#i upended yet another campus urban legend

[miyamiwu]

God, the last time I've been this tense while reading a horror novel was when I was reading "I Became a God in a Horror Game." But that novel was more thrilling than scary, though. I'm not easily scared when I'm reading.

"I Upended Yet Another Campus Urban Legend" is a whole different level. Although the instances aren't as mind-blowing, the fear it induces in me is so much more. My heart has stopped more than once

#unlimited flow #danmei #horror #i upended yet another campus urban legend #i became a god in a horror game #miyamiwu.src #miyamiwu.live #miyamiwu.live.iuyacul

[miyamiwu]

After reading so much horror, Bachira better show up in tonight's episode or I'm never sleeping

#blue lock #bachira meguru #i upended yet another campus urban legend #danmei #miyamiwu.live #miyamiwu.src #horror #miyamiwu.live.iuyacul #miyamiwu.live.bllk

[miyamiwu]

I am so emotional right now, do not fucking talk to me. I can’t 😭

These two fictional gays are ruining me. And Qin Zhou, my dear, you are quickly becoming one of my top favorite danmei male leads. You’re now up there with beloved Tang Yibu

#i upended yet another campus urban legend spoilers #i upended yet another campus urban legend #spoilers #danmei #danmei spoilers #i upended yet another campus urban legend memes #danmei memes #qin zhou #lin yi #tang yibu #unlimited flow #miyamiwu.live #miyamiwu.meme #miyamiwu.src #miyamiwu.live.iuyacul

[miyamiwu]

FUUUUCK FUUUUUUUUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK

THEIR CONDITION WORSENS IF THE PATIENT THEY'RE IN CHARGE OF GETS SICKER!!!

And they just knocked out both with ether!!!

They are so fucked!!!

Lin Yi, get out of the morgue!!!

#i upended yet another campus urban legend spoilers #i upended yet another campus urban legend #swearing #horror #corpse #unlimited flow #danmei #danmei spoilers #ether #morgue #miyamiwu.live #miyamiwu.src

[miyamiwu]

In the fairy tale, the mermaid exchanged her voice for legs. Here, Miss Mermaid exchanged her tail for legs. Why would she do that? It was definitely for love. After all, fairy tales were like this. In this city that never sleeps, life was only worth 1,000 gold. Love, however, was worth 3 million.

Not me crying over Qin Zhou trading Lin Yi's love for him just to save him 😥

#i upended yet another campus urban legend spoilers #i upended yet another campus urban legend #danmei #danmei spoilers #spoilers #unlimited flow #mermaids #qin zhou #lin yi #miyamiwu.live #miyamiwu.src #miyamiwu.live.iuyacul

[miyamiwu]

Author, Chen Yang was not part of this arc!!!! You forgot, he stayed behind!!! Why is he suddenly appearing in the cafeteria SHSKGKEODINCIR

#i upended yet another campus urban legend spoilers #i upended yet another campus urban legend #danmei #danmei spoilers #unlimited flow #chen yang #miyamiwu.live #miyamiwu.src

[miyamiwu]

Rule 2-6: There are no ghosts on campus. If one appears, [a rule] would be added...

“How long has it existed?” The advisor lowered his eyes and thought for a long time. After thinking about it, he counted with his fingers again. “The year I committed suicide, the 2-6 Rule had already existed for six years and now…” Lin Yi was taken aback and he suddenly stared intently at his phone screen. Cheng Yang tremblingly sent out a message: Did I hear wrong? Can some kind student repeat what Teacher Jiang just said... The advisor said, “Oh, I can repeat myself.” “The year I committed suicide…”

FUUUUUCCCCCKKKKKK

Their adviser is the 2-6 ghost??!!

