One week has passed, and the results of the poll we posted are in!! Out of 28 votes total (27 here and 1 on twitter), it looks like the event that won with a -frankly, crushing, considering- majority, is the Prompt Fest!
Specifically, almost half of you voted for a Prompt Fest at a percentage of 44.4%, while the rest of the formats stayed much lower; with a Bang idea at a combined 22.2% (14.8% for the Small/Big Bang and 7.4%), 3.7% for the Remix Challenge idea, 11.1% for the Bingo and a total of 18.5% (the second highest) for Other Ideas and those of you who wanted to keep the Gift Exchange format.
Thus, the event that we will hold this year over the (approximate) time period that the Heihua Gift Exchange ran last year, will be a Prompt Fest! The specific time frame, as well as the entirety of the Rules and Guidelines for the event will be posted here at a later date, as soon as we're done deciding on everything. We will post them in a separate post, that we will also link to our pinned post for easier access.
However!
There were several of you who found the Gift Exchange format to be somewhat of a deal-breaker in this, and in one of the many discussions that started as a result of this poll in the Yucun Discord Server, some of you even said that you'd like to hold a separate event keeping the Gift Exchange format. Despite previous concerns expressing dissatisfaction with the amount of events in the fandom -and wishing to limit them- vs the pool of creators (which was the original reason we took over the Heihua Exchange and decided on replacing the gift format with another one instead of doing two), the idea of two heihua events did drop, so we considered it with the same amount of gravity! We offered then to host two separate Heihua-themed events over the year if there is truly enough desire and possible participation for them, and we stand by this offer! We can even make this a yearly thing if there is sufficient demand.
So...
Would you like us to hold a Heihua Gift Exchange additionally to the Prompt Fest?
Yes (I would participate in both events)
Yes (I would ONLY participate in the Gift Exchange)
Yes (I would ONLY participate in the Prompt Fest)
No, I don't want two events (i ONLY want a Prompt Fest)
No, I don't want two events (i ONLY want a Gift Exchange)
Voting ended onJan 23
All of the mods are willing to run two events every year if that's something everyone wants, so we're putting out this poll (as you all know, not the first and it certainly won't be the last) to see what your interest is. HOWEVER! We are going to do so ONLY if we have enough interest to hold both; if it turns out that not all that many people would participate in such a thing, then most likely that's not what everyone wants after all.
We don't want to run an event that has really few to none participants, as that feels disheartening not only for us, but also for those few that would participate. Additionally, we don't want to hold a gift exchange only for people to not then have time/motivation/brain power to participate in the Prompt Fest. Either we have enough participants in each separate event to justify hosting them regardless of whether or not someone wants to participate in both, or we only hold one event.
To clarify, we will hold the Prompt Fest over an end of summer/start of autumn timeline no matter what. If and only if there is interest of a minimum of at least five (5) people not only interested, but certain that they will participate, we will also hold the traditional Gift Exchange for heihua. Assuming enough people want to participate, we will hold the Gift Exchange earlier in the year.
Specifically, we will open sign-ups at the end of January/start of February, and assignments will be given out on Valentine's Day, with Work Reveals falling around late April. We will implement an optional, opt-in anon period only for those participants who might be interested - we will post a new round of Rules and Guidelines for the 2026 Gift Exchange if it runs, and it will be the set that will remain for any future gift exchanges.
Optionally, since @merinnan dropped this idea in the Yucun server already for the Gen and Rarepair DMBJ Exchanges, please also let us know whether or not you'd be interested in us mixing the Gift Exchange with a sort of Remix Challenge format thrown in (the exchange format will stay exactly the same, but instead of an original gift you can make for your recipient, your gift will need to be a remix of an already existing work they've made). This can be implemented based on your feedback as either: A) a hard rule replacing the original gift, or B) an opt-in feature.
Happy New Year, everyone! Thank you again for filling out our feedback form from a few months ago. We've seen all your comments and suggestions we'll be keeping them in mind to improve how we run the events in the future! This is a small event for a small fandom and although @thatlittlemouse is our only hardcore heihua-ist in the mod team, we all want everyone who participates to have a good time!
Several responses in our feedback form expressed a dislike for the anonymity period, which we must confess the mods are also not super fond of and have been thinking of eliminating completely or shortening (per someone's suggestion) from the beginning. However, eventually we decided run the exchange for the first time as it was being run before the way we got it from the previous organizers, since we were unsure of how receptive potential participants would be to such a big change.
The DMBJ fandom is full of Gift Exchanges - in fact, with a cursory glance our events appear to be almost exclusively Gift Exchanges (with small variations, like eg prompt weeks or the LNY Exchange). Our initiative isn't meant to be criticism to any exchange, but, in the interest of making our fandom experience even more fun, we'd like to introduce some variation to our fandom events based on other kinds of fandom events we (as the mod team) like participating in and would like to participate in as active members of the DMBJ fandom. And it seems like such a change of format/structure might not be such a bad idea after all!
The mods brainstormed several ideas about how to work out the proposed shortening or elimination of the anon period/creator reveals, and we've come to the decision that it might be fun to test out different event formats/structures for future fests! So, seeing as we're planning to continue this exchange until otherwise requested, we've come up with several alternative events that we could run instead of a Gift Exchange, and decided to try them out for 2026 - and here's where we need your feedback.
TL/DR: in 2026, we will run a Heihua-centric event as scheduled, but it will not be a Gift Exchange.
Your next question would naturally be: well, what kind of event will it be?
