Volume Seven had been the longest volume I'd planned for, a full two hundred and forty chapters. Before I began writing, I knew it would be difficult, but I still hadn't expected it to be this arduous. The number of times I took leave or delayed updates during this volume equaled the total of the previous six volumes. Besides needing to refine and organize the outline, the long stretch of Heavenly Human Five Decays had left me exhausted.
The Dao Heart and one's innate nature—simply laying such things out in a straightforward narrative would be dull and preachy. Therefore, before writing this book, I had decided to lay the groundwork well, to build explosive force, to shake people to the core, and to make them feel it was only natural.
So when it came to achieving the Golden Core, I began laying the groundwork with the master's words when he took on a disciple, using bits and pieces such as the peerless swordsmanship and Daoist Priest Shi's slightly unbalanced state of mind as foils. Thus came that first stunning moment of Dragon-Tiger Convergence.
So when it came to achieving Primordial Spirit, I had laid the groundwork from the very beginning of the entire book, showing Daoist Priest Shi's caution, his habit of planning before acting, and so on through all manner of events. Thus came that stunning sword strike that slew others and slew myself as well.
So when it came to Dao Heart Decay, I used the little details of two whole volumes to set the stage. Thus came this stunning interrogation, with twists and turns at every peak and bend.
But through the contents of these two longest volumes—the Four-Nine Tribulation, the Heavenly Human Five Decays, tribulation after tribulation—I grew more and more weary as I wrote. Again