Lord of the Mysteries
| Author | Cuttlefish That Loves Diving: Yuan Ye (袁野) |
|---|---|
| Original title | 诡秘之主 |
| Country | China |
| Language | Mandarin Chinese |
| Genre | |
| Publisher | Qidian (web serial) China Literature (print) |
| Published | April 1, 2018 – May 1, 2020 (web serial) 2020–present (print) |
| Media type | Web novel, print |
| No. of books | 2 |
| Followed by | 'Circle of Inevitability' |
| Website | www |
Lord of Mysteries (Chinese: 诡秘之主; pinyin: Guǐ Mì Zhī Zhǔ) is a Chinese web novel written by Cuttlefish That Loves Diving (爱潜水的乌贼), Yuan Ye (袁野). Serialized on Qidian from 2018 to 2020, the story blends steampunk, Lovecraftian horror, and Xuanhuan elements in a Victorian era-inspired world.[1][2][3]
Plot
The story begins in the year 1349 of the Epoch Calendar. Zhou Mingrui, a Chinese youth transmigrates into the body of a university graduate, Klein Moretti, after the latter's questionable suicide.
Finding himself in a world reminiscent of late Victoria era England with mystical powers, Zhou Mingrui (now Klein Moretti) searches for a way to go home. After reproducing a ritual that presumably was the catalyst of his transmigration, he masquerades as a god-like entity and forms an organization known as the 'Tarot Club'. After becoming an official Beyonder (Those with supernatural abilities), he tries to find out what happened with Klein's suicide while growing his power to eventually return home.
In Book Two, Lord of Mysteries 2: Circle of Inevitability, the protagonist shifts to eighteen year old Lumian Lee, who is a Beyonder of the Red Priest Pathway.
Media
Web novel
The novel was serialized on Qidian from April 2018 to May 2020.[1]
Donghua
A donghua series adaptation produced by B.CMay PICTURES premiered with a double-episode special on June 28, 2025. It is directed by Ke Xiong and written by Yuan Ye.[2] The series is streaming on WeTV and Crunchyroll.[4][5]
Video game
As of 2024, a mobile RPG titled "Lord of the Mysteries" is in development using Unreal Engine 5.[6]
Reception
The novel amassed a large fandom among Chinese and English speaking audiences.[1] It was ranked #1 on Qidian’s popularity rankings for several consecutive months.[7] As of 2023, it had tens of millions of readers.[8]
Fans of the series frequently discussed fan theories regarding the protagonist and his abilities, which the author directly engaged with online, sometimes by confirming fan speculation or by redirecting them. He also incorporated reader feedback into future instalments of the series.[9]
It is one of 144 web novels in the National Library of China.[10]
References
- ^ a b c Gupta, Jahnavi (2020-10-08). "Famous Chinese web novel 'Lord of the Mysteries' a smash hit at Bangkok International Book Fair". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
- ^ a b "Lord of the Mysteries Trailer Drops Ahead of Summer Debut, Teasing Anime's Turn to China". Screenrant. 9 March 2025. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
- ^ Gamerant Staff (2025-04-18). "Lord of the Mysteries Author Will Release New Series in 2026". GameRant. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
- ^ Pollacco, Laura (2024-08-27). "'Lord of the Mysteries' spectacular trailer has us excited for this animated adaption". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
- ^ Cardine, Kyle (June 18, 2025). "Crunchyroll Summer 2025 Anime Season Lineup Announced!". Crunchyroll. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
- ^ Kalita, Parash Jyoti (2024-09-24). "Lord of the Mysteries RPG: SPARK NEXA brings the popular Web Novel to life on Mobile and PC". GamingonPhone. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
- ^ "Lord of the Mysteries". Qidian (in Chinese). Retrieved 2023-10-15.
- ^ Xu, Han; Patiño, Javier González; Linaza, José Luis (2023-12-13). "The Phenomenon of Cultural Exchange and Learning Reflected in the Transmedia Fiction Comment Area: Taking Lord of the Mysteries as an Example". Human Arenas. doi:10.1007/s42087-023-00387-x. hdl:10486/714564. ISSN 2522-5804.
- ^ Liu, Zhenhua; Xu, Mingze; Tang, Yi (2025-02-28). "The Impact of Real-Time Reader Interactions on Plot Structure and Pacing in Chinese Web Novels". Studies in Art and Architecture. 4 (1): 48–57. doi:10.56397/SAA.2025.02.05. ISSN 2958-1540.
- ^ "Chinese web novels arrive at the British Library for the first time: The 16 pieces were originally serialised on China literature's Qidian website". Business Matters. 2022-09-12. Retrieved 2025-04-27.