Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

Aiko pouted and played with the Snake Artefact. She would love to try the effects if she created such an artefact herself.

Aiko noticed that both of them were still bickering, so she had to wait her turn before proceeding with her plans. Unfortunately, she would not be able to leave the Grandmaster’s lap for a few days. As such, she didn’t know if she would be allowed to create anything, since she was still studying things...

An hour later they finally finished their bickering.

”Can I create Inscriptions?” Aiko asked them.

”Sure, I don’t mind.” The Grandmaster immediately replied. She liked to watch other people create things, but Forging Cultivators didn’t like others watching them.

The Pill Cultivators... you could only see them place those things into the Pill Furnace, so it was hard to imagine what was happening without experiencing the process yourself.

The Talisman Cultivators were likewise hard-pressed as it was just writing, there was no true art in it for her.

As for the Inscription Cultivators, they did not mind others observing their Inscription process as it was hard to understand what they were engraving, yet at the same time, the engraving process was extremely pleasant to watch and it felt like a true piece of art.

”Don’t overdo it.” Mei said gently, worried about Aiko’s arm.

”I’m fine, but I will need... a few test subjects.” Aiko stared at Mei unblinking.

”W-why are you staring at me?” Mei had a bad feeling for some reason.

”For no reason.” Aiko said, but she still kept staring at Mei.

*Cough*

”What do you need test subjects for?” Mei awkwardly looked away.

”I want to test if I can recreate this Artefact.” Aiko pointed at the little snake badge.

”The Poison Defensive Artefact, huh...” Mei nodded slowly. ”That’s easy then, this is a Low-Grade Defensive tool, so we just need to use 1st Grade Antidote Pills, if it were to fail.” Mei thought about it.

”Alright, I think I have some Antidote Pills for some specific poisons, so you are allowed to work with those.” Mei wrote them down.

Aiko nodded slowly while looking through them, fortunately, she was able to decipher those types of poisons on the Snake Badge.

Do you want to engrave it on a simple piece of metal or do you need something sturdy that lasts long?” Mei asked, noting down things.

”I just want to test it so it will end up like the Massage Chair. Just a prototype.” Aiko answered slowly.

”Okay, I still have some metal plates as leftovers from the Massage Chair, so you can use them.” Mei said and placed plates from her Storage Ring in front of Aiko.

”I will also need my engraving tools since I still can’t use my arm properly.” Aiko stared at her courier, which was called Mei.

Mei’s lips twitched from Aiko’s gaze. ”It’s a Cultivator’s virtue to keep their tools on hand at all times!” Mei glared at Aiko, but still left for the abode.

Aiko observed the Snake Badge again, there were a few Poisons she could not decipher, but that was alright. She first needed to know if she could even recreate that effect, before getting excited and creating the Universal-Grand-Anti-Poison-Heavenly-Artefact.

Mei returned with Aiko’s tools.

”Thank you~” Aiko smiled and Mei coughed lightly.

The Grandmaster narrowed her eyes, smiling at the exchange.

And thus, Aiko started working on the engraving until the morning sun came.

The Foxes lined up and Mei extor-Cough charged the ’appropriate’ customer fee for using the Massage Chair.

A week passed by and Aiko finally was finished with the small Anti-Poison Inscription. It was more elaborate than she initially thought so it took longer, but once she got the hang of it she also created another one with cursive Runes.

It looked almost the same, the latter one was just more pleasing to look at.

”What are the differences?” The Grandmaster asked curiously, as she could not understand what Aiko was thinking.

”I don’t know, that’s why I need the test subjects.” Aiko shook her head.

”Hmmm...” The Grandmaster didn’t say anything and waited for the Jade Fox.

Mei returned from another day and placed Spirit Stones in front of Aiko. ”Your cut.”

Aiko browsed it, inside were 5,600 Spirit Stones.

Aiko nodded slowly. It was nice to have a steady income of Spirit Stones.

”Here, they are finished.” Aiko placed the plates in front of Mei.

”2 of them?” Mei asked about the Poisons.

”No, it’s one Poison, but 2 different techniques.” Aiko shook her head.

”This one? The Night Rose Poison?” Mei asked so she could prepare the Antidotes.

”Yes, that one.” Aiko nodded, now she would have to wait for her first test.

Mei nodded. ”I will give a discount to anyone who is willing to test it out, how many test subjects do you need?”

”10 should be enough. If it works, we will go for 100 afterwards.” Aiko said.

”Okay.” Mei would not help Aiko with this, as she wished that Aiko would be able to use this to learn more about the nature of people in this world. She needed to understand that people would fake their illnesses just so they could discredit her...

Unfortunately for her, this so called lesson of hers would be for naught, as Aiko didn’t care about what others would do. She just wanted some feedback on the makeshift Inscription if it even worked.

...

A week passed again and Aiko received 2,000 Spirit Stones from Mei.

”Finished?” Aiko asked, surprised that they would be willing to take poison just for a discount.

”It was quite a significant discount, so many jumped on the option. While most powerful Foxes were reluctant, they eventually gave in after 80 tests were conducted, with no participant being poisoned, some participants even benefitted from the test.” Mei shrugged.

”Benefitted?” Aiko picked up a very interesting wording from Mei.

