Chapter 4: "Dragon Knight" (Please Bookmark)

Chapter 4 "Dragon Knight" (Please Add to Favorites)

Starkfire Literary Society.

Every day, countless submissions arrived—mostly poems from nobles and aristocrats, occasionally travelogues penned by wandering bards.

As for novels? One might not see a single one in an entire month.

Most fiction, being mere fantasy tales, failed to meet Starkfire’s publishing standards, circulating instead through word of mouth among minstrels.

To put it plainly: they lacked prestige.

Starkfire would never lower its standards just to publish some fanciful story.

Even *The Legend of the Mage* had only been published because its author was none other than a revered mage lord.

Head Editor of Starkfire Literary Society: “Recent sales have plummeted. It’s been ages since we’ve seen a truly astonishing poem.”

“The next issue goes to print soon—you must find me excellent poetry! Beg for it! Copy it! I demand satisfying results!”

Scolded harshly, Jimmy returned to his desk and began sorting through today’s submissions.

“The moon in the sky is my heart; its light your love…”

Jimmy tossed aside the poem—another piece from Baron Kuller.

What kind of poem was this? A love letter from some nobleman to his mistress?

He grumbled under his breath.

After flipping through the usual stack, he suddenly noticed a thick bundle of papers.

“What is this?”

It was the first time he’d seen such a voluminous manuscript.

“*Dragon Knight*: Young Rayne’s family destroyed, hunted by enemies, falls off a cliff—bathed in dragon blood, gains miraculous power, becomes the strongest Dragon Knight in history…”

Jimmy had never encountered a novel with its own synopsis before. Yet even this brief introduction gripped him instantly.

He flipped to the second page and began reading the first chapter.

In the blink of an eye, half a morning passed.

Excited, Jimmy rushed into the editor-in-chief’s office, clutching the manuscript.

“Chief, this novel will be a sensation!”

Seeing Jimmy’s flushed face, the editor felt a flicker of curiosity.

He snatched the pages and began reading. Within moments, he exploded:

“Who wrote this trash? Do they know nothing?”

“Bathing in dragon blood grants draconic lineage? Utter nonsense! Dragon blood burns at hundreds of degrees—wouldn’t it cook a person alive?”

Just as he was about to toss the manuscript aside, he read on—how Rayne, empowered by the dragon blood, slew his pursuers.

His anger softened slightly. He kept reading.

“Rubbish! The author has no sense whatsoever! There’s no such thing as a magic fruit that lets you break through to greater strength with just one bite!”

“Is the Leman family stupid? Waiting around while Rayne grows stronger just so he can come back for revenge?”

“To be continued…”

“Hah… hah…”

By the time he finished, the editor’s face was flushed—not just from rage, but from excitement.

Though riddled with absurdities, the tale of Rayne’s rise—his trials, triumphs, vengeance—had drawn him in completely.

Irresistible.

When the story ended mid-journey, with Rayne en route to confront the Leman family, the editor snapped up his head.

“Who wrote this?”

Jimmy quickly replied: “The author calls himself Mu Ren. No contact information provided.”

The editor stared at the manuscript in his hands, torn.

This novel was outrageous—utterly out of step with Starkfire’s refined tone.

Even *The Legend of the Mage*, grounded in realism, had taken him weeks of hesitation to approve.

Yet Starkfire’s current state loomed over him. Without a decent piece to publish, next month’s wages might go unpaid.

After long silence, he made his decision.

“Take it down. Fix the typos and grammar. Publish the first chapter in Issue Fifty-Six of *Starkfire Anthology* next month.”

Jimmy’s heart leapt. “Yes, sir.”

As the reviewing editor of *Dragon Knight*, his fate now rose and fell with the story.

Li Wei had written thirty thousand words, divided into six chapters—telling the tale of a fallen youth who, through fortune and fire, ascended to power.

It began with the miracle of dragon-blood baptism, ended with the hero strong enough to face his sworn enemies.

Each chapter concluded with a sharp narrative hook, leaving readers desperate for what came next.

The editor recognized Li Wei’s masterful technique. He made few changes, simply splitting the work into six installments for publication.

Four days later.

Early October. Issue Fifty-Six of *Starkfire Anthology* released, featuring the first chapter of *Dragon Knight*.

Upon hearing the news, Li Wei hurried to the Mage Tower Library to borrow a copy.

*Starkfire Anthology* was thin—only twenty pages.

And that was only because *Dragon Knight* took up so much space; otherwise, it would have been twelve or thirteen.

For ordinary folk, even a twenty-page anthology was a luxury.

One copy cost twenty copper coins—enough to sustain a poor family for half a month, or feed an average laborer for a week.

Only households above the lowest rung could afford it.

Most commoners couldn’t even read, so books meant nothing to them.

Knowledge had become a line dividing rich from poor.

Li Wei couldn’t bring himself to spend twenty coppers on a book. He chose to read it in the library instead.

Flipping to the end, he saw a line left by Starkfire Literary Society:

“We hope Mu Ren, author of *Dragon Knight*, will contact us upon seeing this message to discuss compensation.”

A smile tugged at Li Wei’s lips. He returned the book without haste, making no move to claim his reward.

Now was too soon.

Only after *Dragon Knight* became a sensation would the payment be worth having.

He had deliberately omitted contact details—for precisely this reason.

And secretly, he harbored another fear: that *Dragon Knight* might not resonate with this world.

If Starkfire rejected it, he could always don a new alias and submit again.

Back in his dormitory, he resumed his cultivation.

The calming incense had burned out. Without its aid, Li Wei wasted over twenty minutes each time just to enter meditation.

Though the time gradually shortened with growing proficiency, it was still far less convenient than using the incense.

Over an hour later, his mental energy depleted, the meditation session came to an end.

He opened his eyes, focused his mind, and words emerged upon the wall.

[Basic Meditation Method (Mastered)] 162/1000

[Minor Fireball Technique (Novice, Zero-tier)] 0/1000

Ten days had passed since he first cultivated magical energy, yet the power within Li Wei remained feeble—still insufficient to cast any spell.

His magic had doubled in strength compared to the beginning, but it was nowhere near enough.

He estimated that he would need to advance the Basic Meditation Method by another level before he could even begin practicing spells.

At this pace, without the help of calming incense, it would likely take at least four more months.

The incense not only helped him settle his mind swiftly but also slightly reduced the mental strain of meditation.

Using it could accelerate cultivation by roughly twenty to thirty percent.

If he could use the incense every day, he might save a full month of effort.

Li Wei now pinned this hope on *Dragon Knight*, hoping the Starfire Literary Society would offer him a good price.

(End of Chapter)