Mystic Nine 九门, the long-awaited sequel to 2016’s The Mystic Nine, has premiered on Youku and hit 10,000 heat index within just 50 hours, making it Youku’s fastest drama of 2026 to reach the milestone.
Nostalgia for an Enduring Franchise
Much of the buzz has also been fueled by nostalgia. William Chan reprises his role as Zhang Qishan, better known as “Fo Ye.” Donning the military uniform again, the actor, now in his forties, steps back into the role with ease, looking every bit as charismatic as he did a decade ago. The series also benefits from the enduring popularity of the expansive Daomu Biji universe. Joseph Zeng joins the cast as Wu Lao Gou, the grandfather of Wu Xie, the character he portrayed in Ultimate Note. Sebrina Chen Yao rounds up the trio in the role of Huo Xian Gu, returning with a drama just a month after winning fans through her performances in Ride the Wind 2026. All of their characters have hit 100 million popularity points with Joseph Zeng hitting the milestone just 4 minutes after his first appearance.
First Impressions
Mystic Nine brings back the same eerie vibes seen in the tomb-raiding franchise. The story follows Zhang Qishan as he investigates the mysterious disappearance of his entire 401 military unit. It certainly helps to be directed by Bai Shan, known for his work in Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty. Nevertheless, some viewers criticized the show for being filled with ads. While the suspense didn’t feel quite there yet, the characters coming together and the gradually unfolding mystery is engaging enough especially for fans eager to revisit the world of the Old Nine Gates.
Wang Yiting takes over as Yin Xinyue, now Zhang Qishan’s wife, while Xu Zhengxi plays Er Yue Hong, now a smaller role in the sequel. Although it was widely expected that Zhao Liying and Lay Zhang Yixing would not return, some longtime viewers have found the new portrayals, particularly Yin Xinyue’s, difficult to adjust to. On the bright side, Ying Haoming’s 8th Master is back, running away from Fo Ye as he gets unwillingly dragged into the fray. Wang Zu Yi playing the masked Zhang Xiao Yu is also a nice addition.
