Chapter 499

This is a single chapter to receive criticism.

My slow updates and frequent breaks in the later stages of the book are partly due to my deteriorating health. However, they are also caused by a decline in creative passion, a depletion of knowledge, and a drying up of inspiration.

I’ve been writing this book for over a year. During this time, I haven’t read any books or watched any dramas, and I’ve played League of Legends only a handful of times. The information I occasionally consume comes from fragmented reading or short videos.

Before I started writing, I would actively seek out various books—medical texts, scriptures, ancient books—reading whatever I could find. If I found inspiration, I would jot it down and save it in a document.

After starting the book, I’ve simply been drawing from this 'stockpile.' As someone once said, 'everyone can do five minutes of stand-up comedy.' In web novel writing, if you read enough and encounter enough tropes, you can always come up with something fresh to write and gain appreciation.

However, once I entered a high-intensity update mode, my reserves were depleted, my passion waned, and internal struggle began.

“What should I write today?”“Damn, another massive update is due.”“This is incredibly hard!”“But if I don’t write, where will the money come from? Readers will scold me too, right?”“Damn it, I’m going to crash sooner or later.”“Waaah, I don’t want to crash.”“…”

When I sit in front of the computer, struggling and staring blankly, these are the thoughts that typically run through my mind. By the time I snap out of it, the cigarette butt is usually burning my fingers.

Click! Light another one. *Hiss~ puff~*

..................(Five minutes later.)

Given my update volume last year, my life and work were completely out of balance. I had no life, just existed.

Every day, I probably said only three phrases:Mom: “Son, dinner’s ready.”Me: “Oh, coming.”Mom: “Son, you should sleep early.”Me: “You go to sleep, don’t worry about me.”Mom: “Time to get up and eat.”Me: “Mmm...”.......My life was a straight line: study, bedroom, dining room. Occasionally, I would deviate from this routine and take a short walk outside.

Neighbors (elderly men and women): “Oh, when did you get back?”Me: “…I never left.”Neighbors: “Why haven’t we seen you around?”Me: “…I never left.”…

When I looked up, I saw the window, and outside the window, a utility pole. Last year, the seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—were all a blur. I completely forgot to adjust my clothing for the weather. Occasionally, I’d step out of my study, feel hot or cold, but would just go back in a moment later without thinking anything of it.

Before starting the book, I smoked half a pack a day. After starting, it gradually increased to over two packs a day. When I went out to buy cigarettes, the owner of the small shop on the street advised me to cut back. I was so touched that I bought another carton.

Slow reactions were another symptom of this imbalance. I would often be absent-minded when talking to friends or my parents. Countless topics and immeasurable time would pass before I’d suddenly respond, “Oh, you were talking about *that*…” Although nothing was explicitly said, it was quite a damper on conversations.

The acute gastroenteritis I suffered at the end of the year was the last straw. I completely rested for about a month, I think? I don’t quite remember. My memory has deteriorated significantly, as if emerging from a deep fog.

At that time, I often wondered, if I had started 'Shennong Daojun' at twenty-five, with a strong body, instead of thirty, would I have been able to keep going indefinitely? However, history doesn’t allow for 'what-ifs.' Back then, I didn't have the same accumulation of ideas, so even if I had written it, it might not have achieved the same success.

At that point, I felt that if I kept pushing myself to the brink, I’d probably start enjoying fishing before even getting married. Since then, I’ve kept Liuwei Dihuang Pills on my desk, taking two whenever I could, but my dark circles have never faded. Now, I’ve developed a condition where my eyelids occasionally twitch uncontrollably, causing me to blink excessively. When I’m out shopping, people sometimes look at me as if I’m crazy.

Getting back to the book’s plan: I originally intended for it to be around five million characters. I’ve now completed 3.6 million, and at this pace, four million characters should be sufficient.

Once Zhao Xing achieves godhood, the story will be close to its end. There won't be any further advancements in the established cultivation realms; at most, the protagonist will gain a unique, exclusive status. When the 'Farmer' profession on the system panel transforms into 'Divine Farmer,' that will signify the final one or two volumes of the book.

Some have advised me to 'milk' the story for ten million characters. But I’m not going to stretch it; I can’t anymore. I want to maintain some professional integrity and not just churn out content for money. (Subjectively, I don’t believe I’m 'milking' it, but objectively, I can’t control what others say.) I agree with this.

..................There’s still a lot more to say, which I’ll save for the completion message. Just a few casual thoughts for now. No update today.