It's reasonable for me, a stuntman, to live a crazy life, right?

Chapter 1381 of the Ghost Blows Out the Light series, "The Return to the Ruins of the South China Sea," officially concludes!

The first thing I did during this trip to Hangzhou was to inspect the dome stadium; the more important thing was to showcase the results to the leaders of the Asian Games.

After all, the project has been underway for almost a year, and the Asian Games will open next year. We need to deliver something substantial to live up to the trust and support we received.

Before coming, Chen Fei had thought that since Avatar 2 was showing in theaters and its visual effects were stunning, it would be perfect for testing the dome screen system, so he brought a full copy of the film.

That afternoon, several leaders in charge of cultural and sports projects arrived at the Olympic Sports Center on time.

Chen Fei stood with the others in the center of the stadium. Looking up, they could see the open dome above, with sunlight filtering through the steel frame and casting dappled shadows on the ground.

"Director Chen, what exactly makes this dome theater so special?" a leader asked with a smile, his tone filled with curiosity.

Chen Fei glanced at his watch and smiled, "You'll find out soon enough."

He then picked up the walkie-talkie and said, "Start."

As soon as he finished speaking, a slight mechanical hum suddenly filled the room.

Everyone looked up in astonishment, only to see that the previously separate steel dome above the stadium was slowly closing inwards, as if being pulled by an invisible hand.

A series of curved screens slid out from behind the steel frame, seamlessly assembling into a giant sphere that enveloped the entire venue.

As the light and shadow shifted, the originally bright space darkened, with only the surface of the dome emitting a faint blue light, as if one were suddenly in the night sky of Pandora, instantly maximizing the sense of science fiction!
"This...this is too spectacular!" one leader exclaimed.

Chen Fei then signaled to the technicians to play the video.

The next second, the scenes from Avatar 2 slowly unfolded on the 360-degree dome screen.

The Na'vi swam through the ocean, bioluminescent creatures swam overhead, and the explosions of warships seemed to burst right before their eyes...

Even without 3D glasses, the 3D effect is more impactful than that of a regular cinema!
Everyone felt as if they were truly standing on the beach of Pandora, even their breathing slowed down in sync with the plot.

As Jack and his family evaded capture underwater, the water mist system around the dome suddenly activated, sending a cool mist over them. Combined with the shaking of the seats, everyone in the audience instinctively held their breath.

After the screening ended, the dome screen slowly opened, and sunlight flooded in again.

However, the leaders remained stunned for a long time before enthusiastic applause broke out.

"Director Chen, this result has far exceeded our expectations!" The head of Hangzhou's cultural and sports affairs department turned around excitedly and shook Chen Fei's hand tightly. "With this dome theater, the technology demonstration segment of next year's Asian Games will definitely be a sight to behold for the world!"

Chen Fei nodded with a smile.

After nearly a year of hard work, it was all worth it.

This is not only an explanation of the project, but also a direct demonstration that China's venue technology is already capable of supporting world-class visual feasts!

……

As soon as the inspection work in Hangzhou was completed, Chen Fei did not linger and boarded a plane back to the capital that afternoon.

The premiere of "The Return of the South China Sea" is scheduled for tomorrow, and as a representative of the production company, he must attend.

Meanwhile, another new film has been added to the domestic Lunar New Year film season.

Someday or One Day (movie version)!

This production, co-produced by Wanda Pictures and Hualian Pictures, retains the core cast of the TV series.

With the return of Ko Chia-yen, Greg Hsu, and Patrick Shih, the mere mention of "the original cast" is enough to make fans cheer with joy.

However, despite the hype, its performance did not meet Wanda's expectations.

The box office was 4036 million on the first day, and only 1.03 million in the first three days.

Although breaking even is not a problem compared to the investment cost, making a profit is not so easy.

To achieve the same level of success as "The Octagon" by relying on word-of-mouth and making huge profits is even more difficult!
This also left its production company, Wanda Pictures, deeply disappointed.

