In Buddhism, the Four Heavenly Kings are important guardian deities among the heavenly beings, serving as the outer protectors of the chief god, Indra. They are said to reside on the slopes of Mount Sumeru, guarding the four continents of Jambudvipa, Pudgalavardhana, Uttarakuru, and Aparagodaniya. In Chinese tradition, it is believed that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang received assistance from the Northern Heavenly King, hence from the Tang Dynasty onwards, temples in the Chinese Mahayana Buddhism tradition began to enshrine the Four Heavenly Kings. However, in the Ming Dynasty novel "Fengshen Yanyi" (The Investiture of the Gods), the story of the Four Heavenly Kings was significantly altered, portraying them as the four demon generals aiding the tyrant Zhou, who were later killed by the combined efforts of Yang Jian and Huang Tian-hua. When Jiang Zi-ya was empowering the gods, under the command of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, he conferred upon them the title of the Four Heavenly Kings, entrusted with the responsibilities of expanding the nation, ensuring peace and prosperity.