"Hm?"
In a room filled with a strange fragrance, an infant who looked no more than a year or two old sat cross-legged in midair.
Behind the infant, a faint golden Solar Disc flickered in and out of sight.
Beside the infant stood two men with Golden Bodies, their faces alight with fervent longing.
Before the infant knelt his parents, bowing their heads, pressing their palms together, and praying devoutly.
Suddenly, the infant's expression shifted. One chubby hand rose and plucked a ball of light from the void.
Pop!
The ball of light burst, annihilating half his arm!
The people around him nearly screamed.
"Be quiet!"
The infant's words held them still. Then he frowned. "I must avoid the sharp edge for now. It isn't time for me to enter the fray. Besides, I came to the mortal world this time, going so far as to gather the Five Aggregates and Six Thieves and descend as an Incarnation to bring Enlightenment to its people. I did not come here to fight for my life. If I do that, how will I spread Buddha Thought and lay the groundwork for Buddha Land? Let alone survive the Tribulation to come."
With that thought, his annihilated arm recovered in the blink of an eye. He gave his little hand a gentle wave.
"First, I flee!"
A faint Golden Light spread out, enveloping the vast courtyard in an instant.
When the light faded, the sprawling courtyard had vanished without a trace, leaving the neighbors clucking their tongues in wonder.
Before long, someone reported the news to Wang Shichong, the Duke of Zheng, who was on the city wall.
Wang Shichong was powerfully built, with a face full of curly beard, but his eyes were narrowed to slits that glinted coldly. He finished reading the