'Lord of Mysteries' contest spotlights global rise of Chinese fantasy

The second "Lord of Mysteries" Creator Contest began on April 23, inviting people worldwide to submit multimedia and art projects as the Chinese fantasy series gains international popularity.

A poster for the "Lord of Mysteries" Creator Contest. [Image courtesy of Yuewen]

The contest, organized by Yuewen, is looking for original works based on the theme "Mystic Dreams: Choices and Guardianship." Anyone can enter by sending in illustrations, videos, 3D models or other types of creative work. There is a prize pool of 300,000 yuan ($41,000), and winning entries will be promoted on different platforms. 

"Lord of Mysteries" is a popular fantasy novel written by Yuan Ye, who uses the pen name Cuttlefish That Loves Diving and is the vice chairman of the Sichuan Writers Association. First published in 2018, the book combines Victorian-era aesthetics with fantasy and elements inspired by the Cthulhu Mythos — a universe of cosmic horror created by writer H.P. Lovecraft — as well as other Western occult traditions. Thanks to its detailed world-building and worldwide releases, the series has become a hit in online literature.

The second installment set in the same universe, "Circle of Inevitability," concluded in January 2025 and broke numerous records both in China and abroad, further elevating the influence of the "Mysteries" IP and earning a worldwide fan base of more than 100 million.

In 2024, both "Lord of Mysteries" and "Circle of Inevitability" were added to the British Library’s collection. That same year, the inaugural Creator Contest drew over 1,000 artists and enthusiasts from over 10 countries — including China, the United Kingdom, France and Italy — showcasing the franchise’s global creative appeal.

Italian multimedia artist Carlo Maria Rossi, a devoted fan of the series, created several immersive installations and spatial artworks based on the novel at the first contest.

"Chinese online literature opened a new world for me," Rossi said. "The rich character development and intricate world-building of 'Lord of Mysteries' deeply inspired my work. My creations aim to merge immersive art with the essence of Eastern literature, and I look forward to continuing to share the results of this cultural fusion with peers around the world."

For the second contest, Yuewen will partner with Nanjing Library to create an immersive "Mysteries Universe" experience, combining literature, art and digital technology for visitors. The exhibition will feature winning entries from the first competition, including hand-drawn illustrations and environment designs by international artists and fans. A highlight will be "Mr. Fool's Box," an interactive audiovisual installation by rising artist Li Chenxiao that brings together avant-garde concepts and technological innovation.

An animated adaptation of "Lord of Mysteries" is scheduled to debut on Tencent Video this summer.