| Alt Name: | Legend of the Ancient Sword Ancient Sword Fantasy |
| Genre: | Xianxia |
| Creator: | Shao Yun (original story) |
| Based On: | Gu Jian Qi Tan by Shanghai Aurogon |
| Director: | Liang Shengquan Huang Junwen |
| Starring: | Li Yifeng Yang Mi Qiao Zhenyu Gillian Chung Ma Tianyu Zheng Shuang William Chan |
| Opentheme: | Sword of Heart by Jason Zhang |
| Endtheme: | Distance by Yu Kewei Lover's Song by Anson Hu |
| Composer: | Lo Chiyi Zhou Zihua |
| Country: | China |
| Language: | Mandarin |
| Num Episodes: | 52 |
| Producer: | Zhong Junyan Deng Xibin Sun Lin |
| Executive Producer: | Zhao Yuna |
| Location: | Hengdian World Studios Xiandu |
| Runtime: | 45 minutes |
| Company: | H&R Century Pictures Enlight Media China International Television Corp |
| Channel: | Hunan Television |
Swords of Legends is a 2014 Chinese television series based on the role-playing video game Gu Jian Qi Tan developed by Shanghai Aurogon.[1] It aired on Hunan TV from 2 July to 25 September 2014.[2]
Set in the Tang dynasty, a young boy named Han Yunxi (Li Yifeng) is infected by the aura of an ancient demonic sword known as the Sword of Burning Solitude. After his entire tribe was killed, he was brought to You Du by Sword Deity Yinzhen, where he meets Feng Qingxue (Yang Mi), who saved his life. Qingxue is part of the immortal order in You Du governed by Goddess Nuwa, who ensures that all ancient magical swords are properly sealed from the mortal realm. In an attempt to re-seal the ancient demonic sword, the people of You Du almost killed Yunxi, whose lifeforce is tied to the sword. To ensure his safety, Yunxi was brought to Tian Yong Cheng (Sword Guild City) by Ziyin, where he was given the name of Bali Tusu and trained as a swordsman together with his senior brother Ling Yue (William Chan).
Years later, while slaying demons, Tusu meets Ouyang Shaogong (Qiao Zhenyu), who is on a quest to find a jade ornament that will help him create a resurrection elixir to revive his lover, Princess Xunfang (Gillian Chung), who died in a flood. They are joined by Qingxue, who left You Du to search for Yunxi and her long-lost brother Feng Guangmo (Vengo Gao) who disappeared 11 years ago after the massacre of Wu Meng Valley; Fan Lansheng (Ma Tianyu), a young master who seeks to escape an arranged marriage and a fox-turned human Xiang Ling (Zheng Shuang) who is searching for her parents.
Eventually, Shao Gong succeeds in making the resurrection elixir and Tu Su's mother is awakened. Only then does Tu Su discover that Shao Gong has secretly endangered his mother. Shao Gong intends to use the jade ornament to control Tu Su and use him to assist his grand dynastic plans to rule the world.
Han Yunxi is the son of the Wu Meng valley's head shaman. After his whole tribe was massacred, the aura of the Sword of Burning Solitude was inserted into him to save his life, including one half of Crown Prince Changqin's celestial soul (Sword of Burning Solitude). He was then brought to Tian Yong City and trained as a sword immortal under the name of Bali Tusu. Three years later after an incident where he was accused of killing his fellow disciple, he left Tian Yong City to search for the murderer who killed his family and destroyed his village, thus beginning his journey.
The future head shaman of You Du, who shares the fate of sealing the evil aura of the Burning Sword. In order to search for her long-lost brother, she came to the mortal realm where she met and fell in love with Tusu, whom she once saved when they were young.
An elder of the Qing Yun clan, who specializes in healing and medicine. Possessing only one half of Crown Prince Changqin's celestial soul (Pure Light Lyre [纯阳琴]), he wanders aimlessly in the mortal world for centuries until he meets Xun Fang, the princess of Peng Lai. However, a flood disaster which destroys Peng Lai occurred and separated the two. Having lost his one true love, Shao Gong would stop at nothing to get what he wants in order to get his revenge on Heaven, who he blames for Xun Fang's death.
