Chapter 1

"Dao Chao Tian" is a very good story.

Why do you say that when it has just started?

Does this show my arrogance or shamelessness?

Neither, because I have already made it clear in the title that these are the words to be said beforehand.

What is good about this story?

Firstly, I really like it myself.

Of course, if I didn't like the story, I wouldn't have started this book.

The new book was postponed from mid-August to now, and apart from the many things happening at home, the most important reason is that I really couldn't come up with a story that would convince me to spend two or even more years writing it.

I have always felt that time is the most important thing, because I fear death.

When I spend time on something, I must feel that the time is well spent, so that part of my life is not wasted.

For every book I have written before, I can confidently say that I have measured it this way, and the new book should be no exception.

I am particularly pleased that in September, a story gradually emerged in my mind. As I continued to design and organize it, the story became clearer and clearer, and I liked it more and more.

This liking eventually gave me a sense of certainty.

Perhaps it is because the theme of the story is related to time and life.

As for what the theme is, you can see it on the next page, which is very clear and simple.

This time, I have really said everything beforehand.

This also shows my courage.

Why am I so bold?

Because the preparation work has been done well.

Among all my novels, "Jiang Ye" and the new book "Dao Chao Tian" have the most preparation work done before starting.

The situation with "Jiang Ye" was a bit special. After finishing "Jian Ke," I felt I had reached the peak of my life! I was very worried that I wouldn't be able to write a good story again, so I was very anxious and determined to write a particularly outstanding novel.

I have always believed that effort will be rewarded, and that was the case with "Jiang Ye."

Although "Jian Ke" is still my favorite, from the perspective of the novel as a whole, "Jiang Ye" is very excellent, and I admire the me who wrote "Jiang Ye."

So why did I do the preparation work for "Dao Chao Tian" so seriously?

Last month, I said on my WeChat public account that "Dao Chao Tian" might be one of my last two or even one of the three million-word long novels.

So I will write it with the most serious attitude, even if it means overexerting myself and making it seem rigid and crafty.

By "serious," I don't mean never missing an update or posting three updates a day... (No one would believe that anyway.)

What I mean is that I will try more things I haven't done before and be more ambitious.

This is the first time I have used a four-character book title, and I did it deliberately. The story of "Dao Chao Tian" will inevitably be different from my previous novels, and this is also done deliberately.

Everything should be done seriously, and one should always strive to do better. My requirement for myself is that each book should be a bit different and strive for progress in some aspects.

For the new book, I want to focus on the plot.

When I started "Ze Tian Ji," I said I wanted to do this, but later I wasn't strict enough with myself, and the pressure I put on myself was too small. Once I entered the continuous update phase, I started to slip into old habits.

By "slip," I don't mean padding the content, although there are definitely some watered-down chapters, whether intentional or not.

What I mean is the emotional expression and operatic arias outside the plot, which often appear in large sections due to my personal preferences.

For the new book, I want to reduce these as much as possible.

This is learning from many authors I admire, both current and past, like Jin Yong, whose plots are very crisp, like a radish, delicious to chew.

I want to strive in this direction, and I think this is the right path for commercial novels and a supreme trust in the readers.

Among web novel authors, especially those like me and Sha Bao and many others with similar temperaments, after writing a plot, we often worry that the readers won't see the good and wonderful parts, or that they won't understand something, or that the plot itself is not confident or composed. So we explain at length in the subsequent plots, which is very tedious and uncomfortable to read. I want to change this, and be stricter with the writing, reducing the descriptions of scenery and psychology as much as possible.

This is a respect for the readers, believing that they can see the thoughts, insights, and aesthetics hidden in the plot.

Will this make the whole story too dry and uninteresting?

As the male protagonist in this story will say later— I have never thought about this.

People say I have sentiment, but I don't agree. These things shouldn't be mentioned lightly, except for self-mockery. As for good writing, I have never claimed that, because I have ordinary talent and haven't worked hard to improve it. How could it be good?

To add, the writing in each of my books is better than the previous one, and that is certain, because I am a person with such aspirations.

I have gone off-topic.

What am I really confident about? The plot.

The stories I write have always had good plots.

I hope to strengthen this aspect in the new book.

Of course, the new book will still have some clichéd elements, because there is nothing new under the sun, and I grew up in the sun.

This sentence was said fourteen years ago, in the comment section of "Shazhu" in Yingxiu... Was it said by me or by him?

Of course, this sentence is not new; it is a Western proverb.

I remember, it was said by him...

Whoever said it, it has been fourteen years, and I am forty.

Life should not be wasted, whether writing or doing anything else. One should do what they like and strive to get more people to like it, and then be outstanding.

The same goes for reading.

To say something taboo, I write stories to help people pass the time. If it's not interesting or doesn't suit your taste, don't read it. Don't waste your time on it. It's better to spend more time with your family playing mahjong.

Of course, don't curse me. Everyone has their struggles, and we should understand each other and live in peace.

I won't promise not to miss updates or anything else. The only thing I can and am willing to promise is to write this story as well as possible, not to waste your time or mine.

I have said this before, but it might have been forgotten, so I will say it again.

So, let's begin.

Flip to the next page for the AD.

End of the AD on the next page.