Bringing this Ming Jiao Baixiang set from JX3 Online to life took over a month from initial planning to final execution. The Ming Cult sect features an exceptionally distinctive concept in the game, imbued with an exotic, mysterious allure. The Baixiang attire in particular seamlessly fuses the rigidity of metallic armor with the ethereal lightness of sheer gauze; the moment I saw the official character art, I knew I had to cosplay it.
Upon receiving the garments, sorting out the accessories was the top priority. The golden chains, pearl garlands, and metallic arm and greave guards were far more intricate than anticipated. To ensure a seamless shoot, I hand-stitched and reinforced every single accessory to prevent anything from detaching during wide, dynamic movements. For hair, I started with a natural black long straight base wig, incorporating subtle curls and layered highlights faithful to the character lore. The makeup focused on sharp winged eyeliner flicked upwards at the corners and the precise placement of the golden forehead bindi ornament; I tested multiple positions to ensure it sculpted three-dimensional definition.
I brought a massive assortment of props on shoot day. I custom-commissioned a pair of twin curved scimitars with openwork filigree handles cast from custom molds and hand-painted. To ensure fluid swinging motions during takes, the counterweights were specifically calibrated—hefty in the hand yet never cumbersome. To complement the Ming Cult aesthetic, I also prepared a purplish-blue paper umbrella patterned with mandala motifs, alongside fresh-looking grapes as atmospheric props. The studio set utilized large stained-glass backdrops bathed in purplish-pink and deep blue neon ambient lighting, using hard rim lights to accentuate the translucent texture of the floating gauze.
In terms of choreography, the focus was channeling the agility and kinetic tension of a Ming Cult assassin. Holding a low crouch with drawn blades demanded strong core strength; because the costume features countless trailing ribbons and semi-sheer veils, an assistant stood just off-camera waving reflectors and fans to generate continuous wind flow. In the shot holding the cluster of grapes—which was actually an artificial prop—the colors looked wonderfully tantalizing under the purple illumination. The most tedious part of the shoot was managing the floor carpets and cascading drapery; the slightest shift threw off the prior composition, meaning every pose transition required meticulously re-draping the fabric hems. The white gauze and gloves easily attracted studio dust, so I constantly cleaned them with a lint roller between setups to keep the frame pristine.
What satisfied me most in this series was how the light illuminated the translucent gauze. The profile standing shot holding the twin blades was especially striking, where purplish-pink rim light traced the golden borders of the robes, perfectly harmonizing with the stained-glass background to maximize that opulent, mystical aura. This shoot deepened my appreciation for the Ming Cult sect—beyond beautiful aesthetics, it embodies a quiet yet lethal stillness that must be conveyed through piercing gazes and disciplined posture. The finished images fully met my initial vision, hitting the sweet spot in color saturation and visual impact. This stands as one of my most heartfelt Traditional Chinese style cosplay productions, with extensive dedication poured into every step from pre-production preparation to final set staging.