When my editor contacted me on QQ asking for a blurb for the featured recommendation, I realized it was my turn. Even though I knew that being in the top three of the monthly new release charts automatically earned you a featured recommendation, I'd forgotten all about it. I was frantically rushing to meet my deadline. Was it the last day of October? You guys were chasing after me like I was a chicken with its head cut off. I didn't say more than ten words to my wife that day, and I kept writing until after midnight before I could finally relax once the monthly votes were settled.

Actually, I quite look forward to writing these kinds of single-chapter thank you notes for featured recommendations, because it gives me a chance to have a good chat with everyone. Normally, I'm busy writing the story of Chen Hero, and I don't have any decent time to do anything else.

But when I was preparing to write this blurb, I couldn't find a good entry point for a while.

Just like writing a novel, the beginning is very important, as everyone knows. How should I start this blurb for the featured recommendation?

In the end, I thought to myself, since this is a blurb for *King of the Zone*, let's talk about this book.

I think this is a "breakthrough" work for me.

Because I've added a lot of things that I've never touched on before. Such as upgrade systems, xuanhuan (mystical fantasy) elements, multiple female leads, and a focus on爽文 (shuangwen, or "refreshing" novels)...and so on.

When I first started writing this book, I was apprehensive. There were many things I hadn't tried before, and I didn't know what kind of novel I could write.

So in August, when I was preparing this new book, I spent the first half of the month repeatedly revising and asking people for their opinions. This book has the fewest chapters saved up before I started uploading it since *Coach of Champions*, all because I spent half a month constantly revising the beginning, trying to make it more attractive, because the success or failure of a book might depend solely on its beginning.

During the public release days, I paid attention to the clicks, recommendations, and collections of the novel every day, comparing it to my previous book. The results I got were confusing—the recommendations and clicks were not as good as *Champion's Legend* at the same stage, but the collections were a little better than *Champion's Legend* at the same time.

The book review section also seemed very bleak. Most of the comments expressed disgust at the Aurora Gentleman and the addition of the upgrade system, saying, "Is this really the Lin Da we know?"

This made my confidence very low for a while.

Actually, I'm the kind of person who is extremely insecure... I always need to be encouraged. So even if the book review section was full of praise, if there was only one comment saying "What garbage, take it off the shelves," I would be depressed for a long time.

I forgot when I developed the habit. I would occasionally enter the name of my novel and everyone's nickname for me into search engines to see if there were any book reviews or reading notes about me or my novel that I hadn't discovered.

Whenever I saw those words praising me, I would be especially happy and confident—I suddenly felt like I was the best writer, that everything I wrote was a masterpiece, and that so many strangers liked to read it. They placed me on the clouds in their comments, how could I let everyone down?

So I cheered up again, regained my confidence and fighting spirit, and buried myself in writing!

Perhaps this is one of the few adjustments in my boring writing career?

I completely abandoned the World of Warcraft that I had played for many years when I was writing *Champion's Legend*. It's been more than a year since I last logged in. My friends are still playing, and the content they discuss sounds very unfamiliar to me. My deepest memories are still in the tBC era, which was the craziest time I played... Now that I have a wife, the pressure is greater, so naturally I don't have time to play those games.

Watching movies and TV shows takes several hours. I have enough time to write a chapter with that time.

Since becoming a professional writer, I've found that many of my hobbies are gradually drifting away from me.

But I don't regret it. This is the path I chose for myself. No one forced me to take it.

The greatest pleasure after writing is actually lurking in the book review section to see your reactions after presenting what I think is the best plot.

……

In this way, *King of the Zone* was put on the shelves in a state of bewilderment and trepidation, with "I don't even know what the future holds," and began its journey on the monthly new book charts.

I was swamped all of October, but I was happy, full of fighting spirit, willing, and... I woke up smiling every morning...

How long has it been since those days appeared on me? On countless days, I would sit in front of the computer with a bitter look on my face, preparing to start the day's work.

But all of this was absent with *King of the Zone*.

Even if I wrote 18,000 or 27,000 words a day... I was full of fighting spirit and joy.

Because the results are good! I know you like to read it. Although my worries were in vain, my efforts were not in vain.

What are we writers after? Isn't it just that you like to read it?

If you like to read it, I'm happy. When I'm happy, my thoughts flow like a burst dam, and I can write more and better stories to satisfy you.

Look, what a great virtuous cycle.

Thank you all.

※※※

Sometimes I also take the time to find books to read, and I fall in love with good books. Many plots and storyline arrangements make me sigh in admiration.

I think writing books requires talent. In my opinion, many people are geniuses in this area, but I am not.

I never seem to have been a good storyteller, and I have many shortcomings. Sports novels are also a niche genre in the entire online literature circle.

