Lord of Mysteries

Lord of Mysteries
Web serial cover art
AuthorCuttlefish That Loves Diving
Original title
诡秘之主
TranslatorWebnovel[1][2]
IllustratorOSSS[1][2]
CountryChina
LanguageMandarin Chinese
Genre
Publisher
Published
  • April 1, 2018 (2018-04-01) – May 1, 2020 (2020-05-01) (web serial)
  • 2020 (2020) – present (print)
Published in EnglishJuly 29, 2025 (2025-07-29) – present
Media typeWeb novel, print
No. of books2
OCLC1517658409
Followed byCircle of Inevitability
Website

Lord of Mysteries (Chinese: 诡秘之主; pinyin: Guǐ Mì Zhī Zhǔ)[3][4][5] is a Chinese web novel written by Cuttlefish That Loves Diving. Serialized on Qidian from 2018 to 2020, the story blends steampunk, Lovecraftian horror, and Xuanhuan elements in a Victorian era-inspired world.[6][7][8]

Plot

The story begins in the year 1349 of the Fifth Epoch. Zhou Mingrui (周明瑞; Zhōu Míng Ruì),[9] a Chinese youth transmigrates into the body of a university graduate, Klein Moretti (克莱恩.莫雷蒂; Kè Lái Ēn Mò Léi Dì),[9] 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.

Media

Novel

The novel was serialized on Qidian from April 2018 to May 2020.[6] Yen Press is releasing the novels in print in English.[10]

No. Title Release date ISBN
1小丑; Xiǎochǒu; "(The) Clown"April 1, 2018 (2018-04-01) – July 6, 2018 (2018-07-06)[3]—
  1. 第一章绯红; Dìyī Zhāng Fēihóng; "Chapter 1 Crimson"[9][11]
  2. ...
  3. 第二百一十三章 再看一眼; Dìèr Bǎi Yī Shísān Zhāng Zài Kàn Yīyǎn; "Chapter 213 Another Look"[12]
No. Title Release date ISBN
1Vol. 1: The Clown, Part I[a]July 29, 2025[13]979-885541377-9
2Vol. 2: The Clown, Part II[a]December 9, 2025[14]979-885541427-1

Manhua

A manhua began serialization on January 21, 2020, and was published on Bilibili Manhua. A translation is available on Webnovel.[15]

A new adaptation began serialization in 2025 and was published on AC.QQ.[16]

Donghua

A donghua series adaptation produced by B.CMay PICTURES premiered with a double-episode special on June 28, 2025. It is directed by Xiong Ke and written by Yuan Ye.[7] The series is streaming on WeTV and Crunchyroll.[17][18]

Episodes

No.Title [b]Directed byOriginal release date
1"The Fool"
"Yúzhě"(愚者)		UnknownJune 28, 2025 (2025-06-28)
2"Beyonder"
UnknownJune 28, 2025 (2025-06-28)
3"The Notebook"
UnknownJuly 5, 2025 (2025-07-05)
4"Magic Mirror"
UnknownJuly 12, 2025 (2025-07-12)
5"Hero"
UnknownJuly 19, 2025 (2025-07-19)
6"Teacher"
TBAJuly 26, 2025 (2025-07-26)
7"Coincidence"
TBAAugust 2, 2025 (2025-08-02)
8"Losing Control"
TBAAugust 9, 2025 (2025-08-09)
9"Party"
TBAAugust 16, 2025 (2025-08-16)

Video game

As of 2024, a multi-platform RPG titled Lord of Mysteries[19] is in development using Unreal Engine 5.[20]

Reception

The novel amassed a large fandom among Chinese- and English-speaking audiences.[6] It was ranked #1 on Qidian's popularity rankings for several consecutive months.[3] As of 2023, it had tens of millions of readers.[21]

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.[22]

It is one of 144 web novels in the National Library of China.[23]

Notes

  1. ^ a b The english release of volume 1 was split into two parts
  2. ^ All English episode titles are taken from Crunchyroll.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Lord of mysteries / Cuttlefish That Loves Diving ; cover art by OSSS ; translation by WebNovel". Library of Congress catalogue. Archived from the original on August 5, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Lord of mysteries". WorldCat. Archived from the original on August 5, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "诡秘之主" [Lord of Mysteries]. Qidian (in Chinese). Archived from the original on August 2, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  4. ^ Lemons, Jordan (July 21, 2025). "Lord of Mysteries Is China's Hottest New Anime, But It Comes With a Big Problem for Fans". Screenrant. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  5. ^ Dockery, Daniel (July 4, 2025). "What is Lord of Mysteries? The New Donghua Series, Explained". Crunchyroll. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c Gupta, Jahnavi (October 8, 2020). "Famous Chinese web novel 'Lord of the Mysteries' a smash hit at Bangkok International Book Fair". Hindustan Times. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Lord of the Mysteries Trailer Drops Ahead of Summer Debut, Teasing Anime's Turn to China". Screenrant. March 9, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  8. ^ Gamerant Staff (April 18, 2025). "Lord of the Mysteries Author Will Release New Series in 2026". GameRant. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c "第一章 绯红" [Chapter 1 Crimson]. Qidian (in Chinese). March 1, 2018. Archived from the original on August 5, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  10. ^ Tantimedh, Adi (December 17, 2024). "Yen Press Announces 9 Manga and 5 Light Novels Coming in June 2025". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  11. ^ Cuttlefish That Loves Diving (July 29, 2025). amixy (ed.). Lord of Mysteries, Vol. 1: The Clown, Part I. Translated by Webnovel (1st ed.). Yen On. ISBN 9798855413779.
  12. ^ "第二百一十三章 再看一眼" [Chapter 213 Another Look]. Qidian (in Chinese). July 6, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  13. ^ "Lord of Mysteries, Vol. 1: The Clown, Part I". Yen Press. Archived from the original on August 5, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  14. ^ "Lord of Mysteries, Vol. 2: The Clown, Part II". Yen Press. Archived from the original on August 5, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  15. ^ "Lord of the Mysteries". Webnovel. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  16. ^ "诡秘之主". AC.QQ. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  17. ^ Pollacco, Laura (August 27, 2024). "'Lord of the Mysteries' spectacular trailer has us excited for this animated adaption". The Mary Sue. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  18. ^ Cardine, Kyle (June 18, 2025). "Crunchyroll Summer 2025 Anime Season Lineup Announced!". Crunchyroll. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  19. ^ "Lord of Mysteries - SPARK NEXA". Lord of Mysteries - SPARK NEXA. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  20. ^ Kalita, Parash Jyoti (September 24, 2024). "Lord of the Mysteries RPG: SPARK NEXA brings the popular Web Novel to life on Mobile and PC". GamingonPhone. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  21. ^ Xu, Han; Patiño, Javier González; Linaza, José Luis (December 13, 2023). "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.
  22. ^ Liu, Zhenhua; Xu, Mingze; Tang, Yi (February 28, 2025). "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.
  23. ^ "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. September 12, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
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