There are certainly more kinds of events and formats than we could possibly include in our small DMBJ fandom here on tumblr. However, the matter of Gift Exchanges vs a different kind of event is one that has been brought up here and in the Yucun Discord Server (the largest and most active DMBJ fandom hub) and a lot of people have noted their preference for Exchanges as opposed to Prompt Weeks specifically due to the existence of a pressing deadline that looms and forces us to complete our gift.
Relatable. We (of the mod team) also feel that way.
To this purpose, we have selected a few specific event formats we feel could be alternatives to a gift exchange based on that expressed preference. We have opted to introduce only events with: A) a long and specific time-frame for the creation period (the same as the 2025 Heihua Exchange, or longer, if that becomes necessary), and B) a clear deadline for the created work. As a bonus, we feel that some of the proposed exchanges would also strengthen the feeling of being in a community and making new friends, as they require some teamwork and collaboration with other participants more directly than a gift exchange allows.
Having said that, we'd also like to disclose the reason this post is being made:
Without further ado, here is the poll with format options we'd like you to choose from, based on what you feel would be fun and also possible for you to participate in. For any clarification on what an event is/what it would look like, you can click below the cut for a more detailed description of what the specific event would entail, or ask us to clarify!
So, let's vote!
What is an event format you'd like to participate in for the next Heihua event we'll organize?
Big/Small Bang (feel free to specify which one you prefer)
Reverse Bang
Remix Challenge
Prompt Fest
Reverse Prompt Fest
Bingo
other/i want X BUT-/just keep it a gift exchange (please specify)
Voting ended onJan 16
Big Bang/Small Bang and Reverse Bang
What is a Bang, whether Small or Big?
It's a fandom event for creators to team up and work together on a set of creations! Each team traditionally consists of an author, an artist and optionally a beta reader. The set of creations consists of a longer fic (traditionally 5k words minimum for a Small Bang and 10k for a Big Bang, but in our specific case for Heihua this is negotiable), and artwork to go with it. An author posts a summary of their fic, and the artists view them and pick one they want to create an artwork for. Assigned teams work together to create one fic and one or optionally more pieces of art.
What's a Reverse Bang then?
The same event we just described, but artists are those who post an art piece/draft (that is not strictly a piece of digital or traditional art, but can include crafts, edits, gifs, moodboards, videos, ceramics, cosplay and other stuff!) and writers pick a piece they want to write a story about. Level of collaboration for both bangs can be negotiated between teams (brainstorming, regular input, minimal involvement, etc) for either of the bangs.
Deadline ✅
Long period of creation ✅
Bonus: direct collaboration with other DMBJ enthusiasts! ✅
Remix Challenge
What's that?
It's a retelling of an already created work! The idea is to retain the spirit of the original story or art while writing or creating something in the style and manner of your choosing. For example, you can retell it from someone else's POV or record a podfic or introduce a new character/focus on a background character or write a sequel/prequel or change the ending/some plot elements (eg: everything is the same but they have magic/assigned animal companions/live in a different era, etc) and more!
But how does that work?
You're assigned an author/artist with the same preferences and DNWs criteria as for a Gift Exchange and you will write or create a remix of one of their fanworks. One of your fanworks will be remixed by someone else. (Authors/Artists retain the right to choose a minimum of 1 work they don't want remixed, or specify things they wouldn't like someone remixing for their works; eg if someone doesn't like magic/AUs/etc, they can mention they don't want a remix with that).
Deadline ✅
Long period of creation ✅
Prompt Fest and Reverse Prompt Fest
What on earth is a Prompt Fest? How is that different from a prompt week?
During a specific period, anyone in the fandom can submit a prompt (or multiple prompts) of a fic or an art they would like to see exist. We will later take these prompts and post them all together so that authors and artists who have signed up can choose one or more they like and feel they can create something based on it. There is a set creation period with a deadline of when the work is due and (optionally, based on your feedback) creator reveals, a more collaborative set-up of a team author/artist working to make 1 fic and 1 art for a prompt, or even signing up together with someone else as a team (2 writers? 2 artists?)
This takes the idea of the already existing DMBJ Kinkmeme and gives it a more contained structure with a fixed deadline, to accommodate the expressed preference for a deadline-based event.
And what about the Reverse Prompt Fest? What's that?
What we have decided to name a 'Reverse Prompt Fest' is actually an event inspired by the Tolkien Scribbles and Drabbles: A Fall for Tolkien Event, where instead of a written-out prompt, an artwork (or the draft/sketch/etc) of an art is posted and later claimed so that someone can either write something about it or expand on the already existing art (make a comic of a sketch? include an embroidery in a story by centering the story around it? make a video based on an existing gif? your own creativity is the limit.)
Deadline ✅
Long period of creation ✅
Bingo
For this idea, we are still developing what it would look like and several ideas and directions it could go towards, and we'd appreciate your feedback and ideas on it! As of right now, the main idea is that this is a Bingo Card Fest, where option A: each person that signs up submits a bingo card and then you are assigned to create something for someone based on their bingo card (and a DNW list) as a gift during the creation period, aiming to cross off at least one row/column, or option B: each person that signs up submits a bingo card and then participants make treats for a bingo card that inspires them following the creation format of the DMBJ Lunar New Year Exchange. (info post for that here by @dmbjexchange)
Optionally, we could also create teams to work on one (or multiple) bingo cards if the possibility of more direct collaboration is something you'd like to have!
Option A resembles the Gift Exchange format more, while Option B is modeled after the DMBJ LNY Exchange format more towards a Prompt Fest/Kinkmeme structure.
(...I'll fix the banner properly once at my computer, I promise.)
In an effort to be more timely and not spring this on everyone last minute... Here we go?
One thing that has been an issue for me every year is that the reveal date falls at EXACTLY the wrong time for me, which is very unfortunate given the significance of the reveal date of August 17th. So I wanted to get out there early and ask...
