Zhang thinks his works, mainly fantasies, are interesting to young people and are suitable for making cartoons.

More than 10 million printed copies of his books and an equal number of cartoons based on them are sold each year. Besides the three existing cartoon books developed from his works, six others are being made.

Zhang's famously high productivity is also his secret to wealth. In his best year, he wrote 4 million words.

Over the years, he has followed a strict writing schedule and never fails his readers in updating the stories online.

He usually begins with a concept and develops the structure months before the writing. He skillfully paces the story according to his own understanding of readers' habits.

Zhang says his sensitiveness and curiosity have helped him find inspiration in daily life.

"A word or sentence that might well be neglected by others might spark a story in me," he says. Books and movies are other sources of inspiration.

Zhang admits that he is one of the few writers at the top of the pyramid while most online writers remain uncelebrated. However, he argues that his success can be achieved by others, as long as "they write hard enough".

The industry is still growing at a dazzling speed, and more online writers can find a bright future as the Internet continues to shape people's reading habits, he says.