Chapter 1860: From the Creative Perspective, Looking at the Final Battle

The chapter "The Upside-Down Sea" is nearing its conclusion. After such an intense period, I can finally take a breather and dedicate some time to this Q&A session.

Usually, you experience the story from a reader's perspective. Today, however, I'd like to offer a different viewpoint. Let's look at the plot design from an author's perspective, using the final battle in "The Upside-Down Sea" as a case study.

Without delving into intricate details, I'll focus on four broad design elements: Purpose, Limitations, Process, and Outcome.

Let's begin with "Purpose." The protagonist's expedition to the Upside-Down Sea always served two objectives.

The primary objective, naturally, was to orchestrate the demise of the two major powers, Qianhuan and Miaozhantian. At a minimum, one had to die and the other be severely wounded, with any survivor significantly weakened. This would create a power vacuum on the Golden Plains for a considerable time, thereby establishing a "strategic advantage" for the protagonist. As famously stated in "Let the Bullets Fly," "It's important to me that you're gone." For the Golden Plains, the absence of Qianhuan and Miaozhantian was paramount.

The secondary objective was that the war between immortals and demons within the Upside-Down Sea was likely a precursor to events in the future Grand World. The protagonist needed to observe the conflict, identify opportunities, assess risks, and thus validate potential paths and refine his strategy for future growth.

Were these objectives met? Absolutely. He Lingchuan acquired everything he desired, and perhaps even things he hadn't sought, embodying the concept of "winner takes all."

Now, let's discuss "Limitations" and "Process" together.

Was the protagonist's group truly capable of directly confronting an ancient True Immortal, or one of the top three Arch-Demons among the Spirit Void deities? Would an unarmed person dare to stand before a raging elephant? This represents a massive limitation in terms of raw power.

I couldn't grant the protagonist infinite power in a short span, as that would contradict the novel's internal logic. Therefore, the focus had to be on "weakening the enemy." This involved two strategies: first, creating a unique battle environment, the "Sea of Consciousness," where divine abilities were unusable; and second, having the protagonist, in his mortal form, compel Qianhuan to fulfill his long-overdue obligation to severely weaken the formidable Arch-Demon.

One could even argue that He Lingchuan essentially forced Qianhuan's death and severely wounded Miaozhantian. This, indeed, was He Lingchuan's most ingenious strategy demonstrated in "The Upside-Down Sea."

Realistically, these two formidable beings should have perished simultaneously. They should have. So, why didn't they?

Typically, the conclusion of a major event necessitates showcasing the protagonist's direct involvement. Furthermore, I wanted the protagonist to engage in a meaningful confrontation with the Arch-Demon, which is why Miaozhantian was left severely wounded. For the protagonist, this provided invaluable combat experience; Miaozhantian's unexpected comeback served as both a harsh lesson and a crucial learning opportunity.

At this juncture in the narrative, as the author, two additional characters — Xiao Wencheng and the Blood Demon — needed to be addressed within the battle. Without integrating them into the battlefield, how could a resolution be achieved? This led to Miaozhantian's severe injury, subsequent comeback, and the ensuing carnage.

Readers seek passion, romance, and thrilling experiences. Authors, however, focus on design, balance, and difficult choices.

However, at this point, some readers had truly run out of patience. They were eagerly counting down the moments, distressed daily about when the battle would finally conclude. I'm unsure why they were so singularly focused on the outcome, but this was undeniably their state.

The saying, "Spirit is roused at the first drum, flags at the second, and exhausted at the third," perfectly describes the shift in mood. After the initial mass battle between immortals and demons, the direct confrontation between Qianhuan and Miaozhantian, and then the protagonist's involvement followed by a reversal, the conclusion still seemed distant. While the story remained thrilling and logical, the intense anticipation for a spectacular ending had undeniably waned.

If they desired the outcome, then it would be provided. We decided to alter the narrative approach and reveal the outcome first. This was merely a matter of presenting information differently, not altering its substance.

From my perspective, the relationship between author and reader is not adversarial. When conflicts arise, the aim is to resolve them using the most effective technical means available. This decision was neither cowardice nor compromise. Those who resorted to rude, sarcastic, or disruptive comments have already been muted and had their messages deleted. We chose to present the outcome upfront for the sake of those polite and considerate readers who were genuinely eager for the conclusion, without resorting to curses, sarcasm, or offensive remarks. I aim to be as understanding and accommodating as possible.

In reality, the core and pivotal stages of the Upside-Down Sea battle largely concluded after Qianhuan's self-detonation. He Lingchuan was merely completing the cleanup, and regardless of the battle's duration, Miaozhantian's ultimate fate remained unchanged.

What was the only aspect deliberately streamlined in this regard? It was Xiao Wencheng's transformation and elevation of character. In fact, this development was foreshadowed early in the narrative, already setting the stage for Xiao's transformation. Initially, I planned to dedicate more space within this major battle to explicitly portray his self-sacrifice and illuminate his character's nobility. However, following revisions, I decided to present this through subsequent indirect narration, which readers will encounter in future chapters. Furthermore, Xiao Wencheng's actions are intrinsically linked to Xin Yi's later arc and He Lingchuan's evolving perception of immortals.

The Battle of the Upside-Down Sea serves as the grand climax of this volume. The downfall of Qianhuan and Miaozhantian marks the true beginning of the protagonist's journey. The strategic arrangements He Lingchuan meticulously laid out in the Golden Plains are finally poised to bear fruit. The narrative threads we've carefully woven can now finally be drawn together.

The season of fruition is imminent. Before that, however, I will host a series of Q&A sessions to share various creative philosophies behind this book, particularly concerning the aftermath of the immortals' disappearance.

Fenghang Shuiyunjian / Jiufang YeDecember 22, 2024