Now, Ao Tu had fallen into Maitreya's Bundle, and only Lord Lao's talisman kept him safe.
Yet the talisman's power was limited. If it wore away completely after three days, Ao Tu too would be converted by the Bundle.
Fortunately, Yuanshi Tianzun had warned Ao Tu beforehand. His true body remained in the Heavenly Realm, and only an incarnation had descended to the lower realm. Even if he could not escape the Bundle, the loss would not be too great. At worst, he could destroy and abandon the incarnation just before the third day arrived; no matter what, his true body would remain unaffected.
Still, escaping the Bundle would be better if he could. After all, the incarnation carried several treasures, and abandoning it would mean losing those treasures as well.
Thus, Ao Tu searched inside the Bundle for a way to escape.
The Bundle was made of neither hide nor hemp. There was not the slightest gap in it, nor any light to be seen. Even the Six-Ding Divine Fire could not burn it.
Outside, Maitreya Buddha hefted the Bundle and said with a smile, "That little dragon is kicking up a fuss!"
At this, the gods exchanged glances and faint smiles.
Heavenly King Li said, "Please rest in the tent for now, Maitreya Buddha, while I lead the troops to destroy the demon temple and rescue the imprisoned gods."
Maitreya Buddha nodded with a smile and took Yellow Brows into the large tent Heavenly King Li had prepared to rest.
Heavenly King Li led the Heavenly Soldiers into the Lesser Thunderclap Temple. They captured all the lesser demons that had survived the heavenly lightning, and after questioning them about where Tang Sanzang's party and the gods were imprisoned, they rooted out the evil to the last.
Then Heavenly