Chapter 2390: Summary and Reflections of Volume 13 Ephemeral Seeking the Dao

First, as is customary, let's briefly summarize the results.

*Hongxin Xun Tian* has reached the end of its thirteenth volume. The average subscription is 73,057, with 88,000 consistent readers. The total subscription count is 106,336,000.

There are 797 Alliance Masters, including two Golden Alliance Masters and thirty-four Silver Alliance Masters.

All the data is still steadily rising, and not slowly.

For a novel of eight million words, this is simply a miracle.

...

Let's review the writing of this volume.

Throughout the *Chao Wen Dao* volume, from the beginning until now, I haven't added many extra updates.

Because I told myself that at this stage, the most important thing is to ensure this super long epic concludes steadily. The results are no longer the primary concern. Filling the plot holes and concluding is fundamental; other things can follow fate.

Major plot holes filled in this volume include the pioneering of Martial Dao, the *Jinghai* Plan, the Lord of the Long River, and the secrets of the Middle Ancient era. Numerous minor plot holes were also addressed.

The Martial Dao cultivator Sun Xiaoman appeared in the first volume, connecting to the Martial Dao pioneer Wang Xiao. From the first volume extended to the latest, until Wang Xiao unleashed that punch, the pioneering of Martial Dao was completed. This was a straightforward line, although it crossed thousands of mountains and rivers, posing no significant writing difficulty.

The entire *Jinghai* Plan began with foreshadowing in the second volume. At that time, Jiang Wang first met Xu Xiangqian, and Youguo's giant turtle first appeared. This continued until the thirteenth volume, spanning seven million words. The faint threads, flowing in the corners of different stories, finally converged in the Cang Sea.

Jing Country, Qi Country, Youguo, the Sea Clan, Yin Guan, Jiang Wang - multiple perspectives and multiple clues converged. This also connected to the nine sons of Xi Hun Shi, the Dragon Palace of the Long River, Human Emperor Lie Shan, and stories of the Middle Ancient era.

How to express all of this completely within an increasingly limited writing space required relatively more thought.

Finally, the scene concluded with the *Tian Di Jie Shuai*.

And the *Tian Di Jie Shuai* triggered chaos in the heavenly mechanisms, indirectly leading to Li Longchuan's death and Jiang Wang's failure in forcibly proving his Dao.

Jiang Wang recognized Li Longchuan because of Xu Xiangqian and also came into contact with the giant turtle of the *Jinghai* Plan at that time. Ultimately, Li Longchuan died in the aftermath of the *Jinghai* Plan, on the back of the giant turtle.

When Tian Anping raised his knife and said, "You all provoked war," in that moment, from my writing perspective, I felt it possessed a certain kind of beauty. It would look very beautiful on a movie screen.

The errors and unknowable nature of fate, the seemingly coincidental yet predetermined encounters, are what drive this world.

Chekhov said that if a gun appears at the beginning of a story, then by the end of the story, there will certainly be a gunshot.

In reality, during the serialization of web novels, many readers expect that if a gun appears on the first day, the gunshot should occur on the second day. Even if a gun appears in the first paragraph, it should fire in the second paragraph.

*Chao Wen Dao* and *Wo Ru Shen Lin* are similar to a certain extent.

Both these volumes tell you in their titles that the protagonist will definitely achieve Godhood/Derive Dao.

So readers will eagerly anticipate the arrival of that moment.

And when the protagonist delays in Deriving Dao, readers will become increasingly irritable, more and more so.

Every day it's just, "Has he achieved Godhood?" "Not yet." "Others have achieved Godhood."

"Has he Derived Dao?" "Not yet." "Just watch the lines."

In fact, *Hongxin Xun Tian*'s readers are already considered patient. After all, they've followed for so long, everyone has a bit of mutual understanding, and there's a certain level of trust. If it were other novels, the rebellion would probably start by the tenth chapter. But with *Chao Wen Dao*, the rebellion started halfway through...

Sometimes I thought, maybe changing the volume name would have been better. Don't reveal that gun; perhaps readers would have more patience.

But there truly wasn't a more suitable volume name than this.

"Suitable" trumps all other reasons.

So...

Just like this. To hell with it. Whatever.

There were three potential places to end this volume.

One was when Jiang Wang, in the Heaven-Human state, went to sea. He completely overwhelmed Tian Anping, forcing that madman to leave with his neck covered. The emotions were actually in a conclusive state. Many readers also felt it could end there. Jiang Wang could also, due to extreme anger, break through the Heaven-Human state and prove his Dao to the absolute peak. It would have been a decent, not bad ending to the volume. If he had conveniently killed Tian Anping, the thrill of revenge might have even added some points.

