It did not take Heihu long to reach the final level. Fuhao watched Heihu transformed from a human to a tiger and it gave her hints of dangerous breath. The sky was dark and a lighted torch could be seen from afar. It was a cavalry in a formation that looked like a long snake.

　　Fuhao was an extraordinary being. She noticed not only the fire but also the high vigor that dispersed the Yin energy, making the night less cold.

　　The foremost horseman was a muscular man. His vigor was like the wildfire in this dark night. As he approached closer, his vigor was as hot as an oven. His temples were high and forehead was full, no one would ever question if he was indeed powerful.

　　“What demon turned my brother into a tiger?” The horseman noticed the ribbed clothes of Heihu and initiated the conversation.

　　Before he could finish his words, a thunder came down from the skies and struck him.

　　Although he was physically strong, his body could not bear with the lightning. His flesh was charred even before Shen Lian could take any action against him.

　　Even Fuhao did not notice any indication of Shen Lian casting a spell. It was indeed true that Shen Lian did not cast any spells on anyone. At this very stage, Shen Lian had completely defined the boundaries with the common beings. The horseman accused him of being a demon and that was an act of contempt against a great existence such as him. The horseman’s karmic rewards were insufficient to offset the offense, and thus the retribution.

　　He laid on the ground and his body was twitching and he vomited white foam as a result of the current of the thunder. The troopers who followed him did not know what to do. A few of them went to check him out while the rest of them surrounded Shen Lian and his company with fear.

　　Chong Heihu had completely transformed into a ferocious tiger. He let out a roar and said, “I was originally a tiger on Mount Jieyang. After meeting my master, I realized the immensity of heaven and earth. Now that my master came to purify me, I chose to return to the tiger form and leave with him. This is my farewell to everyone.”

　　Every word uttered was like the landing of a falling heavy hammer. The people of the Chong nation could hear it loud and clear.

　　Shen Lian said, “Let’s go.”

　　He did not even take a second look at the people of the Chong nation and a cloud light emerged which wrapped the three of them up and disappeared in the night sky.

　　The incident that night was written as a legend and the first warrior Chonghou Hu had fallen from grace. He had lost his bravery and had to use evil arts to sustain his position.

　　The stars were high up beyond the sea of clouds. Looking down from above, the earth looked like a chessboard. The intersections of the mountains and rivers were the grids of the chessboard while the sentient beings were the chess pieces.

　　Heihu felt sentimental for being able to fly up the sky with Shen Lian after so many years.

　　Shen Lian asked, “Do you have any regrets for not staying behind and outshining your brother?”

　　Heihu responded, “Being by your side is better than eating any celestial elixir. Why would I have any regrets?”

　　Shen Lian laughed, “Looks like you did not lose your ability to flatter even after incarnating as a human. But your brother is destined to die in your hands sooner or later.”

　　Heihu curiously asked, “Master, I do not like him but I do not want to kill him. Why must he die in my hands?”

　　“This is destiny.” Shen Lian responded.

　　Heihu lowered his head and the ‘King’ character between his brows got deeper. He thought that when the time came, he could just let his brother go. After living the life as a human, he learned about ethics and moral, and was different from before.

　　He asked, “Master, where are we headed to?”

　　“Where you perished is where we are heading to.” Shen Lian answered.

　　Heihu recalled the incident that very day, it was the most courageous moment of his two lives. It was also that incident that changed his master’s perception of him. Otherwise, he would not have the chance to be purified by Shen Lian. Fuhao too recalled the incident. Although she was still young and naive back then, she remembered being touched by Heihu’s bravery. His body was bleeding and yet he dashed into the temple to ask her mother to help the celestial teacher. He held on to his very last breath waiting for Shen Lian to escape.

　　However, she found it difficult to relate that black tiger to this ass kissing Heihu.

　　The trio crossed thousands of mountains and river and soon arrived at Mount Mei. The temple looked a lot more majestic compared to last time thanks to Si Jing.

　　She was the monarch of the Youshen Kingdom and was in control of the Eastern Barbarians. It was not difficult for her to build such a majestic temple. Moreover, as Shen Lian gained more prestige across the Netherworld, the temples’ prayers became more powerful. Looking at the temple from above, the incense was so concentrated that it isolated the temple from heaven and earth. Any Qi cultivators who were near and was disrespectful to the temple would be punished.

　　The trio did not enter the real temple but the divine region instead. The divine region was not real but it was also not an illusion. The furnishings looked exactly the same as the temple but outsiders could not enter here.

　　As they entered, Ah Lian who was on the altar came down and greeted Shen Lian. She then looked at Fuhao with tears flowing down her cheeks.

　　Fuhao could not bear to look and rushed to embrace her mother. Ah Lian caressed her daughter’s hair and said, “I would not be angry at you anymore.”

　　The mother-daughter displayed their true feelings towards each other and shortly after, Heihu let out a moan of dissatisfaction. Ah Lian then released her daughter and said, “Little master Heihu, congratulations on your return.”

　　Heihu grinned, “You look a lot stronger than before.”

　　Ah Lian responded, “It was the virtues of the Celestial Teacher that I became the Ah Lian today.”

　　Shen Lian said, “There is no need to thank me. Besides bringing your daughter here, I need your help with something.”

　　Ah Lian responded, “Sure, go ahead and give your orders.”

　　Shen Lian asked, “I am sure you have heard about the drought that hit the Zhou nation.”

　　Ah Lian nodded, “Yes I have heard of it. I went to the Zhou nation not long ago and wanted to plant some clouds for rain. However, I did not succeed and that was really shameful.”

　　Shen Lian responded, “It is the thoughts that count. Actually, I have some inkling to the source of this matter. But I would need your lotus lantern in order to solve it.”

　　Ah Lian said, “The lotus lantern was created by you. If you want to use it, you can take it anytime.”

　　Shen Lian disagreed, “I have given it to you so it is your possession. In the future, you should use the believer’s prayers on yourself and you could even erase all my traces. The path of Shen is difficult, please do not waste the resources on me.”

　　Ah Lian was touched but she responded with determination, “I will always be affiliated to you. This would never change.”

　　Fuhao let out a sigh in her mind. She was able to pick up some information vaguely from Lu Ya. Although the Celestial Teacher had achieved great success and was beyond most people, it seemed that his life would not end well. However, regardless of whether it was her or her mother, they were not willing to cut off the ties with Shen Lian. In other words, the two of them too may not end well.

　　Her mother had no complaints and she too would not regret.

　　Shen Lian said, “It’s up to you then. If the lotus lantern can help me solve this scourge, it will progress a step further and become more powerful. In the future, you can use it to defend yourself and it can also help you overcome some difficulties. However, if you are unwilling to cut off all ties with me, there would be karma incrimination. I hope you would have no regrets then.”