Inside the Shaman Hall, the firelight flickered, and silence reigned all around; there was no one else present. Mo Hua sat alone on the high seat of the Shaman, like a solitary “idol.” The candlelight cast his dark silhouette long across the floor.

“My… humanity…” Mo Hua’s gaze gradually became profound and cold. After a moment, the coldness turned to gentleness. But even within this gentleness, there was only the compassion of a god, devoid of human emotion.

A gust of night wind stirred the flames, and Mo Hua’s pupils trembled slightly. He immediately snapped back to consciousness, the aloofness of a god fading from his eyes, replaced by a livelier, more “human” color. At least, he looked like a “person” now…

However, Mo Hua’s brows furrowed deeper. He realized something was amiss. As the Shaman, he wielded divine power, and to a certain extent, he was the “Divine Lord,” revered by the people of the Great Wilderness. The divinity within his spiritual consciousness was subtly oppressing his humanity. He was becoming increasingly calm, more like a high and mighty “god,” looking down upon all living beings, observing their life and death, the conflicts in the human world, and ignoring the suffering of others. His body and mind were transforming towards that of a “god.”

Not only that, but he now held immense authority. All the fame, power, and wealth in the world would invariably corrupt the human heart. This “corruption” was also subtle. Those immersed in the pursuit of fame and power, or those holding great authority, often find it difficult to realize that they are being “assimilated” by power. Mo Hua now held divine power, political power, and military power—three powers in one—placing him almost at the pinnacle of the entire Third-Rank Zhuque Mountain Realm. A single word from him could decide life or death, a single thought could change mountains and rivers. He, too, was profoundly influenced by power.

His humanity was simultaneously being “corrupted” by autocratic power and oppressed by nascent divinity. Consequently, without him even realizing it, he was becoming increasingly cold and indifferent, and the aura of authority around him naturally grew heavier.

Mo Hua frowned slightly, pointed a finger in the air, and a water mirror formed through magic. He looked at himself in the mirror and found that while his appearance hadn’t changed, his demeanor had grown much colder. With divinity imbued within him and great power in his hands, even with his youthful and handsome appearance, his gaze was now filled with an aloofness and majesty that transcended the mundane. The pure, sincere, and innocent aura he once possessed had vanished without a trace. Now, he resembled a “king” holding great power, or even a “divine venerable” sculpted from white jade.

This might not be a good thing… Mo Hua’s brows were tightly knit, his heart filled with an indescribable sense of unease. He hadn’t forgotten that, ultimately, he was a “human.” He had parents who raised him, relatives, a master, friends, elders in his sect, and many junior brothers… Of course, there was also the junior sister he kept in his heart; and the senior brother he remembered clearly but had somewhat forgotten what he looked like… If his humanity were to be extinguished, emotions would fade, and all these people would become inconsequential “strangers.” He would lose the “root” of his life.

The great Dao is long and vast, a blind quest. Once one forgets the initial starting point and loses the anchor of self, one is destined to get lost in the unknown, unaware of where they are or where they are going, trapped in the boundless mist of the Dao, unable to find a way out… Divinity was a part of his soul, but it could never be the whole. These people must not be forgotten, and indeed, could not be forgotten.

“But… how do I protect my humanity?” Mo Hua lowered his head and looked at his palms. His palms were fair, delicate, and exquisite, appearing weak and powerless, yet seemingly holding the faith of a god, wielding monstrous power. With a flick of his wrist, he could grant life to millions or cause millions to die, stacking corpses into mountains and spilling blood into rivers… These jade-like palms no longer seemed like the hands of a “human.” Mo Hua even felt a hint of fear towards himself.

Yet, Mo Hua had no recourse. The situation demanded it, and his grand plan was not yet complete. He could only continue to be the Shaman, to be the “god” of the Great Wilderness, to lead its barbarian people step by step, going down the path of a “god,” never to return… The candlelight flickered, light and shadow intertwined, like the struggle between divinity and humanity. In the quiet night, a deep sigh emanated from a god of flesh and blood.

Trapped in the invisible struggle between divinity and humanity, Mo Hua did not close his eyes all night, not even practicing array formations.

The next day, after settling everything, he finally made time to go deep into the mountains to check on the big tiger. He didn’t know how the big tiger was doing now. Was it still in the deep mountains, had it broken through, or had anything unexpected happened?

Upon entering the deep mountains, it was still very quiet everywhere, but the demonic energy was exceptionally dense, so dense it seemed it could drip water. Mo Hua’s expression changed instantly. He knew this was a sign that a demon beast was about to break through; the big tiger was indeed close to breaking through to a Third-Rank demon beast. However, this sign of demonic energy was very strange; it seemed it should have broken through long ago, but its realm was forcefully suppressed, keeping it at Second-Rank, unable to progress.