In terms of talent, I can't compare to them. In terms of ability, I am also slightly insufficient. But why can my books occasionally show their faces in the top twenty or top fifty of the monthly ticket charts? I thought, maybe it's because I'm hardworking enough.

A person like me would definitely not be considered a genius in the world of football, but hard work can make up for shortcomings. So I insisted on writing every day, from *Coach of Champions* to now, writing three books, two of which are completed and one is in progress.

I believe that even if I have no talent, I can still figure it out if I keep writing like this, right?

The results of this book prove this point, which is better than I imagined. I think this may be what they mean by heaven rewards diligence?

In 2004, I wrote a post online, which roughly said that the most critical point in writing online novels is—persistence.

As long as you can persist, you will always succeed one day. I persisted, and I will continue to persist. Of course, the premise is that you are there. If no one cheers for me, what is the point of my persistence?

※※※

The battle for the monthly new book chart is over. These days, I'm fine, so I refresh the Qidian monthly ticket chart and watch those big shots show their magical powers on the monthly ticket chart, fighting dimly and lively—it's finally our turn to watch other people's plays, hahahaha!

Actually, I especially like to read those authors' single chapters. I think they are very interesting. Even if I haven't read their books at all, I will click on the single chapters to read them.

Then, as I watched, I suddenly felt a sense of emotion. They are all fighting for monthly tickets. Others update three or five times, which is considered an explosion, and the monthly tickets increase rapidly. Or they don’t write anything and just throw a single chapter asking for votes, and they even get several chrysanthemum explosions within a day.

I update more than ten times a day, but I still can't compete with others.

Later I figured it out—this is my way of fighting.

Today I was still mocking myself with Xiao Ding in the group: "We win with quantity!"

Sports novels are niche, and in today's environment where football is not good, it is even more niche. But this book can still jump to second place on the monthly new book chart and get more than 5,000 monthly tickets under such circumstances. This may be able to show that my way of fighting is effective, right?

So for eight years, I have never dared to slack off for a day. Because I know that writing books on a niche basis, I am not qualified to slack off. If I am not careful, I may be doomed. This industry is very cruel. Once you lose popularity, it is difficult to make a comeback.

I have been in this industry for eight years and have seen many people come, become popular, fall into disrepair, no one cares, disappear, come back, and disappear again...

Sometimes I am quite proud that I can still stay in this industry. It's just because I'm still writing non-stop, writing every day, right?

I just celebrated my twenty-ninth birthday, and in the blink of an eye, I'm almost thirty. When I first entered this industry in a daze, I was only twenty-one years old, and I was as youthful as the characters in my writing. I always felt that I had plenty of time to squander. I didn't know how to cherish it at that time.

Now, I'm almost thirty and the little girls are calling me "Uncle"... Do you think time flies by quickly?

Fortunately, eight years ago, I had you. Eight years later, I still have you.

I hope... or rather, it's a luxury. Eight years later, we can still be together to watch the joys and sorrows rise and fall.

Actually, I'm not sure in my heart. Everyone knows that I'm a very insecure person.

※※※

I've written almost three thousand words for a featured recommendation blurb... Once the floodgates are opened, I can't stop. But I don't know what I'm talking about. I've said a lot, but it seems very scattered.

Most importantly, it's not as flirtatious as that guy Maoni.

Actually, Chen Hero is quite flirtatious, but when I transform into Lin Hai Ting Tao, I can't be flirtatious. I'm still a pure, simple, shy, introverted, sensitive, and fragile good young man!

Yes, it's not like Maoni, who is a flirtatious hybrid of inner and outer flirtatiousness!

Finally, thank you for taking the time to listen to my nonsense while you are busy day and night.

Thank you! Please remember in any case—I love you, I don't want to hurt you, I will definitely work hard to write novels that you like to read, and if I let you down, it will only be temporary! Please don't give up hope and love!

※※※

ps, finally, thank my editor Pikachu, thank Zhuzi mm, thank Jiazi, thank Feizi, thank Maozi, thank my group leader An Yi, thank the small squad leader, thank Qidian for this platform.

ps2, how can I not ask for votes when there is a legitimate opportunity to post a single chapter?

So... everyone, cast your monthly tickets!

What I can promise is that tomorrow's update will be absolutely wonderful, the plot will be absolutely powerful, and the story will be absolutely good!

So, please cast all the monthly tickets in your hands! !

I guarantee you won't regret it!

In addition, there will be five updates tomorrow. The first update will be released after midnight, mainly to grab some recommendation votes and clicks. Please be sure to support it! These are all free!

.

Lin Hai Ting Tao

November 2, 2011, in Chengdu