#i upended yet another campus urban legend #unlimited flow #i upended yet another campus urban legend spoilers #danmei #danmei spoilers #tw suicide #spoilers #miyamiwu.live #miyamiwu.src #horror #ghosts #miyamiwu.live.iuyacul

[miyamiwu]

AAAAAAAAAH

#okay this is a good one #i find myself screaming motherfucker every few minutes #god i love horror #i upended yet another campus urban legend #unlimited flow #danmei #miyamiwu.live #miyamiwu.src #miyamiwu.live.iuyacul

[miyamiwu]

Starting a new UF novel and ohohoho here's another MC keeping possibly already dead parents in the house. This is gonna be exciting

#i upended yet another campus urban legend #unlimited flow #reminds me of fourth perspective #danmei #miyamiwu.live #miyamiwu.src

[miyamiwu]

Wooo, go Cheng Yang!!! Finally, the dumb best friend character is being fleshed out

I am really liking this novel. Lin Yi is smart but not omnipotent, unlike most unlimited flow with genius MCs. In fact, his smartness even becomes his own downfall because he ends up complicating things.

Having a simple-minded guy like Cheng Yang to answer his questions helps balance things out

#i upended yet another campus urban legend spoilers #i upended yet another campus urban legend #unlimited flow #danmei #danmei spoilers #cheng yang #lin yi #miyamiwu.live #miyamiwu.src #miyamiwu.live.iuyacul

[miyamiwu]

Aaaaaah I just love it when a story does a language-specific thing that cannot be translated

Lin Yi is trying to make the monster say the name "Linlin" in order to attract the hatred of the woman in red and have the two of them fight each other instead.

He does this by repeatedly asking what is 1 minus 1. The answer is zero, and in Chinese, that's 零, pronounced as líng, which sounds so close to Lin. Say it enough times and you're bound to mess it up

Just how could anybody translate this while giving the same experience??? Change the name Linlin to something that sounds closer to zero? That's blehhh. Have Lin Yi change the question in English to have an answer like "lean" instead? It won't make sense.

Lin Yi had thought of the question because of the others gossiping whether he would be the 1 or the 0 in a gay relationship. In Chinese slang, 1 refers to the top, and 0 is the bottom. Changing the question would mean changing the content of the gossip as well—which won't do because the gossip revealed important information about the male lead which would definitely be used later this arc

God, I love the intricacies of language and the challenges in translation

#language #translation #chinese language #disclaimer: I am not proficient in chinese #i upended yet another campus urban legend spoilers #i upended yet another campus urban legend #danmei #danmei spoilers #horror #ghost #unlimited flow #miyamiwu.live #miyamiwu.src #spoilers #miyamiwu.live.iuyacul #miyamiwu.tl

[miyamiwu]

“Seeing and feeling ghosts…” Ou Ying said, “So the rule of death is…” Lin Yi said, “Believing that there are ghosts in the world.”

Okay, this instance is gonna be hard. But perhaps the trick is to just think of the ghosts as humans?

#i upended yet another campus urban legend spoilers #i upended yet another campus urban legend #danmei #danmei spoilers #horror #ghosts #unlimited flow #miyamiwu.live #miyamiwu.src #miyamiwu.live.iuyacul

[miyamiwu]

Essential Elements of an Unlimited/Infinite Flow Story

As someone attempting to write my own Unli Flow, I thought I’d take note of the different elements so I can have a guide I can always refer back to.

I’ve explained what Unli Flow means many times before, but in case you missed it: Unlimited/Infinite Flow is a genre in Chinese web novels that feature characters entering multiple “instances” where they have to complete a challenge and/or solve a mystery. Failure in doing so would lead to consequences, most often death.

There’s also this definition by AshuraYami from the NovelUpdates Forum:

Unlimited Flow/Infinite Flow is a genre originating from the CN novel Terror Infinity. The genre mainly revolves on world hopping involving fictional works (anime, comics, movies, games and novels) and/or original worlds created by the author. Infinite Flow, as it’s ‘infinite’ namesake suggests, can accommodate all other genres, be it fantasy, sci-fi, horror, romance, etc. Representative works are Terror Infinity (origin of genre), Reincarnation Paradise (most chapters and word count), The Ultimate Evolution (promoter of data flow, an infinite flow derivative that is more game-like litRPG) and Thriller Paradise (most famous horror infinite flow).

With the definition out of the way, let’s goooo

[This post will also serve as a rec list of sorts, since I’ll be giving examples of each element from different danmei novels.]

----------

1. The Authority

The entity/system in charge of the Unlimited Flow system as a whole. Most stories just chalk it up to the Unli Flow being some kind of otherworldly being/extremely advanced AI that just likes to mess with people.

