Chapter 1. Mortal Realm Summary

Just as I put the finishing touch on the Mortal Realm arc, a sudden wave of emotion washed over me, reminding me of my original intention for writing this book. Before embarking on this journey, the author had already penned over 3 million words as a seasoned writer. While my previous works never achieved the same heights as this 1, they still held their own respectably.

In truth, the author was also an avid reader, with a particular fondness for classical xianxia—a genuine and profound passion.

As is widely known, the xianxia genre, particularly classical xianxia, is a treacherous minefield of abandoned stories and incomplete endings. Essentially, 8 or 9 out of 10 such tales are destined to either conclude abruptly or be left perpetually unfinished.

Countless outstanding works, such as The Purple Mansion's Immortal Fate, The Sovereign of the Yellow Court, and The Everlasting Path of Immortality, ultimately met with disappointing ends—either abandoned prematurely or left incomplete due to the authors' negligence. Among the rare few that reached a proper conclusion, most concluded immediately after the protagonists' ascension. Reading such works never failed to stir frustration within me.

In a fit of rage, he abandoned his former pen name, gave up writing the fantasy genres he was accustomed to, and came here to start this book.

Back then, my thinking was simple: I just wanted to write a xianxia novel of truly high quality. Not only would I ensure it didn’t have a rushed ending or get abandoned midway, but I was also determined to write an immortal realm arc—something most xianxia stories never even touch upon.

At present, it appears that all the essential plot threads in the Mortal Realm Arc have been properly concluded, with neither an abrupt ending nor an unfinished narrative.

Rest assured, the upcoming Immortal Realm Arc will certainly be written, and it will be crafted with even greater brilliance.

Let's discuss the moral compass of this book once more.

To this day, the values portrayed in this book have received much praise, as well as considerable criticism.

Most of the negative reviews stem from readers perceiving the protagonist as overly righteous or sanctimonious, believing the character's moral compass is too rigid—more akin to a saint than a relatable human being.

To be honest, I deliberately crafted a protagonist with such a temperament for my own considerations.

At some imperceptible point, a subtle shift began to permeate our collective consciousness, as refined self-interest gradually gained prominence and spread like wildfire.

In my view, so-called refined self-interested individuals are, to put it bluntly, nothing more than selfish people who have merely packaged themselves differently.

Nowadays, in many novels, the protagonists' personalities tend to lean toward darkness—some even exhibiting extreme selfishness and self-interest. Conversely, protagonists with righteous moral compasses have become anomalies, growing increasingly rare.

There came a time when selfless devotion began to be met with scorn, righteous courage with contempt, and those who walked with integrity faced only indifference.

I am not saying that dark-themed stories are without merit. I understand that society is complex and has 2 sides, but I believe our world should also embrace more positive energy.

Thus was Eldrin born from the pen. He treated his allies with unwavering kindness, offered guidance to the younger generation, and showed no mercy to the wicked. Moreover, he carried the resolve and responsibility to safeguard the realm.

The characters I have penned—be it the master of the Endless Sky Pavilion, Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name), or even Riverlord Chang (Person Name)—which among them is not an honorable and upright figure?

In the unfolding tale, the Demon God was akin to boundless night, while these characters resembled mere sparks of firefly light.

Through these characters, I wish to convey to everyone that this world holds more than just darkness. I also hope these figures can impart some influence upon young readers, telling them that in truth, there is also light in this world.

Perhaps these lights were insignificant, but when they blazed, they burst into the most dazzling fireworks—enough to illuminate the darkness for that fleeting moment.

At the very least... at the very least, it could illuminate the path for those who come after...

The above encapsulates the core philosophy of this text.

Of course, this book also has numerous shortcomings, such as typographical errors, grammatical flaws, and countless oversights.

These are not the most critical issues. What truly matters is the update frequency. It makes 1 wonder if this is some kind of curse plaguing xianxia novels—lately, the author’s updates have been as sluggish as constipation.

In the past few months, I dared not speak too much. In April, I updated 80,000 words, and in May, 70,000 words. For authors who consistently write over 10 1000 words daily, their output in just half a month surpasses what I managed in 2 months.

It was precisely for this reason that the author dared not ask for monthly votes, nor did they dare to request subscriptions—they didn’t even have the courage to post a notice asking for leave (for fear of being criticized).

With so many flaws, an ordinary book would have long been utterly forgotten. Yet to my astonishment, this 1 has achieved surprisingly remarkable results.

This book currently has 5,300 average subscriptions, with the number of followers actually reaching as high as 3,800 at 1 point.

What does this mean? It means for roughly every 5.3 subscribers to my book, nearly 4 of them caught up to the latest chapter within 20-4 hours.

This subscription rate is truly a rare sight.

To be honest, I feel deeply honored, yet also somewhat unworthy of this recognition.

Thinking about this book's performance, I can't help but feel regretful. If I had diligently updated with 8 1000 words daily, wouldn't the average subscription have surpassed 8 1000 by now, perhaps even broken through 10 1000?

I truly feel unworthy of such kindness, and I'm at a loss as to how I can repay everyone. All I can say is that I'll devote my utmost effort to writing the Immortal Realm Arc, and strive diligently to update more frequently as my humble way of repaying your esteemed favor.

Here, the author bows to everyone, expressing gratitude for your support.

With that said, there is nothing more to speak of.

Fellow Daoists, may we meet again in the immortal realm...