This director is vindictive.

Chapter 294: The First "Marriage" in the Immortal Universe, Every Frame is a Hidden Gem, Every Cut Touches Your Heart.

The highly anticipated premiere has come to an end.

But everything about this work is just beginning.

The rating for "Flying Swordsman" on Douban has been unlocked, and its initial rating actually surpassed "The Phoenix's Auspiciousness" by a high of 9.2!
Although the number of people participating in the rating is not large at present, the comments section below is full of positive reviews.

Moreover, film critics, media professionals, and audience members who attended the premiere quickly shared their viewing experiences.

Renowned film critic @ZhouXiaobin worked tirelessly through the night to write a lengthy review expressing his thoughts after watching the film:

"The game 'Flying Swordsman' takes the 'romanticism' of Xianxia culture to a new height—the grandeur of the Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin, the delicacy of the lights of thousands of homes, and the mystery of the Red Thread of Cause and Effect—every frame is a deconstruction and reconstruction of traditional Xianxia aesthetics."

The bronze coffin is modeled after the "Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin" from the "Covering the Sky" universe, but it is endowed with a wedding function—the chaotic mist that surges out when the coffin is opened transforms into a marriage divination vessel, reversing the "image of death" into a "connection of life." The moment the nine black iron chains break, runes from different IPs (such as the reincarnation disk from "Against the Gods" and the Northern Liang sword pattern from "Snow in the Sky") appear at each break point, hinting at the intertwining of cause and effect in the multiverse.

The "image of a hundred lifetimes" projected inside the coffin is not a linear narrative, but rather a direct presentation of the philosophical core of "fateful conflict and repair" through the stitching together of the cracks in the "sword and sheath" (which Wang Lin repairs with a red rope of cause and effect). This technique of "personifying magical artifacts" breaks through the traditional flat portrayal of "divine weapons" in fantasy novels.

When the golden threads of Yaochi were woven into the marriage certificate of "Along the River During the Qingming Festival," each frame of the painting contained hidden Easter eggs—the reflection of the character "囍" (double happiness) in the stove fire of a peasant woman, the ink stains of a scholar forming intertwined branches, and the steam from sugar painting condensing into the seal script of "Longevity Contract." These micro-effects require pausing to view them frame by frame, showcasing the production team's exquisite craftsmanship of "human life."

The "river of light" formed by lanterns rising into the air is not merely a visual spectacle; its light source comes from the concept of "eternal night" in the novel *Ever Night* (where Sang Sang's followers in the Kingdom of Light hold up candles), transforming the conflict between "darkness and light" into a warm image of "blessings for all beings." The flowing incense and prayer power within the veins of the money plant leaves is a concrete expression of the "power of faith."

The innovation of *Flying Swordsman* lies in its use of the secular ritual of a wedding to embody the core theme of Xianxia (fantasy martial arts) – Xu Fengnian's sword opening the Heavenly Gate to force the Heavenly Dao's approval is "breaking," while the golden thread of Yaochi weaving the wishes of all beings is "establishing." The final phrase "eternal tribulation together" is not the end, but rather the third chain (the knot of life and death) pulling the coffin by nine dragons hints at the endless cycle of reincarnation. This open-ended romance is the most profound tribute to Xianxia culture.

This film review received countless likes after it was published.

However, the comments from netizens were particularly amusing.

"Good grief, are they forcing us to do it again?"

"It's not about watching it again, but about having us look at the novel IPs that appear in the film, and then watching it again!"

"I've read all these novels, but I'd like to reread them. The problem is, I can't get tickets right now!"

"I didn't expect there to be so many deeper meanings. I haven't read those IPs myself, but I still cried while reading them. However, I suddenly realized that it would be even more enjoyable to watch them in conjunction with these IPs."

Zhou Xiaobin was just the beginning; soon other film critics also shared their thoughts after watching the film.

The professional special effects analysis account @LightandShadowMagicShou pointed out: "In the 'Respect All Beings' scene, the dynamic rendering technology of the marriage certificate of 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival' woven with gold thread from Yaochi is a milestone breakthrough in the Chinese film industry."

Of course, such a scene must have been incredibly expensive; it just goes to show that Chen Mo is truly wealthy and powerful!
The special effects at the live screening completely amazed the audience!

Senior Xianxia IP researcher @雪中刀笔: "The film uses the wedding as a link to seamlessly connect the 'orthodox traditions' of the universes such as 'Chinese Paladin,' 'Snow Sword,' and 'Covering the Sky.' Scenes such as Xu Fengnian opening the Heavenly Gate to 'force marriage' to the Heavenly Dao and Wang Lin mending the cause and effect not only serve the plot but also pay homage to the essence of the original work, making it a model of balancing 'fan-oriented' and 'popular'."

