As the paper-cut animations scrolled by, accompanied by a narrator's storytelling tone, the video continued to unfold.
This type of PV often carries a stronger narrative quality, so in terms of cinematography and pacing, it doesn't rely too much on flashy techniques.
However, as a form of intangible cultural heritage of China, the art of paper-cutting is more than enough to captivate overseas audiences.
"This history began eight thousand years ago, when an ancient emperor yearned for eternal life and undying achievements."
Following the narrator's introduction, the screen depicted an empire modeled after the universally revered First Emperor of China, his aura overwhelming as he unified the land.
With a wave of his hand, several airships appeared on the screen, sailing into the distance.
" He sent our Xianzhou ancentors into the astral seas, And through the boundless stellar reaches they sailed, great ships in isolation softly veiled.
The narrator delivered the lines with a melodic cadence, giving them a unique charm.
"After more than two thousand years of solitary voyage, the people of the Xianzhou finally discovered traces of the divine."
Even in the form of paper-cutting, the graceful figure of the deity was unmistakable.
"'The Plague Author' manifested, bestowing upon the Xianzhou people boundless longevity."
The deity dropped a single plant from its hand, which instantly grew into a towering tree.
Around the tree knelt countless devotees who had received its blessing.
"Yet, the blessing was also a curse! Beings who surpassed the limits of life became an undying calamity plaguing the cosmos!"
"And thus, the Alliance's long and peaceful years, were lost in sickness, treachery, blood, and tears."
The narrator's sixteen-word maxim, paired with the shifting visuals, succinctly conveyed the disasters wrought by immortality.
From this point onward, the barrage of comments grew restless.
[Who was that emperor earlier? Does anyone know?]
[The First Emperor of China, similar to Japan's Tokugawa Ieyasu—he unified all of China. Of course, the land of China back then was far vaster than Japan's, so you can imagine how difficult it was!]
[No wonder he had such an imposing aura! And this art style is so interesting too!]
[It's China's paper-cutting art, rich in cultural heritage.]
[Don't even get me started on that scene where branches suddenly grew out of that person—it gave me chills! The paper-cut style doesn't lose to any other medium; just a couple of scenes conveyed it perfectly.]
[The deity mentioned here seems to be the Aeon of Abundance, Yaoshi. It must have been Yaoshi who granted immortality. Isn't a blessing a good thing?]
[Why is immortality a disease? Does it mean the physical mutations later were caused by immortality?]
——
With a "snap,"
the giant tree split in two at its trunk.
"At this critical juncture of survival, 'The Reignbow Arbiter' descended to shield the drifting Xianzhou in the sea of stars. The Xianzhou roamed the starry seas, hunting demons and purging corruption for five thousand years."
"The Hunt" Aeon Lan raised its bow and drew its arrow.
In the next moment, countless radiant arrows gathered in its hand and shot into the starry sea.
"Commanding these six Xianzhou ships were the Seven Arbiter Generals—the vanguard of 'The Hunt.'"
"Behold, at the Marshal's side stand the six Xianzhou Generals."
Fierce and swift is Feixiao, the Merlin's Claw (Yaoqing)!
In the video, a winged tiger soared across the sky,
making viewers think of the phrase "like giving wings to a tiger." This divine beast representing Feixiao also resembled the tiger tally wielded by ancient generals.
Just a few seconds of footage conveyed a wealth of information.
[Bakayarou, I can't take it—I need to study China's culture, or I won't understand any of this!]
[Yeah, if the third season is going to focus on the Xianzhou's story, and the Xianzhou is based on one of China's dynasties, not knowing anything will leave us completely lost!]
[Ugh, how am I supposed to study all this? There's so much—when will I finish before the third season releases?]
[Wuwu… I love the paper-cutting and this art style so much!]
[And the narrator's tone—I can't understand it, but it's so full of charm!]
——
" Strong and righteous is Huaiyan, the Flaming Heart! (Zhuoming)"
A fiery lotus stood at the center of the frame—this was the imagery representing General Zhuyuan.
" Cautious and sophisticated is Yaoguang, the Seer Strategist! (Yuque)"
Here, the corresponding imagery was a Bagua formation diagram.
Japan, with its long-standing fascination with China's Three Kingdoms lore, was naturally familiar with such formations.
" Mighty and powerful is Xuanquan, the Seiche Queller! (Fanghu)"
The scene depicted surging waves and a turbulent sea.
" Mysterious and fair is Youwu, the Patina Justice! (Xuling)"
Here, countless soldiers stood in perfect formation—those familiar with China's history would recognize them as the Terracotta Army, exuding an awe-inspiring presence.
"Wise and brave is Jing Yuan, the Divine Foresight! (Luofu)"
The depiction of General Shence differed from the others, instead showcasing the entirety of the Luofu.
"Each of the Seven Arbiter Generals possesses extraordinary talents. But when it comes to our 'Luofu's' General Jing Yuan, none can deny his unparalleled wisdom and foresight!"
In the video, a golden colossus raised its arm, brandishing a massive blade.
"This is…
With cunning stratagems, he crushed the Borisin,
Deceiving the heavens to seize the banner,
Victory from afar, no plan left unturned!"
At this moment, the golden colossus swung its blade forward, unleashing a radiant light.
Meanwhile, overseas viewers had long entered a state of bewilderment.
A few short words encapsulated an entire universe, and without a foundation in China's culture,
from the introductions of the generals onward, they were utterly lost.
Fortunately, some who had seen it before recognized "Jing Yuan," the only somewhat familiar name.
[I genuinely didn't understand a single word, even with translations.]
[Even translated, it doesn't carry the same weight. I've studied a bit of China's language, but I can barely recognize these characters.]
[This is really making me realize how fascinating China's history and culture are—the blend of ancient and modern is just sugoi!]
——
Suddenly, the screen flashed white, and the scene changed again.
Jing Yuan leaned against a lion, resting his cheek on one hand as he faced a Chinese-style chessboard.
Now, his voice echoed in the video:
"An army must be of one heart and mind, or skillful sleight of hand is little use."
Jing Yuan placed a piece on the board—clearly, it was the "General" piece.
" The Cloud Knights entrusted their lives to me,"
he pushed the piece forward with a single finger, " I shall not fail them!"
Then, the camera rapidly zoomed out, revealing countless Cloud Knights.
Without exception, they shouted in unison:
Glory to the Xianzhou, glory to the Cloud Knights!
Glory to the Xianzhou, glory to the Cloud Knights!
Glory to the Xianzhou, glory to the Cloud Knights!
The Hunt is with us!
"..."
The screen finally faded to black, but another distinct voice spoke:
" Quite the story, Master Gongshu."
Then, the familiar logo of the Express lit up.
Yet, just as everyone thought it was over,
the video slowly displayed a few large words:
"High-Cloud Quintet: The Movie—Coming Soon to Theaters!"