Hot, really hot.
Although the high-power air conditioners in the venue were running at full capacity, Hall N3 of the Shanghai New International Expo Center was still stiflingly hot. The reason? People, people, and more people... As far as the eye could see, the area was covered with players standing on tiptoes, striving to lift their heads and look forward. Just the breath from players rubbing shoulders was enough to raise the temperature by ten degrees—yet even so, the crowd continued to surge, with everyone trying to grab the best "VIP viewing spot" at the front row of the "Justice Online" exhibition area.
The reason is simple: this place features the "most impressive stunt" pulled off by any exhibitor in the history of Shanghai ChinaJoy... At this moment, most of the attention in the entire venue is focused here—although the title already spoiled it, I still want to convey my feelings from that moment to everyone again.
We all know that whether it's the PC or mobile version, "Justice Online" is a game keen on "pulling stunts." In my memory, I vaguely recall their stunts including integrating large models for raising cyber babies, offline collaborations with KFC for awkward dance competitions, online distribution of hundreds of millions of concert tickets, and even "killing themselves" more than once to perform "Reanimation"... But this "stunt" is indeed different; it truly transcends commercial promotion and stage showmanship, reaching the level of performance art.
They brought a large acrylic tank, which should have been in an aquarium performance area, along with the mermaid inside, into the precious space of the venue, placing it directly in their exclusive exhibition area.
Huh?
Before I could even process my surprise, a wave of cheers erupted from the crowd. The official hosts and the cosplayers on stage quietly moved to the sides, and the mermaid performance began before I could fully react.
As the background music filled with the aura of "Tide Light" began to play, the graceful mermaid, holding flowers in her mouth, elegantly entered the water, drawing cheers from the players on site. Her large, skirt-like fish tail stirred up bubbles as she performed elegant dance moves underwater, such as flips and spins.
During this stunning performance, she sometimes waved to the surging crowd, dancing to the rhythm of the players' cheers and support. The interaction was intense, providing maximum emotional value, leaving people shouting for more.
At other times, she would quietly sit at the bottom of the pool, appearing to rest, but then suddenly produce two spirit pearls from her hand to play with. Her lively movements contrasted with the blue water, giving the audience a touch of coolness in their hot and stuffy bodies and minds... Moreover, whenever audience members approached to take photos, the mermaids would inevitably pose accordingly, just to leave the best memories for those interacting on stage.
To be honest, the last time I saw such a spectacular mermaid performance was at large aquariums or marine parks during holidays, where tickets often cost three or four hundred yuan. But keep in mind, whether it's preparation or on-site equipment, those professional venues are far more comprehensive than the temporary booths at ChinaJoy. In other words, to achieve the same level of performance quality, the mermaid performers and the staff at the "Justice Online" booth had to put in far more effort than one might imagine.
And this is the key factor that allowed the relatively small "Justice Online" booth to stand out among numerous exhibitors, becoming the brightest star in Hall N3.
There was even an underwater "Battle Royale" segment
You see, for well-known reasons, the recent cosplay scene has seen a热潮 (wave) of "All-Chinese Team" vs. "Korean Support": Before the event, some predicted that the "Chinese" cosplayers at this exhibition would be crushed by the "Korean Support" as before. Admittedly, in some previous exhibitions, the "service quality" and "emotional value" of "Korean Support Cosplayers" did indeed surpass those of "local cosplayers"... But this time, after witnessing the breathtaking performances of the mermaids on site, who dares to say our "All-Chinese Team" isn't up to par?
Moreover, besides the mermaids, the "Justice Online" booth featured over twenty beautiful cosplayers dressed as NPCs from various sects, taking turns on stage. In terms of the "hardcore" nature of their stunts, the cosplayers might be slightly less impressive than the mermaid performance, but they are equally professional in body movements, facial expressions, costume and prop accuracy, and their flower-like smiles and warm attitudes during photo interactions. Their looks, aesthetics, and professionalism are all top-notch.
There were even cosplayers performing in heavy, stuffy fursuit costumes in the muggy weather before a sudden downpour, delighting the "furries" on site—although I personally am not a furry (listen to my excuse, I really am not), facing such passionate "professionalism," it was indeed hard not to stop and watch.
Plus, after taking photos and interacting with these professional and friendly cosplayers, you can receive an exclusive oversized woven bag on site and have a chance to win various gifts, including the Justice Online Shouxin Town themed Mahjong set. This approach works on both fronts, warming both your hands and your heart.
With such dedicated cosplayers, such hardcore stunts, plus the exquisite on-site decorations and the renowned reputation of the "Justice Online" IP, it was already enough to attract thousands of visitors, packing this small corner of the venue to capacity—but "Justice Online" had another trick up its sleeve.
