[1] It is based on the Chinese fairy tale The Magic Lotus Lantern (劈山救母; Pī Shān Jiù Mǔ).
For falling in love with a mortal man, goddess San Shengmu is punished by Heaven and imprisoned beneath Mount Hua by her brother, Erlang Shen.
Fearing for the safety of their son, Chenxiang, her husband Liu Yanchang raises Chenxiang as a mortal helping make lanterns and hiding the truth of his lineage.
When Chenxiang turns 16, however, his powers abruptly waken and he is pursued by his uncle, Erlang Shen, whereupon he learns the truth of his mother's fate.
Chenxiang promptly undertakes an arduous journey to free her and reunite his family with help of a powerful artefact known as the Lotus Lantern.