How would feel about a fic reveal date of August 10th with an author reveal date of August 17th?
Three pinch-hitters are needed for Rarepair assignments - if you are willing/able to pinch-hit, please ping me here or on Discord and I will send you the assignments that need pinch-hitters for you to see if you're able to fill any of them.
There's two days left to sign up for the 2025 Rarepair Exchange, so if you were planning to sign up and haven't done so yet, make sure you do it in the next two days!
You can sign up for the exchange here, and you can find all of the exchange information in this post.
There's two days left to sign up for the 2025 Rarepair Exchange, so if you were planning to sign up and haven't done so yet, make sure you do it in the next two days!
You can sign up for the exchange here, and you can find all of the exchange information in this post.
There's two days left to sign up for the 2025 Rarepair Exchange, so if you were planning to sign up and haven't done so yet, make sure you do it in the next two days!
You can sign up for the exchange here, and you can find all of the exchange information in this post.
There's two days left to sign up for the 2025 Rarepair Exchange, so if you were planning to sign up and haven't done so yet, make sure you do it in the next two days!
You can sign up for the exchange here, and you can find all of the exchange information in this post.
There's two days left to sign up for the 2025 Rarepair Exchange, so if you were planning to sign up and haven't done so yet, make sure you do it in the next two days!
You can sign up for the exchange here, and you can find all of the exchange information in this post.
It’s time for the Daomu Biji Rarepair Exchange, a fic, art, podfic, and vid exchange for DMBJ ships where less than 3% of English-language authors have posted fics on AO3.
In this exchange, participants will be anonymously matched to create gifts for one another during an eight week creating period.
This exchange is open to all the DMBJ canons - if it’s DMBJ, then it’s eligible! It will take place on AO3, so you need an AO3 account to participate – if you don’t have one, you can request an invitation code here. If there isn’t enough time, no worries - contact the mods at here on Tumblr or on Discord and we can send you an invitation!
Please read this post carefully before signing up.
Schedule
October 21: Signups open
October 28: Signups close
November 2: Assignments out
December 7: Assignments due
December 8 - 13: Pinch-hit period
December 14: Works reveals
December 21: Creator reveals & treats deadline
Allowed Ships
Any DMBJ ship which has had less than 3% of English-language authors post fics for it on AO3.
For this year's exchange, this means the following ships are NOT allowed:
Wu Xie/Zhang QIling
Hei Xiazi/Xie Yuchen
Er Yue Hong/Zhang Qishan
Hei Xiazi/Huo Xiuxiu/Xie Yuchen
Kan Jian/Liu Sang
Liang Wan/Zhang Rishan
Liu Sang/Wang Pangzi
Liu Sang/Wang Pangzi/Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling
Liu Sang/Wu Xie
Liu Sang/Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling
Liu Sang/Zhang Qiling
Liu Sang/Zhang Rishan
Qi Tie Zui/Zhang Qishan
Qi Tie Zui/Zhang Rishan
Wang Pangzi/Wu Xie
Wang Pangzi/Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling
Wang Pangzi/Zhang Qiling
Wu Xie/Xie Yuchen
Rules
1. Your creation must focus on your recipient’s requested ship (or one of their requested ships, if they have nominated multiple ones). While unrequested background ships are fine (unless listed as a Do Not Want), the focused ship must only be one of the requested ones.
2. You will be expected to create a gift matching your recipient’s request. Filling any specifying prompts is not obligatory, but try to create something you honestly think your recipient will enjoy!
3. You must not include anything that your recipient has listed as a DNW (Do Not Want). This goes for treats as well.
4. The minimum requirements for the gifts are 300 words for fic or podfic, one sketch on unlined paper for art (traditional or digital; no manips), or 30 seconds for a vid.
5. If you are creating a podfic and are not the original author of the fic, you must obtain the permission of the original author.
6. All the requests will be made visible to everyone to allow for treating! There are no minimum requirements for treats (but remember to mind your recipient’s do not wants!). You can also create manips for treats.
7. This is an anonymous exchange: refrain from discussing your assignment in public. After the works are revealed, there’ll be one week anon period when the creators remain anonymous before the creator reveals.
8. If at any point you need to drop out, just click on the “default” button on your AO3 assignment page; we’ll find a pinch hitter to create a gift for your recipient instead. If you need an extension to finish your gift, contact the mods before the deadline.
9. After the reveals, comment on your gift in a timely manner.
10. Most importantly: be excellent to each other!
Sign-Up Information
Sign-ups will take place here on AO3, ending on October 28th. There, you can fill out details about your request and offer. You can edit your sign-up at any time until the sign-ups close on October 28th.
When signing up, you will be able to choose fandom and genre tags, as well as specify any additional details.
You will have to select the DMBJ canon you’re interested in creating and receiving a gift in:
Novels: Daomu Biji / The Grave Robbers’ Chronicles (including spinoffs, side stories, and extras)
TV: The Lost Tomb 1
TV: The Lost Tomb 2 Explore with the Note
TV: The Lost Tomb 2.5 Heavenly Palace on the Clouds
TV: Ultimate Note
TV: Sha Hai (and spin off movies)
TV: The Lost Tomb Reboot/The Sound of Providence (and spin offs)
TV: The Mystic Nine (and spin off movies)
TV: Adventure Behind the Bronze Door
TV: (the one currently airing)
Movie: Time Raiders
Movie: Reboot movies
Movie: Conjuring Curse
Movie: Misty Creed
Game: Time Raiders
This does not mean that you’re limited to requesting or creating a work during the canon timelines for those series/books/games. It’s just to mark which canons you’re familiar with to allow for easier matching: some participants might have a preference for a particular canon era, some might not be familiar with all the versions. You still have to choose your preferred canon eras even if you want to create or receive an AU.
