Summary

• Jiangshi X's ending was fitting for its progression in the story, despite being canceled with the 34th chapter.
• Shōnen Jump's harsh standards likely played a role, but the series was still able to conclude naturally.
• The trio's journey to find the Kun Lun Mountains is a satisfying conclusion to their heroic endeavors.

Whenever Shōnen Jump cancels a promising manga title, the instant hot take within manga fandom is that the series wasn't able to live up to the manga anthology's notoriously tough standards. However, in the case of the recently retired Jiangshi X, the end was perfect for where the story had progressed to that point in the series.

While getting published in Shōnen Jump is the dream of most authors, maintaining a position in the magazine's lineup is far from effortless. Shōnen Jump is known to be one of the harshest critics of its promising new manga titles, more than any other manga publisher. Indeed, its cancelation decisions have spawned a surprisingly accurate fan theory that posits that if a series can survive anywhere from 30 to 35 chapters, it will survive editorial culling and can look forward to a continuing publication schedule.

Jiangshi X was canceled on its 34th issue - which fits the fan theory. It failed to successfully navigate the purported Shōnen Jump "manga danger zone" due to lack of readership engagement, editorial judgment, sales performance, popular reception, or the multitude of other factors influencing a Shōnen Jump cancelation decision. While its cancelation was certainly unfortunate for its fan base, however, the series' finale does not seem rushed, but rather the natural conclusion of the story.

The Jiangshi X Story Was Complete

The Manga's Conclusion Seems Natural and not Forced

While it might be convenient to believe that Jiangshi X's cancelation was due to the usual Shōnen Jump reasons - that conclusion could be inaccurate. Jiangshi X was published on the digital magazine Shōnen Jump+, which usually means series have a better chance of sticking around, and fans seemed to appreciate Jiangshi X's Chinese theme - a style that hasn't been seen in mainstream manga for a while. However, volume sales were not impressive, but even if that was the reason for the series ending, it feels that there was nothing more left for it to say.

Jiangshi X follows three young teenagers - Xiaohu, Chaoyun, and Jiuli who, at the start of the story, are training to become Daoshi warriors whose task is to rid the community of the evil Jiangshi or reanimated corpses that have been plaguing it. At first, the three are still apprentices and group together as an independent squad. But after ing a grueling test, they are made official Daoshi. While the official titles give them resources and to level up their skills, it also means they'll be tasked with taking down stronger Jiangshi.

In the final chapter, the trio has transitioned into young adults, having undergone immense challenges and hardships to fulfill their aspirations of becoming the heroes they aspired to be. Having completed their tasks in their local community, they set out to find the mythical Kun Lun Mountains, which they hope will further unlock the mysteries of the Daoshi Way. As they ride off into the sunset, the vibe strongly suggests that they will continue fighting evil wherever they find it during their travels.

The ending follows the rich Chinese storytelling tradition of the heroic knight-errant. In that tradition, ordinary citizens with a deep belief in altruism and a strong sense of moral justice voluntarily seek to protect the vulnerable. Naturally, since evil is incarnate, the knight-errant's work is never done. After defeating one villain, they move on to the next. And so it is for the Jiangshi X trio.

Regardless of the reasons for the series' cancelation, Jiangshi X's final chapter does not leave a bad taste in readers' mouths, as is common for series that are forced to suddenly conclude their story. Jiangshi X has come to its logical end - there's nothing more to be said about the trio becoming capable Daoshi warriors. However, there's still ample room for the story to continue with a potential sequel - if Shōnen Jump decides to give the author another shot.

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