when he became a religious master. Prison and change of career Sung went into hiding for two years after writing a bad check and was later imprisoned for two years. During Sung's time in jail he saw that beam of light outside the windows and says when he was being released from jail at the age of 39 he saw the three Chinese characters Sung Chi-li (宋七力) written in the skies and changed his name to it. It was during this time that Sung says he possessed the fenshen ability. In 1987 when martial law was lifted in Taiwan, Sung, who was 39 at the time and out of prison, saw an opportunity and began to hang around tea houses, talking and demonstrating his skills. As word spread about his abilities, he was noticed by someone who then spent large amounts of money to support Sung and helped him take photos. In 1990, Sung founded the Academy of the Union of Humans and Nature and began recruiting members in Taipei. A year later he founded the Sung Chi-li Miracle Association () and members believed Sung was greater than Buddha in his past life. In the nine years leading up to 1996, Sung had amassed followers and supporters numbering in the tens of thousands in nine years, including financiers and politicians. At his prime, Sung would draw large numbers of followers who came and went in groups of cars. Sung would tip them tens of thousands of NTD. He recalls giving one elderly flower seller NT$50,000. He said when he was on the run for bouncing a check, his friend refused to lend him NT$500 and he vowed he would not to become a miser himself. The first time a Next Digital reporter, 賀照縈 (He Chao-ying), did an interview, Sung handed the interviewer an envelope containing NT$10,000 cash, telling him it was a gesture of good will that the reporter's boss need not know, to which the interviewer declined to accept the gift. At the last interview, Sung tried to give the interview and his three colleagues an iPhone 6 which they also declined. The interviewer noted Sung seemed desolate so he consoled Sung. Controversy Scandal The scandal, known locally in Taiwan as the Sung Chi-li Incident (), was first uncovered by Melody Chu Mei-fong, then Taipei city councillor who accused Sung of conning disciples by selling them high-priced photos of