Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

11 weeks passed quickly. Aiko was able to complete 14 out of 86 parts, but that was not the most important change.

Elemental Spirit: [Seed of ####; 91,220/100,000->100,000/100,000; Under Evolution]

Her Elemental Spirit finally reached that threshold and Aiko was waiting, wondering what would happen to it.

Unfortunately, that seed had been like this for a few days already, yet there was no change. Aiko was slightly upset at this, but she couldn’t do anything about it, so she forgot about it for the time being.

She could finally assemble the first 10 parts into the first massage zone. There were 8 major massage zones, simply because the others wouldn’t fit. Mei blamed this on the incompetence of the Forging Cultivators.

Aiko was still happy, at least they were able to create the simple version of the Massage Chair, but it still seemed like she would have to learn Blacksmithing just to create those... delicate parts.

It seemed like delicate was not in the vocabulary of the Forging Cultivators, as they even messed up some of the larger parts and had to redo them.

The assembly took quite a while since the parts were quite slippery, all of them were smooth to reduce heat from friction wearing down the parts.

Unsurprisingly, both Blood Fox and Umbra fox gave Aiko side-eyes when she was fighting over the parts. Aiko even caught Umbra Fox blushing for some reason, but didn’t understand why she was blushing...

...

It took her a week to properly assemble them, though it was worth it, as the whole piece was moving as intended when the testing wrench was plugged in.

Mei was amused by this but didn’t voice her opinion as she had never heard about that kind of chair... even though she thought it was either for torture or... ’stress’ relief.

”Ah!” Aiko suddenly thought about something. ”Where is the chair itself?” She looked at Mei who was trying to make herself invisible.

”It’s still in the making.” She replied passively.

”Isn’t that... like, the easiest thing?” Aiko asked frowning.

Mei coughed awkwardly. ”It will take some more time.” She smiled like she was hiding something...

’I can’t tell her that they made a chair for ’those’ purposes, she is still... somewhat pure.’ Mei sighed, holding her cheek.

Aiko didn’t say anything, but she found it suspicious that Mei was avoiding her gaze. Fortunately for Mei, Aiko learned her lesson and would not ask or smirk about most things, as it might result in that painful slap...

Aiko looked over the system. She steeled herself and clicked on the [Poison Resistance] that was already mastered.

[Poison Resistance]

V

[Greater Poison Resistance]

or

[Poison Immunity* (1)]

Aiko looked over the effect, there was not much change from the [Basic Poison Immunity* (1)] to the [Poison Immunity* (1)], just that it was easier to create more immunities.

The [Greater Poison Resistance] was just a much more juiced-up version of the [Poison Resistance], which was nice, but the price was already 1,000 Skill Points and that was with the discount!

Aiko’s heart bled as she clicked on it.

Skill Points: 4,083 -> 3,083

[Greater Poison Resistance: Lv.1]

Aiko now had just a little over 3,000 Skill Points. She was running dangerously low on ’funds’, at this rate she will have to pick meat, as her 4th year birthday is coming close.

At the current rate, she should get 400 pieces of meat, which would allow her to reach Level 500, but that was not enough. She needed to reach that special point where she was able to choose between Demonic and Holy Beast Evolution, otherwise it would force her to Evolve the [Shadow Fennec Fox]. She did not want that just yet.

Aiko munched on food from Mei. It was delicious as always and after so many weeks of eating it, there was even a slight change to her Beast Core!

Beast Cores(50%->51%): 20,000 (52,060)

Everything was moving along nicely, so Aiko returned to her Inscribing. There was a spring in her arm as she could move it more delicately than before, but that was still not enough to be able to Inscribe it properly. She would still have to use her newfound technique...

...

13 weeks passed. Aiko was able to finish 27 out of 86 parts. She was now a third of the way there, but that was not why she stopped.

[Age: 4.07/2,000]

She needed to wait a few days for her to get the birthday present and she was also waiting for that god-damn seed to do something! It’s been so long, yet that thing didn’t even move! Aiko was upset at this point as she was still feeding it with Energy, but it just wouldn’t budge, not a squeak from it!

Aiko pouted and started to Inscribe another part.

[Happy Birthday!]

[You are now 4 years old!]

[Please choose a gift:]

[1. Meat - 400]

[2. Strength-based Bloodline*]

[3. Stat and Skill Points - 400]

[4. Surprise - Surprise]

*This will be replaced next time if not chosen

Aiko clicked through it. This was interesting as this was the first thing that warned her that it would be replaced if she didn’t pick it...

Aiko had zero interest in strength builds as it required head-on confrontation. Remembering the fact she was poisoned just because she got close to them, her interest pretty much turned into negatives.

The number 1 was very tempting as it was 400 Levels worth of System Meat.

The numbers 3 and 4 were not very good. 400 Skill Points and Stat Points could be obtained within a few pieces of System Meat, while 4th is a dubious option...

Aiko chose number 1 as she needed those Skill Points and Levels for Evolutions.

[Meat x14->414]

Aiko nodded happily, with this she would be able to reach Level 500 without an issue, but she would need Level 600 if she wanted to go for the pick-and-choose version.