You will also have to specify genres you’re interested in
Action/Adventure
Alternate Universe
Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
Angst
Canon Compliant
Crack
Dark
Domesticity
Fluff
Humor
Hurt/Comfort
Porn With Plot
PWP
Requests
Fandom - you have to choose at least one. If you’re willing to receive a gift in any canon era, you can just click “Any”!
Genre - you have to choose at least three tags.
Ratings - you have to choose at least one. This will help your gifter know what you like and are comfortable with when they're coming up with ideas to fill your prompts.
Warnings - you have to choose at least one. This does not mean that you WILL receive a gift with warnings, it just lets your gifter know if you are comfortable receiving a gift with warnings or not.
Optional Details - here’s where you can go into more detail about your perfect exchange gift!
If you run out of slots in the Relationships section (there is a limit of 20), you can list additional potential rarepairs here. Also, if you don’t have a specific ship in mind, but would like any ship involving a particular character, you can say that instead (e.g. ‘Liu Sang / any’, ‘Pangzi / any’, etc.)
You can also include:
General Likes: your creator may, but doesn’t have to, include them. This doesn't have to be detailed prompts, just general themes you enjoy, like getting together or established relationship.
Please note that works featuring QPRs, ace, and/or aro characters are absolutely valid things to request in a ship exchange. You may also request a fully platonic relationship if you wish.
DNW (Do Not Wants): things that your creator must not include - squicks, triggers, characters or things that you simply don’t like. Remember that you don’t owe anyone an explanation about why something is a DNW, and that DNW are not meant to be taken personally. Just list the things you don’t like, “DNW: X, Y.”
Please list if you have any audio or visual triggers (such as flashing lights). This could be in your DNW or could be separate. Please also list song/music DNWs (e.g. "please no lyrics that use the n-word" or "please no lyrics in [specific language]" or “please no [specific genre/s of music”).
Prompts/specific ideas: if you have any prompts, you can also put them here! You can be as general or as detailed as you’d like, but remember that while your creator will try to make the best gift for you, filling a specific prompt is not obligatory. You can include a crossover prompt (with other DMBJ verse or other canons), but make sure it’s not the only prompt you have.
For vid prompts, please list things like genres/styles of music you like (or like in vids), vibes/tone/theme you’d like to see (e.g. “angsty amnesiac Xioage”, “Heisang crack”, etc.), and things like that. Please try to avoid giving one or two specific songs for a specific character/ship.
If you run out of space for your prompts, you can write a prompt post on another platform like Dreamwidth, Tumblr, GoogleDocs, etc. and put the link in your sign up.
If you chose novels as one of your fandoms, you can use this field to list the ones you’re familiar with, such as ‘Books 1-4′ , ‘main series only′, ‘main series + specific extras’, etc.
The requests will be made publicly visible after matching is done, so that others will be able to create treats (additional gifts) based on them!
Offers
Fandom - you have to choose at least one. If you can create works for any canon era, you can choose “Any”!
Genre - you have to choose at least three.
Ratings - you have to choose at least one. This will help matching what people are comfortable creating with what people are comfortable receiving.
Warnings - you have to choose at least one. This does not mean that you have to create a gift with warnings, it's just for helping to match what people are comfortable writing with what people are comfortable receiving.
Optional Details - in this field, you can tell us more about the kind of works you like to create, for example if you really prefer established relationship, feel best with certain kinds of AUs, or like writing darkfic. We’ll take it into account when matching! By the same token, if there’s something you really don’t want to write, let us know here as well.
If you chose novels as one of your fandoms, you can use this field to list the ones you’re familiar with, such as ‘Books 1-4′ , ‘main series only′, ‘main series + specific extras’, etc.
In the optional details of your offer, you can also name people you don’t want to be matched to, for example your regular beta, and we will do our best to avoid matching you!
The offers will only ever be visible to the mods; never to anyone else.
Your Assignment
You will be matched to create a gift for someone who requested at least one of the fandoms that you offer, with as many similar genres/likes as possible. This exchange will be hand-matched, after using AO3’s matching algorithm to first generate the potential matches.
If you have any issues when you receive your assignment (you have a question about it or think there’s an issue with it), contact the mods as soon as possible. Do not contact your recipient on your own.
You will have to create a gift for your recipient, fulfilling the minimum requirements of fandom, genre, and ship, and avoiding any stated “do not wants”. Filling exact prompts is optional, but try to create something matching your recipient’s likes that they will enjoy!
You will have to post your gift to the exchange AO3 collection before the due date (December 7th), using the “gift this work to” option to give it to your recipient. Your work will remain in the collection only visible to you and the mods until the reveals happen. Remember to tag your work appropriately or use the “chose not to warn” warning.
Treating
Treats are additional gifts for the participants! To allow for treating, the requests will be made visible when matching is done. You can create treats at any time until the creator reveals! There are no minimum requirements for treats, and manips/moodboards/etc. are also allowed in addition to fic, art, podfic and vids. As with assignments, you have to respect the recipient’s Do Not Wants, and while the optional details are optional, try to create something fitting the listed likes. One treat can only be gifted to one person.
Pinch Hits
In case someone needs to drop out, we will look for a pinch hitter to complete their assignment. Pinch hits will be posted to this tumblr and the DMBJ Yu Cun Discord.
Extensions
If you think you can finish your assignment, but you need a few days more, you can always ask for an extension!
Multi-Chapter Fics
If you are writing a multi-chapter fic for the exchange and don’t want to drop the entire fic at once, these are the posting guidelines for it:
Multi-chapter fics that are assignment fills must be fully written and at least the first chapter posted by the assignment deadline, ready for the fic reveals on December 14th.
