The Mystic Nine


The Mystic Nine is a prequel to the Chinese television series The Lost Tomb based on the internet novel Daomu Biji. It aired on Dragon TV and was broadcast online via iQiyi from 4 July to 17 October 2016.
The drama is a commercial success in China. It is one of the most watched Chinese dramas, with over 12 billion views in total.

Synopsis

During the era of the republic, the town of Changsha was guarded by nine families known as the "Old Nine Gates". They were incredibly powerful families who wield supreme power over everything in Changsha.
In year 1933, a mysterious train ended in Changsha station. The leader of the Nine Gates, Zhang Qishan who was also the army commander of Changsha station, started to investigate with Qi Tiezui and they discovered a highly suspicious mine just outside of Changsha. In order to solve the mystery of the mine, they decided to engage the help of Er Yuehong who was an opera singer that came from a family of archaeologists. However Er Ye was reluctant to help them as his wife Ya Tou was terminally ill. In order to procure the medicine for treating her, Fo Ye traveled to Peiping with Er Ye, Ba Ye and Ya Tou; they met the young mistress of the hotel Yin Xinyue there. The five of them later returned to Changsha and discovered the how the mystery of the mine was connected to their families’ histories and the Japanese's sinister plot against Changsha.

Cast

Main

Chief director, Liang Shengquan has previously directed many well known dramas including The Journey of Flower, Swords of Legends and Chinese Paladin 3.
Cost for the drama amounted up to CN¥168 million; where 70% was allocated for production. The producer, Bai Yicong expressed his gratitude to the main cast for lowering their professional fee. Usually, payment for the main cast would cost up to 60% of the budget but only 30% went back to the cast of The Mystic Nine. As such, more resources were diverted to the set designing, special effects, equipments and props for production as required by the plot.

Casting

The cast for the series were introduced through posters which were uploaded online. Chapters related to the character Zhang Qishan gained over 70 million readers not long after the announcement of the cast. A ceremony was held for the drama's commencement on the first day of the Shanghai Television Festival on July 6, 2016.
The Mystic Nine is Zhao Liying's second collaboration with both William Chan and Lay Zhang, after Legend of Zu Mountain and Royal Treasure respectively.

Filming

started on 23 November 2015 at Hengdian Studios. The entire series took 108 days to complete filming. The scenes set in Zhang Qishan and Er Yuehong's mansion were filmed in Hengdian World Studios, in Dongyang, Zhejiang province. The tombstone scenes were filmed in various parts of China such as Tiantai Mountain, Jietou Town and Hanshanhu at Tiantai County and Yongkang in Zhejiang province and in Manchuria.

Soundtrack

Reception

The series placed first in television ratings and became the number one most searched and discussed topic online during its broadcast. The drama also set a record for the most online views garnered in a day.
Following the series, a wax figure dressed of Zhang Qishan was added to Madame Tussauds Shanghai in April 2017. Another wax figure of Er Yuehong was added to Madame Tussauds Shanghai in October 2018.
The drama garnered over 12 billion viewers on iQiYi, and earned about CN¥288 million.

Ratings


The drama endorsed a number of brands throughout the whole broadcast. Apart from endorsing the title sponsor to the series, Xiang Piao Piao, the brand also endorsed Eastroc Super Drink, Rio Wine, iQianJin, Mengniu Dairy, Tantan App and Ctrip.

Awards and nominations

International broadcast

Spin-off

On October 20, 2016, a side story of the drama was released under the title as a web film. The web film is a continuation of the television series. Several more internet films were later produced, which focused on the supporting characters' side stories.