Heavenly Lord Yuanshi, Patriarch Hongjun, Taishang Laojun, Taoist Zhunti, and Taoist Jieyin often appeared in novels and online novels. Some novels would even interweave their forces and stories. For example, in the Romance of the Gods, the gods such as Heavenly Lord Yuanshi, Patriarch Hongjun, and Taishang Laojun were depicted as powerful existences with complicated relationships with Chan School and other sects. In these novels, some authors would combine the images of Taoist gods with other religious elements such as Western sects to create more colorful storylines. For example, in Journey to the West, Taoist Jieyin and Taoist Zhunti of the Western sects appeared in the story. Their relationship with the Taoist gods was also complicated. Heavenly Lord Yuanshi, Patriarch Hongjun, Taishang Laojun, Taoist Zhunti, Taoist Jieyin, and other Taoist deities were very popular in novels and online novels. Their images and stories were often used to promote the development of the plot and shape the character.