Cultural critic @LongmenNightTalk commented: "Behind the four words 'eternal journey together' is a surreal interpretation of the traditional view of marriage and love in the fantasy genre—using swords as a medium and reincarnation as a betrothal gift, it is actually a visual expression of the 'cause and effect and destiny' in Eastern philosophy."

The media response was also swift.

The authoritative film media outlet "Screen" headline on its front page: "The premiere of 'Swordsman' has garnered rave reviews: Fantasy films have now reached a new 'wedding ceiling'!"

The China Film News published a special analysis stating: "Through the innovative theme of 'fairy wedding ceremony,' the film has opened up a new track for domestic genre films—it retains the folk customs of 'The Phoenix Brings Auspiciousness' while attracting Generation Z with a youthful expression, and has huge box office potential."

The reactions of the first batch of viewers were even more exaggerated.

Although most of the initial viewers were fans of various fantasy IPs, many viewers did not understand those IPs.

However, they all said that even those who don't understand IP can understand it and even be moved to tears.

Netizen Xiaoyuer commented: "Even those who don't understand the IP can be moved to tears - the vow of 'sharing white hair to slay the dragon' is just a fantasy version of 'holding hands' in real life."

When Ning Que delivered the "Eternal Flavor" spicy bowl in a dilapidated oxcart, the talisman at the bottom reminded me of the hot and sour noodles my father always cooked for our wedding anniversary. No matter how lavish the dowry from the gods, it can't compare to the promise of a bowl of hot soup from a mortal!

Soon, netizens liked the post and left comments such as: "When Zhao Liying dipped her brush in the Weak Water to write the 'Chang Sheng Qi' (a Buddhist term for a vow of eternal life), the image of two people with white hair still wielding swords side by side appeared on the surface of the water—there were no special effects, but that one second reminded me of the wedding photo hanging above my grandparents' bed. This fantasy version of 'growing old together' is more tear-jerking than any diamond advertisement."

As countless lights illuminated the "囍" (double happiness) character, and the comments section was filled with Easter eggs, I was fixated on a tiny figure holding a candle who had fallen at the edge of the frame—a figure so reminiscent of ordinary people like us, stumbling and falling yet still determined to light a small lamp for our loved ones.

Netizen "Cola Without Ice" commented: "When Chen Mo stained the Xuanyuan Sword with blood to activate the array patterns, many people were talking about this IP collaboration with the Investiture of the Gods, but all I saw was his hand shaking. It turns out even gods get nervous, just like a groom choking up at his wedding!"
The scene where the golden thread in the Jade Pool weaves the marriage certificate from "Along the River During the Qingming Festival," and the ink stains under the scholar's lamp transform into intertwined branches, instantly brought tears to my eyes—isn't that exactly what it's like when my boyfriend, during a long-distance relationship, stays up all night drawing a sketch for me during a video call?

December 11th was a Saturday, and December 12th was a Sunday, so there was no work.

So the midnight showing of "Flying Sword Immortal" was almost a complete sell-out.

In addition, there haven't been any particularly popular movies in December so far, making "The Flying Swordsman" even more special.

The overwhelming praise from the first batch of viewers, film critics, and media professionals has resulted in somewhat exaggerated box office figures.

On Double Twelve, "The Flying Swordsman" grossed over 3 million yuan in a single day!
Although some people say that "Flying Swordsman" is just a "pseudo-documentary" without a plot, its popularity is entirely due to the effectiveness of its pre-release marketing and promotion.

However, this was quickly refuted by movie fans and fantasy fans.

"No plot? Yes, there is no plot, but why do I feel like I'm not watching a movie, but attending a wedding in the style of fantasy!"

"No problem, how can you say there's no plot? There are so many Easter eggs that it's like digging for treasure in the IP universe, but the tear-jerking moments are as simple as our own story."

"Chen Mo spends a fortune on special effects and touches hearts with meticulous details, making the Spring Festival for fantasy fans arrive early!"

"You call this a lack of plot? When Xu Fengnian opened the Heavenly Gate with his sword and forced the Heavenly Dao to stamp the marriage certificate, I immediately slapped my thigh and laughed wildly—this is so 'King of Beiliang'! Chen Mo has definitely read the original work!"

"The scene where Wang Lin sews the sword sheath with red rope is instantly recognizable to fans of the original novel as a visualization of the 'Path of Cause and Effect'! It's more impactful than any dialogue! Those who say there's no plot should definitely read the original novel, otherwise it's like talking to a brick wall!"

