Chinese Entertainment Intelligence King

Chapter 214 The Battle of Phoenixes and Eagles: A Golden Age of Martial Arts, The Biggest Winner
After dinner, someone suggested going to karaoke for some fun, but Yan Li didn't join in.

It's not that we're in a rush to release Jiang Xin's stockpile, but rather that "The Return of the Condor Heroes" premieres today.

He wants to see how everyone reacts before pushing for the Phoenix Eagle Battle.

Instead of returning to the hotel, Yan Li went to Yi'an Garden. His office had a computer and a TV, and most importantly, it was quiet, much better than the hotel.

Apart from Yan Li leaving due to other commitments, most people opted for the next round, making it difficult for some to leave even if they wanted to.

Yan Li is the boss, so he can be capricious. Besides, he paid for today's meal and made it clear that he had important business to attend to, so no one will be dissatisfied.

However, others still need to maintain their social circles to some extent, lest they be accused of being arrogant or unsociable.

However, once they arrived at the destination, sang for a while, and started having fun, not many people cared whether someone stayed or left.

So Yang Rong greeted Tong Dawei, the most prominent figure in the area, and then left first.

Not long after Yang Rong left, she was discovered by Jiang Xin.

There weren't many actresses present today, and these two are among the most popular and have the most acting experience. They even had a disagreement earlier, so it's no wonder they're attracting attention.

So, Jiang Xin, who felt closer to Yan Li during the meal but hadn't made up her mind yet, was provoked by Yang Rong's early departure.

With a heavy heart, Jiang Xin slipped away quietly without even saying goodbye.

The KTV was not far from the hotel. Because she was wary of Yang Rong, Jiang Xin did not touch up her makeup or change her clothes. She went directly to knock on Yan Li's door, and the more she knocked, the more disheartened she became.

Nobody here?!
Jiang Xin took out her phone, wanting to call Yan Li, but then thought it might be a bit much.

After hesitating for a long time, she still made the call. Yan Li answered and said that he was working at the company. Jiang Xin did not dare to ask any more questions and hung up the phone after a few words.

"It seems I'm overthinking it."

Jiang Xin felt she was being overly sensitive. When the event ended, Yan Li had said that he was going back to work and that it was normal to go somewhere else since the hotel was inconvenient.

Yang Rong left early, probably simply because she didn't like the noise in the karaoke room.

Despite saying that, Jiang Xin still found herself in Yang Rong's room as if possessed, and just as she was about to say something, she knocked on the door.

There's nobody here!

Jiang Xin: "..."

That little dwarf was cute-looking and spoke in a soft voice, but she still managed to pull this trick on him.

However, Jiang Xin misunderstood Yang Rong. The latter was not at the hotel, not to hang out with Yan Li, but to see Wang Ou.

"Look at my arm, it's all red, and my neck is a bit sore too."

Yang Rong rolled up her sleeves to show Wang Ou that she had suffered greatly for her sake this time.

"Oh, Rongrong, you've worked hard."

Wang Ou rubbed her skin in a flattering manner, then couldn't help but say, "Just let her bully you, hit her instead."

"I have to be able to beat them."

Yang Rong got angry as she spoke: "She was more than half a head taller than me, stronger and more robust than you. I wasn't on guard and was pinned down."

"Don't worry, I'll remember this. I'll find a way to get revenge for you later."

Wang Ou acted as if they shared a common enemy, saying that even if Yang Rong had offended Jiang Xin because of her, or even if the two of them were simply enemies, she would still help Yang Rong.

Just kidding, she is, after all, Yi'an's second sister, an old-timer who has followed Yan Li for several years.

Although Dong Xuan, Qin Lan, Fan Xiaopang, and Li Bingbing are all people you can't afford to offend, it's not up to Jiang Xin to act arrogantly with her.

"Don't turn around, what are you doing now?"

Yang Rong wasn't easily fooled. Who knew when things would turn back? She came to Wang Ou not to be given empty promises.

"Don't act impulsively. Let's take a long-term view and proceed slowly."

Wang Ou tried to reassure her. Although she wasn't afraid of Jiang Xin, she didn't dare to confront him. Otherwise, how would Yan Li view her? Even Fan Xiaopang wasn't that arrogant.