She frowned slightly, she couldn’t use the meat now since that would mean she would be stuck at Level 500.

First, she needs to reach Level 200 and then munch on the System Meat so it has the biggest effect, but reaching Level 200 is also an issue...

Aiko frowned. She didn’t want to use her 5th birthday gift for more pieces of System Meat, but she will have to if she doesn’t reach 200 by then.

’The problem is that those foods don’t give me Levels, but they do give me Beast Core Energy.’ Aiko nodded slowly, her theory was that the meat was too low level for her, as she was already a Magical Beast.

Aiko stared at the haggard duo. These days the curiosity got the best of her and the Blood Fox was training with Umbra Fox.

Aiko wondered how they were doing...

...

The Blood Fox smiled at Umbra Fox. ”I will join you.”

The Umbra Fox stiffened. She couldn’t believe what she heard. This demon would train with her?! No way!

”I’m looking forward to it.” The Blood Fox smiled and Umbra Fox could only cry silently.

...

”Oh? The little Demonic Fox wants to train with you?” The Grandmaster was surprised as she thought that the little one would not separate from Aiko.

”Yes, Master...” The Umbra Fox was crestfallen, if that demon was anywhere as strong as the Vicious Cub, she would not be able to live this down!

”Bring her here.” The Grandmaster laughed. She could not believe it, but she welcomed it! She had not trained a Demonic Fox in such a long time, as the last time it ended in disaster...

*Tsk*

’If they at least had trained them there would have been no issue, but the main Village was disgraced because one single Demonic Fox completely ploughed through their prodigies.’ The Grandmaster shook her head. Who told those prodigies to be so condescending that they would underestimate their enemy?! She could only shake her head in pity as that Fox was punished by the main Village and had to run away from it...

...

The next day, the Blood Fox visited the Grandmaster with Umbra Fox.

She greeted the Grandmaster politely and the Grandmaster’s image of her improved greatly.

”I still can’t believe that your mind is not disturbed...” The Grandmaster looked at her in interest.

”It’s all because of our little Aiko.” The Blood Fox smiled gently.

”’Our’ huh?” The Grandmaster smiled mischievously. ”Well, what brings you here?” She asked while sipping tea.

”I was interested in what Umbra Fox was doing, as her temperament changed quite quickly over time.” The Blood Fox confessed. She liked this Grandmaster’s personality.

”Oho?” The Grandmaster smiled from ear to ear. ”Did anyone else notice?”

”Both Jade Fox and Aiko noticed, but Aiko was working on the ’Massage Chair’ and Jade Fox spent her days with Herbs and Pills...” The Blood Fox sighed, but she was giggling inside as she was able to have Aiko just for herself.

’This is amusing.’ The Grandmaster was constantly probing Passion Fox’s mind on purpose, but could not find nor hear any voices. ”I see... so she is still after that strange chair, huh...” The Grandmaster shook her head.

”That is indeed the case.” The Blood Fox smiled.

”Stand up.” The Grandmaster said slowly.

The Blood Fox stood up.

The Grandmaster clicked her tongue. ”What a beauty, you will definitely attract the Immortals.” She shook her head. ”It’s important to get stronger before they get here, otherwise you will get taken away.” The Grandmaster warned with a grave voice, after all, that was how she lost her tails, because of that bastard!

The Blood Fox turned serious when she noticed that sudden change of atmosphere. ”I will heed your warning, Grandmaster.” She bowed.

The Grandmaster smiled. ”Good, good. Now show me what you got.” The Grandmaster readied her sword.

The Blood Fox didn’t understand what the Grandmaster meant, but she was nudged by Umbra Fox.

”Grandmaster wants to see your prowess.” She whispered to the Passion Fox.

The Blood Fox nodded in understanding and created a spear of blood, hurling it at the Grandmaster.

The Grandmaster clicked her tongue, that spear was too lousy. She parried it easily, but the Blood Fox was already in front of her.

*Bang*

A heavy fist landed on the Grandmaster’s sword, immediately cracking it.

The Grandmaster’s smile widened. ’This little Fox is also a good seedling, how did that little monster find so many good seedlings?! I need to know!’ The Grandmaster laughed as she exchanged blows with the Passion Fox, who was just pounding on her wooden sword.

She exchanged 200 moves with Passion Fox before attacking for the first time.

The Passion Fox created an armour of blood around the affected area... but it was fruitless.

*Whack**Crack*

The armour of blood cracked with a single blow, sending the Blood Fox flying...

Meanwhile, the Umbra Fox didn’t believe her own eyes. ’How... how is she so strong?!’ She couldn’t believe that the Blood Fox was able to exchange 200 moves and crack the wooden sword.

Her mind couldn’t comprehend it...

”She is training in pure strength. It’s only natural that she delivers heavier blows.” The Grandmaster spoke to the Umbra Fox. ”You specialize in speed and dodging, which means your main talent would be poisoning or impairing your opponents.” She gestured.

The Umbra Fox nodded a few times, but she was still distressed...