From December 14th, at least one chapter is to be posted daily.
All chapters of the fic must be posted by the time of author reveals and end of treating on December 21st (If the fic is more than 7 chapters long, then this will mean that multiple chapters will need to be posted on some days).
Multi-chapter fics that are treats can begin to be posted at any time, but must also be fully posted by December 21st.
Other Important Information
Make sure to check the email you use on AO3 frequently during the exchange, as it will be the primary means of communication. We might contact you if there is an issue with your sign-up or if your gift creator has a question for you.
If you’d rather we contact you on DIscord or Tumblr, please leave your handle in the offer section of your sign-up.
Follow us here to avoid missing an announcement or a deadline!
If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to contact us here on Tumblr or on Discord.
It’s time for the Daomu Biji Rarepair Exchange, a fic, art, podfic, and vid exchange for DMBJ ships where less than 3% of English-language authors have posted fics on AO3.
In this exchange, participants will be anonymously matched to create gifts for one another during an eight week creating period.
This exchange is open to all the DMBJ canons - if it’s DMBJ, then it’s eligible! It will take place on AO3, so you need an AO3 account to participate – if you don’t have one, you can request an invitation code here. If there isn’t enough time, no worries - contact the mods at here on Tumblr or on Discord and we can send you an invitation!
Please read this post carefully before signing up.
Schedule
October 21: Signups open
October 28: Signups close
November 2: Assignments out
December 7: Assignments due
December 8 - 13: Pinch-hit period
December 14: Works reveals
December 21: Creator reveals & treats deadline
Allowed Ships
Any DMBJ ship which has had less than 3% of English-language authors post fics for it on AO3.
For this year's exchange, this means the following ships are NOT allowed:
Wu Xie/Zhang QIling
Hei Xiazi/Xie Yuchen
Er Yue Hong/Zhang Qishan
Hei Xiazi/Huo Xiuxiu/Xie Yuchen
Kan Jian/Liu Sang
Liang Wan/Zhang Rishan
Liu Sang/Wang Pangzi
Liu Sang/Wang Pangzi/Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling
Liu Sang/Wu Xie
Liu Sang/Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling
Liu Sang/Zhang Qiling
Liu Sang/Zhang Rishan
Qi Tie Zui/Zhang Qishan
Qi Tie Zui/Zhang Rishan
Wang Pangzi/Wu Xie
Wang Pangzi/Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling
Wang Pangzi/Zhang Qiling
Wu Xie/Xie Yuchen
Rules
1. Your creation must focus on your recipient’s requested ship (or one of their requested ships, if they have nominated multiple ones). While unrequested background ships are fine (unless listed as a Do Not Want), the focused ship must only be one of the requested ones.
2. You will be expected to create a gift matching your recipient’s request. Filling any specifying prompts is not obligatory, but try to create something you honestly think your recipient will enjoy!
3. You must not include anything that your recipient has listed as a DNW (Do Not Want). This goes for treats as well.
4. The minimum requirements for the gifts are 300 words for fic or podfic, one sketch on unlined paper for art (traditional or digital; no manips), or 30 seconds for a vid.
5. If you are creating a podfic and are not the original author of the fic, you must obtain the permission of the original author.
6. All the requests will be made visible to everyone to allow for treating! There are no minimum requirements for treats (but remember to mind your recipient’s do not wants!). You can also create manips for treats.
7. This is an anonymous exchange: refrain from discussing your assignment in public. After the works are revealed, there’ll be one week anon period when the creators remain anonymous before the creator reveals.
8. If at any point you need to drop out, just click on the “default” button on your AO3 assignment page; we’ll find a pinch hitter to create a gift for your recipient instead. If you need an extension to finish your gift, contact the mods before the deadline.
9. After the reveals, comment on your gift in a timely manner.
10. Most importantly: be excellent to each other!
Sign-Up Information
Sign-ups will take place here on AO3, ending on October 28th. There, you can fill out details about your request and offer. You can edit your sign-up at any time until the sign-ups close on October 28th.
When signing up, you will be able to choose fandom and genre tags, as well as specify any additional details.
You will have to select the DMBJ canon you’re interested in creating and receiving a gift in:
Novels: Daomu Biji / The Grave Robbers’ Chronicles (including spinoffs, side stories, and extras)
TV: The Lost Tomb 1
TV: The Lost Tomb 2 Explore with the Note
TV: The Lost Tomb 2.5 Heavenly Palace on the Clouds
TV: Ultimate Note
TV: Sha Hai (and spin off movies)
TV: The Lost Tomb Reboot/The Sound of Providence (and spin offs)
TV: The Mystic Nine (and spin off movies)
TV: Adventure Behind the Bronze Door
TV: (the one currently airing)
Movie: Time Raiders
Movie: Reboot movies
Movie: Conjuring Curse
Movie: Misty Creed
Game: Time Raiders
This does not mean that you’re limited to requesting or creating a work during the canon timelines for those series/books/games. It’s just to mark which canons you’re familiar with to allow for easier matching: some participants might have a preference for a particular canon era, some might not be familiar with all the versions. You still have to choose your preferred canon eras even if you want to create or receive an AU.
You will also have to specify genres you’re interested in
Action/Adventure
Alternate Universe
Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
Angst
Canon Compliant
Crack
Dark
Domesticity
Fluff
Humor
Hurt/Comfort
Porn With Plot
PWP
Requests
Fandom - you have to choose at least one. If you’re willing to receive a gift in any canon era, you can just click “Any”!
Genre - you have to choose at least three tags.
