The fact that these two elders were only half-convinced was well within Chen Kuang's expectations.
No rational person would immediately believe that a minor cultivator at the Qi Opening Realm would suddenly declare himself to be the Buddha Child of the Pure Land.
Just as no sane person would ever fall for those text message scams back on Earth.
The scammers themselves knew that pitching something so outrageous was meant to filter out the one in ten thousand "gullible fools" who would actually believe it.
Likewise, what Chen Kuang needed was exactly that, just a seed of doubt, a foundation of partial belief.
Facing Wei Yan's questioning, Chen Kuang spread his hands and smiled, "I have no proof."
He had no intention of exposing the relic Huo Hengxuan had given him.
That thing wasn't some sacred artifact that recognized its owner via a blood bond. There was no guarantee that just because he held it, it couldn't be taken.
If he explained the whole mechanism clearly, and either of these two elders were clever enough to think about just killing him and claiming the relic for themselves...
Well, that would be the end of the story.
Zhao Lie blinked, then barked angrily, "You're toying with us?"
By nature, Zhao Lie was impulsive. If this had been before, anyone daring to fool him like this would have been split in two without hesitation.
But right now, though his grip tightened on the hilt of his saber, he didn't act.
The reason was simple, he had already tried once. And his target had walked away unscathed.
Naturally, he had developed a degree of caution.
Just in case... if, just if, by one in ten thousand chance this person really was the Buddha Child...
The previous slash might still be excused as a misunderstanding.
But if the man had now declared his identity and Zhao Lie struck again, then there would be no turning back.
If he really was who he claimed to be, and the Pure Land came knocking later, then the punishment would far exceed any blame for failing to protect the sect's young master.
Zhao Lie was hot-headed, yes, but he wasn't stupid.
He figured he might as well wait for that self-proclaimed "clever one," Wei Yan, to take the lead. Once he verified things, Zhao Lie would just follow along.
Zhao Lie shot Wei Yan a glance. "Elder Wei, what do you think?"
Wei Yan looked at Chen Kuang. "Since you have no proof, how can we believe you? Real or fake, your words mean nothing."
His gaze was icy. "If you're simply stalling to buy time for that Liang noblewoman and her daughter to escape, you're wasting your breath."
"By now, they've probably already been captured by disciples of our Three Calamities Sect."
Chen Kuang's smile didn't falter.
"I have no ties to that lady of Liang. We just happened to walk the same path. What reason would I have to stall for her?"
"What I'm saying is, I don't need proof."
"I myself, am the proof."
Wei Yan narrowed his eyes. "And what kind of 'proof' are you supposed to be?"
Thanks to his recent back-and-forth with Huo Hengxuan, Chen Kuang's acting had improved considerably. His expressions were now nearly flawless.
He let out a light sigh and said, "Allow me to explain, Elders."
Zhao Lie cut in impatiently, "Can't you just give us the short version?"
Chen Kuang ignored him and continued:
"I am indeed the reincarnation of the Buddha Child. But I did not recover my cultivation immediately, not because I couldn't, but because I wished to re-experience birth, aging, illness, and death through mortal means."
"Ten years ago, I foresaw great chaos would fall upon Liang. So I assumed the role of a court musician and spent several springtimes in the imperial palace."
"During the war, I chose to temper myself in the fires of mortal suffering. Unfortunately, your young master Wei Su, sharp as he was, seemed to suspect me of being Huo Hengxuan's man and attempted to strike me down."
He shook his head with a touch of regret.
"At the time, my tribulation was not yet complete. Naturally, I could not allow myself to be slain. I had no choice but to fight back."
"The wrath of the Vajra cannot be endured. I deeply regret the young master's passing."
"Now, the ten-year cycle has come to its end. I have tasted the full breadth of life and death. My merit is complete. It is time for me to return to the Pure Land and realize my Dao."
He wove the Lionheart Buddha Child's story into his own, casting himself as a figure of great compassion. In his narration, he seemed almost saintly.
Of course, all of that was just groundwork, meant to make what came next more believable.
Chen Kuang then turned to Zhao Lie, a gentle look on his face.
"Elder Zhao, you were in fact the final piece of merit in my tribulation."
Birth, aging, sickness, death, he was the death part.
Zhao Lie blinked, then suddenly had a flash of realization.
No wonder!
No wonder that slash didn't kill him. He was undergoing a divine tribulation through cultivating merit!
Given how strange the scene had been, Zhao Lie now found that this explanation... oddly made sense.
Crap... Could he really be the Buddha Child?
Zhao Lie grew a little nervous and awkward. How should he account for that slash now?
Chen Kuang seemed to read his embarrassment and gently added:
"There's no need for Elder Zhao to feel uneasy. Your act helped me complete my cultivation. It was a great service, a tremendous karmic boon. Tribulations come and go, they are ordained by fate."
"The Buddha is merciful. He would never punish a benefactor. Rather, he would be grateful."
"When I return to the Pure Land, I shall prepare a generous gift in return."
Step two of the Qin Shi Huang-style con, draw the pie in the sky!
Zhao Lie had nothing to say. Seeing how sincerely the young man spoke, he couldn't help but feel tempted.
After all, this was the Pure Land they were talking about...
Wei Yan remained unmoved, coldly stating, "You've said all that, but you still haven't proved your identity."
Chen Kuang replied, "Just because I can't prove it now doesn't mean I can't prove it later."
Wei Yan's voice turned sharp. "But I want you to prove it now."
Chen Kuang appeared to ponder, then smiled. "Not difficult."
He pointed into the distance. "To the northwest, there's a river. My return from tribulation should've been sensed by the temple. One of my senior brothers should be arriving there shortly."
Wei Yan's eyes flashed.
The Liang noblewoman had fled to the east.
Chen Kuang's story was airtight so far, but this sudden shift, directly contradicting the direction she fled, seemed suspicious.
Zhao Lie sent a voice transmission. "There is indeed a river to the northwest. The River of Death."
"There's an old monster dwelling in it, a Grandmaster-tier demon. It never leaves the water, just plays tricks on travelers. If you step wrong, it pulls you in and asks bizarre riddles. If you answer wrong, it eats you."
In this war-torn land, demons and monsters roamed everywhere.
Only twenty li outside the Liang capital, such a monster could dwell without challenge. The cultivators of Mount Lingtai had long embraced seclusion, ignoring such threats in the name of nonintervention.
Wei Yan was silent for a moment, then smiled.
"Well, that does make things convenient. Why don't the two of us escort you to meet your fellow disciple?"
Chen Kuang beamed. "Then I'll trouble you both."
He glanced at Wei Yan's expression and added, "But since Elder seems to still harbor doubts, why not seal my cultivation to ease your minds?"
Wei Yan's gaze shifted. "Since you're so forthright... I suppose I'd be remiss not to accept."
He descended, grabbed Chen Kuang, and sealed several of his key meridian points.
These were not the common nine orifices, but nodes along the great spiritual veins. Blocking them meant total loss of spiritual flow, essentially disabling his cultivation.
It was the same method used to suppress Huo Hengxuan.
Chen Kuang quickly checked himself.
Good, only one was sluggish. The rest were still operating.
Wei Yan took to the air, gesturing for Zhao Lie to follow as they flew toward the River of Death.
Casually, he said, "I've long admired the Pure Land. I've heard the famed Pratyekabuddha Mountain stretches for ten thousand li, awe-inspiring in scope. What say you?"
Of course, this wasn't small talk.
The Pure Land had no "Pratyekabuddha Mountain", only Three Enlightenment Peaks.
He was testing Chen Kuang.