It’s that time again, the moment everyone loves to see. First, a thank you to my editor, Languang (my survival instincts are kicking in). I’m grateful he took a chance on me and signed me, not once, but twice.

Let’s get to the main point: This book will go premium on December 1, 2022, at 12:01 AM.

If there are any delays due to system issues, please be patient.

To be honest, I actually quite enjoy this chance to chat with you all.

After all, I’m not as experienced as other authors. This is only my second time doing this, you know?

Normally, I wouldn’t dare sprinkle my whines and complaints throughout the main story, for fear of getting beaten up by you all.

Now I can finally let loose for once (So tough).

The following might get a bit long, so please bear with me, gentlemen. It’ll be over before you know it.

I’ll save the sob story for later. First, let’s talk about what you’re all here for: the book.

As you all know, I’m an inspiration-driven writer. I start writing whatever comes to mind on a whim.

The initial concept for this book was pretty simple. I wanted to create a contrast, to swap the highs of being in prison with the lows of getting out.

The basic formula would have been: wake up transmigrated, get a Golden Finger, rejoice, lay low and survive, then level up. To avoid getting out of prison, I’d have to fight off one person after another, starting with young masters and working my way up to imperial relatives, from arrogant rich kids to untouchable dignitaries. Following that formula, by the tenth person I beat up, the Emperor would probably have to issue me a "Saint of the Prison" certificate.

It’s fast to write that kind of brainless stuff, and it’s probably fun to read brainlessly, too. But as I kept writing and looked back, I thought, ’What the hell am I even writing?’

Deleted. All of it.

This wasn’t what I truly wanted to write.

I said it with my last book as well—I want to write something "fun," a story that someone out there will love.

And I believe I ultimately achieved that.

So, I went to do some research. (Let’s just skip the fifty-thousand-word essay on how that went.)

Gradually, a few key scenes began to crystalize in my mind.

From those scenes, I worked backward to build out the plot, the characters, and the world.

And when I finally put pen to paper, I wrote Master Zheng and Feng Bei.

I never expected to come up with enough main plot to sustain the story for over a million words right from the get-go.

Everything, from the complex Golden Finger at the start to the dual narrative structure, has its purpose. I hope you’ll see it through to the end and walk with Master Zheng to [the end].

I’ve always believed that writing and reading is a two-way street. No single book can be loved by every reader, and no single reader likes every genre.

It’s like going to a club to choose... er, no! I mean, it’s like a couple getting to know each other. If, in the end, a book can bring you and me together, for us to understand each other’s... finer points, both long and short, deep and shallow, then that’s a great success in mutual selection.

If you don’t like it, just move on to the next one. There’s no need to leave a trail of angry rants in the comments section. It’s better for you, me, and everyone else. For that, I sincerely thank you.

I can’t speak for other authors, but I will say this: whether a book is ’good’ is a subjective matter of genre and skill, but whether an author finishes what they start is a matter of attitude. And on that front, I always see things through to the end.

My previous book, *Infinite Godseat*, had a hellish start with only 600 first-Chapter subscriptions. But I diligently finished the entire story, all 4.46 million characters of it. I can say, hand on heart, that my dedication was worthy of every reader who spent their money. I did right by you. If I still have my shortcomings, I hope you will stick with me and witness my growth.

*Infinite Godseat* was like a child I raised with my own hands.

I still remember the scene in Uranus, when all the Thought Bodies gathered and reached their happy ending;

I still remember Oda Mai in Kanzaki City, that glance over her shoulder, her dimpled smile, and the gentle cut of her blade;

I still remember in Gugu Town, how 10 and the Mage fought against their destiny;

I still remember in the Divine Era, how 10 and the girl with the silly cowlick faced the apocalypse, and how she became her darker self;

I also remember the child named Lin Yi at the foot of Cyan Ox Mountain;

I remember even more clearly, in Steel City, when 10 and Xia Ruxue became husband and wife, with all the old-timers gathered to celebrate;

I remember 10 and all of them, bringing the full weight of their Authority down upon Nemesis, singing a song of triumph as they finally greeted the Dawn.

I remember so much... The child grew up, matured, and the story came to an end.

Now.

*Death Row* is my second child.

[Now for the classic ’sob story’ segment]

As you all know, in real life I have a job that I can’t just quit.

At the moment, I’m also at risk of being called into one of the mobile cabin hospitals at any time.

I’m exhausted, it’s true. But when it comes to writing, I’ll still pull all-nighters to get it done right.

Alright, sob story over. Any more would just be melodramatic.