Ratings - you have to choose at least one. This will help your gifter know what you like and are comfortable with when they're coming up with ideas to fill your prompts.
Warnings - you have to choose at least one. This does not mean that you WILL receive a gift with warnings, it just lets your gifter know if you are comfortable receiving a gift with warnings or not.
Optional Details - here’s where you can go into more detail about your perfect exchange gift!
If you run out of slots in the Relationships section (there is a limit of 20), you can list additional potential rarepairs here. Also, if you don’t have a specific ship in mind, but would like any ship involving a particular character, you can say that instead (e.g. ‘Liu Sang / any’, ‘Pangzi / any’, etc.)
You can also include:
General Likes: your creator may, but doesn’t have to, include them. This doesn't have to be detailed prompts, just general themes you enjoy, like getting together or established relationship.
Please note that works featuring QPRs, ace, and/or aro characters are absolutely valid things to request in a ship exchange. You may also request a fully platonic relationship if you wish.
DNW (Do Not Wants): things that your creator must not include - squicks, triggers, characters or things that you simply don’t like. Remember that you don’t owe anyone an explanation about why something is a DNW, and that DNW are not meant to be taken personally. Just list the things you don’t like, “DNW: X, Y.”
Please list if you have any audio or visual triggers (such as flashing lights). This could be in your DNW or could be separate. Please also list song/music DNWs (e.g. "please no lyrics that use the n-word" or "please no lyrics in [specific language]" or “please no [specific genre/s of music”).
Prompts/specific ideas: if you have any prompts, you can also put them here! You can be as general or as detailed as you’d like, but remember that while your creator will try to make the best gift for you, filling a specific prompt is not obligatory. You can include a crossover prompt (with other DMBJ verse or other canons), but make sure it’s not the only prompt you have.
For vid prompts, please list things like genres/styles of music you like (or like in vids), vibes/tone/theme you’d like to see (e.g. “angsty amnesiac Xioage”, “Heisang crack”, etc.), and things like that. Please try to avoid giving one or two specific songs for a specific character/ship.
If you run out of space for your prompts, you can write a prompt post on another platform like Dreamwidth, Tumblr, GoogleDocs, etc. and put the link in your sign up.
If you chose novels as one of your fandoms, you can use this field to list the ones you’re familiar with, such as ‘Books 1-4′ , ‘main series only′, ‘main series + specific extras’, etc.
The requests will be made publicly visible after matching is done, so that others will be able to create treats (additional gifts) based on them!
Offers
Fandom - you have to choose at least one. If you can create works for any canon era, you can choose “Any”!
Genre - you have to choose at least three.
Ratings - you have to choose at least one. This will help matching what people are comfortable creating with what people are comfortable receiving.
Warnings - you have to choose at least one. This does not mean that you have to create a gift with warnings, it's just for helping to match what people are comfortable writing with what people are comfortable receiving.
Optional Details - in this field, you can tell us more about the kind of works you like to create, for example if you really prefer established relationship, feel best with certain kinds of AUs, or like writing darkfic. We’ll take it into account when matching! By the same token, if there’s something you really don’t want to write, let us know here as well.
If you chose novels as one of your fandoms, you can use this field to list the ones you’re familiar with, such as ‘Books 1-4′ , ‘main series only′, ‘main series + specific extras’, etc.
In the optional details of your offer, you can also name people you don’t want to be matched to, for example your regular beta, and we will do our best to avoid matching you!
The offers will only ever be visible to the mods; never to anyone else.
Your Assignment
You will be matched to create a gift for someone who requested at least one of the fandoms that you offer, with as many similar genres/likes as possible. This exchange will be hand-matched, after using AO3’s matching algorithm to first generate the potential matches.
If you have any issues when you receive your assignment (you have a question about it or think there’s an issue with it), contact the mods as soon as possible. Do not contact your recipient on your own.
You will have to create a gift for your recipient, fulfilling the minimum requirements of fandom, genre, and ship, and avoiding any stated “do not wants”. Filling exact prompts is optional, but try to create something matching your recipient’s likes that they will enjoy!
You will have to post your gift to the exchange AO3 collection before the due date (December 7th), using the “gift this work to” option to give it to your recipient. Your work will remain in the collection only visible to you and the mods until the reveals happen. Remember to tag your work appropriately or use the “chose not to warn” warning.
Treating
Treats are additional gifts for the participants! To allow for treating, the requests will be made visible when matching is done. You can create treats at any time until the creator reveals! There are no minimum requirements for treats, and manips/moodboards/etc. are also allowed in addition to fic, art, podfic and vids. As with assignments, you have to respect the recipient’s Do Not Wants, and while the optional details are optional, try to create something fitting the listed likes. One treat can only be gifted to one person.
Pinch Hits
In case someone needs to drop out, we will look for a pinch hitter to complete their assignment. Pinch hits will be posted to this tumblr and the DMBJ Yu Cun Discord.
Extensions
If you think you can finish your assignment, but you need a few days more, you can always ask for an extension!
Multi-Chapter Fics
If you are writing a multi-chapter fic for the exchange and don’t want to drop the entire fic at once, these are the posting guidelines for it:
Multi-chapter fics that are assignment fills must be fully written and at least the first chapter posted by the assignment deadline, ready for the fic reveals on December 14th.
From December 14th, at least one chapter is to be posted daily.
All chapters of the fic must be posted by the time of author reveals and end of treating on December 21st (If the fic is more than 7 chapters long, then this will mean that multiple chapters will need to be posted on some days).
Multi-chapter fics that are treats can begin to be posted at any time, but must also be fully posted by December 21st.
Other Important Information
Make sure to check the email you use on AO3 frequently during the exchange, as it will be the primary means of communication. We might contact you if there is an issue with your sign-up or if your gift creator has a question for you.
