"I won't, nor could I possibly, underestimate you."
Tathagata Buddha looked at Bhaisajyaguru Buddha and the others, his expression calm as he said with certainty:
"Because you are the people I value most!"
Bhaisajyaguru Buddha and the others were moved.
Tathagata Buddha continued:
"But Ding Ling's momentum has already become unstoppable. If we remain stationed here and stubbornly resist, how long we can hold out is anyone's guess. Moreover, as you said, Bhaisajyaguru Buddha, Ding Ling is decisive and ruthless. Once hostilities begin, it will be incredibly difficult for us to survive. We cannot cling to luck. For the future of the Buddhist School, Bhaisajyaguru Buddha, Surya Prabha Bodhisattva, Candra Prabha Bodhisattva, you few should lead a group of fellow disciples to the Heavenly Court and surrender."
Bhaisajyaguru Buddha, Surya Prabha Bodhisattva, and the others were even more moved:
"Since Buddha has considered our safety, how could we leave so easily? As long as Buddha remains here for a day, we will certainly hold out for a day."
"That's right. Buddha is indeed powerful, but he is ultimately outnumbered. Without our assistance, things will certainly become even more difficult. At this moment of crisis, how could we abandon our Buddha?"
"Yes. We will never betray our faith! And our Buddha is our faith!"
The hundred or so survivors were all elites of the Buddhist School. At this moment, they spoke one after another, their eyes filled with determination.
Tathagata Buddha was increasingly gratified. He urged them repeatedly, but Bhaisajyaguru Buddha and the others showed no intention of leaving, leaving him hesitating.
He had originally wanted to stake everything on one final attempt.
But if Bhaisajyaguru Buddha and the others really died here alongside him, wouldn't that be equivalent to severing the Buddhist School's foundation?
Dipankara Buddha had previously taken