Entertainment King:I Can Extract Skills from the Movies

Time flew by, and training sessions were coming to an end.

On this particular day, the crew of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils held the official opening ceremony for the series at the newly constructed Fangyan Film City in Yongkang. A press conference followed the event.

Although not a single scene had been filmed yet, the series had already become a hot topic due to its frequent appearances on trending searches, drawing immense public interest.

Of course, fame often comes at a cost.

For instance, the producer, Zhang Zhizong, was nowhere to be seen at the press conference. Whether he chose to stay away at the advice of investors or was planning another publicity stunt later was unclear. Regardless, his personal reputation had taken a nosedive amidst numerous scandals, even as the show itself gained significant attention.

Still, the promotional efforts were relentless. Dozens of media outlets from mainland China and Hong Kong—including newspapers, entertainment magazines, and online platforms—flocked to the film city, indirectly boosting its visibility.

Unsurprisingly, Lin Zhiying, Asia's current "golden boy," was the main focus of the media's questions.

Despite his immense popularity, Lin had only appeared in one drama, leading to some skepticism about his acting skills. Fortunately, directors Zhou Yaowen and Qu Jueliang, along with lead actor Hu Jun, stepped in to deflect criticism and smooth over any tension.

As for Du Sheng, Liu Tao, and Gao Hu, their popularity was more modest, and they were largely relegated to the sidelines.

Meanwhile, Liu Yifei, playing the female lead, attracted her fair share of questions, particularly due to her young age.

In this era, most people relied on traditional media like newspapers and entertainment magazines for news about celebrities. Although the internet had made significant strides—platforms like Weibo already boasted over a hundred million downloads—its reach was still limited.

For someone like Du Sheng, a newcomer without a major role under his belt, becoming a household name was next to impossible.

And to put it bluntly, if his portrayal of Murong Fu failed to leave a lasting impression, he was destined to be forgotten.

Most of the audience's attention would inevitably be drawn to Hu Jun's Qiao Feng, Lin Zhiying's Duan Yu, or Liu Yifei's rising beauty.

Du Sheng glanced at the crowd surrounding Lin Zhiying and couldn't help but feel introspective.

He was confident that his acting skills were on par with—or even superior to—those of his peers. Moreover, he firmly believed that Murong Fu could serve as a stepping stone in his career.

The challenge now was executing that role to perfection.

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The opening ceremony lasted over two hours.

Once the reporters had left at noon, the crew got to work.

The main filming locations for Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils included the Shiguliao Scenic Area in Yongkang and Yunfu Film City. With the series spanning 40 episodes, nearly 20 would be shot in Zhejiang.

One of the most pivotal scenes—the intense "Gathering Storm at Ju Xian Manor"—was set to be filmed here.

In this sequence, the martial arts world gathers at Ju Xian Manor to apprehend the "traitor" Qiao Feng. Although Qiao Feng knows they mean him harm, he risks his life to seek help from the manor's renowned physician to save the gravely injured Ah Zhu.

The fight features an array of formidable opponents, including Shaolin masters Xuanzhi and Xuan Nan, the Four Elders of the Beggar Clan, Elder Xu, Bai Shijing, and the manor's two lords.

Murong Fu, however, does not appear in these scenes.

Nevertheless, as a secondary action director, Du Sheng needed to be on set to assist with the choreography.

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Hu Jun's acting prowess stood out during filming.

Having won a major award the previous year for Lan Yu, he had honed his skills in theater and arthouse films, compelling his scene partners to bring their A-game.

By contrast, Lin Zhiying struggled slightly to keep up, particularly in a scene at Songhe Tower where his character encounters Qiao Feng while drowning his sorrows.

Hu Jun's commanding presence and line delivery overshadowed Lin Zhiying, highlighting the latter's inexperience.

Fortunately, the series primarily revolved around Hu Jun's Qiao Feng. Additionally, Hu Jun's compelling performance helped draw Lin Zhiying into the scene, preventing it from falling flat.

Du Sheng, observing from the sidelines, couldn't help but wonder how he would fare acting opposite Hu Jun.

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Filming the battle at Ju Xian Manor proved grueling for Hu Jun, who had no prior experience with action scenes.

The high-intensity fight choreography—designed with Du Sheng's input—left Hu Jun nursing a minor arm injury by the end of the day.

Nevertheless, he soldiered on, applying medicinal wine to his arm and returning to the set.

Even so, multiple takes failed to capture the desired effect, leaving action director Zhao Jian visibly frustrated.

Sensing the problem, Du Sheng suggested:

"How about positioning Hu Jun up front and using a wind machine to enhance his presence?"

With few options left, Zhao Jian agreed.

Although the method felt somewhat gimmicky, the results were unexpectedly effective.

Zhao Jian couldn't help but joke:

"Looks like Hu Jun will need to bring his own background music and wind machine wherever he goes. That'll make him invincible!"

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The scene wrapped up successfully, but Hu Jun remained dissatisfied.

He had been captivated by the agility and flair Du Sheng had demonstrated during rehearsals. Every move Du Sheng executed seemed effortless yet commanding, embodying the elegance and dominance of a true martial artist.

At Hu Jun's age, however, performing such acrobatics was no longer feasible. He could only look on with envy.

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After the battle at Ju Xian Manor, the crew decided to split into three units—A, B, and C—to expedite filming.

Director Zhou Yaowen led Team A, focusing on Qiao Feng-centric storylines like the Beggar Clan's internal conflict and the Mount Tai gathering.

Director Qu Jueliang oversaw Team B, centered around Duan Yu and his adventures, including his encounters with the Four Evildoers and his rescue of Zhong Ling.

Director Yu Min helmed Team C, which followed Xu Zhu's arc, including the Shaolin Temple disputes, the Zhenlong Chess Game, and the Western Xia princess storyline.

As for Zhao Jian, he was responsible for coordinating all action sequences across the three units, with Yuan Bin assisting wherever needed.

Du Sheng joined Team A, as his character, Murong Fu, was integral to the events involving Qiao Feng and the Beggar Clan.

After several days of filming, it was finally time for Murong Fu's grand debut.

To emphasize his reputation as the "Southern Murong" to Qiao Feng's "Northern Qiao," the crew planned a scene where Murong Fu showcases his iconic martial art, Star-Shifting Technique.

In this scene, Murong Fu would defeat numerous martial artists

at a "Hero's Assembly," establishing his dominance and setting the stage for his role as the series' main antagonist.