Including Jiang Xin, who was only pulled aside to threaten Yang Rong, Yan Li said that if she dared to make a move, Yan Li would immediately kick her out.

“Violence doesn’t solve problems. If we’re going to take action, let’s use a more sophisticated method to make her feel even more pain and suffering, leaving her speechless with bitterness.”

Yang Rong glanced at her: "Who said you were allowed to be violent?"

She pulled Wang Ou over, whispered something in his ear, and then said, "Make it as obvious as possible, I'll make that guy surnamed Jiang suffer tomorrow."

"The little girl is pretty, but she's quite wicked at heart, but I like her."

Wang Ou tapped Yang Rong's forehead, then pulled her to help him pick out clothes. They had to be cool and sexy, but not too provocative, and most importantly, they had to be easy to move in.

Finally, I chose a green velvet bodycon dress with a suit collar, which leans towards an evening gown.

Last time Yan Li took her to Shanghai for a business dinner, they didn't have time to buy clothes. Wang Ou learned from this experience and afterwards went to Dongyang city to buy two sets of clothes suitable for business occasions during her free time.

I haven't had any opportunities for business entertainment lately, but dressing up for Yan Li's approval isn't a waste of money.

Afterwards, Wang Ou touched up her makeup while picking out shoes, which took her even longer than when she was choosing clothes.

Yang Rong was getting a little impatient: "That's enough. There are so many pairs of shoes for you to choose from. If you dawdle any longer, you'll all be asleep."

"You do not understand."

Although Wang Ou and Yang Rong discussed some private matters and claimed to be able to talk about anything, it was impossible that Wang Ou held nothing back.

As a result, Yang Rong always thought that Wang Ou's love of buying shoes was simply his own preference.

This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Some women love buying shoes, some love buying bags, and some love buying scarves. Yang Rong knows someone who loves hoarding shoes, even more obsessed than Wang Ou.

Urged by Yang Rong, Wang Ou chose a light apricot-colored pointed high heel, which contrasted visually with the dark green dress, making her look even more refined.

After changing his clothes, Wang Ou picked up his small bag and was about to leave, but Yang Rong was still a little worried.

"Are you sure you can find the person, and you're not going to make a phone call to lay the groundwork before you go?"

"Don't worry, just wait for my good news, don't think I'm doing this for nothing."

Wang Ou confidently waved goodbye and left. Yang Rong didn't leave either, and decided to stay overnight in Wang Ou's room, since it wasn't the first or second time.

Remembering that Yan Li had mentioned the premiere of "The Return of the Condor Heroes," she turned on the TV and watched it.

This drama was broadcast on more satellite TV channels than "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng," including four channels: Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Henan, and Guangdong.

I turned on the TV and randomly picked a channel; "The Return of the Condor Heroes" had already started airing.

The plot has progressed to the point where young Yang Guo is sent to Zhongnan Mountain to learn martial arts, and then he is bullied by the Taoists of the Quanzhen Sect.

Yang Rong checked the time. If the first two episodes were aired, it would be either the end of the first episode or the beginning of the second.

Little Dragon Girl hasn't appeared yet, and Yang Guo isn't played by Huang Xiaoming, but by child star Ding Dang, who plays the young Yang Guo.

"The pace is really fast."

After all, it's a novel with the same author as the main character, and Yang Rong had read the original "The Return of the Condor Heroes".

Although I wasn't paying close attention, I vaguely remember that there were quite a few episodes before, and it was almost time for them to meet Xiaolongnu?

However, it's understandable. All the previous plot points were just setup. TV adaptations tend to cut corners where possible, and getting the male and female leads into the main story is the most important thing.

Just as I was pondering this, the plot finally reached the point where Yang Guo accidentally stumbled into the Tomb of the Living Dead, Granny Sun saved him, and Liu Yifei, who played Xiaolongnu, also made her appearance.

She arrived in a simple white dress, stepping on a white silk ribbon, exuding an ethereal aura, as serene and aloof as the moon.

The TV series intentionally created a stunning entrance for Xiaolongnu, with the atmosphere, plot, camera work, editing, and background music all working together to make her look amazing. Yang Rong was also slightly amazed.