Mo Hua’s figure flickered, transforming into a streak of water light, and arrived at the big tiger’s cave. But he was stopped by six or seven tigresses. These tigresses would not let Mo Hua into the cave. Mo Hua released his spiritual consciousness and could sense the big tiger inside the cave, but its aura was very weak. He didn’t know if it had failed its breakthrough and was recuperating, or if there was some reason it was delaying its breakthrough, leading to chaotic demonic power and injuring its vital energy.

Mo Hua felt some concern and wanted to enter the cave to check, but these tigresses, with fierce glares in their eyes, stood guarding the entrance, refusing to let Mo Hua pass. Killing intent rose in Mo Hua’s eyes.

Just then, a majestic low roar sounded, and a terrifying demonic power surged from the cave. A massive, eye-catching Third-Rank Xuanhu appeared before Mo Hua, exuding powerful pressure. This was the oppressive aura of a Third-Rank Golden Core demon king, so intense it was almost suffocating. Ordinary cultivators would not dare to face such a demon beast.

But Mo Hua calmly met the tiger’s gaze, his indifferent eyes containing the divine might of a worshipped god and the power to control the life and death of millions of cultivators. This was a confrontation between a king among demons and a “god” and “king” among humans. The man and the tiger faced each other in silence. After a moment, the Third-Rank eye-catching Xuanhu slowly lowered its eyelids and turned to clear the way.

Mo Hua reined in his imposing aura and walked into the cave. Inside, the big tiger lay on the ground, seemingly trying its best to suppress something, looking pained and on its last breath, completely devoid of its former majestic appearance. Sensing the arrival, the big tiger looked up and, upon seeing Mo Hua, its dim eyes instantly lit up.

An inexplicable pang of sadness struck Mo Hua’s heart. He walked over, gently stroked the big tiger’s head, and sensed its demonic power, immediately realizing the problem. This big tiger was indeed very close to breaking through. In fact, it should have broken through much earlier. But for some unknown reason, it had been forcefully suppressing its demonic power, staying in this Second-Rank mountain realm, refusing to break through. It had suppressed it for so long that its demonic power was flowing backward, already beginning to damage its own demon meridians. If this continued, its entire foundation of demonic power would be ruined.

Mo Hua sighed, knowing that he could no longer delay. He had to quickly move the big tiger to a Third-Rank mountain realm. Without the suppression of the Heavenly Dao, it would then be possible for it to continue breaking through its realm. Mo Hua immediately took out a bone slip and issued a series of commands to Tiezhu Gu.

Before long, Tiezhu Gu led a group of people, pulling a huge beast cage, into the deep mountains. Afterwards, Tiezhu Gu and the others saw the tiger demons in the deep mountains. Especially when they saw the half-black, half-white big tiger, on the verge of breakthrough, like a “sacred beast,” their faces revealed an undisguised look of shock. They didn’t know that so many tiger demons were hidden deep within Wutu Mountain. What was even more incomprehensible to them was that these tiger demons would actually obey Shaman Lord’s words. Moreover, they obeyed the Shaman Lord’s commands without any “restraints” or “control.” Their hearts were filled with awe.

Tiezhu Gu’s pupils also trembled. But having followed Mo Hua for so long, he had seen many incredible things and knew what to ask and what not to ask. Mo Hua had the dying big tiger walk into the beast cage by itself, and then had Tiezhu Gu and the barbarian cultivators pull the cart, migrating with the big tiger.

The powerful Third-Rank eye-catching Xuanhu did not stop Mo Hua either. It seemed to know that Mo Hua was saving the “big tiger.” Not only did it not stop him, but it also followed Mo Hua from a distance, like it was trailing him or “guarding” him, harboring some unknown scheme. And behind the eye-catching Xuanhu, a dozen fierce tigresses followed closely.

So on this day, the people of Wutu Mountain saw the Shaman Lord emerge from the deep mountains, followed by a group of terrifying demon kings. These barbarian cultivators looked shocked and knelt in salute, bowing both to the Shaman and to the fierce tigers that symbolized the royal court. In their hearts, this was yet another “miracle” of the Shaman Lord.

Time was urgent, and the big tiger’s condition was not good. Mo Hua did not linger, but urged Tiezhu Gu and the others to speed up. The group, along with a pack of tigers, thus left the Wutu Mountain Realm under Mo Hua’s guidance, returning to the Zhuque Mountain Realm along the “Path of Sacred Markings” paved by the Thick Earth Array.