Examples of The Authority

(based on what I remember, at least… Also, beware of spoilers)

The Earth is Online: The Universe

Mist: I forgot what it’s called, but that high tech system in charge of all the Time Traveling stuff...

High Energy QR Code: That black and white cube thing

Surprise! The Supposed Talent Show was Actually—?!: … The TV station...

From left to right: Tang Mo from The Earth is Online and Wu Jin and Wei Shi from Surprise! The Supposed Talent Show was Actually—?!

[Spoilers End]

From having read numerous Unli Flow stories, I conclude that crucial to a great, not just good, Unli Flow story is a well-defined Authority. The explanation behind the Authority’s existence and motives is the foundation to the entire story.

You can have a very fancy building (cool instances, well-developed characters, an exciting enemies to lovers couple, etc.), but if the foundation is flimsy, the building’s value would plummet in your eyes. You can still appreciate the building, of course, but you will never be content with it.

Examples of some novels that are good in almost everything else except The Authority (in my opinion): [spoilery]

Supernatural Movie Actor App: It was too profound with not enough groundwork laid for it, resulting in The Authority feeling detached from the main story.

I Upended Yet Another Campus Urban Legend: The Authority was not exactly bad; it was just inadequate. The justification of the Unli Flow existing became unconvincing because of this.

Escape the Infinite Chamber: THE AUTHORITY IS SO FUCKING RIDICULOUS THAT IT’S ABYSMAL. And the entire thing was explained in just one scene and from one extra??? SO MUCH PAIN AND SUFFERING AND THAT’S THE ONLY EXPLANATION WE GET??? HORRENDOUS!

From left to right: Book covers of I Upended Yet Another Campus Urban Legend and Supernatural Movie Actor App

[Spoilers End]

2. Instances

Also known as “copy.” The other world/dimension where players have to face the different challenges.

The Authority may be the foundation, but the Instances are the defining aspect of the Unlimited Flow.

A lot of novels, however, are quite perfunctory when it comes to instances, just using it to further the main couple or as a mere stepping stone to the overarching plot. Or, if they’re not being perfunctory, then the Instances are just plain boring.

The first instance, especially, tend to be the most boring. Authors often use this to dump all the information about how their unli flow works. This often gets better by the time the 2nd or 3rd instance comes around....

Upon successful completion of an Instance, players will then be rewarded with either points, special abilities, magic items, etc.

Examples of novels with GREAT instances (based on logic, thrill, horror, etc. Again, all in my own opinion):

I Became a God in a Horror Game: The horror is present all throughout. I can still remember the fear I felt while reading about the statues in the first Instance. Each instance/arc also emotionally impacts you, an effect that most Unli Flow writers don’t really aim for or just generally tend to fail at. (This is also my favorite unli flow novel at the moment~)

The Earth is Online: (same author as Fourth Perspective, which I’ve posted a lot about before) What I love about Mo Chen Huan, the author, is how they write intelligent MC’s but without making them seem too OP. And this is because she actually shows us the MC’s thought process, inviting us to think along with them and figure out how to solve the challenge, and not just make her characters say “aha!”. This is what makes the Instances in TEIO great and memorable.

High Energy QR Code: The story could make use of more showing than telling, but I actually love the Instances in this novel. You know how good stories are often described as a well-made tapestry in that every little thread contributes to the big beautiful picture? That’s how each Instance reads in this novel. (Absolutely love the Instance about the town where everybody lies.)

Fu Wendou, the male lead of The Earth is Online

3. NPCs

A gaming term which stands for “Non-Player Character.” Refers to characters who live within Instances and act in such ways that further the plot or challenge presented by the Instance. They may go against players or assist them. May or may not have a will of their own.

Examples of NPCs:

Xu Beijin, the protagonist of Being an Extra Actor in an Escape Game

Lu Chu, the protagonist of Insider.

The iconic Mosaic from The Earth is Online

The male leads from Escape the Infinite Chamber, I Became a God in a Horror Game, Killing God with Junk Cards, etc. (Most danmei ML are special!NPCs 😩)

From left to right: Book covers of Being an Extra Actor in an Escape Game and Killing God with Junk Cards

4. Player Hall

A space outside of instances where different players can gather and exchange information. Most of the time, this is in a space still separate from the real world. Players are often prohibited from using their powers in this space.