Speaking of Wanda Pictures, these past few years have not been easy.

The debt hole left by the blind expansion in the past few years has not yet been filled, and the film and television sector has suffered repeated setbacks.

Large-scale productions that are independently invested in either flop at the box office or are shelved due to issues with the subject matter.

Low-budget films failed to make a splash, and net profit declined for three consecutive years, long since losing its former glory as a "film and television giant".

What's even more worrying is Wanda Cinemas.

As a former leader in the domestic cinema industry, its attendance rate has continued to decline in the past two years due to the repeated outbreaks of the pandemic and insufficient film supply.

In addition, the emergence of new cinemas in recent years has diverted viewership, resulting in a nearly 30% year-on-year decrease in revenue per screen, which has also strained the parent company's cash flow.

Wanda's core real estate and cultural tourism sectors are also under pressure, with overall profits shrinking significantly, making asset sales an unavoidable path...

Chen Fei has been receiving messages from Ye Ning and Zhou Shouzi for the past few days.

For example, the most crucial point is that Wanda has truly reached its breaking point and has decided to sell its cinema assets, with the timing set after the Spring Festival, hoping to leverage the holiday season's popularity to raise the asking price.

“They are not selling it all at once,” Zhou Shouzi added in the message. “They plan to transfer it in batches, first offering 30% of the shares to test the waters, and then seeing how the market reacts to the rest. Wang Jianlin is still reluctant to give up this lucrative opportunity and wants to leave room for maneuver.”

Chen Fei looked at the message and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

Wanda Cinemas has a presence in major cities across the country, with prime locations, making it a target he has always wanted to bring under his umbrella.

He has remained inactive for the past few years, controlling the expansion of Pan Asia Cinemas, and this is the moment he has been waiting for!
“Take your time with them,” he replied to Ye Ning. “Don’t rush to lower the price. They’ll only be more anxious after the Spring Festival. We have plenty of time. Let’s wait until they put their terms out in the open.”

For him, the key to this game has never been speed, but patience.

After all, those who are in a hurry to play their cards are more likely to reveal their weaknesses.

Of course, besides patience, you also have to be wary of others taking credit for your work, such as Ruyi, which is controlled by Tencent.

In the past, Wanda's shares were ultimately taken by the "Ruyi Group," so we still need to remain vigilant.

"Strike when the iron is hot. Under appropriate circumstances, we can give Wanda a good selling point and make it a safe and secure landing."

Chen Fei sent Zhou Shouzi another message and then hurried home.

His son is waiting for him to bring back a gift.

With kindergarten out for the holidays and Liu Yifei busy filming in Yunnan, the task of taking care of the kids at night naturally fell to him, their father.

……

December 28, Pan Asia Cinema, Beijing.

The red carpet at the premiere of "The Return of the South China Sea" was packed with media and audience members.

As soon as Chen Fei got out of the car, a barrage of flashes went off.

A reporter seized the opportunity to ask loudly, "Director Chen, as the final installment of the 'Ghost Blows Out the Light' series, are you under a lot of pressure with 'The Return of the South China Sea'?"

Chen Fei responded with a smile: "There is definitely pressure, but more than that, there is anticipation. The team spent two years polishing the script, and it took three months just to build the underwater scenes. We hope to show the audience a different kind of adventure story."

"May 'The Return of the South China Sea' be a box office smash! May it crush 'Avatar 2'!" "Thank you, thank you everyone."

Amid the attention of numerous media outlets, movie fans, and passersby, Chen Fei walked alone across the red carpet and entered the premiere venue.

The theater was bustling with activity; almost everyone there was either a direct associate or a partner of Feiyue Films.

As soon as he entered, Shu Chang hurried over to greet him, her face beaming with anticipation: "Where's Yi Fei? Didn't she come?"

