The popularity of "The Cultivator" exceeded everyone's expectations.
Overnight, it seemed like everyone—both in real life and online—had heard of this xianxia film.
"It’s so good! The visuals are absolutely stunning!"
"The screenwriter’s imagination is insane—how did they blend xianxia with reality so seamlessly? I’ve been questioning my life ever since watching it."
"Honestly, it makes me wonder if we really did have a xianxia era in the past, and it just faded away due to dwindling spiritual energy."
"Ahhh, I can’t move on! After watching, I kept chanting ‘I’m willing to believe in you’ to my dog at home."
"Were the immortal palaces really filmed on location? Oh my god, are those structures even possible in real life? I heard the sets haven’t been dismantled yet—I want to see them! I’d even pay for tickets!!!"
"How did they make every character so fleshed out? Even the villains feel so believable. Wuwuwu, I never knew xianxia could be this amazing—I’m obsessed!"
"I’m out of words to praise it, so I’ll just keep repeating: it’s so good, so good, SO GOOD!!"
Within just three days of its release, fanworks for "The Cultivator" were already flooding the internet.
In the group chats Sheng Quan was part of, memes featuring the film’s characters spread like wildfire.
"Who can resist little money money.jpg" (Master Kuke ecstatically diving into a pile of gold and jewels)
"Greedy inhale.jpg" (the antagonist Hu Yang absorbing spiritual energy)
"The joy of work is beyond your imagination.jpg" (the Hua Miao Sect Leader miserably hauling a brick of spirit stones taller than himself)
Not only did Sheng Quan happily join in, but she also contributed two memes of her own, smugly watching as her group friends stole them.
She’d known during the internal screenings that these scenes would make perfect memes—hahahaha.
Beyond fan art and memes, the shipping frenzy among netizens had already reached absurd heights in just three days.
It felt like any two characters could be paired together—fellow disciples, sworn rivals, fleeting encounters, even characters who never interacted in the film somehow became irresistible ships.
Even Lord Hua Mei, who only appeared in dialogue as a long-fallen figure from antiquity, became the undisputed star of the fanfiction wave.
Sheng Quan never underestimated the power of fandom. A surge of fanworks didn’t just prove that the story inspired love and creativity—it proved that its characters had truly "come alive" in the audience’s eyes.
This organic, snowballing expansion of "The Cultivator’s" fanbase meant the film effortlessly claimed victory with minimal promotional effort.
From the second day onward, its daily box office earnings topped the charts.
General Manager Fang and the others were over the moon. Truthfully, while they’d expected "The Cultivator" to perform well, no one had been entirely free of worry.
One disadvantage of "The Cultivator" was its staggering budget.
As the primary investor, Sheng Quan had poured in 310 million yuan, while others collectively added over 90 million.
That totaled 400 million yuan—real, hard cash.
The kicker? While the entertainment industry often splurges on big-name actors, "The Cultivator" had mostly cast unknowns, meaning nearly every cent went into production.
When audiences marveled at the "realistic xianxia world," they weren’t wrong—the film had gone all out to create it.
The other investors winced at every financial report, often wondering if they’d boarded a sinking ship.
Big-budget films weren’t unheard of, but most poured money into A-list stars to guarantee fan turnout. "The Cultivator," however, bet everything on production quality—a high-wire act that left the investors sweating.
Still, with no turning back, they gritted their teeth and pressed on.
Occasionally, they’d half-jokingly prod Sheng Quan:
"On-location filming is such a money pit—just the flights cost a fortune. Green screens and post-production VFX would’ve been fine; audiences wouldn’t notice."
"The props didn’t need to be this detailed. A little filter magic, and they’d look just as real."
"Did we really need custom costumes for every extra? Sure, the leads, but background characters? Hundreds of outfits just to be blurry pixels on screen?"
Sheng Quan, of course, tuned them out.
To the other investors, she was the epitome of a spoiled rich kid—burning cash without a care.
Invest 100 million? Break-even at 400 million.
Invest 400 million? You’d need 1.2 billion just to stay afloat.
1.2 billion! As if that grew on trees!
Even if the film succeeded, the pressure was immense—hence their desperate efforts to maximize returns.
No one wanted to risk a massive investment for meager profits.
Then, "The Cultivator" opened with a jaw-dropping 170 million yuan on day one… and kept climbing.
By day three, it had crossed 900 million.
The other investors: "…"
At subsequent dinners, whenever Sheng Quan ordered a soft drink, three others would chime in, "I’ll also have a drink—gotta stay healthy."
It was clear: the film’s earnings were ballooning with its hype.
Even the "wasteful expenses" they’d criticized were now being spotlighted by euphoric fans.
"The costumes are exquisite—even the gatekeeper disciples’ robes are gorgeous."
"I can’t pinpoint why, but every frame is perfect. Three viewings in, and I’m ready for a fourth."
"The dedication is unreal. Those mountains, trees, and grass were all real? It’s so immersive! I’ve already forced everyone I know to watch it—go Cultivator!!!"
The lesson? Audiences have taste.
Every ounce of effort poured into "The Cultivator" was repaid tenfold by its fans.
Just three days in, and the internet was already flooded with demands to throw money at the franchise.
[Release merch! Take my money!]
[When will the immortal palaces open to the public? My wallet is ready.]
[Those mythical beasts were SO COOL—especially the Qiongqi! A life-sized figure would be an instant buy!!!]
The other investors: "…"
Sheng Quan had pushed for pre-ordered merchandise against all advice.
When some items were priced too high, none of them had followed suit.
Now, at the peak of its popularity when the audience is most passionate, Sheng Quan has a vast collection of exquisite merchandise.
Calculating the cost price versus the selling price of these items...
General Manager Fang was the first to speak: "Haha, the younger generation."
"Only the young truly understand the young. If we were a few years younger, we’d definitely be customizing these too."
The others chimed in: "Absolutely!"
"Honestly, I wanted to invest alongside Chairman Sheng back then, but the funds just weren’t ready."
Amid the laughter and chatter, it was as if nothing had ever happened.
Then, at the next gathering,
everyone suggested meeting at a teahouse. Chairman Sheng dislikes drinking parties? No problem—they’d skip the alcohol. After all, they weren’t particularly fond of drinking either.
What? Trying to please Chairman Sheng?
Nonsense!
It’s just about healthy living!
