Essential Elements of an Unlimited/Infinite Flow Story
As someone attempting to write my own Unli Flow, I thought I’d take note of the different elements so I can have a guide I can always refer back to.
I’ve explained what Unli Flow means many times before, but in case you missed it: Unlimited/Infinite Flow is a genre in Chinese web novels that feature characters entering multiple “instances” where they have to complete a challenge and/or solve a mystery. Failure in doing so would lead to consequences, most often death.
There’s also this definition by AshuraYami from the NovelUpdates Forum:
Unlimited Flow/Infinite Flow is a genre originating from the CN novel Terror Infinity. The genre mainly revolves on world hopping involving fictional works (anime, comics, movies, games and novels) and/or original worlds created by the author. Infinite Flow, as it’s ‘infinite’ namesake suggests, can accommodate all other genres, be it fantasy, sci-fi, horror, romance, etc. Representative works are Terror Infinity (origin of genre), Reincarnation Paradise (most chapters and word count), The Ultimate Evolution (promoter of data flow, an infinite flow derivative that is more game-like litRPG) and Thriller Paradise (most famous horror infinite flow).
With the definition out of the way, let’s goooo
[This post will also serve as a rec list of sorts, since I’ll be giving examples of each element from different danmei novels.]
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1. The Authority
The entity/system in charge of the Unlimited Flow system as a whole. Most stories just chalk it up to the Unli Flow being some kind of otherworldly being/extremely advanced AI that just likes to mess with people.
Examples of The Authority
(based on what I remember, at least… Also, beware of spoilers)
The Earth is Online: The Universe
Mist: I forgot what it’s called, but that high tech system in charge of all the Time Traveling stuff...
High Energy QR Code: That black and white cube thing
Surprise! The Supposed Talent Show was Actually—?!: … The TV station...
From left to right: Tang Mo from The Earth is Online and Wu Jin and Wei Shi from Surprise! The Supposed Talent Show was Actually—?!
[Spoilers End]
From having read numerous Unli Flow stories, I conclude that crucial to a great, not just good, Unli Flow story is a well-defined Authority. The explanation behind the Authority’s existence and motives is the foundation to the entire story.
You can have a very fancy building (cool instances, well-developed characters, an exciting enemies to lovers couple, etc.), but if the foundation is flimsy, the building’s value would plummet in your eyes. You can still appreciate the building, of course, but you will never be content with it.
Examples of some novels that are good in almost everything else except The Authority (in my opinion): [spoilery]
Supernatural Movie Actor App: It was too profound with not enough groundwork laid for it, resulting in The Authority feeling detached from the main story.
I Upended Yet Another Campus Urban Legend: The Authority was not exactly bad; it was just inadequate. The justification of the Unli Flow existing became unconvincing because of this.
Escape the Infinite Chamber: THE AUTHORITY IS SO FUCKING RIDICULOUS THAT IT’S ABYSMAL. And the entire thing was explained in just one scene and from one extra??? SO MUCH PAIN AND SUFFERING AND THAT’S THE ONLY EXPLANATION WE GET??? HORRENDOUS!
[Spoilers End]
From left to right: Book covers of I Upended Yet Another Campus Urban Legend and Supernatural Movie Actor App
2. Instances
Also known as “copy.” The other world/dimension where players have to face the different challenges.
The Authority may be the foundation, but the Instances are the defining aspect of the Unlimited Flow.
A lot of novels, however, are quite perfunctory when it comes to instances, just using it to further the main couple or as a mere stepping stone to the overarching plot. Or, if they’re not being perfunctory, then the Instances are just plain boring.
The first instance, especially, tend to be the most boring. Authors often use this to dump all the information about how their unli flow works. This usually gets better by the time the 2nd or 3rd instance comes around....
Upon successful completion of an Instance, players will then be rewarded with either points, special abilities, magic items, etc.