”Yes, those who used this plate were able to nourish their body, but the chance was very low, only 2/50 were able to profit from it and even then those two were twins.” Mei sighed, too few test subjects meant the numbers wouldn’t be as accurate.

Aiko nodded curiously since what Mei showed her was the cursive one. Did it really have a beneficial effect?

Aiko needed to conduct more tests.

”I will try to engrave different Poisons and then we will increase the scale to 1,000 test subjects.” Aiko said to Mei.

”I will deduct your cut of Spirit Stones for the testing.” Mei said lightly.

”It’s fine, keep the Spirit Stones until the test is over.” Aiko didn’t need those spirit stones, as they were not that important. She only cared about the results of those tests, so she would take this as paying Mei for her service.

”That’s fine by me.” Mei did not reject this notion. While she would have liked to push the Spirit Stones on Aiko so that she would owe her, she still accepted it as she would become quite wealthy from it.

She will get more opportunities to shackle Aiko, they already have a Karmic relationship, so she doesn’t need to worry about Aiko suddenly leaving her.

’But I want to develop a deeper Karmic relationship so that I know where Aiko is at all times and how she is faring.’ Mei slowly nodded in her mind.

...

20 weeks passed and the Massage Chair was still functioning without any hiccups. This made Aiko incredibly happy, as she didn’t need to repair it.

At this moment, Mei returned from overseeing the business.

”I have the results.” Mei said gently. She moved Aiko on her lap and hugged her, pulling out the Bamboo Slip.

”Out of 1,100 test subjects for each Defensive Inscription... 5 of them were poisoned and 12 benefitted. Surprisingly, one of the poisoned ones was also one of those who benefitted.” Mei still couldn’t believe that guy.

Aiko was likewise surprised and asked. ”Does he have some special Bloodline?”

”Yes.” Mei nodded. ”His Bloodlines strengthens Poisons, so that might be the reason the Poison worked on him.”

”Right! The dosage. If it’s too much, it might overwhelm the Inscription.” Aiko nodded. ”But I don’t know how to strengthen the Inscription further.” She frowned.

”It’s fine, we can figure it out over time~” Mei soothed Aiko. ”How about we try Alchemy for a few months?” Mei would love her little swee- Servant to do Alchemy with her.

Aiko thought about it, she was stuck with this Inscription, but she still wished to finish it. With no way to complete it, it would be better if she changed the pace for the time being and learn something else so that she could come up with some kind of idea and fix her issue...

Aiko nodded. ”Let’s do that.”

Mei was stunned, she thought she had heard incorrectly. ”You will really try Alchemy?” Mei stared at Aiko up and down and wondered what possessed her.

”I don’t like learning things, but I didn’t say I dislike creating things.” Aiko pouted.

Mei laughed and hugged Aiko happily, this would make the curing process so much easier and thus it would allow her to find lower Grade Herbs which would work in the same way as high Grade Herbs.

Mei was ready to start with Aiko right this instance, but waited a few more days for her to finish with the Massage Chair business.

That’s when the incident happened...

...

”Why are you looking like that, Mei?” Aiko tilted her head. It was rare to see Mei be so disgusted.

”The Massage Chair was stained by one of our clients.” The disgusted expression only deepened.

Aiko made a similar disgusted expression. ”I did not have time to test it for myself...” Aiko sobbed.

”I know, she is banned until she is able to pay for the damages, but it would be better if we didn’t use that Massage Chair for ourselves...” Mei shook her head.

”That is indeed the case.” Aiko wholeheartedly agreed. She did not wish to use the same thing that someone stained.

”Should I go to the Forging Adept for more parts?” Mei asked.

”No... it would take too much time to recreate.” Aiko shook her head. ”What about Grandma, does she still want to use that chair?” Aiko asked, just in case.

”No.” Mei shook her head.

”Thought so...” Aiko sighed. ”What will we do now?”

”We can only close the business completely until you finish the Massage Chair that the Grandmaster can use.” Mei sighed, it was such a good business, but so quickly ruined...

Aiko nodded slowly. ”Next time we will cover the chair with waxed fabric, which will make it waterproof, so the only thing we will need to change is the padding and waxed fabric.” Aiko said.

”That is a good idea.” Mei nodded, like this, there would be less opposition to using the Massage Chairs that were stained.

”Of course, we will have our own little private Massage Chair for our use.” Aiko finished with that.

”That would be good. Maybe a few of them so that we don’t clash when we want to use it.” Mei still could remember that blissful feeling when her stiff muscles relaxed.

”Let’s do that.” Aiko nodded. ”About Alchemy, do we have everything?” Aiko glanced at Mei.

”I have prepared more than enough Herbs for you to learn, I will slowly teach you over time. It’s not good if you rush it.” Mei said much more gently than before. She was ecstatic that Aiko wished to practise Alchemy!

Aiko nodded. She was happy that Mei prepared everything, as she didn’t want to bother with other people...

...

”We put an end to their business, Mistress.” A Fox knelt in front of another far more beautiful Fox.

”Good. She dared to open such a dubious business that would put her at risk! It’s better that it’s closed. She doesn’t need anything else in her life other than me!” The Fox proclaimed while huffing. She could still remember that shocked expression, when she told her that information. That shocked expression made her wet and wanting.

She planned to slowly sap her sanity until she became a beautiful and obedient pet that would warm her bed...