This volume, *Distant Starry Seas*, was originally planned to be very, very long, containing the Nine Xuan Realm and the Fire Ember Star as two separate instances, as well as a large amount of plot related to the cosmic Nihility Order. In theory, the plot would be equivalent to three independent worlds, five times the length of the Gods Vanish on a Cloudy Day volume.

However, as I wrote, I realized that some things can’t just be written long; the issue was that the outline didn't account for the sense of rhythm.

The Nine Xuan Realm was fine in the beginning, at most I was just sick and not in the right state, but before the Fire Ember Star's plot even reached the point of subjugating the Star Devourer, the momentum was already building. Was I really going to force myself to write seventy or eighty thousand words about the struggles between the primary level psionics and ordinary people of Fire Ember Star in a doomsday ark setting, along with some of the Twilight Kindred’s conspiracies, when I myself couldn't wait to destroy the Star Devourer?

I could write it, but there was no need. Let’s just assume that the Twilight Kindred were all killed by Su Zhou, who launched a full-scale national containment operation, and the conspiracy of the Land Sacrifice Grand Array ended without ever beginning.

Although I'm used to deleting plot points, this is the first time I’ve actively deleted plot myself, which feels quite strange, and also a bit regretful.

——Outlines are useful, but they're not a panacea, especially after the plot is written, the specific rhythm and direction are difficult to control. I need to pay attention to this in the next book.

In addition to that, I spent most of my time sick during Volume 12, with gastroenteritis, low-grade fever, dizziness, and slight neurasthenia. I couldn’t sleep at night, and I was sleepy during the day... People who watch my streams know that I can indeed insist on writing every day, but my condition isn’t very good.

I remember all the monthly ticket bonuses from my readers, and in order to get my full attendance, I definitely updated every day, but I may slow down the updates for a while to ensure my condition.

I updated more than 220,000 words last month, and even though I took a few days off due to illness, it wasn’t less than usual. Thank you for your generosity, esteemed readers!

The next volume is the story of the Twilight World. I’ve been preparing it for a long time, and it’s very important. I hope I can write it well. If I can, my skill will definitely improve to the next level.

Thanks to the Alliance Leader who sent knife blades because the ending wasn’t heartwarming! I’ll thank you in the next chapter, I can’t fit it in the chapter name of the recent end-of-volume extras.

Thanks to sildruanni, Zui Ye Du Bu, Ji Mo Bu Deng Yu Gu Du, Shou Bai Lian Bu Hei, Leng Er He He, Han Hai Huang Sha, Di Ao Yun, Shuyou, Fuwuyuan Bang Wo Re Ping Xue Bi, and Shuyou for their rewards!

Taking a day off tomorrow to write a detailed outline for the new volume! Tonight (or late at night) I will update the first chapter of the new volume!

Announcing that I'm going to procrastinate in advance, and then procrastinating, is also a kind of not procrastinating!