The more widely something is spread, the more profound its influence, which is similar to the "incense and fire" theory mentioned by Sean Knight and Elijah Hastings.
Think about the Chinese mythological system, how has it become among ordinary people?
Many people still believe that the deity system recorded in Journey to the West is orthodox.
The deity system in Journey to the West has some similarities with that in Investiture of the Gods, why? Because both novels drew inspiration from each other.
Journey to the West itself was formed by collecting information from various story books dating back to the Tang Dynasty, compiling many dramas and stories.
The deity system in it is just the author's imagination based on the records of ancient books.
But due to its widespread dissemination, it has become the standard for many common people's understanding of Chinese deities.
The same is true for Investiture of the Gods.
