A group of people were chatting and laughing when the crew from the set announced that everything was ready. The director then instructed everyone to prepare for filming.
The first scene to be shot depicted demons attacking the townspeople, followed by the arrival of the celestial master and his disciples to rescue them.
Being the grandest scene in the entire drama without live backgrounds and Jing Li’s only and most magnificent battle sequence, the director decided to film it first considering that it might take longer due to delays.
As everyone was ready, the director approached Jing Li, who was binding the wire rig while being guided by the martial arts instructor. Patting his shoulder reassuringly, the director smiled and said, “Just act according to your vision. There’s no need to be nervous. Let’s treat this as an advance rehearsal to find the rhythm.”
Jing Li smiled and nodded. As soon as the wire was bound, he informed the director and took his position.
In this scene, the town was suddenly ambushed by demons. Amid the chaos and despair, the townspeople fled while also fighting back desperately. At this moment, the celestial master and his disciples arrived, swiftly vanquishing the demons and erecting a barrier to create a safe area. Some disciples went down to rescue the injured civilians, while the celestial master led the rest to confront the demon lord, engaging in a fierce battle.
After defeating the demon lord and restoring peace, the young male lead, having witnessed the celestial master slay the demon, was filled with admiration and aspired to follow the same path, vowing to protect his hometown.
As the director called for action, everyone on set instantly got into character. Someone in the corner screamed in terror. Then, as if struck by an invisible force, his whole body froze and fell stiffly. Those nearby followed suit, crying out in horror and collapsing one by one.
Panic ensued as people fled, screaming in fear. Women clutching children, passersby, and countless vendors and pedestrians ran for their lives, while more and more fell.
The scene was a mess as the chaos spread, and fear and despair engulfed the town.
Amidst the mayhem, celestial beings descended from the sky, their flowing white robes contrasting starkly with the scene below.
Leading them was the strikingly handsome Jing Li, whose refined features were further accentuated by his cultivation. Clad in a snowy white robe that highlighted his ethereal presence, he seemed no less divine than a true deity.
In ordinary times, his appearance would have drawn countless admirers and worshippers, but at that moment, the streets were filled with people fleeing for their lives, with no one sparing a glance.
Jing Li disregarded the townspeople, his beautiful eyes scanning the ground. As if repulsed, his gaze hardened, and with a wave of his billowing sleeve, he descended and scooped up a fallen child.
Without uttering a word, his actions and expressions conveyed the illusion of vanquishing the rampant demons, prompting the surrounding people to breathe sighs of relief.
The air seemed instantly purified. Those who had been fleeing stopped, first glancing around in terror before collapsing weakly in relief, softly weeping.
The celestial master gently set down the child, dispelling the demonic afflictions with a wave of his hand.
“Are you alright?” Jing Li’s voice was cool yet not indifferent, his eyes harboring a hint of warmth that instantly dispelled the child’s fear, prompting the child to gaze at him curiously.
The surrounding townspeople turned towards the voice and, recognizing the speaker’s face, excitedly cried, “Celestial Master!” before kneeling and bowing repeatedly, expressing gratitude for being saved.
Jing Li surveyed the area without speaking, then raised his hand to create a safe zone with a barrier. Turning to his disciples, he instructed, “Half of you stay and aid the injured townspeople. The rest, follow me.”
The disciples responded in unison, quickly splitting into two groups. One group began assisting the injured townspeople and bringing them into the barrier, while the other followed the celestial master forward.
The director watched from behind the monitor, instantly satisfied and nodding in approval.
He had initially expected to require a couple more takes, but Jing Li not only got into character quickly but also found his rhythm accurately. His seemingly casual expressions and actions were perfectly captured by the camera.
More impressively, Jing Li even guided the other actors’ emotions, enabling everyone to become fully invested in their roles.
This was truly a pleasant surprise for the director.
Unaware of the director’s sentiments, Jing Li led his disciples, vanquishing demons along the way until they reached the town’s innermost area, where they confronted the demon lord, who was gleefully reveling in the chaos.
Jing Li narrowed his eyes at the demon lord, his gaze not particularly sharp, yet everyone sensed a shift in his aura.
His initial calm indifference transformed into ruthless coldness, radiating a subtle yet nonchalant killing intent – as if he deemed the demon lord beneath his notice.
Then, he erected another barrier and softly instructed the remaining disciples to guide the civilians inside while he advanced alone toward the demon lord.
His aura briefly softened when advising his disciples but immediately steeled as he strode forward.
This masterful control over his presence left the observers in awe, further intensifying their admiration for Jing Li.
The director, in particular, was highly impressed.