The princess of Peng Lai. After she was being saved by Shao Gong from a pack of wolves, the two fell in love. Her hair simultaneously turned white as a result of using too much internal energy. Her face was destroyed because of the Heavenly Disaster and her voice became hoarse and rough. In order to preserve her youthful looks and unchanging beauty in Shao Gong's memory, Xun Fang disguised herself as Ji Tong and stayed by his side as his caretaker. Chung also simultaneously plays Jin Niang, who morphs her appearance to look like Xun Fang in order to gain Shao Gong's affections.
The adopted son of the Fang family, who aspires to become a sword immortal. His actual identity is Ling Yue's younger brother, who was separated from him when they were young. In order to escape his arranged marriage with Sun Yueyan, he decided to leave Qin Chuan and join Tusu and the rest on their journey. He loves Xiang Liang, but eventually gives up on her to realize his responsibilities after his sister's death. Ma also simultaneously plays Jin Lei, the previous reincarnation of Fang Lansheng.
A half-fox demon and half-human, who was saved by Tusu when he was young. In order to repay the favor, she decided to follow Tusu on his adventures while searching for her long-lost parents along the way.
The senior disciple and future leader of Tian Yong sect known for his bravery and uprightness. Having lost his younger brother when they were young, Ling Yue treats Tusu as his real sibling and would protect him at all cost.
The drama was filmed from July 2, 2013, to October 10, 2013, at Hengdian World Studios and Xiandu.[3] [4] [5]
The drama was a huge success, topping viewership ratings and market share; and was the most viewed drama online at that time.[6] [7]
The drama was praised for its exciting action scenes, suspenseful plot devices and matching casting.[8] [9] However, it was criticized for its special effects and weak storyline.[10]
| Episode | Unit name | CSM50 city ratings | CSM34 City ratings | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ratings (%) | Audience share (%) | Rank | Ratings (%) | Audience share (%) | Rank | ||||
| 2014.7.02 | 1-2 | Valley of Life | 1.377 | 7.40 | 1 | 1.399 | 7.25 | 1 | |
| 2014.7.03 | 3-4 | 1.268 | 6.63 | 1 | 1.305 | 6.55 | 1 | ||
| 2014.7.09 | 5-6 | Refining City | 1.446 | 7.94 | 1 | 1.461 | 7.79 | 1 | |
| 2014.7.10 | 7-8 | 1.674 | 8.39 | 1 | 1.697 | 8.26 | 1 | ||
| 2014.7.16 | 9-10 | Juzhichuan | 1.760 | 8.66 | 1 | 1.752 | 8.39 | 1 | |
| 2014.7.17 | 11-12 | 1.695 | 8.03 | 1 | 1.717 | 7.92 | 1 | ||
| 2014.7.23 | 13-14 | Mystery | 1.519 | 8.02 | 1 | 1.501 | 7.66 | 1 | |
| 2014.7.24 | 15-16 | 1.420 | 7.10 | 1 | 1.387 | 6.72 | 1 | ||
| 2014.7.30 | 17-18 | Charm | 1.680 | 8.51 | 1 | 1.710 | 8.37 | 1 | |
| 2014.7.31 | 19-20 | 1.317 | 6.56 | 1 | 1.302 | 6.23 | 1 | ||
| 2014.8.06 | 21-22 | Forbidden Lake | 1.442 | 7.60 | 1 | 1.439 | 7.33 | 1 | |
| 2014.8.07 | 23-24 | 1.536 | 7.74 | 1 | 1.541 | 7.52 | 1 | ||
| 2014.8.13 | 25-26 | Qiu Zhiyuan | 1.556 | 8.14 | 1 | 1.494 | 7.58 | 1 | |
| 2014.8.14 | 27-28 | 1.786 | 6.90 | 1 | 1.600 | 7.94 | 1 | ||
