Five chapters complete—let’s aim for the top three in monthly votes for the new book.

Thank you all for your support. Here is a report on the book’s first-day results: The Dao Lord received 2,671 first-day subscriptions within twenty-four hours, and as of now has an average of 2,448 subscriptions. Its current average should rank first among the books launched this month. It has entered the tenth spot on the overall bestsellers chart and ranks fifth on the New Books Monthly Vote chart. Two alliance leaders emerged on the very first day.

These are all glorious achievements I have never attained before, and every one of them comes from your support. But is this enough? I don’t think so.

The top two positions on the New Books Monthly Vote chart are far away, but third place is close—so close that if everyone puts in a little more effort, we can pull it down. I know some of you have been saving your monthly votes to compete for red-envelope rewards.

Please believe me: not every author is a great master, and not every author has wealthy patrons. Why are there fewer and fewer good books to read? Because they lack support. In the vast ocean of online literature that is Qidian, failing to stand out means certain death. No matter how good a book is, it will be buried away in some quiet corner.

I believe that when everyone pays to read, it is because they want to support the author and support a good book they enjoy. I am not asking you to stop competing for red envelopes. I only hope that when you encounter a book you truly like, you will contribute a little strength to it—whether it is this book or another one you love.

A beloved book deserves to be placed where the most people can see it. I believe that would bring everyone joy as well.

Please cast the monthly votes in your hands for The Dao Lord, and support The Dao Lord through official channels. My deepest thanks.

———

Below is the list of those whose rewards I would like to acknowledge.

Thanks to Old An for the 100,000-coin reward, becoming the book’s first alliance leader; thanks to Grain Depot Gate for the 60,000-coin reward, becoming the book’s second alliance leader; thanks to Oh Ho Ho Ho Ho Ha for the 20,100-coin reward, becoming an elder of this book; thanks to Shu Yan for the 50,000-coin reward; and thanks to Shi Bei Leng for the 50,000-coin reward.

Thanks to So Annoyed Ah Ah Ah for the 15,888-coin reward; Reading Is Always a Good Thing for 10,000; Tiger-Slaying Roar for 10,000; Off We Go, Xiaoxiao for 10,000; Painting Every Thousand Peak for 10,000; Three Questions for 1,888; Two Lives in the Stupa for 1,888; Shu He for 1,888; Sanan for 1,888; The King’s Follower for 688; September for 588; Xiao Xiaoxiao for 588; Reader 150309144128277 for 588; rs_ for 588; Feizi Yu for 588; Three Thousand Yuejia, 1998 for 588; Really Naturalized for 300; Solitary Drunk Sleeper for 200; Purple Robe and Black Crown for 200; and Sword Song in the Nine Heavens for 200.

Thanks to Floral Fragrance Laize, Dumu°, Rhythm Music, Jie Qi, Reader 081014171946605, Reader 160320093424195, Reader 160401135007791, Yellow Mud in My Trousers, Lazy Bug Nineteen, Reader 160401094639738, bp, Lord of Creation, 109366, Frosty Autumn and Cold Moon, Bright Dragon Hua, The Head Is the Way, and Fei for their rewards.

To be continued.