The second time was when Jiang Wang forcibly proved his Dao. He created an unprecedented record, completely surpassing Xiang Fengqi's legend, and pointed his sword at Li Yi, completing the echo outside Zhenzhen View.

Ending the volume here would have been simply perfect.

The vast majority of readers also anticipated this.

From "True Person should crown themselves" to "Li Yi!", readers' emotions also reached their peak.

In fact, at that time, the consistent readership had already reached 87,625. In other words, I spent twelve more days, wrote these thirteen chapters, exerted so much effort, and endured so many scoldings, with no significant change in the intuitive results. A fluctuation of a few thousand consistent readers is normal, and a few hundred extra updates don't count for much.

Just like I saw a reader leave a message yesterday – why not write it like this earlier? Why go through that segment and endure so many scoldings for nothing?

They really have a point.

The abuser doesn't feel that abusing is wrong; they only feel that your posture wasn't correct.

Before the chapter "Above the Heaven," I was tired for several days due to some personal matters. At that time, I only mentioned it briefly to the readers in the Alliance group.

The night I wrote "Above the Heaven," I wrote until past two in the morning. After lying in bed, my mind was very active, and I still couldn't fall asleep by four o'clock. At that time, I didn't dare to sleep, afraid I wouldn't have time to revise and update when I woke up. I thought I might as well revise first and then sleep, so I just got up. My spirit wasn't great. I revised intermittently until past seven o'clock and then went to sleep.

Perhaps my physical condition is indeed much worse than before.

Staying up all night makes a person feel wasted and immediately start having a headache. The pain is a constant throbbing in the forehead, the nerves in the temples twitch suddenly, twitching repeatedly for several nights without sleep. Then my tonsils became inflamed, swallowing saliva hurt, and I even had a fever and cough! Coughing hurts, and the pain is intensely irritating.

Of course, I'm not saying this to seek sympathy. Many people work while sick; this is part of your job.

I just want to brag a bit about how amazing I am, how strong my willpower is, and how I managed to write.

At that point, with "Above the Heaven," there were two paths before me.

One was to end the volume just like that, sincerely as you all saw. After receiving Li Yi's sword, simply let Jiang Wang reach the absolute peak. It would only require a few hundred more words, not difficult. At most, let Jiang Zhenjun tour around other races and solidify his reputation in Heaven Capital City, not exceeding two thousand words.

Readers' emotions could also be completely vented at that time.

I could have had a happy holiday, readers' joy and satisfaction, and good results at that time. Almost no one would have felt anything was wrong.

The other path was to do it as it is now, dragging my sick body, embarking on a torturous twelve-day journey. To connect the Heaven-Human thread from the first to the hundredth chapter, to use one autumn to achieve Dao, and to complete the theme of *Chao Wen Dao*. To provide a complete expression from beginning to end.

Every time you suppress readers' expectations, it means you need to do better to win back their hearts.

So, on this path, I had to face—

The increase in writing difficulty, physical discomfort, decline in energy, dissatisfaction from readers whose expectations were held back, and the endless barrage of curses from those few limitless individuals.

Even now, I'm not certain if I can do better after suppressing expectations to this degree. I just know that path is ahead, and I feel it's better, but I haven't reached it. I'm not sure if my energy and physical strength can support me in walking there.

And I'm very clear about what awaits me if I fail.

The pros and cons of these two paths are so clear. For a normal intelligent adult, choosing is not a problem.

The only problem is—

For Qing He Yi Sheng, this is not a matter of choice.

It never constituted a choice.

Achieving the Heaven-Human state is just for the final thirteen stages, just for the fiery tribulation of the mortal world with its seven emotions and six desires. The Heaven state is just to correspond to the Demon state. When the name *Chao Wen Dao* was decided, I envisioned the spirit of hearing the Dao in the morning and dying in the evening. A mayfly lives for only an instant? Even if you skip over that instant, perhaps it is still the life of a mayfly seeking the Dao!

What reason could stop me from writing like this?

You all know.

No one, no voice can change me.

I have always known how I want to write, and that is how I will write.

From the beginning until now, my only change is a better understanding of what I will face if I write like this.

Then I will face it.

Then I will continue to write like this.

Perhaps it is right, perhaps it is wrong. It doesn't matter. It is what I want most.

Life is so short, and the creative life is even shorter. I only want to write the works I want to write. Otherwise, this life would be too boring. Otherwise, my days sitting in front of the computer would be too monotonous.

Actually, this volume isn't just like this at the end.

It was the same during the pioneering of Martial Dao.

When Wang Xiao found Wang Zhao and said, "Accept it, and it's clear. Don't accept it, and it's clear," I turned the camera away.

Many people also criticized that.

They are like a group of premature ejaculators who have finally reached a state and are desperately trying to achieve life's great harmony. They don't know the importance of foreplay and don't understand that a high-quality, long climax is far better than that one twitch of satisfaction.