As someone born in the 80s, Yang Rong's most memorable portrayal of Xiaolongnu is undoubtedly Li Ruotong in the 95 version of "The Return of the Condor Heroes".

Now let's compare Liu Yifei's version. Regardless of who wins or loses, at least in terms of appearance and temperament, Liu shouldn't be attacked too much.

Jin Yong's works have a great influence, with numerous classic versions and character portrayals throughout the ages. Every new version is bound to be compared with the previous versions.

Because the new version is new, it has fewer fans and it's difficult to surpass those versions that have been broadcast for many years and have a wide influence or even a sense of nostalgia.

If it can avoid being completely outclassed by the old version and has its merits, that's already quite good. If it can be compared to or even rival the old version in certain aspects, then it can be considered a success.

Yang Rong was somewhat envious; everyone who knows about the popularity of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" understands.

Liu Yifei's current appearance and temperament are a perfect match, which means she's already halfway to success. If the TV series itself can also hold its own, her fame will likely reach even greater heights.

If she remembered correctly, the other party seemed to have just turned 18 not long ago. She was already a popular young actress before, and if she were to rise to the next level, she would probably start to compete with and catch up with the "Four Little Actresses".

How many of those popular actresses born in the 70s and 75s can outlast her? Won't the entertainment industry be hers in the future?

Yang Rong pondered for a while, feeling somewhat wistful, but then she thought that whether someone was famous or not had nothing to do with her.

Yang Rong doesn't really have that much ambition for acting.

Mainly, she's lazy and doesn't want to work that hard. Compared to filming, she prefers to stay home or travel.

Of course, it would be better to move up the ranks, as it would bring more money and stability, but she doesn't force herself to. She has a position with the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Troupe, so even if she can't act in movies or plays, she still has enough to eat and wear.

Wang Ou sometimes used Yan Li's resources and money to seduce Yang Rong, and Yang Rong was not entirely unmoved, but not as much as other actresses.

Even more than Yan Li's money and resources, she actually preferred to hear Wang Ou talk about her private life with Yan Li.

At this time, the two episodes of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" had finished airing. Yang Rong took a face mask from Wang Ou and prepared to apply it before going to sleep.

It has to be said that although Yang Rong criticized Wang Ou for some of her unhealthy values, she also had to admit that this little vixen was living a much more comfortable life than she was.

When she goes shopping, she swipes her card to buy clothes and shoes costing thousands of dollars without batting an eye. Her cosmetics are all designer brands, some even custom-made in Hong Kong. She upgrades her phone and computer frequently, flies first class, and stays in five-star hotels…

Don't be fooled by the fact that Wang Ou played the female lead; she wasn't very famous before, and her pay wasn't much. It was already a miracle that her family didn't exploit her, let alone give her any money.

With a low income, yet such extravagant lifestyle, one can only imagine where the money comes from.

The longer Yang Rong knew Wang Ou, the less she advised him, and sometimes she even started using Wang Ou's cosmetics.

I don't know if it's just psychological, but brand-name face masks always feel more comfortable than regular ones...

Yang Rong was lying in bed with a face mask on when her phone rang. She picked it up and saw it was Wang Ou calling. Somewhat surprised, she answered.

"All done? So fast today?"

"Ah."

Wang Ou said in a low voice, "No, President Yan is busy with important matters. I... I'll call you to relieve your boredom."

"Tsk, tsk."

Yang Rong couldn't help but tease, "Looks like your charm isn't all that great either. You're always so cocky with me, like you'd just strip me and go for it. Didn't you say he was too hot to resist the temptation?"

"Don't talk nonsense."

Wang Ou's breathing suddenly became a little unstable, and then he fell into an eerie silence, although some faint, fragmented sounds could still be heard.

It wasn't until a minute or two later that Wang Ou spoke again: "Rongrong..."

"Screw you."

Yang Rong's face darkened. She wasn't stupid. Wang Ou's behavior was abnormal, and she had heard of live broadcasts before. She quickly figured out what was going on.

"Don't...don't be angry, this is to report good news to you."

Seeing that Yang Rong had seen through him, Wang Ou smiled sheepishly. After explaining, he gradually relaxed, and his words lingered for three days.

"Neuropathy."