If you’d rather we contact you on DIscord or Tumblr, please leave your handle in the offer section of your sign-up.
Follow us here to avoid missing an announcement or a deadline!
If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to contact us here on Tumblr or on Discord.
Pingxie Exchange 2025: Schedule and Guidelines Post
Hi and welcome to the Pingxie Exchange: a fic, art, and fanvid exchange about the Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling pairing.
In this exchange, participants will be anonymously matched to create gifts for one another during a five week creation period. The gifts will be revealed on August 17th: the day Wu Xie welcomed Xiaoge back after his 10-year-long absence behind the Bronze Gate.
This exchange is open to all the DMBJ canons (adaptations featuring Wu Xie or Xiaoge and the original novels). It will take place on AO3, so you need an AO3 account to participate--if you don’t have one, you can request it here; if there isn’t enough time, no worries - contact the mods at [email protected], on DreamWidth, or on tumblr, and we can send you an invitation!
Schedule
Sign-ups open: June 11th
Sign-ups end: June 24th 11:59 PM Anywhere On Earth (what time is it for me?)
Matching: June 24th
Assignments out: no later than June 25th
Assignments due: August 10th 11:59 PM Anywhere On Earth (what time is it for me?)
Gift reveals: August 17th
Creator reveals and treats deadline: August 24th
Further information behind the cut...
Guidelines
This is a ship exchange: as such, all the works created for this event must be focused on Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling. Works with threesomes/moresomes or other pairings involving Wu Xie and/or Zhang Qiling are not appropriate for this exchange, but background ships of other characters are fine.
You will be expected to create a gift matching your recipient’s request. Filling any specific prompt is not obligatory, but try to create something you honestly think your recipient will enjoy!
You must not include anything stated as “do not want” in your recipient’s sign-up.
The minimum requirements for the gifts are 300 words for fic, one sketch on unlined paper for art (traditional or digital; no manips), or 30 seconds of video for fanvids.
After the matching is done, all the requests will be made visible to everyone to allow for treating! There are no minimum requirements for treats (but remember to mind your recipient’s do not wants!). You can also create manips for treats.
Please note: Now that AO3 has changed the way that gifting works on the archive, if you wish to be eligible for treats, you need to select the option "Allow anyone to gift me works" under the "Collections, Challenges and Gifts" section of your AO3 preferences. You must also indicate that you are open to treats in your exchange sign-up.
This is an anonymous exchange: refrain from discussing your assignment in public. After the works are revealed, there will be a one week anon period when the creators remain anonymous before the creator reveals. DO NOT post your creation anywhere but the AO3 collection (e.g., Tumblr, Twitter/X, Bluesky, Dreamwidth, etc.) before authors are revealed on the 24th. If you do this, you will not be allowed to participate next year.
If at any point you need to drop out, just click on the “default” button on your AO3 assignment page (https://archiveofourown.org/users/YOURNAME/assignments); we’ll find a pinch hitter to create a gift for your recipient instead. If you need an extension to finish your gift, contact the mods before the deadline.
After the reveals, comment on your gift.
Most importantly: be excellent to each other!
Sign-Up information
Sign-ups will take place on AO3 here, starting on June 11th. There, you can fill out details about your request and offer. You can edit your sign-up at any time until the sign-ups close.
When signing up, you will be able to choose fandom, "character" (this is actually going to be the fanwork type: fanart, fanfiction, or fanvid), and genre tags, as well as specify any additional details.
You will have to select the DMBJ canon you’re interested in creating for and receiving a gift in:
Novels: The Grave Robbers’ Chronicles
TV: The Lost Tomb 1
TV: The Lost Tomb 2 - Explore with the Note
TV: The Lost Tomb 2.5 - Heavenly Palace on the Clouds
TV: Ultimate Note
TV: Adventure Behind the Bronze Door
TV: Tomb of the Sea/Sha Hai
TV: The Lost Tomb Reboot/Reunion: The Sound of Providence
Video Games: Time Raiders (mobile game) -- rare canon
Note: If you choose a rare canon, then you must also choose at least one non-rare canon.
You are not limited to requesting or creating a work during the canon timelines for those series/books. It’s just to mark which canons you’re familiar with to allow for easier matching: some participants might have a preference for a particular canon era, some might not be familiar with all the versions. You still have to choose your preferred canon eras even if you want to create or receive an AU.
You will have to specify which "characters" you’re interested in:
Fanart
Fanfiction
Fanvid
(That's right, this isn't really a character selector; it was the only way I could include fanwork type preference in the matching.)
You will also have to specify genres you’re interested in:
Action/Adventure
Angst
AU
Canon Compliant
Canon Divergent
Dark
Domesticity/Slice of Life
Fluff
Humour/Crack
Hurt/Comfort
PWP (only select this if you’re 18+)
Request
In this section, you describe the gift you would like to receive.
Note: please make sure that if you are requesting something that you really would be happy to receive a gift for it. Don't try to pad out your signup by requesting something you would not enjoy. The goal is for everyone, creators and recipients, to have fun, after all!
The requests will be made publicly visible after matching is done, so that others will be able to create treats (additional gifts) based on them! So, please don't write anything in your optional details that you wouldn't want everyone to see.
Fandom - you have to choose at least one. If you’re willing to receive a gift in any canon era, you can just click “Any”!
Character (remember this is really fanwork type) - you have to choose at least one tag.
Genre - you have to choose at least three tags.
Optional Details - here’s where you can go into more detail about your perfect pingxie gift! You can include:
General Likes: your creator may, but doesn’t have to, include them. This isn’t a place for detailed prompts, just general themes you enjoy, like getting together or established relationship.