In some novels, Players have no choice but to live here, completely cutting them off from the real world. In this case, accommodation quality will depend on the Player’s level or points.

5. Personal System

The Personal System issues challenges to the player and keeps track of their current attributes, physical and mental state, etc.. It also calculates rewards and punishments for the player. First and foremost in service to The Authority (if they aren’t, then they’re most likely the Love Interest in disguise. And if not, the Player had somehow swayed it to their side).

6. System Store

The points earned from the different Instances serve as the Players’ currency, and they can use it to buy things from the System Store. The Store may sell weapons, medicine, magical items, or even special abilities. Basically, any item that can help the Player during Instances. Of course, it may also sell non-magical items, like food and everyday items, at a much lower price than special items

7. Player’s Goal/Wish

In some novels, the Goal is simply to clear all the Instances and leave the Unli Flow for good. But in others, the Unli Flow allow Players to exchange their points for a Wish. The more difficult the Wish, the more points are needed, and the more Instances are needed to be cleared.

Examples of a Goal/Wish:

Supernatural Movie Actor App: Xie Chi wants to give his second personality a body of his own.

I Became a God in a Horror Game: If I’m remembering it correctly… Bai Liu just wants to have lots of money

I Upended Yet Another Campus Urban Legend: Lin Yi wants to learn the truth about his parents

Thriller Tour Group: Wei Xun wants to find the truth about his family’s disappearance… and his Wish is to uhh… feel pain?

After the Little Crybaby Enters the Nightmare Cycle: Chi Nan’s Wish is to regain his vision, stop crying and get his memories back.

Death Spiral: To uhh… figure out what the voice in the Elevator is trying to tell them? To regain their memories? [The actual Wish is a big spoiler, so I won’t mention it here.]

From left to right: Book covers of After the Little Crybaby Enters the Nightmare Cycle, Thriller Tour Group, and Death Spiral

Aaaand there you have it! I was hoping to list 10 elements, but I can only think up to 7 😔

Although I said this post is a rec list of sorts, the quality of the novels I mentioned actually varies kdfjshjgs. I’m just listing whatever novel would be good as an example (and also what I can remember and have more or less completed since many of the Unli Flow novels I’m reading are currently on-hold)

#unlimited flow #infinite flow #danmei #chinese web novels #the earth is online #i became a god in a horror game #being an extra actor in an escape game #killing god with junk cards #high energy qr code #mist #thriller tour group #web novels #surprise! the supposed talent show was actually-?! #i upended yet another campus urban legend #death spiral #after the little crybaby enters the nightmare cycle #miyamiwu.info #miyamiwu.src

[miyamiwu]

LIN YIIIIII 😭😭😭

#aaaarrrggh i really want to draw that moment he revealed his real form #but i am not skilled enough aaaaahhhh #i upended yet another campus urban legend spoilers #i upended yet another campus urban legend #danmei #danmei spoilers #lin yi #unlimited flow #miyamiwu.live #miyamiwu.src #miyamiwu.live.iuyacul

[miyamiwu]

Went back to reading “I Upended Yet Another Campus Urban Legend” to feed a little stimulation to my ADHD brain and... fuck, I am now wide awake

I just wanted a little bit of horror, okay? Just a little. But now this novel has me by a chokehold and I can't breathe 😣

#the painting turned out to be a window!!! #that wasn't a painting of a man!!! #someone was looking at Lin Yi through the window!!! #AAAAAAAAAAHHH #i upended yet another campus urban legend spoilers #i upended yet another campus urban legend #danmei #danmei spoilers #unlimited flow #horror #spoilers #miyamiwu.live #miyamiwu.src #miyamiwu.live.iuyacul

[miyamiwu]

Taking a break from reading this horror novel coz I want to be calm when watching the new Blue Lock episode later. Seriously having an adrenaline rush right now. I've been taking deep breaths and mindlessly scrolling down Tumblr to cool down

#and maybe i shouldn't have eaten so many chocolates #chocolates get me high #rip #i upended yet another campus urban legend #blue lock #miyamiwu.src #horror #danmei