Chen Fei smiled and shook his head: "I'm still filming 'The Room Next Door' in Yunnan, I can't get away."

"Oh..." Upon hearing this, Shu Chang's lips drooped slightly, like a deflated little rabbit, and she pouted gently, "It's been so long since I've seen her?"

However, her disappointment didn't last long. Her eyes lit up again: "It's okay. I'll have some free time after the movie is released. I'll just fly to Yunnan to visit her!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Fei suddenly remembered something and added, "It just so happens that I spoke to her on the phone yesterday, and she said she really misses Xiao Shitou. If you go over, please bring the child along so that she and her son can meet."

"No problem!" Shu Chang immediately patted her chest and agreed.

As the two were chatting, Ning Hao and Xing Aina walked over from the other side.

Ning Hao looked exceptionally smart today; the black suit made him appear much taller than usual, though the thick gold chain around his neck was rather eye-catching.

Xing Aina, dressed in a champagne-colored long dress, looked proud and walked briskly, arm in arm with her husband.

"Oh, you've finally arrived." Ning Hao smiled at Chen Fei. "I was just saying that I felt uneasy without you here to keep things in order."

Xing Aina leaned closer to Chen Fei, her voice brimming with barely suppressed excitement: "You have no idea, my Ning Hao spent almost a year on set for this film. He drew three huge storyboards just for the underwater scenes, and he came home every day smelling of disinfectant."

As she spoke, she glanced at Ning Hao beside her, her tone tinged with reproach, but her eyes revealed a mixture of heartache and pride.

"But looking back now, it was worth it! I just watched a clip backstage, and the special effects and visuals are way better than Avatar 2!"

Ning Hao was a little embarrassed by the praise and scratched his head: "Don't listen to her nonsense, we still have to see if the audience will accept it."

He spoke modestly, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up in a smile.

After a few casual words, the spotlights at the front of the theater suddenly came on, and the host's clear voice rang out: "The global premiere of 'The Return of the South China Sea' is now beginning!"

The main creative team members walked onto the stage one by one, with Ning Hao, as the director, surrounded in the middle.

Xing Aina stood below the stage, her eyes fixed on her husband, her smile brighter than anyone else's.

This was a highlight moment for the entire team behind "The Return of the South China Sea". Chen Fei didn't join in the fun, but sat down in the front row and quietly watched the stage.

Ning Hao answered reporters' questions clearly and logically, occasionally throwing in a couple of humorous remarks that drew laughter from the audience.

After the interactive session ended, the lights in the theater suddenly dimmed.

The screen began to show the deep blue sea, and the movie officially started.

As soon as the "ghost ship" emerged from the thick fog, its hull covered in seaweed swaying with the waves, and even the grain of the rotting planks clearly visible, someone in the front row exclaimed, "The texture is amazing! It looks even more realistic than the underwater scenes in Avatar 2!"

As Hu Bayi and his companions dived into the deep sea, a giant octopus tentacle suddenly emerged from the darkness, bringing with it a sense of oppressive pressure from the water vapor, causing another collective gasp in the theater.

"My god! The special effects are amazing! It's much more interesting than watching alien fish; at least these sea monsters look more realistic!"

When the ancient tomb's mechanism is activated, the coral-built walls unfold layer by layer, revealing the bronze coffin hidden within. The patterns on the coffin flow in the shimmering water, as if they have come to life.

One viewer couldn't help but slap their thigh and exclaimed, "This is what Eastern fantasy should be! It's a hundred times better than the lighting technology in Avatar 2. Every frame is meticulously crafted!"

The light and shadow on the screen kept changing, and gasps of amazement rose and fell in the theater:

"The details of this shipwreck are amazing!"

"I feel that the underwater fighting is more exciting than the chase scenes in Avatar 2."

"Finally, there's a domestic film where special effects and story go hand in hand."

These sounds, blended with the sound effects of ocean waves, became the best praise for all members of Ning Hao's "South China Sea Ruins".