Yang Rong blushed and cursed, then threw her phone away. She sulked for a while, then heard static and realized the call hadn't ended.

Yang Rong got up and picked up her phone, angrily trying to hang up, but her finger hovered over the hang-up button and she couldn't press it.

Time passed second by second until the sound on the other end stopped. A moment later, a slightly surprised male voice came from the phone.

"The call wasn't disconnected?"

Yang Rong, who was engrossed in the call, snapped out of her daze, hurriedly hung up the phone, and then rushed into the bathroom with a flushed face.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The next day, Yang Rong, who had no scenes to film, unusually did not appear on set, while Jiang Xin, seeing the mark Wang Ou had deliberately left on Yan Li's neck, couldn't help but feel furious.

That shorty surnamed Yang is too despicable; he actually pulled that "openly repair the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang pass" trick...

Yan Li ignored the somewhat irritable Jiang Xin and focused his attention on the premiere ratings of "The Return of the Condor Heroes".

According to the statistics released today, the premiere of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" was a great success.

The Zhejiang Satellite TV station, which broadcast the drama, topped the ratings for the same period with an average rating of 2.94. Jiangsu Satellite TV ranked second, while Henan and Guangdong Satellite TV ranked slightly lower, at fifth and seventh respectively.

The combined market share of the four satellite TV channels that premiered the show on the same day exceeded 20%.

This result is even better than the premiere of "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng".

A Jin Yong drama is a Jin Yong drama, and Zhang Da Hu Zi's reputation is well-deserved. No matter how much hype there is about the battle between the phoenix and the eagle, the eagle's story still has more impact.

However, compared to its performance, its reputation has been somewhat mixed.

There are flaws in every aspect, but the most important thing is the portrayal of the young Yang Guo by Ding Dang.

Well, as a child star who has always played quirky and clever characters, Ding Dang is certainly clever, but she is not considered a pretty child.

Whether Yang Guo is the most handsome male protagonist in Jin Yong's martial arts novels is still debatable, but he is definitely one of the most handsome, known for his refined and elegant appearance, something Ding Dang doesn't possess at all. Liu Yifei's portrayal of Xiaolongnu also has some controversy, but there are more positive and affirmative voices.

"The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" benefited from the poor quality of its competitors, which made it stand out. With low audience expectations, it naturally received high praise.

The Condor Heroes has no shortage of formidable peers. Zhang Da Hu Zi's fame brings many benefits, but it also makes everyone unconsciously raise their standards for him.

On the same test paper, Yan Li scored 60 points, which was a passing grade; 80 points was a pleasant surprise; and 90 points was considered a god-like achievement.

But even if Zhang Dahuzi gets 80 points, people are still dissatisfied. If he gets 60 points, he's considered utterly worthless.

Therefore, Yan Li had foreseen the positive reception of "The Return of the Condor Heroes." It has only just started airing and hasn't yet reached its full potential, but the rest of the series is likely to be even more exciting.

Yan Li, who has watched "The Return of the Condor Heroes", understands very well where the biggest shortcoming of this drama is. At least in the early stages, it was inevitably ridiculed.

Thinking of this, Yan Li took out his phone and called the person in charge of "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng".

"The writers of 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' have probably already started attacking us. You guys should add fuel to the fire. No, don't rush to talk back, help them curse first."

"Don't be afraid to say something harsh. Yes, I can curse too. Arrange for a few leaders to point fingers and curse at you. The more outrageous, the better."

"It would be best to create the impression that the battle between the phoenixes and eagles is already decided."

"Also, contact the media in Hong Kong and Taiwan; I'll need their help."

"..."

After making the arrangements, Yan Li called Zhang Dahuzi again: "Teacher Zhang, get ready to fire."

"It's all over now, just wait and see the news."

Zhang Dahuzi responded and that afternoon, in an interview, he publicly expressed his views on "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" for the first time.

He launched into a long tirade about profound meaning, style, and spirit, but the underlying message was always the same:

Yan Li won't do!

At the same time, many media outlets and online platforms have begun to promote and clamor for "The Return of the Condor Heroes" while criticizing and belittling "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng".

Just a few days ago, "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" was hailed as a potential classic of martial arts and a benchmark for Gu Long dramas, but now it seems to have become "dog shit" in the blink of an eye.

