The Speaking Pig’s Trotter:

Initially, I hadn’t planned to write a summary. However, seeing the strong demand in the comment section and with the atmosphere already built up, it would be inexcusable for me to be lazy today.

Haha.

To briefly summarize the plot of the prologue and Volume 1: Chen Ji arrives as a transmigator without his memories. He must establish himself in this new world, gradually uncover his past identity, and deconstruct his social relationships. Due to his identity, he becomes entangled in the conflict between the Ning and Jing Dynasties. Moving forward, the main storyline will continue to revolve around the struggles of the intelligence system, especially leading up to the later stages of the narrative.

Currently, I am attempting to sketch out the world by focusing on a few key characters. My aim is to first convey the type of story I intend to tell and the environment in which it unfolds. Compared to ‘The Night’s Naming Art,’ this story is less about immediate gratification. In fact, unlike ‘The Night’s Naming Art,’ the prologue and Volume 1 unfold in a rather oppressive atmosphere.

Some readers, fellow authors, and editors have suggested making the story more ‘gratifying.’ However, it’s not that I’m unwilling to do so; rather, after careful consideration, I’ve concluded that given the story’s setting and the environment Chen Ji finds himself in after transmigrating, he is simply not destined for an easy ride. The characters surrounding Chen Ji are ruthless, and he is constantly surrounded by numerous officials. Lacking significant advantages, he naturally has to fight for survival in a precarious position, with little room even to exercise his wit. While writing a more ‘gratifying’ story might attract a larger readership and higher subscriptions, forcing Chen Ji into such situations by abandoning logical consistency would lead to significant negative repercussions for the narrative.

The prologue and Volume 1 set the tone for the entire book and lay the groundwork for subsequent main storylines. Consequently, I have adopted a relatively restrained approach in this section, and I intend to maintain this restraint going forward.

I will now summarize the current progress in several parts.

First, regarding the characters introduced so far: Most of the main characters for the first three volumes have already made their appearance. The outline plans to gradually reveal the entire world by centering the narrative around these individuals. In Volume 1, all character appearances serve primarily as introductions. Even as I immerse myself in that world, I find that while each character is distinct, they are not yet fully fleshed out. However, this is intentional; Volume 1, titled ‘First Acquaintance,’ is designed for these initial introductions. Volumes 2 and 3 will further develop them, using more plot to reveal their true natures to readers.

What I am particularly pleased with is that every character introduced so far serves a purpose. Even those who have exited the current narrative will return at critical junctures to facilitate storylines I am especially eager to write. For instance, Yunyang Miaotu, as well as Gui and Wu Hongbiao. Regarding character development, I aim to proceed steadily and continue to improve.

Next, a summary of the current world-building. The book’s setting is a ‘semi-fictionalized’ Ming Dynasty, meaning it’s inspired by the Ming Dynasty but infused with about 50% of my own creative embellishments. Regarding the cultivation system, one of its core principles is the conservation of energy. However, Volume 1 merely introduces this concept; neither the protagonist nor the supporting characters have yet been truly drawn into conflicts related to it. Therefore, readers only need to grasp the general idea for now. Many significant future plotlines will unfold around this setting, involving not only Chen Ji’s own ‘Mountain Lord’ and ‘Sword Seed’ cultivation paths but also the unique cultivation methods of other supporting characters. Concurrently, after Chen Ji obtains the ‘Mountain Lord’ inheritance, he is inevitably positioned against the imperial authority.

Next, a summary of the current plot. To be frank, there are some plot elements in Volume 1 that I am not entirely satisfied with. For instance, Chen Ji’s struggle for survival in precarious situations felt a bit convoluted. It’s not a distinction between ‘complex’ and ‘simple’; I simply believe the plot structure wasn’t designed effectively enough, making it less concise and impactful. Of course, this is not a significant flaw for now.

For Volume 1, I aimed to depict a beautiful dream unfolding amidst constant crises. Chen Ji arrives in this world having lost his loved ones, initially devoid of any hope for life, until he resolves to rely solely on Wu Yun. Following this, he experiences betrayal from his fellow apprentice She Dengke and cold indifference from the Chen family. Consequently, he believes he can manage on his own, with no need to expect too much from this world. That is, until he encounters the Prince and Bai Li. This beautiful dream is centered on chivalry and friendship. I intend for it to be both adequately restrained and profoundly beautiful—a beauty not found in vibrant colors or fervent emotions, but rather in a gentle, comforting warmth, like body temperature. So far, I believe this section is adequately complete, at least meeting my own minimum standards.

Finally, I’d like to discuss the current creative approach for this book. Reflecting on the vision I set for myself, the most satisfying improvement is that this book departs from my previous style of using lengthy, omniscient narrations to describe the plot. Instead, it relies on the unfolding plot and the characters themselves to convey the story’s progression to readers. Furthermore, the plot has become more concise, and I’ve refrained from impulsively prioritizing ‘gratification’ at the expense of logical consistency. Moreover, compared to my previous works, this book focuses more on controlling details, allowing me to become more deeply immersed in this world and enabling readers to experience a clearer, more vivid narrative.

Overall, despite a slight decrease in update frequency, there has been progress in all other aspects! And progress is always a good thing!

Applause!

About the Novel

The Speaking Pig’s Trotter has poured his talent into creating a captivating and thrilling masterpiece.