dragon) in the native tribe. It is implied that Huang Long’s ancestor brought people here.

• The Theory: Huang Long is an avatar of the Zhu Que (Vermillion Bird) Holy Emperor. However, the exact relationship between the Vermillion Bird Sect and the Demon Spirit Land (originally Emperor Qing Lin’s cave) remains ambiguous.

2. The Absence of Second Step Cultivators

The Demon Spirit Land is massive and ancient. Yet, the strongest natives are only at the Yin Xu (Corporeal Yin) stage—the very first step of the second tier.

• The Reason: The land is essentially a farm for the Ancient Demon. The inhabitants cultivate “Demon Power.” As they get stronger, they are harvested or limited by the laws of the realm, preventing them from reaching true power that could threaten the Ancient Demon’s recovery.

3. The Slaughter Zone & The “Black-Haired Youth.”

In the underground slaughter zone, Wang Lin met a youth who looked exactly like Mo Fei.

• This suggests that the “Slaughter Zone” is not just a training ground created by the Demon Emperor, but a complex mechanism involving cloning or time dilation. It implies the Demon Emperor (Yin Xu cultivation) is utilizing tools far beyond his own understanding—likely left behind by the Immortal Emperor Qing Lin.

Conclusion: A Franchise at a Crossroads

Renegade Immortal is currently in a golden age of animation. Episode 121 proved that the studio understands the “Dao” of Wang Lin—high stakes, ruthless combat, and deep lore. The introduction of San Ma and the Tian Yao expands the universe significantly, promising epic battles to come.

However, the shadow of the live-action adaptation looms large. “Capital” serves as a cautionary tale of what happens when “art” tries to cash in without understanding its core audience. For now, fans can do well to stick to Donghua, where Wang Lin’s white hair and murderous gaze remain untainted by censorship and bad acting.

FAQ: Episode 121 & Recent Mysteries