DNW (Do Not Wants): things that your creator must not include - squicks, triggers, things that you simply don’t like. Remember that you don’t owe anyone an explanation about why something is a DNW, and that DNWs are not meant to be taken personally. Just list the things you don’t like, “DNW: X, Y.”
Prompts/specific ideas: if you have any prompts, you can also put them here! You can be as general or as detailed as you’d like but remember that while your creator will try to make the best gift for you, filling a specific prompt is not obligatory. You can include a crossover prompt (with other DMBJ versions or other canons), but make sure it’s not the only prompt you have.
If you chose novels as one of your fandoms, you can use this field to list the ones you’re familiar with. If you're interested in receiving a Buried Tree Devil - Book 3 Donghua gift, you can also mention it here.
Optional Tags: You may use the optional tags to share more about your preferences, if you like.
Offer
Note: please make sure that if you are offering something that you really would be happy to create for it. Don't try to pad out your signup by offering something you could not easily create a gift for. The goal is for everyone, creators and recipients, to have fun, after all!
Fandom - you have to choose at least one. If you’re willing to receive a gift in any canon era, you can just click “Any”!
Character (remember this is really fanwork type) - you have to choose at least one tag.
Genre - you have to choose at least three tags.
Optional Details - in this field, you can tell us more about the kind of works you like to create, for example if you really prefer established relationship, feel best with certain kinds of AUs, or like writing darkfic. You can also tell us if you have a preference of which type of gift you will create (fic or art). We’ll take all of these optional details into account when matching!
If you chose novels as one of your fandoms, you can use this field to list the ones you’re familiar with. If you're interested in creating a Buried Tree Devil - Book 3 Donghua gift, you can also mention it here.
In the optional details of your offer, you can also name one person you don’t want to be matched to, for example your regular beta, and we will do our best to avoid matching you!
Optional Tags: You may use the optional tags to share more about your preferences, if you like. The offers will only ever be visible to the mods; never to anyone else.
Your assignment
You will be matched to create a gift for someone who requested at least one of the fandoms that you offered and one of the fanwork types you offered, with as many similar genres/likes as possible. This exchange will be matched using the AO3 algorithm to generate the initial matches and then tweaked by hand, if necessary, based on the information provided in everyone's optional details.
If you have any issues when you receive your assignment (you have a question about it or think there’s an issue with it), contact the mods as soon as possible. Do not contact your recipient on your own.
You will have to create a gift for your recipient, fulfilling the minimum requirements, and avoiding any stated "do not wants". Filling exact prompts is optional but try to create something matching your recipient's likes that they will enjoy!
You will have to post your gift to the exchange AO3 collection before the due date (August 10th), using the "gift this work to" option to give it to your recipient. Your work will remain in the collection only visible to you and the mods until the reveals happen. Remember to tag your work appropriately, especially if any of the major archive warnings apply, or use the "choose not to warn" warning.
Treating
Treats are additional gifts for the participants! To allow for treating, the requests will be made visible when matching is done. You can create treats at any time until the creator reveals! There are no minimum requirements for treats, and in addition to the fanwork types allowed for gifts, manips are also allowed. As with assignments, you have to respect the recipient’s Do Not Want, and while the optional details are optional, try to create something fitting the listed likes. One treat can only be gifted to one person.
Please note: Now that AO3 has changed the way that gifting works on the archive, if you wish to be eligible for treats, you need to select the option “Allow anyone to gift me works” under the “Collections, Challenges and Gifts” section of your AO3 preferences. You must also indicate that you are open to treats in your exchange sign-up.
Pinch Hits
In case someone needs to drop out, we will look for a pinch hitter to complete their assignment. Pinch hits will be posted to the DreamWidth community and advertised on tumblr.
Extensions
If you think you can finish your assignment, but you need a day or two more, you can always ask the mods for an extension!
Other important information
Make sure to check the email you use on AO3 frequently during the exchange, as it will be the primary means of communication. We might contact you if there is an issue with your sign-up or if your gift creator has a question for you. If you’d rather we contact you on your twitter or tumblr, please leave your handle in the offer section of your sign-up. Follow us on DreamWidth and/or on tumblr to avoid missing an announcement or a deadline! If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to contact the mods at [email protected], on DreamWidth (anonymous comments are allowed), or on tumblr.
A very large thank you to laireshi for writing the rules and guidelines being used for this exchange. They are presented here with minor changes.
Please use the form on AO3 if you want to participate.
The sign-ups are open until 4 May. If you miss that time period or if you have issues with the form, please contact me here or on discord.
For this year, the following ships are eligible (thanks a minion to @merinnan for going through the ordeal of counting them, and subsequently doing math *shudders*):
Er Yue Hong/Zhang Qishan
Hei Xiazi/Huo Xiuxiu/Xie Yuchen
Kan Jian/Liu Sang
Liang Wan/Zhang Rishan
Liu Sang/Wang Pangzi
Liu Sang/Wang Pangzi/Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling
Liu Sang/Wu Xie
Liu Sang/Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling
Liu Sang/Zhang Qiling
Liu Sang/Zhang Rishan
Qi Tie Zui/Zhang Qishan
Qi Tie Zui/Zhang Rishan
Wang Pangzi/Wu Xie
Wang Pangzi/Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling
Wang Pangzi/Zhang Qiling
Wu Xie/Xie Yuchen
After the sign-ups close, the assignments will be out by 11 May and the works are due on 29 June.
If you have any questions or if you found an issue, let me know here or here 😊
I hope the exchange will be a great experience! I'm looking forward to see what you all create! 😁💚🐍
Daomu Biji Exchange @dmbjexchange - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
