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| Youku Trims When Destiny Brings the Demon Episode Total Amid New Rules – What That Means? |
The upcoming Chinese fantasy epic When Destiny Brings the Demon (命运引魔) aka Long For Fish just got a major update—and it’s not what fans expected. According to the latest production bulletin from China’s film and TV regulators, this hotly anticipated xianxia drama is reducing its planned episode count from 40 to 33.
Yep, that’s a pretty decent chunk gone—seven episodes axed from the original plan. While some fans were hoping for a long, immersive journey through the show’s three-world fantasy setting, it looks like the team is now streamlining the story. But don’t panic—there’s still plenty of magic, romance, and drama coming your way.
⚔️ What’s the Drama About?
When Destiny Brings the Demon stars Arthur Chen Feiyu and rising actress Wang Yinglu in a magical love story adapted from the popular online novel Offering Salted Fish to Master. The drama follows Sima Jiao, a mighty cultivation master sealed away for 500 years, who gets awakened by none other than a regular girl—Liao Tingyan—who stumbles into the world of immortals by accident.
As the pair travel through the human realm, the heavenly world, and the demon domain, their bond grows from pure coincidence into a romance tangled with destiny, betrayal, and soul-deep connections.
Expect classic xianxia vibes with a twist—think celestial battles, slow-burn affection, forbidden love, and just the right sprinkle of dry humour. It’s giving full-on dramatic cultivation chaos, but make it heartfelt.
🎬 What’s Behind the Episode Cut?
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Industry insiders reckon this move is tied to Youku’s newly tightened drama regulations. The streaming platform is shifting gears lately, pushing for tighter, shorter shows—aiming for dramas with 8 to 12 episodes max, clocking in at under an hour each.
But since When Destiny Brings the Demon is classed as an S+ level production (basically big-budget and top-tier cast), it’s allowed more leeway. Even so, Youku’s still nudging longer dramas to keep things snappy—possibly planning for multi-season formats instead of long marathons.
So while we’re getting 33 episodes now (at roughly 45 minutes each), it’s possible the story could stretch into a sequel or spin-off season if it hits the mark.
🎥 Fast Facts
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Title: When Destiny Brings the Demon (命运引魔)
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Episodes: 33 (originally planned 40)
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Genre: Xianxia / Fantasy Romance
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Network: Youku
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Main Cast: Arthur Chen Feiyu, Wang Yinglu
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Director: Wen De Guang
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Screenwriter: Jin Lu
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Adapted From: Offering Salted Fish To Master (novel)
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Episode Duration: ~45 minutes
📣 Final Thoughts
Sure, the episode trim might come as a surprise to fans of long-format fantasy dramas, but with Arthur Chen at the helm and a juicy premise full of gods, demons, and fated love, there’s still loads to look forward to. Whether it’s 40 episodes or 33—if the story’s tight and the chemistry’s hot, we’re in.
Stay tuned for a full trailer drop and broadcast date, which should be landing soon now that production is nearing completion.