Examples of novels with GREAT instances (based on logic, thrill, horror, etc. Again, all in my own opinion):
I Became a God in a Horror Game: The horror is present all throughout. I can still remember the fear I felt while reading about the statues in the first Instance. Each instance/arc also emotionally impacts you, an effect that most Unli Flow writers don’t really aim for or just generally tend to fail at. (This is also my favorite unli flow novel at the moment~)
The Earth is Online: (same author as Fourth Perspective, which I’ve posted a lot about before) What I love about Mo Chen Huan, the author, is how they write intelligent MC’s but without making them seem too OP. And this is because she actually shows us the MC’s thought process, inviting us to think along with them and figure out how to solve the challenge, and not just make her characters say “aha!” This is what makes the Instances in TEIO great and memorable.
High Energy QR Code: The story could make use of more showing than telling, but I actually love the Instances in this novel. You know how good stories are often described as a well-made tapestry in that every little thread contributes to the big beautiful picture? That’s how each Instance reads in this novel. (Absolutely love the Instance about the town where everybody lies.)
Fu Wendou, the male lead of The Earth is Online
3. NPCs
A gaming term which stands for “Non-Player Character.” Refers to characters who live within Instances and act in such ways that further the plot or challenge presented by the Instance. They may go against players or assist them. May or may not have a will of their own.
Examples of NPCs:
Xu Beijin, the protagonist of Being an Extra Actor in an Escape Game
Lu Chu, the protagonist of Insider.
The iconic Mosaic from The Earth is Online
The male leads from Escape the Infinite Chamber, I Became a God in a Horror Game, Killing God with Junk Cards, etc. (Most danmei ML are special!NPCs 😩)
From left to right: Book covers of Being an Extra Actor in an Escape Game and Killing God with Junk Cards
4. Player Hall
A space outside of instances where different players can gather and exchange information. Most of the time, this is in a space still separate from the real world. Players are often prohibited from using their powers in this space.
In some novels, Players have no choice but to live here, completely cutting them off from the real world. In this case, accommodation quality will depend on the Player’s level or points.
5. Personal System
The Personal System issues challenges to the player and keeps track of their current attributes, physical and mental states, etc.. It also calculates rewards and punishments for the player. First and foremost in service to The Authority. (If they aren’t, then they’re most likely the Love Interest in disguise. If not, the Player had somehow swayed it to their side).
6. System Store
The points earned from the different Instances serve as the Players’ currency, and they can use it to buy things from the System Store. The Store may sell weapons, medicine, magical items, or even special abilities. Basically, any item that can help the Player during Instances. Of course, it may also sell non-magical items, like food and everyday items, at a much lower price than special items.
7. Player’s Goal/Wish
In some novels, the Goal is simply to clear all the Instances and leave the Unli Flow for good. But in others, the Unli Flow allows Players to exchange their points for a Wish. The more difficult the Wish, the more points are needed, and the more Instances are needed to be cleared.
Examples of a Goal/Wish:
Supernatural Movie Actor App: Xie Chi wants to give his second personality a body of his own.
I Became a God in a Horror Game: If I’m remembering it correctly… Bai Liu just wants to have lots of money.
I Upended Yet Another Campus Urban Legend: Lin Yi wants to learn the truth about his parents.
Thriller Tour Group: Wei Xun wants to find the truth about his family’s disappearance… and his Wish is to uhh… feel pain?
After the Little Crybaby Enters the Nightmare Cycle: Chi Nan’s Wish is to regain his vision, stop crying and get his memories back.
Death Spiral: To uhh… figure out what the voice in the Elevator is trying to tell them? To regain their memories? [The actual Wish is a big spoiler, so I won’t mention it here.]
From left to right: Book covers of After the Little Crybaby Enters the Nightmare Cycle, Thriller Tour Group, and Death Spiral
Aaaand there you have it! I was hoping to list 10 elements, but I can only think up to 7 😔
Although I said this post is a rec list of sorts, the quality of the novels I mentioned actually varies. I’m just listing whatever novel would be good as an example (and also what I can remember and have more or less completed, since many of the Unli Flow novels I’m reading are currently on-hold).
I’m loving this novel because it’s still not clear who the male lead is. Usually in danmei, the ML is established right away. But in This Player Must be Using Plug-ins! (alt. title: This Character is Suspected of Cheating!), there are multiple men who can possibly be the ML.
