The little dragon chattered on. "It took me so much effort to guide the remaining earth dragon qi over here. I'm exhausted!"
"Hm?" Zuo Xiaoduo became much more alert. "You mean... the changes in my Annihilation Sky Pagoda weren't caused by absorbing Star Soul Jade powder, but by you?"
"Absorbing Star Soul Jade powder?"
The little dragon froze. There was something like that going on too? I only drew a third of an earth vein inside. How... did it have that function too?
Then its eyes rolled, and it said, "I don't know about that. But I'm certain the increased vitality came from the Dragon Qi I guided in. We're good friends, so of course I had to give you my full support."
"Tch... why should I believe you? I think that's just an inherent power of the Annihilation Sky Pagoda. What could it possibly have to do with you? Is taking credit for heaven's work really so amusing?"
Zuo Xiaoduo scoffed. You think a few honeyed words will trick me into giving you benefits?
Am I that easy to fool?
"Everything I said was true!"
Feeling wronged, the little dragon shook its head and swished its tail, launching into a ceaseless account of how hard it had worked, how carefully it had considered things, and how important the qi of earth veins returning to their flow was to an empty, lifeless space like this...
Zuo Xiaoduo gradually began to believe it a little.
But he still put on a face full of disbelief. "I don't believe you! Does saying it make it true? Not unless you can offer some other benefits!"
The little dragon was at a loss. What other benefits could I possibly offer?
"Treasures! Spirit Medicine! Star Soul Jade! Mineral deposits..." Zuo Xiaoduo said. "Any of those