Jul 20

Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms (Chinese: 封神第一部：朝歌风云; lit. ‘Investiture of the Gods Part One: Zhaoge Turmoil’) is a 2023 Chinese epic fantasy film directed by Wuershan. It is the first film in the Creation of the Gods trilogy, adapted from the 16th-century fantasy novel Investiture of the Gods written by the Ming dynasty author Xu Zhonglin. The film was released in China on July 20, 2023.

The first film mainly narrates the fantastic and fictitious version of the political fallout following the ascension of the last king of Shang dynasty. The two sequel films of the trilogy are due to be released in 2024 and 2025, with the second film focusing on Xiqi’s defense against Shang’s attack, while the third film features Xiqi’s counterattack, eventual victory and establishment of the Zhou dynasty.

Su Hu, the Lord of Jizhou, defies King Yi of Shang dynasty, who sends an army commanded by Prince Yin Shou to conquer the rebels. After suffering heavy casualties sieging the fortress, the Shang army finally destroy parts of the wall with catapults, and Prince Shou leads an elite regiment consisting of his personally trained hostage-son warriors in a cavalry charge to breach and massacre the city of Jizhou, wiping out the Su clan. Su Daji, the daughter of Su Hu, commits honor suicide but mysteriously emerges alive from the wreckage, and is captured by Prince Shou’s warriors.

Returning in triumph, Prince Shou presents the severed head of Lord Su and the captured Daji to his royal father. However, during the victory feast, Crown Prince Qi (Prince Shou’s brother) suddenly becomes deranged and publicly murders King Yi, before being tackled and accidentally killed by Ji Fa, a hostage-son from the western state of Xiqi. Prince Shou then ascends the throne as per line of succession, but divination during his crowning ceremony signals that the patri-regicide leading up to his ascension has unleased a great curse upon the Shang dynasty. King Shou promises to build a grand sacrificial pyre and self-immolate as a ritual to please the Heaven, satisfy the gods and save the realm.

Meanwhile, the Immortals of Kunlun are discussing whether to release the sacred Investiture Scroll (Fengshen Bang), which was entrusted to their safeguarding 500 years ago and has the power to restore order and save the world from the Great Curse. One of Yuanshi Tianzun’s disciples, Jiang Ziya, volunteers to sacrifice decades of immortality cultivation and deliver the Scroll to the mandated overlord of the realm. However, upon offering the Scroll to King Shou, Jiang Ziya quickly realizes he is an amoral, manipulative tyrant who should not acquire such power. Shen Gongbao, an alchemist and evil rival monk to Jiang Ziya, immediately covets the scroll’s powers and attempts to trap the trio. They escape the palace with the Scroll, pursued by Crown Prince Yin Jiao and his closest friend Ji Fa. Ji Fa almost secures the scroll but abandons it to rescue Yin Jiao from Jiang Ziya’s two superpowered nephew-disciples, Nezha and Yang Jian, when they arrive to rescue him. The Kunlun trio encounter Ji Chang, Ji Fa’s father and the Duke of the West, who has been summoned to the capital Zhaoge to greet the new king. Ji Chang finds a crying, green-skinned infant in the forest and takes pity on it. Zhang Ziya suggests it be taken to Kunlun to be raised; Ji Chang agrees and, hearing thunder, gives it the name Lei Zhenzi.