Upon reaching the Zhuque Mountain Realm, the oppressive feeling from the Heavenly Dao greatly decreased. Mo Hua breathed a sigh of relief and immediately ordered someone to find a nearby mountain peak for the big tiger to reside. At the same time, Lu Gu and a group of Golden Core Art Bone tribe members, as well as Chi Feng and a group of Golden Core Danque tribe members, a total of over thirty Golden Core barbarian cultivators, had also arrived in advance to rendezvous, as ordered by Mo Hua. They, too, were astonished to see so many tiger demons accompanying Mo Hua. The tiger demons of the Great Wilderness were kings among demons, symbols of royalty, and possessed powerful demonic energy. Never in their lives had they seen so many fierce tiger demons gathered together. Even more, they had never seen these tiger demons behave so tamely without any restraints.

Mo Hua didn’t explain much, only saying, “You all serve as protectors, guarding the surroundings, not allowing anyone to disturb it.”

“Yes, Shaman Lord,” Lu Gu replied with cupped hands.

Thereafter, these thirty Golden Core barbarian cultivators completely surrounded the entire mountain peak, also isolating the tigresses. Mo Hua placed the big tiger on the mountain peak and personally drew an array formation around it to protect it. At the same time, he also prepared a lot of roasted meat for the big tiger, crushing some blood-replenishing pills and sprinkling them on the meat. Mo Hua stroked the big tiger’s head and whispered, “This is a Third-Rank mountain realm. You will break through here. I will guard you outside and won’t let anyone disturb you.”

The big tiger gave Mo Hua an affectionate look, its weak expression showing some attachment. It stretched out its big paw and gently nudged Mo Hua, as if asking him not to leave. Mo Hua paused, a warmth spreading through his heart. As the saying goes, if they are not of my kind, their hearts must be different. He was human, and the big tiger was a demon beast. Demon beasts were bloodthirsty, spending their lives in bloody battles, extremely dangerous, and breaking through realms was a matter of life and death. Each breakthrough was almost like passing through the “gates of hell.” If successful, it would be fine, but if it failed and injured its vital energy, falling into a period of weakness, it could easily be seized upon by other demon beasts and devoured, hide and bones. Even if successful, if it couldn’t find a safe place to recuperate quickly, it was highly likely to be found by enemies and fall into a deadly situation. Therefore, the time when demon beasts broke through realms was often the most dangerous time in their lives. And in this life-threatening situation, the big tiger didn’t trust other tiger demons, but it was willing to let him, a “human,” stay by its side… Mo Hua’s heart felt heavy.

He said softly, “Alright, I’ll stay here and protect your cultivation.”

The big tiger then felt at ease. It slowly got up, putting the meat Mo Hua gave it into its mouth piece by piece, chewing and swallowing slowly.

Outside, however, the Third-Rank eye-catching Xuanhu suddenly became agitated, pacing back and forth, its eyes flashing fiercely. Mo Hua noticed this fierceness, his gaze shifted slightly, and he ordered Lu Gu and the others to guard strictly, not allowing these tigresses to rush into the mountain.

On the other side, the big tiger was still eating the demon meat. It seemed to have not eaten for a long time, either because there was nothing to eat or because it deliberately abstained, which was why it appeared particularly weak. Now, with Mo Hua giving it food, it could eat with peace of mind. The big tiger continued to eat, and eat, and a large amount of meat turned into blood qi, absorbed by its demon body. Its demonic power was gradually recovering, its physical body was slowly strengthening, and its aura was steadily rising. And its realm was also gradually loosening.

Just then, a fierce tiger roar suddenly came from outside the cave. Mo Hua walked to the entrance and looked out, seeing the eye-catching Xuanhu and more than ten tigresses, all with surging demonic power and fierce eyes, staring intently at the mountain where the big tiger was. The big tiger was breaking through. But all these tiger demons were furious.

Mo Hua frowned and commanded Lu Gu, “Stop them.”

Lu Gu’s face was stern, and he drew out a white bone demon-slaying saber, blocking the Third-Rank eye-catching Xuanhu. The other thirty-plus Golden Cores and hundreds of Yuan Bone heavy armored soldiers also formed a battle array, like a “wall of bronze and iron,” sealing off the mountain. The eye-catching Xuanhu became even more enraged, its eyes even turning blood-red, and the demonic energy on its body transformed into crystal-like demon fire. The other tiger demons also seemed to be on the verge of losing control. Mo Hua frowned even deeper, not understanding why the big tiger’s breakthrough would enrage this eye-catching Xuanhu and these tigresses so much. What exactly did they want to do?

And just at this moment, within the mountain, the aura suddenly changed. Black and white demonic qi instantly intertwined, filling the entire cave. An uncontainable, mysterious, ancient aura emanated from the cave. The big tiger had begun its breakthrough.

The Third-Rank eye-catching Xuanhu, upon sensing this aura, instantly lost its mind. Its roars shook the heavens, and then its demon body swelled, wrapped in blood, rushing towards the mountain like a strong wind. The other tigresses also began to go mad, charging towards the mountain recklessly…