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Located in Shanghai, StarForge Entertainment was already planning an aggressive production schedule for the year.
As one of the industry's top-tier entertainment companies, StarForge had the capacity to produce three to four large-scale variety shows, nearly ten web dramas, and a full-length music album every two to three months—a rhythm few companies could match.
In recent years, the rise of web dramas had become impossible to ignore. Domestic entertainment companies quickly realized the opportunity hidden behind on-demand viewing. Compared to traditional television, web dramas were easier to watch, easier to promote, and perfectly suited for office workers winding down after long workdays.
However, there was a catch.
Because online platforms lacked the strict oversight of television broadcasters, quality varied wildly. Some series earned high praise and solid ratings, while others crashed spectacularly, failing both critically and commercially. It was a chaotic ecosystem—full of potential, but riddled with risks.
And today, StarForge Entertainment was holding a joint meeting between its film & television division and the music department.
---
A Meeting with Bigger Intentions
The music department's presence wasn't ceremonial. Their role was clear:
understand the narrative direction early, then tailor original soundtracks around the story.
Because of that, Scarlett Voss, head of one of StarForge's music teams, was seated at the table as well.
At the head of the room stood Director Ma Chun, a seasoned figure in the film and television industry. He placed a stack of scripts on the marble table and spoke in a steady, authoritative tone.
"At the beginning of this year, we solicited scripts from the market," Ma Chun said. "We received a total of forty-three submissions. After internal screening, seven projects were selected."
He paused, letting the numbers sink in.
"Four historical time-travel dramas.
One crime drama.
One superpower-themed series.
And one fantasy story set in the early modern era."
He gestured lightly, and his assistant distributed the scripts to everyone present.
---
Market Logic vs. Creative Logic
Scarlett received her copy and skimmed through it carefully. After about ten minutes, she frowned slightly.
"A coroner's story?" she said. "The premise is interesting, but why force a romance subplot? Wouldn't it be stronger if it focused on profession and suspense instead?"
Sitting beside her, a planning executive from the film division smiled knowingly.
"Director Scarlett, that's simply the current market trend," he explained. "Romance-driven narratives are far more attractive to young female audiences—especially in historical settings with clear class divides. A low-status female professional paired with a high-status noble figure? That formula works."
He continued, calmly laying out the data.
"The gender ratio for web drama audiences is extremely skewed. For example, a palace intrigue series released earlier this year had a male-to-female viewer ratio of 2:8, and later even 1:9. Male viewers spend more time on games, sports, and films. If we want traffic, we have to focus on women."
Scarlett nodded slowly.
"I see."
---
An Unexpected Turn in the Discussion
After everyone had skimmed through the scripts, Ma Chun cleared his throat.
"There's something else I want to bring up."
The room quieted.
"I don't know how many of you play games," he continued, "but my son is in his second year of high school, and he's obsessed with them. Not long ago, we played a single-player fantasy game together—Neon Blade: Echoes of Lumen."
The reaction was immediate.
"Wait—Neon Blade?" someone from the music team exclaimed. "The one about destiny, bonds, and resistance against fate?"
Ma Chun blinked, then nodded.
"Yes. That one. It's made by a relatively small studio, but after playing it, I realized something."
He looked around the room, his eyes sharp.
"This story is perfect for adaptation."
Not just a web drama.
Even a full television series—one that could be broadcast on multiple mainstream channels.
"So," Ma Chun continued, "I've been trying to acquire the film and television adaptation rights. I asked around, but no one could get in touch with Northstar Games. I even messaged their Official Blog, but there's been no response."
That was when Scarlett looked up.
Her expression was… complicated.
---
"I Know Them."
After a brief pause, Scarlett raised her hand.
"Director Ma," she said carefully, "I know Northstar Games. I have their chief planner's contact information."
The room froze.
Ma Chun stared at her.
Scarlett stood up, speaking openly.
"Last year, Northstar released a music album. All three of our internal music teams agreed—it was extremely high quality. We tried to recruit the producer."
She shrugged.
"We failed."
The room went silent.
"The person who produced that album," she continued, "is the same person who planned Neon Blade: Echoes of Lumen. His name is Ethan Reed. He's Northstar's lead planner—and their second-largest shareholder."
Ma Chun's expression twisted into something between disbelief and disbelief layered with disbelief.
The music department… tried to poach talent from a game studio?
He had never heard about this.
Of course he hadn't.
Failing to recruit someone of that caliber wasn't exactly something worth advertising. The music teams quietly buried the incident, and over time, even Scarlett herself stopped thinking about it.
Master-level instrumental albums weren't rare. Several emerged every year. And in a market dominated by pop idols, pure instrumental work rarely stayed in the spotlight for long.
Northstar Games had gone silent afterward.
Until now.
---
Clearing the Misunderstanding
Ma Chun suddenly realized something was off.
No—he wasn't here to recruit Ethan Reed.
He wanted the adaptation rights.
Quickly correcting himself, he said, "Director Scarlett, could I trouble you with a favor? Could you help us contact Mr. Ethan Reed and ask whether Northstar is interested in selling the film and television rights to Neon Blade: Echoes of Lumen?"
"Our department is prepared to offer top-tier revenue sharing."
If Scarlett could make the connection, it would be invaluable.
Ma Chun genuinely believed this adaptation would succeed.
Not because of the existing fanbase alone—but because the story itself was strong.
As long as the plot wasn't distorted, the special effects were handled properly, and the actors delivered solid performances, it would absolutely explode in popularity.
---
Why This Story Matters
Ma Chun had grown tired of modern fantasy dramas.
Too many followed the same hollow pattern:
Immortals and demons falling in love.
Humans and monsters breaking rules for romance.
World-ending conflicts reduced to emotional tantrums.
"Fantasy," in his eyes, wasn't about obsessive love.
Fantasy was about ideals. About righteousness. About humanity.
The righteous path didn't have to be flawless.
The demonic path didn't have to be evil.
But portraying every so-called righteous sect as corrupt villains while glorifying destruction in the name of love?
That was nonsense.
Neon Blade: Echoes of Lumen was different.
It had friendship.
It had love.
It had human relationships.
It had perseverance against fate.
And most importantly—it had the courage to let go after despair.
That was what fantasy was supposed to be.
---
A Director's Obsession
"I'll try," Scarlett said after a moment.
"Please," Ma Chun replied firmly.
He was determined.
Because he wasn't just a director.
He was also a die-hard fan.
While playing the game, he had already started mentally casting actors. Who could portray Luna Ash? Who could bring Mira Vale to life?
Internet-celebrity faces were unacceptable.
The actresses didn't need to be flawlessly beautiful—but they had to be distinct. Memorable. Elegant in their own way.
As for preserving the original work?
Ma Chun laughed inwardly.
How many adaptations didn't "ruin" the source material?
And this was his first time adapting a game.
At forty-six years old, he felt something rare.
Creative excitement.