| 2014.8.20 | 29-30 | Illusion | 1.431 | 7.55 | 1 | 1.425 | 7.29 | 1 | |
| 2014.8.21 | 31-32 | 1.695 | 8.79 | 1 | 1.691 | 8.53 | 1 | ||
| 2014.8.27 | 33-34 | Battle Mausoleum | 1.431 | 8.25 | 1 | 1.387 | 7.75 | 1 | |
| 2014.8.28 | 35-36 | 1.381 | 7.08 | 1 | 1.312 | 6.53 | 1 | ||
| 2014.9.03 | 37-38 | Sea of clouds | 0.743 | 4.37 | 1 | 0.724 | 4.13 | 1 | |
| 2014.9.04 | 39-40 | 0.852 | 4.74 | 1 | 0.833 | 4.47 | 1 | ||
| 2014.9.10 | 41-42 | Spirit Mountain | 0.847 | 4.87 | 1 | 0.812 | 4.52 | 1 | |
| 2014.9.11 | 43-44 | 0.824 | 4.64 | 1 | 0.790 | 4.31 | 1 | ||
| 2014.9.17 | 45-46 | East Sea | 0.858 | 4.94 | 1 | 0.857 | 4.76 | 1 | |
| 2014.9.18 | 47-48 | 0.980 | 5.71 | 1 | 0.961 | 5.39 | 1 | ||
| 2014.9.24 | 49-50 | 0.979 | 5.79 | 1 | 0.957 | 5.47 | 1 | ||
| 2014.9.25 | 51-52 | 1.194 | 6.75 | 1 | 1.114 | 6.23 | 1 | ||
| Average ratings | 1.314 | 7.02 | / | 1.314 | 6.73 | / | |||
| Note: The ratings are from 22:00 to 24:00 | |||||||||
| 2014.7.02 | 1-2 | 1.57 | 10.89 | 1 | |
| 2014.7.03 | 3-4 | 1.73 | 11.99 | 1 | |
| 2014.7.09 | 5-6 | 1.85 | 13.03 | 1 | |
| 2014.7.10 | 7-8 | 2.02 | 13.02 | 1 | |
| 2014.7.16 | 9-10 | 2.45 | 14.80 | 1 | |
| 2014.7.17 | 11-12 | 2.08 | 12.95 | 1 | |
| 2014.7.23 | 13-14 | 2.14 | 14.56 | 1 | |
| 2014.7.24 | 15-16 | 2.03 | 13.10 | 1 | |
| 2014.7.30 | 17-18 | 1.82 | 11.81 | 1 | |
| 2014.7.31 | 19-20 | 1.91 | 12.26 | 1 | |
| 2014.8.06 | 21-22 | 1.88 | 12.61 | 1 | |
| 2014.8.07 | 23-24 | 1.97 | 13.17 | 1 | |
| 2014.8.13 | 25-26 | 1.95 | 13.16 | 1 | |
| 2014.8.14 | 27-28 | 1.92 | 13.02 | 1 | |
| 2014.8.20 | 28-30 | 1.79 | 12.23 | 1 | |
| 2014.8.21 | 31-32 | 1.94 | 13.49 | 1 | |
| 2014.8.27 | 33-34 | 1.82 | 14.07 | 1 | |
| 2014.8.28 | 35-36 | 1.60 | 11.39 | 1 | |
| 2014.9.03 | 37-38 | 0.78 | 6.49 | 1 | |
| 2014.9.04 | 39-40 | 0.88 | 6.87 | 1 | |
| 2014.9.10 | 41-42 | 0.92 | 7.42 | 1 | |
| 2014.9.11 | 43-44 | 0.93 | 7.27 | 1 | |
| 2014.9.17 | 45-46 | 1.04 | 8.40 | 1 | |
| 2014.9.18 | 47-48 | 1.12 | 9.22 | 1 | |
| 2014.9.24 | 49-50 | 1.23 | 10.12 | 1 | |
| 2014.9.25 | 51-52 | 1.32 | 10.48 | 1 | |
| Average ratings | 1.64 | 11.45 | / | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note: The ratings of ratings are from 22:00 to 24:00 | |||||
| Award | Category | Nominated | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audience's Favorite Actress | |||
| iResearch Marketing Awards[11] | Best Media Marketing | Swords of Legends | |
| iQiyi All-Star Carnival | Most Popular Actor | ||
| Most Popular Male Actor | |||
| 6th China TV Drama Awards[12] | Most Popular Television Series | Swords of Legends | |
| Most Popular Actor (Mainland China) | Li Yifeng | ||
| Most Commercially Valuable Actor | |||
| Most Popular All-Rounded Artist | William Chan | ||
| Most Anticipated Actor by the Media | |||
| Best Original Soundtrack | "Sword of Heart" | ||
| 8th Baidu Fudian Awards[13] | Most Popular Actor | Li Yifeng | |
| Most Popular Actress | Yang Mi | ||
| Rising Actor | William Chan | ||
| 13th Sichuan Television Festival | Jury Special Prize | Swords of Legends | |
| Best Actress | Yang Mi | ||
| Best Actor (Ancient drama) | Li Yifeng | ||
| Best Newcomer | William Chan | ||
| Best Supporting Actor |