Contents
Biodata
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | The U.S. |
| Alias(es) | M Country |
Role in the Story
The U.S. is a principal overseas setting for Lu Heng's international career and Lu Chi's financial activities. Its Hollywood industry provides major roles, auditions, studios, film premieres, and publicity opportunities, while New York and Wall Street anchor Lu Chi's investment work 53 245 264 521 578.
Entertainment Industry
| Area | Depiction | Chapters |
|---|---|---|
| Hollywood | A competitive industry dominated by major studios, where Huaxia Imperial Entertainment competes to acquire visual-effects companies and Lu Heng pursues international roles. | 53 245 247 |
| Visual effects | Huaxia Imperial's failed attempt to acquire Miracle Effects leads it to acquire New Zealand's Gods and Demons Digital instead; the latter later becomes a sought-after effects house for major Hollywood productions. | 53 75 458 |
| Casting barriers | Lu Heng faces prejudice while auditioning for Kassel in Demon Slayer. Charles Robson favors a white actor and argues that readers would reject an Asian performer as the elf character. | 257 258 304 |
| International breakthrough | Lu Heng instead joins Return of the Star Map as Dongfang, an ancient martial-arts cultivator. The film's worldwide success establishes him as a prominent Huaxia actor in Hollywood. | 260 300 307 |
| Public relations | Universal Pictures later attempts to recruit Lu Heng for future projects and Demon Slayer 2 in exchange for helping contain Robson's discrimination scandal. | 308 |
| Chinese-American representation | CIA casts Lu Heng as Don, a capable Chinese-American CIA agent whose limited screen time still gives him a major impact on the plot. | 578 580 650 |
| 3D-IMAX production | Lu Heng learns 3D-IMAX techniques from James Frank while working on Atlanta, later applying that knowledge to Havoc in Heaven. | 604 649 |
Locations
- New York / Manhattan — Lu Chi maintains a long-term reservation at the Hilton Hotel and returns to Wall Street immediately after arriving in the city. Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan later stay there while caring for him and taking Hollywood work within commuting distance. 521 577 579
- Wall Street — The center of Lu Chi's financial network and investment operations. His reputation as “God's Hand” is tied to his control of international crude-oil trading and relationships with powerful financial figures. 264 521 523
- Hollywood — The base for Lu Heng's work on productions including Demon Slayer, Return of the Star Map, CIA, and Atlanta. 245 247 578 648
- Beverly Hills — Kelly Brute hosts a welcome-back party there for the Spring Renewal crew. 523
- Chinatown, New York — Lu Heng and Wei Linxuan buy ingredients there while preparing meals for Lu Chi. 577
Economic Events
International Oil Market
M Country launches a war against a Middle Eastern nation, disrupting global oil prices. Wall Street hedge funds profit from the resulting volatility, and Lu Chi becomes internationally famous after executing highly successful trades during the crisis. 264
Subprime Mortgage Crisis
Lu Chi discovers weaknesses in M Country's mortgage market while investigating Qi Jiaming's attempts to seek U.S. investment-bank cooperation. By the summer of 2007, the worsening credit crisis spreads through the country and the global financial system, bankrupting numerous investment funds and institutions. 533 581
- Qi Jiaming's investments are later damaged by the Subprime Mortgage Crisis. 588
- The crisis increases pressure even on Lu Chi, despite his earlier preparations and foresight. 581
Story Role / Major Arcs
Huaxia Imperial's Overseas Expansion
Wei Zhanjie and President Wei travel to the U.S. to pursue the acquisition of Miracle Effects, but Paimon Pictures reaches the studio first after Star Entertainment leaks Huaxia Imperial's budget constraints. The company subsequently shifts its attention to Gods and Demons Digital in New Zealand. 53 64 75
Lu Heng's Hollywood Auditions
Universal Pictures invites Lu Heng to audition for Kassel in the fantasy blockbuster Demon Slayer. Although his audition impresses the crew, director Charles Robson's favoritism and racial bias prevent him from receiving the role. 245 247 257 258 304
James Durant then offers Lu Heng the role of Dongfang in Return of the Star Map. Lu Heng contributes his own martial-arts ideas and performs a dagger sequence that convinces James to entrust him with aspects of the character's action direction. 260 261 262
*Star Map: War Chronicle*
Released as a major Hollywood science-fiction spectacle, Star Map: War Chronicle features Lu Heng as Dongfang, the third male lead and an ancient martial-arts cultivator. Dongfang clashes with genetically enhanced warriors before gaining their respect and ultimately sacrifices himself to save the protagonist. 300 307
The film's global box office exceeds 1.5 billion M Country dollars, intensifying Universal Pictures' interest in locking Lu Heng into further projects. 308
*CIA* and *Atlanta*
During a later stay in New York, Lu Heng joins CIA after multiple Hollywood producers seek him out. As Don, he begins as the agent assigned to arrest Ryan Woster, then becomes Ryan's ally after discovering the conspiracy against him. 578 579 580
Lu Heng also guest-stars as the cruel alien prince in James Frank's Alien Invasion/Atlanta. Though critics fault the film for prioritizing 3D-IMAX spectacle over plot and acting, its visual effects attract extensive repeat viewings in the U.S. 589 590 593 671
Later U.S. Work
Lu Heng returns to the U.S. to assist with Atlanta's post-production effects while CIA resumes filming in Hollywood. He and Wei Linxuan also spend time with both families in the country, including a visit to Disney. 603 604 648