As the positive word-of-mouth for "The Flying Swordsman" continues to grow, discussions about the film remain high on social media platforms.

Of the top ten trending topics on Weibo, six are related to movies:

#Analysis of Easter Eggs in Flying Swords#, #Aesthetics of the Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin Wedding Ceremony#, #How Much Did Chen Mo's Special Effects Cost#, #A Xianxia Version of Holding Hands#, #Eternal Tribulation and Open Ending#, #Please Let Flying Swords Be Featured Again#.

No one found this strange; it was just Chen Mo's usual practice.

However, many people gradually realized that the situation of "Flying Sword Immortal" was quite different from that of "Phoenix Auspiciousness".

Although "The Phoenix Brings Auspiciousness" broke the box office record for documentaries, it did not overshadow the main event. Although the box office was high and the popularity was great, it was basically limited to Valentine's Day.

The subsequent box office results were much worse.

Overall, the impact on the market is not significant.

However, this time "The Flying Swordsman" is completely different. After selling 300 million yuan at the box office on its opening day, December 12, the box office on Monday, December 13, a weekday, although it dropped a bit, still broke 100 million yuan. This made people feel that this film was different from the previous "The Phoenix".

"The Flying Swordsman" grossed over 500 million yuan in just two days after its release!

Moreover, the key point is that "Flying Swordsman" has surpassed "Phoenix Auspiciousness" in influence, not to mention dominating the trending topics on Weibo. Other platforms have also seen a surge in "fantasy" fever.

Bilibili content creators meticulously analyzed each frame of the Easter eggs, uncovering even more details about the IP collaboration.

Furthermore, content creators have analyzed and compiled statistics on the number of Xianxia (fantasy martial arts) IP characters appearing in "Flying Swordsman," showcasing various "Xianxia" style Hanfu (traditional Han clothing) that appear in the film, garnering a massive number of views.

On the official Huayun website, the "Soaring Immortal with a Sword" series of wedding attire sold out immediately. Not only that, the "fantasy" style Hanfu that appeared in the film also sold out quickly.

Xiaohongshu beauty users spontaneously organized a "Flying Sword Fairy Makeup Contest" to recreate Zhao Liying's classic look in "Weak Water Writing Contract".

Some couples even imitated the "White-Haired Slayer" scene from the movie, taking photos with swords in front of the Civil Affairs Bureau to register, and the related videos received over a million likes.

Sales of merchandise related to various fantasy and martial arts IPs have skyrocketed, with some items even selling out.

Meanwhile, most of the fantasy IPs featured in this documentary have already had their copyrights sold, so the copyright holders can be said to have made money without lifting a finger.

Tencent Video was the fastest to act, being the first to announce the film and television adaptation plan for "Xian Ni".

Furthermore, he publicly invited Chen Mo on Weibo, hoping that Chen Mo would direct the TV series "Xian Ni".

Chen Mo's public appearance was clearly intended as a publicity stunt, but in reality, Tencent Video did have this idea, provided that Chen Mo was willing to take it on.

Netizens, especially fans of "Xian Ni", were naturally overjoyed.

"Thumbs up to Tencent Video for this! Inviting Chen Mo was the right decision!"

"Chen Mo + 'Xian Ni' = The pinnacle of Xianxia novels is guaranteed!"

"Chen Mo's visual presentation of 'cause and effect reincarnation' in *The Legend of Sword and Fairy*, such as the scene where Wang Lin sews a sword sheath with a red rope, perfectly matches the core of the original novel *Xian Ni*. Only he could capture the loneliness of 'transformation into mortals' and the sense of destiny of 'Lu Mo'."

"Please, Chen Mo, take over! The special effects should be on par with the Nine Dragons Pulling a Coffin from 'Swordsman'!"

With the success of "Flying Swordsman", Chen Mo naturally became the best choice for director of the works that everyone liked.

Even the IP prices of fantasy and martial arts novels have risen accordingly.

Even the stock price of China Literature has risen significantly.

What's even more interesting is that the stock prices of the special effects companies that collaborated on "Flying Swordsman" also collectively rose.

However, there are both positive and negative effects.

That is, "Flying Swordsman" has raised the production standards of Xianxia dramas and Xianxia film and television works in an invisible way.

One analyst said, "The technology in the film, such as the 'weaving of marriage certificates with golden threads from the Jade Pool' and the 'transformation of marriage tokens from chaotic mist,' has become a new benchmark in the industry. Subsequent fantasy projects will need to match the same level of special effects to gain market recognition."

Fans of fantasy novels were naturally overjoyed, but their peers were filled with envy and jealousy!