Wang Xiao's punch pioneered Martial Dao.

But the story of the peak of Martial Dao is still fundamentally unfolding. The wills of several Martial Dao grandmasters have not yet been fully expressed.

If these few strokes aren't outlined, how can people be moved later when the four great Martial Dao grandmasters support Wang Xiao?

Later, Mi Zhiben secretly swam in the deep sea of the Heavenly Dao, set a trap to block the Dao, and even plotted against Jiang Wang – none of this could have been revealed without that foundation.

Sigh. Saying all this is useless anyway.

Likers will still like, haters will still hate. Supporters will still support, fault-finders will still find faults.

I just got off work and complained a bit with friends. (It's clear everyone needs to complain.)

I don't want to talk about the general environment, or not being understood, or the malice of society.

Since I chose to write in this way at this time, I will face and accept everything that results from it. If I really can't accept it, I'll complain a few sentences to my friends, and if that doesn't work, I'll just block them.

Just like when I was a reader, if I didn't like an author or a work, I would just delete it from my bookshelf. Who can force your hand, force you to subscribe, force you to read?

From Heaven-Human state to the end with hearing the Dao in the morning and dying in the evening, the whole volume has one hundred chapters.

I believe the writing in this volume represents my peak state.

Even if I were to redo it, it would be very difficult to write better.

In other words, if you are not satisfied with this volume.

Then perhaps there will be no content after this that satisfies you.

*Hongxin Xun Tian* is already in its late stage. There aren't many things left to write about.

It has already reached the super-extraordinary absolute peak. What roads are still left to walk?

It's impossible for me to have some kind of ascension and start over again.

The current world is the only map, and it is also the highest-level map.

I only want to finish it undisturbed, completely according to my heart's desires.

Everything else is not that important.

An author who once misunderstood me said something that deeply resonated with me.

He said to me – wait until you finish a book, and all public opinions will turn a new page. This is the pain that a super long epic will experience; it will deepen all misunderstandings and prejudices step by step. Believe that you can get through it, keep going! Keep striving!

When a novel is serialized to eight million words, and you feel unhappy during the continuous reading process, the accumulated discomfort from the reading process might erupt at some moment. Those moments that moved you and made you laugh, you won't remember for long, but those unhappy, uncomfortable places will be like a thorn stuck in your eye.

Eight million words is enough for it to take root and sprout.

Eight million words! Readers' thresholds have already been raised to an unreachable position, and aesthetic fatigue has inevitably set in – although the author is trying hard to tell stories in different ways, racking their brains to keep the story fresh after eight million words. But simply looking at those few names, you are already tired of them.

An eight-million-word long epic, the author has written for four and a half years, and many readers have also followed for several years. Later, everyone has their own expectations for the story, hoping to see the developments they want to see.

Some people only want to see the developments they want to see.

And some extremes even try to control the author in their own way, forcing the author to only move in the direction THEY want.

Including non-stop cursing, non-stop sending breakup letters, sending notices of board decisions, time and again grandly declaring, "I'm withdrawing my investment!" "I'm dumping my shares in your book!" "Let's see how you do without me!" "Everyone, don't read it! Everyone, leave quickly! Of course, I won't leave. Once you all leave, he will only listen to me."

It's too normal.

With nearly ninety thousand consistent readers, so many readers, who doesn't have their own ideas?

Everyone has their own favorite characters. When their favorite characters appear, they want more screen time. When characters they hate appear, they just want them to die quickly. This is a common human emotion.

The only problem is—

Qing He Yi Sheng also cannot only move in the direction Qing He Yi Sheng wants.

Qing He Yi Sheng's writing will not be influenced by any voices outside the novel world.

Sometimes he also wants to see some of the "thrills" he wants, but this novel world doesn't allow it.

Sometimes he also wants to achieve a win-win situation, he also wants everyone to be satisfied, but it's impossible to do.

Of course, he will feel pain, will be tired, will be tormented. But he will still write the way he wants most.

This is Qing He Yi Sheng's world of immortal heroes. It carries all of Qing He Yi Sheng's imagination about immortal heroes. At the same time, it is not responsible for, and cannot satisfy, everyone's expectations.

Even in the smallest Alliance group, with only a little over three hundred people, I often see two people within a minute of each other chatting about completely different expectations for the story's development – meaning, no matter whether you go left or right, someone will always be disappointed.

Let alone ninety thousand consistent genuine readers. And how many countless readers are there across the entire internet?

Whose voice should I listen to?

I always say that I am seeking kindred spirits through my work. I am finding fellow travelers on the road.

People will constantly join, and people will constantly leave.

I will always welcome readers to this world of immortal heroes, and I will not regret anyone's departure.