Remember the "Blood River Puppy," the regular face in memes that recently went viral in the game, with its silly appearance, wise eyes, thick eyebrows, and red hair?
Outside the venue, "Justice Online" surprisingly launched a "Free Blood River Puppy Adoption" event. The Blood River Puppy, once "hard to buy with a thousand gold" and only obtainable through skilled breeding, could now be adopted for free, one per person—except, they were Blood River Puppy balloons.
Of course, that look of stupidity tinged with wisdom, and wisdom tinged with silliness, was perfectly replicated on the Blood River Puppy balloons, making them irresistible. For a moment, the vast ChinaJoy venue witnessed the strange spectacle of "ten thousand dogs running wild"... Fortunately, the Blood River Puppy adoption booth was placed outside the venue. If it had been set up inside, the event organizers might have gone crazy due to the overwhelming crowd.
Seeming to echo the grandeur inside and outside the venue, "Justice Online Mobile" welcomed its new version 3.1.2 on August 1st, the day ChinaJoy opened. Like the on-site events, the update for "Justice Online Mobile" is rich in "service spirit," focusing on "listening to advice."
First, responding to strong player demand, the Territory War gameplay has been updated. After absorbing extensive player feedback, Territory War 2.0 "Sharpening Swords Across Mountains and Rivers" has emerged, replacing the original Dragon-Tiger Decisive Battle. With this update, "Territory" is further established as the absolute core, with main city-level maps opened as battle zones for the first time, adding combat mechanics like "cross-region melee" and "multi-map linkage." Ten clubs will be divided into two major factions, engaging in full-scale warfare across 12 large maps including Hangzhou, Bianjing, and Citong Port, besieging cities and seizing strongholds.
For players tired of fighting and killing, who wish to stay away from the turmoil of the Jianghu and enjoy leisure time with friends, drinking tea and playing chess, the first major update of "Nishui Xiaqi" is undoubtedly full of sincerity.
Now, "Nishui Xiaqi" supports playing with your martial arts partners and friends, allowing you to earn all rewards and rank points until you reach Legend and claim full rewards. Players unfamiliar with factions, bonds, or equipment can explore and research together with friends in "private" matches, mastering their chess skills before stepping out to reach the peak of the chess path—of course, you can also choose to switch things up after claiming full rewards and explore other gameplay modes. Taking it easy is the true way.
At the same time, the game itself will receive a major content update, introducing a series of new bonds and insights unique to Justice Online, making lineups more versatile than ever and ensuring every match is unpredictable. Who would have thought that the seemingly incompatible Tianye Alliance and Nichao Pavilion, after selecting the new insight "Water and Fire Complement Each Other," could share bond effects and provide bond stacks for each other?
In addition, this update of "Justice Online Mobile" also brings a new main storyline chapter [Heart's Night Watch · Main Chapter]. Completing the tasks rewards players with the matching costume "Changle Yingge," the unique equipment "Ji Mi'er · Red Dust Oath Hand," appearances like "Hero Face" and "Decal · Hero's Descent," and a large amount of Jiaozi... Not to mention, the game simultaneously launched the generous summer event "Summer Breeze Clears," where logging in on the first day grants a million Jiaozi and a 300 Wenyu voucher. Every move is bringing extra surprises to everyone.
The free costume [Changle Yingge] in this update
Just as the cosplayers at the event aimed to make every attending player feel at home, the latest update of "Justice Online Mobile" reflects the development team's ultimate pursuit of player experience. Looking at the update log, as thick as a dictionary, and the uniform praise in the comments section, I suddenly gained a new understanding of the hot popularity of "Justice Online" at ChinaJoy.
With an official team that appears wild and gimmicky on the outside but is solid and responsive on the inside, addressing player requests one by one, continuously creating suspense and surprises, and occasionally pulling off sky-high stunts that amaze everyone, how could players not be captivated, and how could the game not be popular?
However, I privately hope that next time "Justice Online" pulls off such an incredible stunt, they can apply for more booth space from the organizers. This would give everyone more room to stand and reduce the worry for the event organizers—after all, the "Justice Online" booth was truly too popular at this CJ event. The originally not-so-narrow aisles were completely blocked by the crowd, forcing the organizers to personally manage entry and exit and direct the flow of people...
Oh my, what a sin, truly a sin!
The officials better hurry up and "listen to advice," setting up a more grandiose stage for us next time—at this rate, the future of "Justice Online" will only become more prosperous, and the number of attendees at the next exhibition is likely to double. If everyone gets squeezed out and can't see your new stunts, what will we do?