"Amitabha. With the Heavenly Dharma Protector here, we will surely be able to keep the Buddha Child safe this time!"
At that moment, Huiming was immensely grateful that the man beside him stood on their side.
"This precious armor does give me the strength to fight the Sky Wolf Devil Master, but when the magic formation fails in two days and the demonic beasts outside swarm in, I fear a lone timber won't be enough to hold up the roof."
Xu Taiping spoke with some concern.
For now, all he could think of was fleeing with the Buddha Child, fighting as he retreated.
But that carried an enormous risk. Once surrounded by demonic beasts, it would be hard to escape.
"You need not worry about that, Heavenly Dharma Protector."
Abbot Huiming smiled at his words, then took a withered branch from his sleeve and held it out to Xu Taiping, continuing:
"Once the magic formation opens, you need only throw this bodhi branch onto Small River outside the temple gates and let it turn into a single-plank bridge spanning the stream."
"What good would that do?"
Xu Taiping was puzzled.
"This single-plank bridge is a temple-protecting magic artifact left behind by the first abbot of Vairocana Zen Temple. Once the bridge is in place and all the monks in the temple chant the Bodhi Heart Sutra together, anyone outside wishing to enter the temple will have to cross that single-plank bridge."
"When the time comes, you need only stand guard on the bridge, Heavenly Dharma Protector."
Abbot Huiming explained to Xu Taiping with a smile.
"There are actually magic artifacts like that in this world?"
Xu Taiping was somewhat surprised.
Hearing this, Abbot Huiming beside him looked deeply moved as he said:
"Amitabha. On behalf of the old abbot, I