Because gathering and parting are precisely the norms of life.

Even if you write an 800-word essay full of loopholes, finding fault with eight million words is really easy. If you learn a bit of the skill of taking things out of context, know how to extract a few points and then create, and add a bit of prejudice, then it's simply perfect. Criticizing is extremely satisfying. The story of Snow White is just a story of one woman and seven men, isn't it? The story of the Calabash Brothers is nothing more than seven men taking turns visiting a couple's home, and finally, the seven men combine.

Momentary emotions are fleeting, happiness is like passing clouds and smoke, but negative emotions will accumulate infinitely.

I am also like this.

Praise me, and I will be happy at that moment. Scold me, and at that moment I might smile it off. A few days later, when I'm in a bad mood, I'll suddenly recall – was that person sick?

It's not a big deal. I will completely finish this story.

According to my initial thoughts, following my initial wishes.

I record my mood with this text.

This is my Dao as a mayfly.

——

I truly love writing, especially after experiencing many things.

Although wherever there are people, there are conflicts and inevitably some unpleasant things exist.

But it is always something that directly faces the readers.

Words enter the brain, and there is inevitably a thinking process. This is how the initial threshold is formed.

Readers all have their own aesthetics, their own way of thinking.

Those manipulative things are not very meaningful. Using all means can only temporarily cover things up.

The tide will eventually recede, and ultimately, you can see who is naked and so ugly in the water.

If you write well, people will read it, and people will continue to follow. No matter how others slander, spread rumors, or belittle you, it cannot shake your foundation.

If you write poorly, no one will read it. No matter how much you jump up and down, cater to the crowd, engage in group warming, or even kneel down and kowtow to people, forcing readers to read your bad book, if they can't read it, they just can't read it.

I like this simple aspect.

It tells you that all efforts yield results.

It tells you to do the right things.

...

Finally, I want to ask the readers a question—

Before *Hongxin Xun Tian*, have you ever followed a novel that remained on one map from beginning to end, where characters who appeared in the first volume or even the first chapter were still shining and playing roles after eight million words?

Time, space, various forces and characters, from the beginning until now, constantly collide and interweave. Can you all see the densely intertwined lines within these eight million words?

Can you imagine the difficulty of creating such a novel?

Can you understand what kind of effort is required to maintain a daily update of four thousand words, guarantee quality, and keep so many readers consistently following without being able to put the book down, after eight million words?

How can you say I haven't put in the effort?

I don't remember many details clearly. I need to constantly flip through the setting collection and the previous text. Writing even a single stroke requires looking very far ahead. Sometimes I really want to just have some kind of ascension and start all the character relationships from scratch.

Readers' thresholds have been repeatedly raised throughout the eight million-word journey. Aesthetic fatigue accumulates day by day. But patience has decreased day by day after the initial freshness faded.

What's even more terrible is that, as the author, the space available to play in such a literary world has become extremely narrow.

The first eight million words didn't seem like much at first glance, but when you try to leap, everything feels like shackles.

I've slowly reached a stumbling stage. I'm also very curious how the road ahead will unfold, how to reach the ideal endpoint.

It's very troubling, and also very exciting.

Finally, thank you everyone for your continuous support.

Thank you very much to the people who are still giving me patience and accompanying me after eight million words – honestly, if you asked me to click open an eight million-word novel to read right now, I wouldn't have the courage to do it.

Unless it was called *Hongxin Xun Tian*.

No matter where you saw this book, no matter how much you loved it or hated it once.

It is just there.

Existing in its inherent way.

You can come anytime, and you can leave anytime.

Thank you to everyone who read it, and thank you to everyone who gave it experiences and feelings.

Thank you for coming to appreciate this world of immortal heroes.

Thank you to the fellow travelers who journeyed through the wind and rain on this road. It is you who gave me the strength and courage to carry these eight million words to their rightful endpoint.

The story will ultimately be finished.

We will ultimately say goodbye.

——

My tonsillitis, fever, and headache have all been endured and are better, but my cough is still not well today. Various syrups and medicines have had no effect. It has continued for half a month, and my lungs hurt a bit from coughing (perhaps it's my ribs hurting, anyway it's in the area of my right rib). I feel like it won't be a big deal. But being very afraid of death, I still decided to get an X-ray first.

I wrote this summary while waiting in line at the hospital. I just casually wrote five or six thousand words, it was simply a surge of literary thoughts.

If writing novels had this kind of efficiency, that would be great. Damn, I would achieve Dao at the absolute peak.

——

Finally.

Resting for five days. Including today, that's six days.

Some plot ideas for the new volume exist, but the plot line is still not organized, and I haven't thought of a volume name. Too tired, too tired, too tired, too tired to even speak.

May 19th, the next volume's updates will begin.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.