The Seven Relics of ill Omen

Core plot: An ancient evil artifact ignites a journey of salvation.

Worldview and Plot Structure

Origin of the “Relics”:
An ancient mystical substance called “Relics of Ill Omen” (Xinjian) emerged on Fengzi Ridge. It can parasitically take over humans, distort minds, and trigger serial killings. A millennium later, they reappear. The first case, “Fishing‑line Puppet”, features a victim hung by transparent fishing line like a marionette, their organs replaced with animal parts sealed in charms—an eerie supernatural crime.

Formation of the Phoenix Squad:

Five diverse young individuals unite through these cases:

Luo Ren (Song Weilong): ex-special forces soldier whose uncle was driven to suicide by a relic; becomes the team's leader.
Mu Dai (Liu Haocun): orphan with exceptional agility, developed three distinct personalities due to childhood trauma—innocent “Little Pocket,” cold “Mu Dai Two,” and violent “Mu Dai Three.” Her switching personas are key to solving cases.
Yi Wansan (Ao Ruipeng): a roguish wanderer wielding a feng-shui compass and wit as the group's intellectual anchor.
Yan Hongsha (Wang Yiting): heir to an antique business, skilled in deciphering relic-related cryptography.
Cao Yanhua (Zhang Yichi): passionate courier with a vast informant network in local communities.

Together, they pursue the seven relics from Chongqing’s stilted houses to the Gobi desert of Dunhuang, forging friendship through life‑and‑death trials.

Character Growth & Emotional Arcs

Symbiotic trauma:
Luo Ren and Mu Dai move from opposition to attraction, revealing complementary wounds—Luo Ren’s control issues stem from family tragedy; Mu Dai’s multiple personalities are survival mechanisms. Their journey toward healing unfolds through confronting inner darkness.

Unit‑case metaphors:
In the “Water Mirage Maze” case, the relic possesses a painter, inducing group hallucinations. Victims escape into a dreamy water city—thematically underscoring modern internet addiction. The squad must navigate an ink-water labyrinth and destroy a cursed reproduction of Along the River During the Qingming Festival, illustrating the concept that “obsession becomes a prison.”

Production Highlights: Eastern Fantasy Aesthetics

Atmospheric practical sets:
Built over six months in Chongqing’s mountainous terrain to recreate Fengzi Ridge’s ancient village, tilted wooden stilt houses and damp cobblestones evoke tension. Filming at Dunhuang’s Wind‑eroded Yardang formations incorporated projections of the relic’s “shadow possession” for a floating-horror effect dubbed “mobile horror art.”

Personality‑driven fight choreography:
Liu Haocun portrays Mu Dai’s triple persona through distinct martial arts:

Innocent self: nimble Emei-style swordplay
Cold self: lethal Miao dagger strikes
Violent self: wild hand-to-hand combat
Action sequences, like Luo Ren subduing “Wild Mu,” metaphorically reflect emotional restraint and redemption.

Blend of folklore & sci-fi:
Relic-hunting tools mix traditional charms with futuristic tech: Yan Hongsha’s magnetic compass detects evil energy, Yi Wansan’s cinnabar drone tracks cursed objects, and antagonist Yan Kuan’s Tangka tattoos manipulate electromagnetic force—subverting typical fantasy tropes.

Cultural Impact & Thematic In‑Depth

Fidelity to source material:
Author Weiyu reshaped the romantic arc to strengthen Mu Dai’s agency. In a key scene, she refuses Luo Ren’s rescue, exclaiming: “My relic can seal itself!” stripping away the trope of romance healing trauma. Fans on Douban praised it: “Screen Mu Dai evolved from romance-driven to partner‑in‑arms heroine.”

Psychological resonance:
Mu Dai’s DID is seen as a “reflection of young people’s mental defense mechanisms under pressure.” The writers emphasized: “It’s not a pathology, but a survival adaptation.”

Genre‑breaking storytelling:
Unlike the romance‑focused Rattan (司藤), this show emphasizes “team adventure” and social allegory. Director Cai Yuexun drew inspiration from the anthology style of Fringe, beginning each episode with a story-narrator (Feng Bing) recounting relic legends before transitioning into modern crimes—creating a dialogue between ancient myth and contemporary mystery.

Iconic Dialogue
Luo Ren: “The relic devours people because human hearts already hold cracks.”
Mu Dai: “My three personas aren’t monsters—they’re my guarding phoenix.”

The Seven Relics of Ill Omen cuts into Eastern folklore and psychological exploration, using mystery as a vessel to examine trauma and redemption. With technical ambition and narrative boldness, it sets a new standard for 2025 Chinese fantasy series and has been called “a dark ascension in the Weiyu universe post-Rattan.”