Author's Note on the Official Launch! (Includes background settings, please be sure to read)

This book will be officially released on Friday, June 22nd, around noon. I am filled with many emotions.

I would like to thank my editor, Wen Le, for answering the countless novice questions I had as a newcomer to Qidian and for providing me with such tremendous support. I also want to thank all the readers who have patiently followed my slow updates, offered votes, sent tips, and left comments; your support has been invaluable. The preceding chapters were essentially me just shouting into the void to build an audience. Now, I am holding out my chipped rice bowl, looking at all of you with expectant eyes, hoping for your support to keep the story going.

I don’t want to indulge in empty talk, so I will take this opportunity to discuss the background and structure of this book. Since this is my first time writing on this platform, my style leans closer to traditional, printed literature. Many background details and foreshadowing elements are woven subtly between the lines. However, web novel readers tend to consume content much faster and more superficially than I anticipated. Consequently, many subtle hints—those not centered on popular tropes—have been missed by a significant number of readers, leading some to feel as though I had left out plot points or that the narrative was chaotic. Below, I will point out a few key structural pillars. I hope you will take a moment to reflect on them, and perhaps, when reading future chapters, slow down just a little bit. Thank you all.

First, magic in this world is like the nine-year compulsory education in reality; it is a fundamental knowledge base and a supernatural power possessed by billions across the continent. Mages are not an elite, high-and-mighty profession here. Catherine began the story as a high-level mage, yet wasn't she still struggling to make ends meet by streaming her wilderness adventures? Only the most elite mages are held in the same high regard as "scientists" in the real world.

Second, the continent is saturated with mana, or magical elements. However, humans cannot absorb mana into their bodies; doing so would turn them into monsters. They manipulate mana through external equipment and their own mental strength. Therefore, every mage in this book is essentially a "universal" mage; it is merely that each individual’s mental affinity for different elements dictates their specialization.

Third, magic in this book does not have the power to alter the laws of the universe, nor can it break the law of conservation of energy. The power system is rigorous and serious. There are no sudden "power-ups," no mid-battle breakthroughs, and no nonsensical "counter-element" mechanics. The strength of one's mind, the total volume of mana one can command, the technique used to apply that mana, and a flash of insight during combat—these are the factors that decide victory or defeat. The same applies to martial arts, which I won't elaborate on here. An Eighth-Rank magical beast is the pinnacle of power on the continent; a single such beast possesses power equivalent to the combined military might of all major nations. It is certainly not something a single person can overcome. The human limit is the defeat of a Seventh-Rank beast; the gap between the Seventh and Eighth Ranks is as vast as heaven and earth.

Fourth, the story begins decades after Ling Mo arrived on this continent. He has not spent that entire time in the beast-infested rainforest; he has only remained there without leaving for the past seventeen years. This has been mentioned repeatedly in the book, so please, dear readers, stop asking. As for the reasons and the events behind this, they will be unfolded as the story progresses. Please look forward to it; the twists will be imaginative and will not disappoint.

Fifth, regarding the "Cult of Obedience"—a name that may seem strange to many—I do not wish to explain it further. Those who understand will understand; those who don't, I cannot help. The hints in the book are already quite clear. If you really cannot grasp it, just think of this sect as the "Akatsuki" from Naruto, though there are subtle differences.

Sixth, among the Eight Great Forbidden Lands, each has its own dominant biological bias. For example, the rainforest is dominated by natural magical beasts, while the Rotting Lands are dominated by undead creatures. The launch coincides with the end of the first volume and the beginning of the second, which focuses on undead creatures. This is a unique undead world I have been conceptualizing since I began writing. I believe it is truly different from anything you have read before, and I personally feel it is well worth reading. I look forward to your support.

Seventh, the biggest highlight of this book is the diverse and strange creatures of this other world. You could even call this book "Animal Planet: Magic Edition," "Man vs. Wild: Fantasy Edition," or "My Experiences Foraging in a World Overrun by Magical Beasts." These various creatures are the true focus I wish to write about. I hope you will take the time to appreciate the interesting flora and fauna conjured by the author, as well as their living environments and behavioral logic. There are countless books on this platform about humans scheming against one another in fantasy worlds, but I suspect I am the only one focusing on the wildlife.

Eighth, and finally, please have some faith in the author. While this is my first book on Qidian, it is certainly not the first book I have ever written. I remember every plot thread I have planted, and there are absolutely no contradictions or logical inconsistencies. If you find the "fantasy" system different from your preconceptions, that is intentional. This world is composed of cultured and educated people similar to those in modern society; the collective intellect has been awakened. This is not a medieval wizarding world where high-level wizards conjure nukes while the masses are illiterate, struggling for survival in a semi-feudal, semi-slave society.

Finally, I hope you will support the first chapter's subscription. Black Tide 3 thanks you, and I will see you tomorrow at noon!