The premiere of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" was a massive hit.
The overwhelming popularity shocked competitors, filling them with envy.
This drama was arguably Star Brilliance's first full-scale promotional effort, with both Jiangnan and Tingyu involved in the campaign.
The results were overwhelmingly dominant compared to other shows airing simultaneously, and even historically.
It was at this point that everyone finally understood that Jiangnan and Tingyu had no rivals in the domestic entertainment industry. With these two leading them, Star Brilliance Entertainment was poised for a complete rise, potentially even surpassing established entertainment companies.
After all, Jiangnan had secured an international film festival for Star Brilliance, the highest echelon of film events. Top film companies from across the Blue Star would meticulously prepare their works for this festival, striving for the championship.
As long as Jiangnan achieved good results at the international film festival, he would secure a place for himself not only in the domestic entertainment scene but also in the entire Blue Star film industry.
Tingyu, of course, was in a league of his own.
With "King of Music Era" more than halfway through its run, he had transformed from an underdog to the current "dark horse," his popularity surpassing even the American Shawn. He had become the most talked-about figure in the entire "King of Music Era" competition.
Moreover, Tingyu was now a strong favorite to win. His chances of winning were the highest in the global music scene.
While the former's consistent victories were thrilling, most people yearned to see an underdog story, a comeback victory. Tingyu perfectly fit this narrative. The thought of him defeating the formidable Shawn to become the world champion was incredibly exciting.
...
The next day.
Although many had already watched the premiere of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" the previous evening, a significant number of people had not due to work or other commitments. For them, the only option was to stream it on Penguin Video.
Initially, everyone assumed that Jiangnan's broadcast model would negatively impact online viewership data.
However, to everyone's surprise, "The Return of the Condor Heroes" on Penguin Video garnered thirty million views within just two hours of its release!
Five hours later, it reached an astonishing one hundred million!
Fueled by such immense popularity, "The Return of the Condor Heroes" naturally climbed to the number one spot on Penguin Video's trending list.
iArt Video.
Conference Room.
The executives wore grim expressions, looking worse than if they had eaten something terrible.
When Penguin Video had courted Jiangnan, they had been the most vocal in their mockery, criticizing Penguin Video for lacking principles and deserving the contempt of all their peers.
But now, as Penguin Video was making a fortune, they could only stare at the impressive data with resentment.
"Damn it, seeing them make money feels worse than us losing money!"
"I advocated for being friendly with Jiangnan, but who was it that said Jiangnan wouldn't amount to much?"
"We've been collaborating with Guangnian Entertainment all these years, and Jiangnan is Guangnian's rival. Who could have predicted he would grow this quickly..."
"We backed the wrong horse this time, but there was nothing we could do. Who would have known that a mere editor like Jiangnan could surpass an established film company like Guangnian Entertainment."
"Sigh... I hate to admit it, but Liu Cheng, that bastard, truly has foresight!"
Witnessing the explosive success of "The Return of the Condor Heroes," the iArt Film conference room was filled with curses and regrets.
For years, iArt Film, by aligning itself with Guangnian Entertainment, had maintained an advantage over Penguin Film in terms of film and television resources.
However, none of them had anticipated that Penguin Film, by simply aligning with Jiangnan, could challenge the entire Guangnian Entertainment.
Especially when Guangnian Entertainment was affected by public opinion and its productions faced significant setbacks, this move by Penguin Film had directly seized market share.
The most frustrating part was that iArt Film had no recourse. Penguin had secured exclusive broadcasting rights for Jiangnan's work, and Guangnian Entertainment lacked any compelling productions to contest the market share. They could only watch helplessly as Penguin snatched the market.
...
The second day of "The Return of the Condor Heroes" premiere.
Just like the first day, many families gathered in front of their televisions after dinner, eagerly awaiting the drama.
Today's plot continued to be captivating, with Guo Jing taking the young Yang Guo to Zhongnan Mountain.
This was followed by the storyline within the Tomb of the Living Dead.
This segment was crucial for establishing the character of Xiaolongnü.
Qin Xiaorou had become incredibly popular after portraying Zhao Ling'er in "The Legend of the Sword and Fairy," and subsequently starred in several other dramas, receiving excellent reviews.
Her portrayal of Xiaolongnü in this instance immediately captivated the audience.
A celestial being!
A pure and unblemished celestial maiden!
The daily interactions between Xiaolongnü and Yang Guo further fleshed out her character, making her more three-dimensional.
"I declare, my goddess has changed from Huang Rong to Xiaolongnü!"
"Exactly, Xiaolongnü is simply too perfect!"
"If Huang Rong's character remained the same as in 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes,' I'd still prefer a lively and cute type. Xiaolongnü feels like an ethereal fairy. Just looking at her, any hint of ulterior motives feels like a defilement."
"My goddess, this is truly a goddess!"
"White robes fluttering, a cold and ethereal beauty, in this somber ancient tomb, she possesses an aura of unsullied purity."
After these four episodes aired, they concluded precisely at the part where Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü were practicing the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra, leaving the audience even more eager for the subsequent plot.
From the narrative arc, it was clear that Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü's time in the ancient tomb was fostering mutual affection.
The "Auntie" and "Guo'er" appellations further excited many "CP" fans.
It seemed that in this era, CPs with special identities resonated more with viewers.
Take for instance terms like "sister-in-law," "aunt," or "married woman."
These invariably heightened excitement.
Similar to the first day, after the drama aired, many netizens flocked to the "The Return of the Condor Heroes" topic to discuss the plot.
"Today's plot was excellent, especially the scenes between Guo'er and Auntie, which made me smile like a doting parent the whole time!"
"I get it, knowing Jiangnan the old scoundrel's usual style, all this sweetness in the beginning must mean there's a knife waiting for us later!"
"Tell me, in which episode does Xiaolongnü die? After watching Jiangnan's works, I'm mentally prepared for this."
"I've completely figured out Jiangnan the old scoundrel's style. Even if it gets painful later, it will be very sweet at first. I'll watch the early episodes and then decide whether to continue based on the reactions of other netizens."
"Haha, it seems netizens have really figured out Jiangnan the old scoundrel. They've completely got him now!"
Many netizens claimed to have mastered Jiangnan's style and developed a seasoned approach to watching his dramas.
As long as they skipped the final few episodes and waited for the reactions of other netizens, they wouldn't be caught off guard by unexpected heartbreak.
Consequently, the comment section for the topic remained peaceful.
Not only were people discussing the plot released over the past two days, but many netizens were also predicting the subsequent storyline.
Based on the current plot, Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü would undoubtedly develop their skills in the ancient tomb sect and eventually venture into the martial world. The plot itself was not a concern for them. Regarding the acting, since the main cast comprised Jiangnan's established team, they had high confidence. Many netizens expressed that once the story unfolded, it would undoubtedly be incredibly exciting!