I’m gonna have to double check later if this is actually a harem—which is unlikely since I don’t bookmark harem. But even if it were, I don’t think I'll mind coz their relationship with He Yu, the main character, have been built up so naturally.
Anyways, the ML candidates so far:
Wanrenzhan (a title, not actually his name. Literally means Ten Thousand Kills) - first one that MC met. He's been subjected to many of He Yu's schemes that for the entire second arc he keeps yapping about how he'll definitely exact his revenge on him one day. I thought he was just gonna be that stupid, annoying cannon fodder who exists simply for the MC to face-slap, but surprise, surprise, he’s the first among the candidates to have his romantic awakening haha
Zhen Xing - second one who met MC. The most powerful and popular player in this competition. He Yu once stole his equipment while riding on a giant monster fish, and this impressed Zhen Xing so much that he's been bugging him for a fight so he can compare their skills. Possible ML candidate because this is an unlimited flow, and in such genre, the ML is usually the most impressive one. And among the candidates, it was through his POV that He Yu was first described to be both fragile and beautiful. Also rushed to save He Yu and catch him as he fell. Typical ML saving the MC behavior
Eugene - the cyborg guy. Was also impressed by MC during their first meeting (He Yu had driven the giant monster fish to the island then made a dramatic and graceful landing, which was in stark contrast to Eugene’s haggard state). Second in strength to Zhen Xing, and like Zhen Xing, he joined the Dawn Training School copy just to meet He Yu again. Generally friendly towards He Yu, but in the beginning he didn’t care if Wanrenzhan managed to kill him. Now, however, he and Zhen Xing are like He Yu’s most loyal followers.
Ling Buchen - Hasn't met He Yu yet, but he’s currently watching the live broadcast of him. They’re both from Blue Star, so they may cooperate in the future. He Yu has also heard a lot about him because he’s been making a name for himself in this competition.
My biggest gripe with 80% of novels in the unlimited flow genre is how the story always starts right away with the protagonist just going along with the first instance. Little to no realistic reaction from the main character trying to process the bizarre experience of being pulled into another world and being forced to do tasks lest they suffer a punishment. It’s always like “Oh, I’m in an unlimited flow. Guess I’ll roll with it.”
The genre is so established in China that authors don’t bother anymore on proper story exposition. They just wanna get down and write “that trope” and start on the different instances.
Despite this, the genre is still one of my favorites. But goddamn is it difficult to find a good novel in this genre that I haven’t already read yet. It also takes a lot of patience. I could pick up a novel that doesn’t seem like much from the summary and the exposition, but after hundreds of chapters it finally steps up!
Super, super late reply, but I was tagged by @variabels to list 5 anime/manga recs. Thanks for the tag! (I also love Durarara and Baccano ヾ(•ω•`)o)
I’m gonna list mainly Chinese media in this list, though, because that’s what I consume more. And ha! How brave, asking an ND person like me for recs. Prepare to be bombarded by my rambling!
Starting off with the media currently featured in my header (excluding Blue Lock coz most of my mutuals already know that)...
1. The Earth is Online (danmei* novel)
* Danmei - Chinese boys love stories
The plot basically: Everyone on Earth is pulled into a death game.
A good intro to the unlimited flow* genre. Each instance is thrilling and complex. The boys love aspect is not much, as it focuses on plot, but it’s definitely not subtle. The characters are also quite diverse. Most UF novels just focus on the Chinese characters and revolve around what happens in China, but this one actually features those from other countries. I also like how the protagonist isn’t treated as the entire world’s savior. Other people around the world are also doing their part.
Where to read: An official English release is coming out in 2024. Translations will be done by luckkoi, the fan translator. As such, they've taken down their translations online. There's an alternate translation by @leonsrightlations , but only a few chapters are out right now. There are several completed translations online, but they're all edited mtl (machine translation). If you don't mind that, you can go google it. I recommend the one by Rainbow Mushroom. Their translations require a password, though, and you can find that on their Discord server.
* unlimited flow - Chinese genre of web novels where the protagonist is pulled into different instances to complete challenges which, if failed, would result in punishment or even death. It’s basically the death game genre, but instead of just one game, there are multiple.
