Lord of Mysteries

Zhou Mingrui wakes up in an alternate, Victorian-inspired world of steam, machines and mysteries, inside the body of Klein Moretti — a man who died under mysterious circumstances. Recruited by the Nighthawks, he discovers the existence of Beyonders, beings who have transcended humanity by walking one of the Pathways toward supernatural power.

Adapted from Cuttlefish That Loves Diving's novel, Lord of Mysteries blends detective-style investigation, Lovecraftian horror and esoteric lore (tarot, potions, hexes) in a dense steampunk setting, carried by cinematic direction praised from its very release.

Released simultaneously in over 190 countries with nine dubs and nineteen subtitle languages, the series marked a turning point for the donghua's international reach — Tencent Video has since announced a ten-year production plan, with seven seasons, three specials and a movie planned through 2035.

The plot unfolds in a Victorian-inspired parallel world where the industrial revolution meets the supernatural: cannons, dreadnoughts and steam machines coexist with secret societies, esoteric cults and creatures of another order. The city of Backlund, the story's political and occult heart, hosts much of the series' intrigue.

Beyonders follow one of twenty-two recognized Pathways, each structured into ten Sequences (from 9 down to 0) that determine their powers. Potions, divination, hexes and ritual tarot cards allow progress along these paths, at the cost of growing risks and personal sacrifice.