This angered the fans of "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng".

As the most popular TV series a while ago, this show has quite a few fans. Although it was rushed into the show, its popularity is still considerable.

However, the premiere performance of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" was undeniable, and "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" lacked effective countermeasures.

Then, the weapons arrived!
In the fourth episode of "The Return of the Condor Heroes", the male lead Huang Xiaoming finally appeared after much anticipation, and called Liu Tianxian, who was nearly ten years younger than him, "aunt" with a grin.

boom!
If we say that when "The Return of the Condor Heroes" premiered, it only had minor flaws, but the overall evaluation was still mediocre, or even positive.

Huang Xiaoming's appearance caused the show's reputation to plummet.

The props were well-made, the scenes were realistic, and the visuals were beautiful; the only flaw was the male lead.

[This is so awkward. The two of them look so alike. Yang Guo could be Xiaolongnu's father, but he calls her aunt.]

[Looking old is one thing, but the key issue is that her acting was so awkward and clingy.]

I beg Huang Xiaoming, can you at least watch the playback of his acting? His idiotic expressions are so unwatchable, they give me goosebumps.

I always thought Richie Jen's version of Yang Guo was the ugliest, but now I've come across the most disgusting Yang Guo ever.

【…】

It's fair to say that most of the negative reviews of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" are directed at Huang Xiaoming, with a barrage of criticism on Baidu Tieba, Tianya, and Tudou.com.

Yan Li was not surprised at all by the sudden reversal.

He previously indulged and encouraged the arrogant and clamorous pronouncements of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" precisely for this moment. What's more interesting than a conventional, noisy reversal and a slap in the face?

As expected, fans of "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" seized on Huang Xiaoming's weakness and launched a counterattack against "The Return of the Condor Heroes," with even many bystanders joining in.

The day before, "The Return of the Condor Heroes" was all smiles and pride, but now it's all humiliated and disgraced.

The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng VS The Return of the Condor Heroes

In terms of both casting and lead actor performance, the former is far superior.

Unfortunately, the core of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" is Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü. No matter how well Xiaolongnü is chosen, if Yang Guo makes a mistake, the story is ruined.

Similarly, the core of "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" is Lu Xiaofeng. Even if you pull all the other characters, such as Hua Manlou, Ximen Chuixue, and Sikong Zhaixing, from the book, if you can't find the right actor or portray Lu Xiaofeng well, the show will be ruined.

Currently, many people consider Julian Cheung to be the best Lu Xiaofeng, but this is not universally acknowledged yet, partly because the time frame is too short.

While Liu Yifei's Little Dragon Girl still has to compete with Li Ruotong's, Huang Xiaoming's Yang Guo has already been trampled underfoot.

Of course, this is the outside world's opinion at the time. Yan Li, who has seen the finished product, understands that Huang Xiaoming's performance was not that bad.

Huang's acting skills are still there, especially his portrayal of Yang Guo during the later, more sentimental and melancholic period. In my personal opinion, even if it's not the best version, it's still among the top.

However, his performance in the early stages was really disappointing.

This is a common problem for most actors: they can play older characters, but they can't play younger ones.

If you have the self-awareness, it's okay. If you restrain yourself a bit, although it might be a little jarring, the viewing experience won't be too bad. Just get through this part.

However, Huang Xiaoming not only refused to accept the offer, but also deliberately pursued the so-called "youthful feeling," resulting in a poor performance.

The worst thing is that if he were to face an actress of the same age, although the effect would not be good, it might not be so awkward.

Unfortunately, his co-star was a young girl who was not yet twenty years old. Her youthful innocence and collagen made him look like a clown in comparison.

This awkward situation persisted until nearly the middle of the story, when Yang Guo grew and became more mature and composed, and it gradually disappeared.

Therefore, Yan Li understands that despite the current outcry, Huang Xiaoming and Yang Guo's reputations will improve somewhat in the later stages.

However, some viewers may not be able to watch the later episodes, and the overall evaluation will definitely be lowered, especially since it is in opposition to "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng". If you perform well, it may not matter, but if you perform poorly, it will definitely be used as a basis for criticism.

Even Yan Li, despite his objectively high opinion of Huang Xiaoming, was ruthless when it came to taking action.

