"Death Approaches"? When was this filmed?
Welt Yang clicked on the video, unable to contain his anticipation. He was curious about what kind of surprise Su Chen had prepared for him this time.
After two brief and seemingly ordinary minutes, Welt Yang felt a surge of adrenaline rush to his head—not because the video was particularly thrilling, but because the cultural elements of China were powerfully showcased. A sense of national pride welled up in his heart.
Yet, as he watched the subsequent clips, he grew puzzled. "Why are there versions in Japanese, Korean, and even English languages?"
"Actually, 'Death Omen Approaches' was filmed a long time ago. It wasn't smooth sailing at first—Ying Xing took some time to adjust to Blade's identity. Fortunately, he's now perfectly suited for that deranged persona." Su Chen took a sip of hot water to soothe his throat.
"The web series has been out for so long that platforms from these regions have already reached out to me. I've just been carefully selecting reliable partners. While you were away, I finally signed the contracts. This way, our work can truly go global."
"However, they suggested releasing two or three PVs first to gauge market reactions. I think that's feasible."
"The story of the Luofu is crucial—extremely crucial! Because it embodies our national style, it's the perfect opportunity to export our own culture. It's time for our 'friends', those who live comfortably in Japan and Korea every day, to witness the profound cultural heritage of our vast Country."
"Some things can't just be 'applied for heritage status' and taken away. What our ancestors accumulated over thousands of years isn't so easily stolen."
Welt Yang nodded approvingly. In his heart, Su Chen perfectly embodied the patriotic persona.
That's right—who says China can't produce great web series? Who says we can't make amazing games? Aside from men's soccer, there's nothing China can't achieve!
——
On an overseas video platform, the release of "Death Approaches" stirred waves on what should have been a quiet night.
[Hoyoverse made this PV? Why is it on our local platform?]
[Baka! It must mean the platform secured the rights!]
[Yes! Before this, we only had clips and explanations from streamers covering Seasons 1 and 2. This is the first time we can officially watch licensed content!]
[Can't we watch it on Bilibili?]
[Bilibili is region-locked by Hoyoverse. You'd need a VPN, and your Chinese better be top-tier because Hoyoverse only releases Chinese versions in China.]
[It's just a PV—no confirmation if the full series will be released.]
[Matte kudasai! This is just a test run. If the data looks good, they'll release it properly.]
[Our Country's anime output is so strong—why would anyone want to watch stuff from China?]
[Sou desu ne! I watched some Honkai: Star Rail explanations, and honestly, it's pretty mid. Can't even compare to a single strand of hair from our glorious Jujutsu Kaisen!!!]
[Ah, sugoi! I totally agree.]
[You don't get it. A lot of the web series' lore is hidden in Hoyoverse's Interactive Cinema Theme Park. So it's not just about the series—you have to participate in offline events to fully understand the story.]
[Nani? China actually has something like that? For real? Building an actual immersive world?]
[Just watch it—then you'll see what they're really up to!]
The moment the video dropped, netizens from Japan and Korea had already built a skyscraper of comments.
Meanwhile, many had already clicked on the video, unaware that just two minutes would be enough to captivate their souls.
——
The Hoyoverse logo flashed briefly before the screen plunged into darkness.
Before any visuals appeared, heavy, deliberate footsteps echoed—oppressive and slow, deliberately distorted in the audio mix.
Of course, this was Hoyoverse's intentional choice. From the very first second, they were telling the audience: Blade is a broken man.
In a pitch-black room, hollow footsteps reverberated like the opening of a ghost story.
Then, light flickered onto the screen as the melancholic notes of a guqin played.
A lone figure slowly unsheathed his sword.
The camera panned, swiftly pulling back to the upper left as he swung his blade downward in a clean, devastating arc.
The character's motion and the camera's movement synchronized flawlessly.
In mere seconds, the entire scene was established.
Not only that—the sword swing, paired with the pipa's sharp notes and the gleam of the blade, delivered an overwhelming impact.
And yet, in the video, this entire sequence lasted only 13 seconds.
[WAHHHHHHH!!! WHAT?! THIS IS TOO COOL!!!]
[I know this character! He's Blade! He appeared in earlier PVs but hasn't shown up in the web series yet. Is this badass finally making his debut?]
[The opening music—what is this melody? So elegant, yet soul-piercing, even eerie! China's cultural depth is insane.]
[True. Japanese culture was heavily influenced by China, after all.]
[Ugh! Damn it! He's too charismatic! And it's only been 13 seconds! First time seeing a PV this cool—I'd even call him 'waifu'!]
[That sword swing—SUGOI! SUGOI!]
[Actually, all of this was passed down from Korea, FYI.]
[Piss off! Why don't you take a spaceship and see what else in the universe belongs to you?]
[We have historical records! We're applying for heritage status—clothing, sword designs, even the instruments! We could make a video like this too!]
[Yosh! Time to showcase your thieving culture again! The Emperor gives you a thumbs-up!]
[LMAO! Where are these comments coming from? I'm dying! Keep watching!]
——
As Blade casually swung his sword, the silhouettes of Cloud Knights flickered briefly before being sliced apart.
Blade strode forward leisurely, his blade dragging along the ground, carving a "river of blood" from which blooming spider lilies emerged.
To all viewers, this scene evoked the chilling impression that "he came from hell."
Even if they couldn't fully grasp the intended symbolism, an involuntary shudder ran down their spines—
They couldn't help but want to scream "666!"
A thick mist loomed ahead of Blade as the camera pulled back.
From behind him, a horde of Cloud Knight "wraiths" crawled forth, accompanied by grotesque, sticky sound effects that amplified the sense of corruption.
It was as if Blade was haunted by evil spirits, destined to be hunted by vengeful souls!