Jin Yong, a master of Chinese martial arts literature (file photo)

A classic series of martial arts novels will be turned into an online comic series, attracting a new generation of fans and readers.

The adapted comic series of fifteen martial arts novels by Jin Yong is produced by Tencent Animation and Comics and Phoenix Entertainment, subsidiaries of tech giant Tencent and broadcaster Phoenix TV.

Jin, a Hong Kong-based master of Chinese martial arts literature, did not attend a launch event for the new series, but sent a message of encouragement to the producer with a photo – the 93-year-old novelist holding a draft of Princess Jianning, a role in Duke of Mount Deer.

 The first four novels to be adapted into comics are "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils", "Duke of Mount Deer", "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer" and "Ode to Gallantry", which are expected to be released online by Tencent in September this year.

Zou Zhengyu, general manager of Tencent Comics and Animation, explained that while the selected novels are still very popular with the public, adapting them into a comic version was difficult. For "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," Zou's team gained inspiration from adaptions of works such as "The Condor Trilogy."

Jin Yong builds his martial arts world with tales of adventure and adversity. The protagonists in his novels often weather the vicissitudes of life, touching upon the themes of love, friendship and identity. Above all, Jin's stories advocate the principle of chivalry.

 n the past six decades, Jin Yong's novels have reportedly sold as many as 300 million copies, and have been translated into foreign languages such as Korean, English, Japanese and French.

And this mysterious and popular series is more than just a simple collection of novels. After Jin completed all of his works, it was discovered that the first characters of the first fourteen titles can be joined together to form a poetic couplet that reflects some of his major themes:

Shooting a white deer, snow flutters around the skies;

Smiling, [one] writes about the divine chivalrous one, leaning against bluish lovebirds.