He directly brought up Huang Xiaoming when he was arguing with Zhang Dahuzi.

"I think Huang Xiaoming's poor performance is mostly due to the production team, who highlighted his weaknesses and avoided his strengths."

"I don't believe that no one in the entire crew noticed the problem with that kind of Yang Guo. Why didn't anyone point it out?"

"Moreover, I think Huang's image and style are not particularly suitable for Yang Guo. This was a casting mistake from the beginning. I heard that this was a decision made by Teacher Zhang against all odds, so he should bear the primary responsibility."

"Those of us who create must avoid being stubborn and self-righteous, because the consequences of arrogance are very serious."

"..."

Although Yan Li's criticism was directed at Zhang Dahuzi, labeling Huang Xiaoming as a casting mistake also represents Yan Li's rejection of Huang Xiaoming.

Some people also dug up that Yan Li had a good relationship with Nie Yuan, who competed with Huang Xiaoming for Yang Guo, and believed that he was standing up for his friend.

However, this was only Yan Li's gentle blow. The subsequent commentary from a heavyweight guest was a devastating blow to him.

A concerned Hong Kong reporter took the DVD of the series to Jin Yong and received the following evaluation.

"The actor who played Yang Guo was sly and flippant. He was pretentious and frivolous when facing Xiaolongnu, showing no respect for his master. It was as if he was trying to seduce Xiaolongnu. I didn't like him."

Jin Yong and Zhang Dahuzi had a good personal relationship, and Zhang Dahuzi gave high praise to the adaptations of Jin Yong's works, but he focused more on the costumes, props, and themes.

As for the actors, there were plenty of times when they were praised, but there were also times when they were criticized.

Li Yapeng was previously criticized by Jin Yong, who felt that his portrayal of Linghu Chong was dull and not dashing. This time, he also directly commented on Huang Xiaoming's poor performance.

While Jin Yong's comments, as the original author, don't represent everything, they are not easily ignored.

Huang Xiaoming and "The Return of the Condor Heroes" are facing an increasingly difficult public opinion situation.

At this time, a kind-hearted reporter from Taiwan went to interview Gu Long's son.

In contrast to Jin Yong's dissatisfaction, Mr. Xiong gave the actors of "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" extremely high praise.

He even praised Yan Li and Yi An, saying that they sincerely created an enchanting world of Gu Long's martial arts novels, and expressed his hope to continue working with Yi An to promote Gu Long's martial arts works together.

Gu Long had three sons. After his death, the three brothers formed the "Gu Long Works Management and Development Committee".

To put it nicely, it's about promoting Gu Long's martial arts culture; to put it bluntly, it's about selling his father's copyrights for a living.

Regardless of which version of events they're referring to, they genuinely hope their father's work will become a huge hit, so that they can benefit from the success.

Therefore, Gu Long's son indeed had a very good impression of Yan Li, who made "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" a hit, and was generous with his praise.

One criticizes, the other praises.

Regardless of whether it's marketing hype or not, whether Jin Yong's or Gu Long's son has more substance, in any case, "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" is dominating "The Return of the Condor Heroes" in terms of public opinion.

However, "The Return of the Condor Heroes" was not without its counterattack, namely its high viewership ratings.

Despite its poor reputation, the battle between the phoenix and the eagle generated a lot of buzz, and after a brief fluctuation, the ratings for "The Return of the Condor Heroes" soared.

The ratings quickly broke 4, and the market share of several satellite TV stations increased. Xiaolongnu and Yang Guo appeared in thousands of households amidst controversy.

Seeing this, several quick-thinking satellite TV stations in Beijing and Shanghai also began rebroadcasting "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng".

Although the ratings were not as high as "The Return of the Condor Heroes" because it was a rebroadcast, it still performed remarkably well.

Beijing TV, which was the first to rebroadcast the program, has repeatedly broken into the top three in its time slot due to its early advantage.

On the peak night, six satellite TV stations broadcasting the dramas "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" and "The Return of the Condor Heroes" were among the top ten at the same time.

Because of its incredible popularity, other TV stations were envious, and one station even rebroadcast Andy Lau's version of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" during prime time.

Surprisingly, this trick actually works quite well.

