"Look, the latest manuscript is out! Mr. Roland really has published something new!"
"Let me see. A novel about gods and demons... Investiture of the Gods?"
"Is this nonfiction, or a magic-free novel?"
At the same time, enthusiastic reactions swept through Nevis, especially Sky City, its academic center.
Roland now had quite a following, and his school was flourishing. As a result, many people immediately noticed the material he had released.
In the editorial office of Runes, Jog and Diluns, who had worked for Roland before, eagerly found a spare moment to read it.
"King Zhou offers incense at Nüwa's temple; Su Hu rebels against Shang..."
"Nezha is born at Chentang Pass; Taiyi Zhenren subdues Shiji..."
"Su Daji invites demons to a feast; the Lord of the West marches against Chong Houhu..."
The story told in Investiture of the Gods originated in history, but differed from history as well.
It added many elements common to novels about gods and demons, giving readers a fresh experience.
"Daji was a fox in disguise? What kind of monster was she, to know the 'Ultimate Transformation Spell'?"
"Nezha was the great masterpiece of a master alchemist. The book proves it! Spirit Pearl's reincarnation, magical equipment, a lotus-root incarnation!"
In a magical world, creatures such as evil dragons or high-ranking vampires occasionally hid among humans and manipulated national affairs. Everyone assumed this was an allusion to that phenomenon.
The lotus-root incarnation of Nezha also fulfilled the alchemists' ideal of a perfect puppet, possessing humanlike intelligence and a powerful body.
As for King Wu raising an army against Shang, capturing Golden Rooster Ridge, securing Kong Xuan's surrender, and breaking through Si River, Jiameng, Azure Dragon, Jiepai, Chuanyun, Tong Pass, Lintong, and other passes, that appealed to this world's military enthusiasts too.
Discussion of the novel grew