2. Legend of Hei movie + Legend of Luo Xiaohei series sequel (donghua*)
(I downloaded this video from YouTube years ago. I can no longer find it there, so I’m reuploading it here…)
* Donghua – Chinese anime
A story about the young cat demon Xiao Hei and his quest to find a new home after humans destroyed his old one. Cute cat + cool powers + awesome fighting scenes + clean and crisp animation.
You can watch this on Netflix, but it’s not available in all countries. There’s an English and Japanese dub available, but I strongly recommend watching it in the original Chinese. (I can send you the full movie with English subtitles if you want). The series, which takes place after the movie, can be watched on YouTube. S1 of the series is more slice of life, but s2 is action-packed.
3. Low Tide in Twilight (BL manhwa)
That BL trope where the bottom has a mountainload of debt, while the top gives him a way out… except, not really, coz the male lead Taeju is partly the creditor, and he’s forcing Euihyun into a relationship with him in exchange for money.
Typical BL story with an initially toxic couple, but better. Complex characters, and a manhwa that relies more on the art to tell the story instead of the words. Also, Taeju gives off that same annoying but hot vibe as Kaiser. What more do you want?
4. Link Click (donghua)
The title (时光代理人) would be literally translated as “Time Agents.” I have no idea why the official English title is Link Click.
The plot basically: Two guys with time-related powers run a photography shop, where they accept orders from clients to dive back in time through a photo.
Funimation did this donghua so dirty by not promoting it more back when it aired in 2021. The English subs were also terrible.
Did you know that it used to rank #20 in MAL, surpassing MP 100 S2, Jujutsu Kaisen, and many other mainstream anime? Now, it’s ranked #41 on MAL, lower than before, but still pretty high for a donghua on MAL. That’s just how good it is.
Here’s a link to the blu-ray version with fansubs. Just pick the normal English track option and not English (CR).
Edit: OKAAAY, it turns out that link has the episode order all mesed up. Just ask me if you need an HD copy with good fansubs.
5. White Cat Legend 2020 (donghua)
Title (大理寺日志) would be literally translated as The Journal of Dali Court.
Another cat boy donghua! Can you tell I just love cats?
The plot: Chen Shi travels from the countryside to the big city to search for his missing brother and inadvertently ends up working at Dali court under the cat guy Li Bing.
Slice of Life + Comedy + Drama + Supernatural + Mystery + Action
Baiting you with a hot guy gif~
It's a historical show btw, so expect some references to real-life events.
The animation is also really smooth in this one! You can watch it on YouTube. Here's a link to episode 1.
Season 2 is also out! I'm yet to watch it, though. I should really do some time...
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Tagging some mutuals to check these out, and also to list 5 recs (no pressure)~
I recommend creating your own post instead of adding your recs in a reblog. My post is already pretty long. Turn this into a long thread, and we'll be a menace on the dashboard haha
Drafting a post about the unlimited flow genre, and I'm suddenly reminded of how one of my favorite unli flow stories, The Earth is Online, has strong implications of eugenics being the solution to everything....
Damn...
TEIO is not perfect. It has many flaws, but when it comes to mystery and thriller, Mo Chen Huan is a master, so the story really keeps you at the edge of your seat... It's just that the last line from that one NPC (?) really leaves a bad taste in your mouth if you're a critical reader
I know a lot of web novel writers don't really think much about the implications present in their work, and many in the unli flow genre would even improperly use "survival of the fittest" to justify the atrocities.... but still... Damn...
As someone who reads a lot of horror/unlimited flow stories, it suddenly occured to me that if Blue Lock were a literal horror survival game manga, nobody would complain about Isagi being the protagonist. Nobody's gonna meme about his puzzle pieces and how he has no "special moves" and such. He's the problem solver, the team leader, the murder detective. Without him, everyone will die.
Rainbow Mushroom just held an art contest, and seeing art of Bai Liu, I am once again itching to pick up I Became a God in a Horror Game from where I left off aaaah
But I know I shouldn’t coz then I won’t be able to do anything else until I finish it, and it has over 500 chapters okay??? And the translation is only up to 200+ at the moment 😭. And I absolutely do not want to MTL it.