When he had invited Jing Li, it was mainly for his appearance. While his acting in the TV series was commendable, there were differences between TV and movie acting. Director Yan had initially not set high expectations. He had planned to refine his performance once they started filming.
Yet, from the very start, Jing Li continuously surprised him.
Watching Jing Li at that moment, Yan felt as if he was looking at a rare treasure, feeling more and more satisfied to the point of almost bursting into a smile.
Seeing his expression, his assistant knew that Director Yan was extremely pleased with Jing Li. With a timely smile, the assistant praised, “I never expected Teacher Jing to be so professional in filming movies. He must have practiced a lot in private.”
“If all newcomers had such dedication, the industry wouldn’t struggle to find suitable actors.”
Though the director didn’t openly praise, his words conveyed the highest affirmation and commendation.
The assistant had been by his side for many years and had never seen Director Yan give such high praise to anyone. This deepened the assistant’s understanding and admiration for Jing Li.
With wealth, looks, and acting skills, and on top of that, such dedication and hard work, it was no wonder Jing Li was a winner in life!
No room for jealousy.
The filming continued on set.
The demon lord was portrayed by an actor adorned in ghastly makeup with horns protruding from his head and an exaggerated black cape.
Having observed Jing Li’s performance, he, too, was astonished and impressed.
And so, he put forth a full display of his acting skills.
When Jing Li approached, the demon lord remained nonchalantly seated, even arching a brow at him. “Well, well, the esteemed Qingjue Immortal has graced us with his presence.” The villain lazily smirked, “It seems the disciples of the Yuxian Sect are quite lacking if this minor demon warrants your personal attention.”
Jing Li remained indifferent to his mockery. He calmly approached him and summoned his own spiritual weapon, the Evil-Slaying Sword, before leaping into the air and launching a direct attack.
As Jing Li closed in, the demon lord suddenly acted, slamming the table forcefully to propel himself backward several meters before summoning his own weapon to engage in the fight.
Although fantastical battle scenes largely rely on post-production visual effects, their entanglement was still a captivating spectacle.
The martial arts choreographer designed exquisite yet powerful movements, enhanced by the wire’s involvement. The two clashed on the ground and in mid-air, their rapid exchanges leaving the observers awestruck.
Towards the climax, the demon lord was overpowered. Jing Li merely needed to disarm him and land a fatal blow to conclude the fight.
However, as Jing Li charged forward, the actor playing the demon lord accidentally stepped on a pebble, causing him to stumble and lunge toward Jing Li under the wire’s propulsion.
The onlookers gasped in shock, and Jing Li was momentarily caught off guard, though he maintained his composure.
Assessing the incoming attack, Jing Li swiftly calculated his response. Maintaining his sword stance, he effortlessly lowered the blade, using the tip as a pivot to channel his spiritual energy and propel himself into the air. He then executed an elegant mid-air twirl, his billowing robes resembling a soaring butterfly – a breathtaking and graceful sight.
Seizing the opportunity, he swung his sword upwards, disarming the demon lord before slashing across his chest.
The opposing actor reacted swiftly, widening his eyes in feigned evasion at Jing Li’s strike, but he was ultimately swept away, collapsing to the ground and coughing up blood before losing consciousness.
The fight concluded with a thrilling yet safe outcome.
Jing Li sheathed his sword, approached the demon lord, and bound him with a wave of his hand before instructing his disciples to apprehend him.
The remaining scenes were simpler, with the young male lead rushing forward to express his admiration and gratitude to the celestial master while expressing his desire to cultivate under him.
As the celestial master, Jing Li merely cast a cold glance at him, dispassionately instructing him to participate in the disciple selection, then turned and left.
It seemed cold and ruthless, but it laid the foundation for the upcoming developments in the plot.
The scene concluded with Jing Li’s elegant yet aloof departure.
“Cut!” the director shouted, beaming with unrestrained delight.
He never expected the scene to proceed so smoothly, requiring only a single take.
Moreover, Jing Li’s improvised response to the mishap further astonished him, surpassing even the original choreography’s beauty.
The martial arts choreographer enthusiastically praised the sequence, inquired if Jing Li had prior martial arts training, and expressed interest in exchanging pointers.
The others chimed in with compliments, the demon lord actor effusively expressing gratitude and admiration, nearly gushing with flattery.
Consequently, everyone’s respect and fondness for Jing Li deepened, impressed by his capabilities.
Jing Li’s first scene in “Immortal Path” went smoothly, and the subsequent scenes became increasingly effortless.