Because Zhang Dahuzi's version of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" had high ratings but poor reviews, the old version of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" created a contrast and attracted a lot of viewers, even breaking into the top three in the same period during prime time.

Some people want to follow suit, but there are too few TV series based on Lu Xiaofeng, and their quality doesn't pose a threat.

In the end, CCTV-6 came out on top.

It's hard to schedule TV series adaptations of Lu Xiaofeng, but there are still some old movies available, so riding the wave of popularity is a win-win situation.

However, if they can't broadcast "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng," then they'll broadcast other Jin Yong or Gu Long dramas.

Major TV stations are concerned about their image, or rather, they've already squeezed out most of the profits, so even when they do broadcast, they do so during the day or in the early morning. Local channels, on the other hand, don't have as many concerns; if they have suitable martial arts dramas in their inventory, they'll just broadcast them directly.

According to incomplete statistics, from mid-March to early April alone, more than 30 television stations of all sizes followed suit and broadcast martial arts dramas.

The media exclaimed in amazement at the battle between the phoenix and the eagle, a golden age of martial arts.

Whether it's a golden age of martial arts is hard to say, but the martial arts craze was certainly sparked by the feud between two dramas.

Besides the competition between the two dramas, it also involves the clash between the martial arts worlds of Jin Yong and Gu Long. There are quite a few martial arts fans, including many celebrities.

With blogs becoming increasingly popular, many celebrities and influential figures have been engaging in verbal battles and exchanging insults on their blogs.

The martial arts section of Tianya was so active that there were too many posts to read, forcing them to redirect traffic to other sections.

Baidu Tieba also witnessed its first-ever online battle over martial arts books and characters.

Jin Yong's martial arts fans launched a barrage of attacks against the smaller group of Gu Long's martial arts fans. However, later, due to disagreements over which male protagonist was more powerful and which female protagonist was more beautiful, Jin Yong's fans had some internal strife, giving Gu Long's fans a chance to catch their breath.

However, when it comes to the most fiercely competitive online platform, it has to be Tudou.com.

A significant proportion of the supporters of both shows are here, engaging in fierce competition in a specially designated section.

It gradually attracted more and more passersby and martial arts fans to join the battle, and the number of participants increased.

The situation was already intense enough, but Tudou.com also contacted the main creators of the two production teams and had them make a surprise appearance on Tudou.com via video to thank fans and viewers for their support.

Goodness, if Tudou.com hadn't been well-prepared, its servers might have crashed.

According to statistics from Tudou.com's backend, at the height of the Phoenix and Eagle Battle, the website saw nearly 10 new user registrations per day.

This is terrifying in the current state of the internet!
Meanwhile, the more users Tudou.com has, the more lively the website becomes, and original videos emerge one after another, creating a siphon effect on other video websites.

A few well-developed websites can barely survive, but if smaller websites continue like this, creators and users will all leave, and they will eventually be sucked dry.

According to Wang Wei's plan, regardless of whether it's true or not, after the "Phoenix and Eagle Battle," Tudou.com's user base will exceed ten million, giving it a significant lead over its competitors.

This would increase Tudou.com's valuation by at least several times compared to before, and Wang Wei aimed to raise $1000-15 million with a 1500-20% stake.

In other words, Tudou.com's conservative valuation is over $5000 million, which is nearly 4 million RMB.

When Yan Li acquired a 30% stake in Tudou.com, he only spent $100 million USD (nearly 800 million RMB) in cash, excluding resources. Now it is worth $1500 million USD (approximately 1.2 million RMB).

In just about six months, it increased more than tenfold?!

Yan Li knew that the internet industry was a bubble industry with huge potential for making money, but he didn't expect it to be this lucrative.

Of course, this is just the valuation of Tudou.com. Whether it can raise this amount depends on the negotiations. However, these days, as long as the project is good, there is no shortage of capital willing to throw money at it.

Yan Li sighed. Everyone thought that "The Return of the Condor Heroes" and "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" were huge hits and that he had made a fortune from the production and distribution of the two dramas.

Little did people know that his biggest source of income wasn't from the two shows themselves, but from Tudou.com.

Production, distribution, platform terminals—we still need to build an industry chain…

(End of this chapter)