Chapter 77: Overwhelming Praise
Xia Jin sought out conversations everywhere, ultimately because he was nervous.
As a top-tier male superstar with a massive fanbase, he also faced no shortage of skepticism. Every year, the awards he won were for popularity and commercial value—his acting skills seemed untouchable.
This drama was his attempt to change the audience's perception of him.
After two episodes aired, the online reception was overwhelmingly positive.
["Ye Qiaofeng is truly Ye Qiaofeng—the visual effects and cinematography make me feel like I'm watching a movie."]
["The casting is perfect; every actor fits their role so well in these two episodes."]
["Even the costumes are exactly as described in the novel—it’s like they stepped right out of the book."]
["The plot flows smoothly without filler. The awakening of the Xuan Yuan bloodline in just two episodes is so satisfying to watch."]
["The visuals, effects, and acting are all top-notch. If the remaining 71 episodes maintain this quality, this drama will become a classic."]
["Xia Jin is such a pleasant surprise—did he undergo special training for his acting?"]
["Even as a girl, I got so pumped watching it that I want to read the original novel now."]
["If the show keeps up this quality, it deserves a perfect score."]
["Is this the first successful xuanhuan drama in the country?"]
...
Xia Jin had always been a polarizing figure, with many rivals in the industry. While forums and Weibo were flooded with praise, there were also plenty of threads mocking him.
["Let’s be real, is this acting worthy of an Best Actor award?"]
["Veteran actors clearly outclass him. He’s shamelessly trying to reinvent himself."]
["Can 'Ding Qian Kun' maintain this quality throughout?"]
...
The Douban rating was also overwhelmingly positive, though there were still malicious one-star reviews mixed in.
Xia Jin and Ye Xiaoxing, both long-time figures in the industry, had many anti-fans.
Despite this, the rating climbed to 7.9 the next day.
In recent years, few domestic dramas had reached a 7.9 rating. "Ding Qian Kun" boasted excellent quality, strong word-of-mouth, and limitless potential.
As a male-led drama directed by a devoted fan of the original novel, it strictly followed the source material, with the female lead and supporting actresses appearing later.
In the third episode, Yi Xinxin made her debut in a white robe with blue patterns, ethereal and graceful, her behavior charming and adorable, earning widespread praise.
Audiences noticed that the show’s quality didn’t drop—instead, each episode improved, and the actors’ performances grew even stronger.
By the eighth episode, Ji Yuxi appeared, clad in purple gauze, seated atop a phoenix, her spiritual power formidable, her demeanor enchanting and alluring.
Viewers had never seen Ye Xiaoxing like this before—beautiful yet seductive, dangerous yet tender.
["Ji Yuxi’s debut"] quickly soared to the top of Weibo’s Hot Search, with her styling and clips dominating the trending list.
Trending feeds overflowed with appearance worship and performance praise.
Only eight episodes in, the drama had already exploded in popularity, becoming a nationwide sensation.
Thriving in adversity, growing stronger under pressure—the show was incredibly satisfying.
Even among the original novel’s fans, the reception was overwhelmingly positive, with many recommending it to friends.
As everyone eagerly followed the story, they also looked forward to Qing Sha’s appearance—the descent of the Blue Lotus, a peerless beauty.
Finally, in Episode 14, Qing Sha made her entrance.
By the lotus pond, Qing Sha stood in white robes, cold and transcendent, stepping onto a blue lotus as she landed beside Xuan Yuan Zun. Her breathtaking beauty left him momentarily stunned.
The original novel described it thus:
"In that moment, Xuan Yuan Zun seemed to forget his pain. Gazing at the peerless beauty before him, he thought he was seeing a celestial being. This woman was cold and transcendent, her mere presence radiating such purity that no impure thought could dare arise."
Qing Sha stared at Xuan Yuan Zun, her beautiful eyes filled with a cold glint, and asked, "Who are you to dare intrude into my Yaochi?"
Xuan Yuan Zun seemed to have just regained his senses, parting his lips as if to speak—but then the scene froze, and the ending theme began to play.
Cutting off abruptly at the climax, the viewers who were eagerly following the drama couldn't help but curse in frustration.
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