Jing Li originally had few scenes, but once he adapted, he handled them with ease. What was planned to take several days was suddenly cut in half, and by the afternoon of the third day, they successfully wrapped up filming.
For minor supporting roles like this, there are typically no wrap parties. Additionally, film production schedules are more compact than TV dramas. So, the director gifted him a red envelope as a gesture of celebration and invited him to attend the crew’s wrap party, fulfilling the customary courtesies.
After spending a few days together, many had become acquainted with Jing Li and prepared gifts to express their goodwill. Even those unfamiliar with him offered gifts to establish connections.
Zhang Weixi, who received Jing Li’s assistance, prepared a rather valuable present, sincerely expressing his gratitude and well-wishes.
“Look how polite you are. I came here empty-handed, but I came back with a full load. How embarrassing.”
Jing Li looked slightly embarrassed as he glanced at everyone, then quickly turned to the assistant and whispered, “Pack them all up and take them back. If we can’t carry them all, call two more people to help.”
His different attitudes before and after instantly drew a burst of laughter from everyone, making the atmosphere even more cheerful.
Finally, amidst the warm farewells, Jing Li and his assistant returned to the previous crew with a pile of gifts.
After such intensive back-to-back schedules, a normal person would probably have collapsed from exhaustion long ago, but Jing Li was not a normal person. He rested for one night and then resumed filming.
However, the filming of the TV series was already coming to an end. After shooting the final scenes and some close-up shots, the entire crew’s filming, which had lasted for over three months, officially wrapped up.
Upon hearing Director Wen announce the wrap-up, the entire set erupted in cheers. Everyone obviously had been looking forward to this moment for a long time.
“Thank you all for your support. Everyone has worked hard these past few months.” Director Wen also appeared very pleased, looking at the crew with a smile. “I’ve already reserved a restaurant for tonight’s wrap party celebration!”
As soon as he finished speaking, the cheers at the scene grew louder.
Once the commotion subsided, the crew assisted the staff in packing up before collectively departing for the restaurant.
Jing Li, accompanied by his assistant, chatted and laughed with Wang Lele and Zhang Shuo along the way.
Just as they reached the hotel entrance, Jing Li unexpectedly saw someone standing there talking to Director Wen and was stunned for a moment.
“Why are you standing there dumbfounded?” Gu Tingshen had already noticed him and couldn’t resist a chuckle upon seeing Jing Li’s reaction. After acknowledging the director, he approached Jing Li.
The director smiled and invited Gu Tingshen to join the wrap party before leading the crew to leave.
“Then, we’ll head over first.”
Wang Lele and Zhang Shuo glanced at each other, bid Jing Li farewell, and also took the assistant with them.
As they passed Gu Tingshen, they greeted him politely, but his attention was evidently fixated on Jing Li, merely nodding in acknowledgment without sparing them a glance.
Since Zhang Shuo had never interacted with Gu Tingshen before, he felt that someone of his stature should act this way, so he didn’t find it strange.
Wang Lele, on the other hand, gave Gu Tingshen a curious glance, then glanced back at Jing Li’s expression. He felt that there was something off between these two, but he didn’t dwell on it at the moment.
Gu Tingshen paid no mind to such thoughts and quickly strode over toward Jing Li. Gazing at the face he had longed for over these past months, his heart swelled with fullness.
If it weren’t for the inappropriate setting, he would have wanted nothing more than to embrace him and kiss him passionately to alleviate his longing.
“What are you doing here?” Jing Li finally recovered from his initial shock. His surprise gave way to boundless joy and sweetness, and his face involuntarily blossomed into a radiant smile.
“I missed you,” Gu Tingshen’s voice grew husky, his eyes brimming with profound affection as he admired Jing Li’s smile. “I missed you so much that I couldn’t bear waiting even the few hours of your flight – I had to come straight to you.”
The unexpected yet heartfelt words touched Jing Li deeply, brightening his smile as love shone in his eyes. “I missed you too.”
He paused, meeting Gu Tingshen’s gaze earnestly. “I missed you, Shen-ge.”
Gu Tingshen couldn’t resist this. His breath caught in his throat, and without thinking about anything else, he wrapped his arms tightly around Jing Li, only reluctantly releasing him several seconds later.
“Let’s head to the restaurant first, we shouldn’t keep the others waiting,” Gu Tingshen restrained himself, retreating a few steps while his eyes lingered on Jing Li.
Jing Li nodded and took the lead, Gu Tingshen following closely.
The two walked side by side out of the hotel, chatting and laughing as they approached Gu Tingshen’s car.
But just as they were about to get into the car, a dark figure suddenly emerged from the side and lunged straight at Gu Tingshen with malicious intent.
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