[Bonus Chapter Rules]

To be honest, the scene on Qidian right now is incredibly competitive.

I’m getting older, so I might not be able to keep up.

However, do you all want me to release more Chapters?

Ultimately, let’s let the numbers do the talking. On Qidian, a book with poor stats is basically just surviving on the perfect attendance bonus. My long-time readers know that while I’m reliable and won’t drop a story, I don’t have time to do community management.

And by ’numbers,’ I basically mean three things: first-Chapter subscriptions, average subscriptions per Chapter, and monthly tickets.

The book currently has over 40,000 bookmarks. With a normal 10:1 bookmark-to-subscription ratio, I’ll be a little conservative and predict... 3,500 first-Chapter subscriptions?

So let’s talk about the rules for bonus Chapters (these are tailor-made with the premise that I can actually keep up; otherwise, if I were just making empty promises, I’d say every 100 instead of every 500).

Baseline of two Chapters per day.

One bonus Chapter for every additional 500 first-Chapter subscriptions.

One bonus Chapter for every additional 500 average subscriptions.

Starting from 2,000 monthly tickets, one bonus Chapter for every additional 500. (Calculated after the book goes premium).

One bonus Chapter per ’Alliance Leader’ donation.

Ten bonus Chapters per ’Silver’ tier donation.

And if—just if, if, if—a ’Golden’ tier whale were to show up... my math isn’t great, there are so many zeroes... is that twenty bonus Chapters? You guys do the math for me.

I’m putting my fate in your hands.

Whether I get to be a lazy salted fish or have to become a ’Krypton Life’ workaholic—you decide.

Right now, Qidian automatically calculates the price per Chapter based on a rate of 5 fen (0.05 RMB) per 1000 characters. It’s even cheaper for VIP accounts.

If I don’t update much, it’s only about 0.2 RMB a day. Just a few yuan a month.

Considering that I’m a grunt worker who wears a mask all day in the emergency room, only to come home and pull all-nighters ’moving bricks’ for this novel, could you treat me to a bottle of mineral water each month? Thank you all!

(Muttering quietly: If you think that’s too expensive, just let me know, and I’ll... update less. COUGH, COUGH, COUGH...)

I guess that’s about all I wanted to say.

This is my second book, so I’m not as emotional this time around. Regardless of the results, I will see it through to the end and write it well.

I may never be the most amazing author out there, but I hope that when you talk about me in the future, you’ll at least say, ’That guy never drops his stories.’

[And now for the moment you’ve all been waiting for: the sacrificial shout-outs!]

As the saying goes, ’Sacrifice Kelin to the heavens, and your power will be limitless.’ So I’m sacrificing a few books from some masters to leech off their Destiny and aid my own ascension.

*I Was Supposed to Slay Dragons But Accidentally Started Cultivating*," a Dragon Race fanfic by Luoxue Zhucha.

*Ten Metropolises, Nine Luminaries, Eight Poles, Seven Origins, Six Departments, and Five Elders Vie for the Dao Fruit*. Tags: Mystical Fantasy Role-playing Method, Martial Arts Sequence. By South Mountain Traveler.

*Longevity Begins with the Great Destiny Technique*," a new book by the great Lu Shi Ping.

*The Immortal Just Wants to Lie Down*," a new book by the master Xiaren Zhuxin, who has been honorably promoted from "Little Shrimp" to "Brother Da Ren" and "Celestial Emperor Xie."

*Age of Giant Ships and Cannons*. Pure, data-driven interstellar warfare. No mechs, no Martial Arts. By Yixi Chengdao.

*In a World of Gods and Ghouls, I Can Alter Fate*," by White Sugar.

"Excuse me, how did you become the ace killer of the Black Organization?" "I just take Conan for a walk around the target’s house." From *The Body Collector in Conan*, by Guzhou.

*I Have a Scroll of Ghosts and Gods*," a long-running series from Suspense King Avocado. It’s gotten nice and long, so it’s ready for a binge-read!

*I Can Edit Character Profiles*," a new book from an old-school master whose work I grew up reading. By Kanmeng01.

*Defend Nanshan Park*," a new hard sci-fi novel from the real-life winner Tianrui Shuofu. Quality guaranteed. A truly masculine romance.

*First Cause of All Worlds*," by Pei Tugou. Never mind whether the book is good or not—I’m one of his top donors, and he’s one of mine. You tell me what our relationship is.

Finally.

And last but not least.

Please subscribe!

Please subscribe!

Please subscribe!

Thank you!

I’m honored by your presence, and I’ll never regret the day we met!