Slowly but surely, the previously rich forest was turning into a deserted cave. Even the stones which were illuminating the ceiling were taken down by Jiang Yao on Luo Xiao's wish.
While he was not sure what they could be used for, he knew that they were valuable, and since they were placed right in front of him, it would be stupid not to take them.
Initially, he had been extremely respectful towards the ecosystem within the cave, not wanting to harm it. Still, now that he knew that they were about to die, he became a real robber, taking even the last straw of grass into his storage pouch, while looking extremely pleased as he did so.
Seeing the money-grubbing expression on Luo Xiao's face, Jiang Yao could not help but smile and shake his head in amusement. They had stayed within the cave for a very long time, but due to the incredible amount of energy that was still present within, it did not feel stuffy.
However, as they were harvesting all the treasures, they even came across a Moon Anise. Seeing it here was enough to make both Jiang Yao and Luo Xiao seem somewhat perplexed before the younger man began laughing.
They had been searching for it for so long, only to have it appear right in front of them when they were ready to let it go.
However, since it had appeared, there was no way they would not take it, and Luo Xiao put on a focused expression as he used his spiritual energy to enshroud the herb before giving it to Jiang Yao.
Jiang Yao was also thinking it was rather comical that the herb had appeared right then and there, but he was not going to decline it. Luo Xiao was not going to benefit much from consuming it, but Jiang Yao would reach the same rank as his father, the Demon Emperor. Thus he quickly took the petals one after another and placed them on his tongue.
He felt how the petals melted and turned to energy before the energy began exploding in his body, wreaking havoc on his meridians, and his face turned pale.
When Luo Xiao had consumed a Moon Anise in the past, the energy that it contained was much less, as his cultivation base back then was truly pitiful. Still, Jiang Yao's realm was almost unparalleled, and the energy he needed for a breakthrough was in no way little.
Luo Xiao's brows furrowed, and he felt his heartbeat increase. He could see the sweat that began beading on Jiang Yao's forehead, and while his expression was still cold, his jaw tightened. He was clearly trying to withstand severe pain, and Luo Xiao's heart ached for him.
Time was slowly ticking by, and the longer it took, the more sweat began beading on his forehead and drops began running down his face. Luo Xiao dared not even wipe the sweat away for him; all he could do was sit next to him and hope for the best.
While Luo Xiao felt the most anxious, a gentle purr sounded, and the little dragon appeared by his side once more. While it was still a baby, Luo Xiao could feel the worry it held for him, and he gave it a gentle, but weak, smile.
"Little Gold, don't worry," he said gently. "I am okay, but I am worried about Jiang Yao. I have never seen him in such pain before, and it truly makes my heart ache."
The little dragon, who had been named Little Gold, looked at Luo Xiao with its head cocked to the side. It released a few immature chirps and whistles before it moved to Jiang Yao's side.
Luo Xiao wanted to stop it, but although this dragon was merely a newborn, it was much swifter than him, and it placed its forehead against Jiang Yao's. Moments after, a soft golden light shone from the dragon's body, and the golden light slowly entered Jiang Yao.
As the golden light entered his body, the pained expression on his face slowly eased, and the clenched jaw relaxed once more.
Seeing this, Luo Xiao felt as if a boulder had been removed from his shoulders, and his face broke into a gentle smile as he reached out his hands and hugged Little Gold in his arms.
Little Gold was exhausted. It did have a higher cultivation base than Luo Xiao as it had absorbed so much energy from the dragon heart, but due to the inheritance and the energy, he spent most of the time in the contractor space sleeping. It needed to digest the strength it had gained.
Luo Xiao looked at the little dragon within his arms, and as he glanced at the golden scales, he could not help but frown. He found out that these scales were iridescent, and while they had shone with a bright golden light earlier, a soft pink hue could be seen this time, shrouding the hatchling in a gentle warmth.
Luo Xiao did not know much about dragon races, and he knew even less about baby dragons, so when he looked at this little fellow within his embrace, he frowned slightly, but he did not think it to be too uncommon.
Luo Xiao did not instantly place the sleeping dragon back within the contractor space. Instead, he gently ran his hands over the scales in a gentle manner, making it feel comfortable as it drifted into a deep sleep.
Although the dragon was sleeping within his embrace, Luo Xiao did not move his eyes away from Jiang Yao. Although most of the tension he felt had vanished, he was still not entirely at ease before the demon prince awoke from his cultivation state.