Lightning Shadow was hailed as the eighth art. It was about far more than making something look good; anyone who became a master director naturally possessed exceptional aesthetic taste.
Wang Zhifei's rise as a great director owed much to his roots in the Paper Theater branch of the Theater Sect. His sense of beauty had naturally been shaped by his father and grandfather.
The costumes, styling, sets, and more in his Lightning Shadow works were not only breathtakingly beautiful but steeped in the spirit of antiquity. They won widespread acclaim. Even the royal family had awarded him a medal in thanks for his contributions to promoting Central Land culture.
That alone showed that Wang Jinhai's own aesthetic sense was hardly lacking. More importantly, he was no fanciful eccentric; he was steeped in tradition.
These might be mere Paper Soldiers, but their designs were not only handsome—they were meticulous. The armor cut for them, for instance, followed the style of Bright Light Armor, with just a touch of theatrical exaggeration.
As soon as the Bright Light Armor went on, Tang Changsheng heard a voice of praise ring in his ears:
"On his head, a Lotus-Leaf Helmet beaten from wrought iron,
Its great black tassel fluttering in the wind.
On his body, Dragon-Scale Armor beaten from wrought iron,
Over it, a Black Gauze War Robe heaped with clustered flowers.
A nine-strand belt bound tight around his waist,
The Heart-Guard Mirror shining bright.
A pair of Fox Tails draped across his chest,
Four Flying Tiger Banners borne upon his back.
A black-faced general with a black horse and a black banner,
Holding a Wrought-Iron Awl that pierced armor through.
He looked like Field Marshal Wen at the Southern Heavenly Gate,
Or fierce Zhang Fei, whose roar stopped foes at Dangyang."
Before long, the