Cultivation is Creation

"I don't have much to offer," Astralis said, his expression downcast as he gestured at the fragments of dying light surrounding us. "This is a dying world, after all. Our resources are..."

I was about to respond when something strange happened.

Astralis turned his head slightly to the side, and his face transformed. The sorrow vanished, replaced by an impish grin. “But actually,” he whispered to himself. “I have access to countless treasures that would make Qi Condensation cultivators drool with envy!"

I blinked. That was... unexpected.

"Azure," I thought, "what just happened?"

Azure's laughter echoed in my mind. "Remember how I mentioned inner world spirits cannot lie? This is what happens when they try. They physically cannot maintain a deception – their nature forces them to immediately correct any falsehood, usually they’ll whisper or mutter the corrections."

Well, that was... interesting. I turned back to Astralis, who was still maintaining his sorrowful expression despite the stars in his hair twinkling with barely suppressed amusement.

"So," I said slowly, "you do have a lot to offer."

The stars in Astralis's hair actually flickered with surprise. "How did you—" He caught himself, then sighed with all the put-upon dignity an ancient divine messenger in the form of a young boy could muster. "Yes, fine, I do."