When the end credits read "Production Company: Feiyue Films," the entire audience erupted in applause, louder than ever before!

The eight words "[Feiyue Production, Only the Best]" have long been deeply engraved in the hearts of countless movie fans.

Meanwhile, as the premiere of "The Return of the South China Sea" came to a close, "Desperate Househusband," starring Chang Yuan, also held its premiere.

However, the difference in popularity between the two films is like heaven and earth, completely incomparable.

……

Before we knew it, it was December 30th, and the final installment of the Ghost Blows Out the Light film series, "The Return of the South China Sea," was officially released!
On this day, almost every screening of "The Return of the South China Sea" in cinemas across the country was sold out!
Many longtime fans who have followed the series since "Candle in the Tomb" walked into the theater with their ticket stubs in hand, some even clutching the original novel with its worn edges.

As the final installment of the Ghost Blows Out the Light film series, everyone is eager to see what kind of performance Ning Hao will deliver, and even more curious to see if the plot holes that have been left unresolved for years can be properly filled in.

Less than half an hour into the film, the audience was thoroughly shocked!
The underwater coral spiral is even more stunning than in the trailer, with glowing coral clusters undulating with the ocean currents and prehistoric giant fish weaving through the light and shadow...

The exquisite texture and immersive experience even impressed viewers of Avatar 2, who exclaimed, "The underwater effects are just as good as Cameron's, and even have a stronger sense of Eastern fantasy!"

What truly excites fans of the original work is the filling in of all the plot holes.

The origin of the tomb raiding talisman around Hu Bayi's neck is revealed in the middle of the film through Shirley Yang's memories.

It turns out that this was one of the three talismans that her maternal grandfather, Partridge Whistle, risked his life to retrieve in Blackwater City, and he specially left it for his descendants to use for "finding the dragon's lair," which perfectly echoes Partridge Whistle's side story in "The Lost Caverns of the Dragon Ridge."

The "secret recipe for hot pot" that Fatty Wang kept talking about eventually became the key to cracking the ancient tomb's mechanisms.

The talisman engraved on the back of the secret recipe is the missing "Muchen Pearl" clue in the tomb of King Xian in "Yunnan Insect Valley".

Even the mystery of Shirley Yang's father's disappearance was solved in the shipwreck logs of the South China Sea Ruins.

It turns out he didn't die in a shipwreck, but deliberately stayed in the deep-sea ruins to protect the secrets left behind by his people!

The ending was both poignant and satisfying, bringing tears to the eyes of many viewers.

The most ingenious part is the handling of the ending.

As Hu Bayi and his two companions returned the Muchen Pearl to the country and stood on the beach watching the sunrise, the camera slowly panned across the backpacks behind them.

Half of the book "Sixteen-Character Yin-Yang Feng Shui Secret Techniques" was revealed inside, suggesting that the story of "Unloading Ridge Warriors" and "Grave Robbers" may not be over yet, but it also gave the "Tomb Raiders Trio" a temporary home.

As the event ended, a longtime fan excitedly shouted while holding the original novel, "Ning Hao understands us so well! He filled in all the plot holes that had been left unresolved for several books, and even the details match up with the book. This is what a true conclusion should be!"

Meanwhile, box office figures also confirm the audience's approval.

With pre-sale figures included, the box office exceeded 4 million yuan on its opening day, and its reputation soared!
While Avatar 2 was still relying on technology to carry the show, The Return of the South China Sea proved the strength of domestic blockbusters to the Chinese entertainment industry and even Hollywood with its solid plot and down-to-earth Eastern fantasy!
For Chen Fei, seeing Ning Hao deliver such a performance makes this Lunar New Year film season truly worth watching.

At the same time, he also has some expectations for the upcoming Spring Festival film season.

If the Lunar New Year film season is this strong, won't the Spring Festival film season take off immediately?

(End of this chapter)