In a potential turning point for vertical video, COL Group has greenlit a sequel to its hit microdrama “ From Rags to Rank One ,” a rarity in a format that typically tells stories in a single season.

The move signals ambitions beyond the CEO romances and supernatural love triangles that have dominated the space. COL is betting the format can sustain serialized storytelling with genuine franchise potential.

Based on a popular novel, the original series follows protagonist Xu Mu, a contemporary figure thrust into a chaotic historical realm where his journey takes him from basic survival to saving a nation. The show became a breakout hit in China, pulling in nearly a quarter-billion views on its first day. Users stayed glued for more than an hour on average, driving total views past the

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