End-of-Month Summary, a Belated Note on Being Published

Hello everyone, I'm Xiang Chi Sha Tang Ju.

The book has reached a total of ninety thousand words, and the first arc has more or less come to an end. Last month, whenever the author opened the comments section, there was always a barrage of abuse waiting—but having people curse at me was still better than having no one say anything.

I'll answer a few questions here:

1. The setting isn't rigorous enough. Fan works more or less contain some secondary creations, and this book's plot is also original, based on the original work's worldbuilding. The author won't write plots similar to those in the original. Besides, the original focuses on the main cast, while other characters—Shui Bing'er, Ye Lingling, and so on—are merely background figures. All their reactions exist to highlight the main cast, so their personalities are rather one-dimensional. The author wants to make the characters more well-rounded, so of course it's impossible to write them based on a single label such as "aloof" or "shy." I hope everyone can understand. Corrections are welcome as well! If the author can make changes, the author will.

2. The protagonist is too self-righteous. Some readers criticized the author here, claiming that the author doesn't respect women. That's truly an injustice. Of the choices Flender gave him, visiting a brothel was naturally crossed out, and buying a woman's chastity was crossed out as well. As for the remaining choice, getting engaged, he never even asked the woman's opinion. From beginning to end, he treated women as commodities to be traded. The protagonist's refusal was the true act of respecting women. Visiting a brothel is also a way of objectifying a woman's body, so it was inappropriate. As for the word "dirty" when talking about brothels... Surely the author couldn't write "clean" instead. A person's soul could be pure white in a subjective sense, but sexually transmitted diseases objectively existed.

3. Some so-called poison points. For example, when the protagonist met Granny Shui Yuehua and stated that he was alone, she had already revealed her Soul Rings. Did he think there was a hidden Soul Master nearby? Was the protagonist supposed to pretend that someone was hiding in the dark and make them hostile toward each other? There's also the matter of revealing the flaw in the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul. The author clearly gave the protagonist an explanation for Dugu Bo later, so why selectively ignore it?

To borrow a line from Ye Qingxian: "What is arsenic to one person is a healing medicine to another."

Radishes and greens—each to their own taste.

The author's writing ability and skill are limited, and this style won't be to everyone's liking. It's entirely reasonable and justified for readers to judge the book according to their personal preferences, and the author respects their evaluations as well.

If someone leaves a comment in the reviews saying "trash" or "garbage," the author won't care. But is it really appropriate to chase through my chapters and curse at them one by one? It also affects readers who are genuinely reading the book. Venting your anger should be done in moderation. As for those who leave a pile of dirty words, the author will simply consider it a cleanup job.

Also. This is important!

The author hopes everyone will comment more and share their thoughts! Share the plots you're looking forward to! (It's definitely not because the author wants to copy comments—just because great minds think alike!)

This book is primarily a leveling story, with daily-life content as a supplement. The author spends a great deal of time writing every day. On one hand, it's because I hope to do justice to my work; on the other, it's because I want to do justice to the readers who keep following it. I'll do my best!

In addition, thanks to the top donor's great-great-grandson, Lin Zhenxuan; the second-place donor, Wuliang Taisu Tian; and the third-place donor, CHARON_ed, for their coin rewards!

Thanks to the readers—Mundane Person, Novice Gourd, Yi Sheng You Ni De, Ink Snow Like Smoke, Big-Headed Cat_Ac, 20240414716_Bb, Slay Flame_bB...—for their coin rewards!

Thanks to the readers who have been silently following the book all this time. Following a book consistently is always the most steadfast form of support!

Finally, I wish everyone, in the new year, success in everything you set your heart on, perfect results in every exam, overflowing wealth, and good health!

A new year brings a new atmosphere!