In particular, the promotional plans for several movies scheduled to be released next week have been completely disrupted.

Promotional resources are limited. If there are fantasy films or TV series to be released now, they might thank Chen Mo, since this wave of "fantasy" craze has already been started.

However, the key issue is that in the film and television market, while television dramas are relatively easy to find, there are very few fantasy-themed films.

The popularity of "The Flying Swordsman" continues to explode, and the box office shows no sign of declining, which is making things difficult for the producers of several movies that are about to be released in a few days.

As a result, controversy surrounding "Flying Sword Immortal" suddenly intensified.

Suddenly, many Weibo influencers, film critics, and media outlets began to question "The Legend of the Swordsman": "Piling up IPs and special effects is nothing but commercial speculation. 'The Legend of the Swordsman' has no plot; it relies entirely on special effects and piling up IPs, coupled with Chen Mo's unique marketing methods to achieve success. In essence, it is not a success of the work itself, but merely commercial speculation!"

Even a fool could see that someone was getting impatient and was trying to cool down the hype surrounding "Flying Sword Immortal".

Moreover, they were quite articulate, mainly attacking the fact that the film "The Flying Swordsman" had "no plot".

The sudden large-scale controversy surrounding "Flying Swordsman" has indeed had an impact on some casual viewers.

However, Chen Mo has not yet made any move or responded to these questions, which has angered netizens and fans.

"Piling up IPs? That's hilarious! When Xu Fengnian opened the Heavenly Gate with his sword and shouted 'Where are the iron cavalry of Beiliang?', we fans of the original novel got goosebumps—this is clearly cutting out the soul of the original novel 'Snow Sword' and welding it into the screen! Is this what you call commercial speculation?"

"Those who say there's no plot should go to the ophthalmology emergency room! Every crack in Wang Lin's red rope is a visual textbook of 'karmic tribulations' in 'Xian Ni'. Even my illiterate grandma can understand that this is about cultivating fate!"

"It's just that some people are jumping up and down in frustration! When thousands of lights are forming the character '囍' (double happiness), that little guy who falls down, gets up, and holds up a candle is enough for some directors to make an 80-episode bloated drama! Chen Mo tells the story of an ordinary person's life of romance in a single frame, and you call that a lack of plot?"

"Why are so many people suddenly jumping out to question this? Isn't it just jealousy? Isn't it just impatience? Heh, if no one is pushing this wave forward, I'll do a handstand while washing my hair!"

On the other hand, Chen Mo didn't do anything like other movies, such as going on promotional tours after the movie's release.

After all, how do you go on a promotional tour for this film?
Should I go on a publicity spree with Zhao Liying? That would be putting the cart before the horse.

Chen Mo knew, of course, that someone was stirring things up behind the scenes when these sudden criticisms arose, but he genuinely didn't care.

Some even felt that this group of people were overthinking things.

This controversy really doesn't hurt at all. You could say that the biggest difference between "The Flying Swordsman" and other movies is that what they said is actually true; there really isn't much of a plot!
But that's precisely why they can't criticize anything! They can only criticize things like business speculation.

It's harmless!
Controversy did not hinder the box office momentum of "The Flying Swordsman". On December 14, the film's daily box office rebounded again, reaching 180 million yuan, breaking the weekday record, and the total box office exceeded 700 million yuan.

Now, even the instigators were dumbfounded. What the hell is going on?
Is it really necessary to be so aggressive?
Although this controversy did not affect "Swordsman Online", it was actually quite annoying.

If it's a spontaneous discussion among everyone, that's fine, Chen Mo can accept it.

But when it comes to business competition, well, I'm sorry.

Come and don't go indecent.

Anyway, Chen Mo was too lazy to find out who was behind all this trouble. It was probably just the interest groups behind the movies that were about to be released.

He hadn't originally planned to promote the film in a high-profile way, but since they had come knocking on his door, there was no point in being polite.
On December 15, in response to criticism of "piling up IPs", Chen Mo responded on Weibo, which is rare for him: "The collaboration is not an Easter egg treasure hunt game, but a way to reconstruct the shared memory of Xianxia culture through a wedding ceremony - just like how every passerby in 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival' has their own story."

However, this was just the beginning. Subsequently, Chen Mo directly instructed his team to produce a series of videos called "Frame by Frame Analysis," dissecting the traditional cultural symbols hidden in the images frame by frame, such as the veins of the money plant leaf subtly corresponding to the hexagrams in the Book of Changes, which directly fueled a wave of research and textual criticism.

Of course, Chen Mo was also somewhat surprised that "The Flying Swordsman" had reached this point, and he was also curious about how far this "unique" film could go.

(End of this chapter)