Chapter 40

Lin Mu chuckled and said, "A good method indeed, but it also requires a good book to implement. Although 'The Seven Spells of Fengye' has received a lot of positive reviews due to the appearance of internal strength, a book isn't something that can be hastily constructed in just a few days. The current plot of 'The Seven Spells of Fengye' has already turned out to be rather stiff, and the setting of martial arts and the various combat scenes related to it are clearly somewhat chaotic. He Shuo can still control the first chapter, but as the plot develops, the increase in martial arts strength and the unchangeable previous drafts, well, even He Shuo will find it difficult to grasp the development of such an unprepared book!"

"How can a story that collapses like this maintain the enthusiasm of its fans?"

"On the contrary, the story of 'Lian Cheng Jue' is already complete in my mind, ensuring that every chapter has its highlights, and the more it progresses, the more it makes readers look forward to it. When comparing the two books, do you think the fans will choose which magazine?"

The situation of "plot collapse" that Lin Mu described is common in web novels. New authors often make the mistake of not preparing enough for a new book, sometimes even starting a new book just because of a sudden inspiration. However, a new book clearly cannot be sustained by just one inspiration. Even if they can imitate the martial arts settings of other novels, the lack of preparation for the plot often leads to the protagonist's martial arts strength increasing too quickly. Once the initial inspiration is used up, the author often doesn't know what to write next. But the demand for updates forces them to keep writing, leading to plot collapse, chaotic martial arts, and a book that ultimately ends in a mess...

Lin Shuiqing said, "Great! I'll go talk to the editor-in-chief right away. If it works, you can rest assured that the magazine will reward you!"

Lin Mu smiled slightly. The reward, he estimated, would be at most a few thousand yuan. Although that amount of money was significant to him now, he didn't really care about it. What he wanted was for his reputation to grow faster as sales increased and this method was promoted. After all, the sales of 'Wuxia Story' had already significantly affected his reputation gain. The short stories he wrote earlier, though not as prestigious as now, had not increased in value as much as the cost ratio. If the sales of 'Wuxia Story' could not be increased, it would be a miracle if Lin Mu could double his earnings after recovering his reputation cost.

...

Time passed quickly, and soon it was early October. 'Wuxia Story' began the second installment of 'Lian Cheng Jue'. Putting down his phone, Lin Mu stared blankly out the window, his expression somewhat dazed. Just now, while fiddling with his phone, he suddenly remembered the phone number of his parents in this world. They looked the same as in his previous life, but without the full head of white hair. They were still working hard outside to support him and his two siblings.

When Lin Mu's parents received his call, they were extremely excited. Their son hadn't called for several months, and if it weren't for the reassurance from the elders at home, they would have already worried and come back. On the phone, Lin Mu told his mother about his novel writing. Normally, at this stage of high school, such a distraction would definitely result in a scolding and a demand to focus solely on studies and abandon all other distractions. However, Lin Mu's monthly earnings of five to six thousand yuan had earned him the right to continue writing. In the past, parents pushed their children to focus on studies because they believed that, besides getting into college, there was no other way to change their fate. But Lin Mu's steady earnings over the past few months had proven his capability. This income was already higher than most salaries and was also easier and more relaxed (in the opinion of Lin Mu's parents).

On the phone, Lin Mu put aside his usual temper and stiffness, chatting casually with his parents. How many people had once wished to pay a huge price to make their parents ten years younger?

...

After a moment, Lin Mu calmed down and took out the sample issue of 'Wuxia Story', carefully flipping through it. Sure enough, the magazine had added a page, or two pages, of book reviews after his novel, and as he had suggested, used the book number torn from the magazine as the threshold for inclusion. Since it was the first issue, this rule couldn't be implemented, and most of the reviews were obtained from the internet, with some being letters sent to the magazine.

Yizhan Qianji: A beggar with a broken bowl and a bamboo stick, dressed in tattered clothes, has now become the image of a transcendent master in my heart...

Wuyu Xiansheng: Looking forward to the appearance of 'Lian Cheng Sword Technique'!

Shen Ben Wu Ming: Mr. Yizhangshu, could you give a brief introduction to the story of 'Lian Cheng Jue'? Are there any exciting scenes in it?

Lan Se Liuyi: The concept of internal strength, proposed by the book, has shaken the entire martial arts world; I hope that after 'Lian Cheng Jue' is completed, it will颠覆 everyone's view of martial arts!

Meng Nan Xi: Using poetry in swordsmanship is a highlight, but I hope that when 'Lian Cheng Sword Technique' appears, the book can have even more exciting scenes.

...

At a glance, it was all praise, clearly the reactions to the first chapter. Lin Mu looked at the screen and chuckled, not bothering to look at the chaotic Baidu Tieba, but instead, carefully read the second chapter of 'Lian Cheng Jue' again, titled 'Prison'.

In Jin Daxia's fourteen novels, 'Lian Cheng Jue' should be considered of medium readability.

Fei Xue Lian Tian She Bai Lu, Xiao Shu Shen Xia Yi Bi Yuan.

The leading ones are 'The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils', the 'Condor Trilogy', and a few other excellent novels, known to everyone in the Chinese-speaking world. The trailing ones include the extracurricular novel 'The Sword of Yue', as well as 'The White Horse Cries in the West Wind' and 'The Twin Swords', which, although also part of the "Fourteen Novels," are not particularly interesting. Many Jin Yong fans haven't even read them, and they often sell in bookstores only because they are bundled with the "Complete Works of Jin Yong."

'Lian Cheng Jue', neither at the top nor the bottom, is a short novel, but after reading it from beginning to end, Lin Mu felt that this book could be considered the one that delves deepest into the theme of love among the fourteen novels. The sorrow and anger of Di Yun in the book, in Lin Mu's view, is no less intense than Xiao Feng's suicide at Yanmen Pass!

Especially in the second chapter, after the plot setup and introduction in the first chapter, the ugliness of human nature and the conspiracy form a merciless web, directly plunging the naive Di Yun into hell!