Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

Aiko was scavenging their base, since someone seemed to be lost.

”Where is the Blood Fox?” Aiko tilted her head. She believed that the Blood Fox would be the one that would train the most, but that was not the case!

When she hid behind the Dragon, she noticed that the Blood Fox was missing.

At first, Aiko thought that she had gone further away, since she was the weakest, but even after a long time, nothing changed? How strange...

Aiko could only shake her head and wait for the Blood Fox to return. She did know the general direction where the Blood Fox went, thanks to the contract, but that didn’t mean she wanted to walk so far away from her current base.

Moreover, when Aiko tried to ask around, most of them said that she went training, which Aiko found suspicious. Was there any better place to train than with a freaking Dragon?!

Aiko could only sigh at her team.

...

After a few days, Mei completely recovered her energy.

”I will be going to Cultivate my Tails.” Mei said with a smile. With the right combination of Tails and Cultivation, it should be possible to achieve Kitsune form before ascension, but she was not entirely sure about it.

She would give it a try since she had nothing to lose.

Aiko observed Mei suspiciously, but since she couldn’t figure out what was wrong with everyone, she soon gave up and went to the Dragon for comfort.

”What do you need, little one?” The Dragon gazed at Aiko and wondered what kind of shenanigans she would do this time.

”I have this Lamp that is partially broken. Can it be repaired?” Aiko glanced at the Dragon and pulled out a [100 Ghost Parade Lamp].

”Oh?” The Dragon blinked with amusement and interest. ”I had never imagined that I would find the 10,000 Ghost Parade Sacred Lamp.” He observed the Lamp with curiosity.

”It’s just [100 Ghost Parade Lamp].” Aiko corrected him.

”No, this is a genuine 10,000 Ghost Parade Sacred Lamp.” The Dragon denied Aiko’s claim. ”The only difference is the degradation, but the material and everything surrounding it gives the genuine feeling of the 10,000 Ghost Parade Sacred Lamp!” He proclaimed happily.

”I could never imagine that I would encounter such a Treasure. Where did you get this, little one?” The Dragon was interested in Aiko’s story.

”Well...” Aiko started to narrate her journey all the while thinking about the system.

...

Aiko finished her story and her thought process. It was obvious that the system was not omnipotent, but it would adjust its knowledge according to what Aiko heard or was entitled to.

For instance, this Lamp degraded so much that its name changed... is what Aiko thought.

After all, her Cultivation Techniques were likewise changed when Aiko observed them closely with the system.

’It’s possible I missed some Treasures, just because the system was unable to appraise them.’ Aiko nodded to herself.

”What a wild journey...” The Dragon was in disbelief. He did not want to believe that the Lamp was used for debauchery! What a waste!

”Can it be repaired?” Aiko asked again.

”That is unlikely with your current tools and resources.” The Dragon didn’t hide anything.

”Why?” Aiko didn’t understand it.

”Look here.” The Dragon pointed at the Inscription that Aiko had created. ”See this?” He asked the little Fox.

”Yes, I created that one.” Aiko nodded, but she still couldn’t understand what was wrong with it.

”Try touching it.” The Dragon chuckled.

Aiko gently touched it, but the Runes smudged- no, they turned into dust.

”What the?!” The surrounding was gently flooded with Ghost Qi.

”The Inscription Ink is useful for normal Inscription and tools, but when you slap it on superior equipment, the Inscription would keep burning and burning.” The Dragon chuckled. ”As such, those Treasures are quite temporary, unless you have the resources for special Ink that could bear the pressure of the Runes.” He slowly explained the history and uses behind it.

”Oh...” Aiko nodded. ”But I can repair my Inscription, right?” She asked the Dragon and she hoped that it would be the case.

”You can, as long as the Ghosts inside are not too vicious, they won’t burn as much of the Inscription Ink.” The Dragon nodded. ”But... you are storing only one Ghost?” He tilted his head.

”She is... quite chubby?” Aiko coughed awkwardly.

The Dragon choked slightly. ”No wonder.” He coughed awkwardly and changed the topic. ”You can repair it, I will gather Qi for you into a mist, so you can create a more powerful Inscription.” The Dragon patted Aiko happily. It was a good thing to have two very talented daughters!

Aiko nodded. She would try to patch this thing up until she got the proper resources for the special Inscription Ink that would be able to sustain this for a long time.

And even if it couldn’t sustain forever, she could always just patch it up, since it would be her Inscription.

Aiko smiled happily and waited.

...

The Dragon gathered thick Qi for Aiko. It no longer was a mist, but it felt more like a swamp. The pressure was no joke and Aiko wondered if it would be safe...

”It will be fine.” The Dragon was confident that Aiko would be unable to consume all the Qi he gathered from the ambient Qi.

Aiko blinked a few times. ’If you say so...’ She did not say those words out loud, since she would definitely get scolded for it, but it was fine to badmouth the Dragon in her mind.

Aiko prepared her tools for Inscribing and the Dragon was startled.

”Is that Spiritual Carving Tool?” The Dragon blinked a few times. Inscription Tools that also hosted Spirits were exceptionally rare and even rarer were those that could be autonomous.

”Something like that.” Aiko did not understand it completely, so she replied vaguely. She would definitely need to research this later, so that she could answer these mean questions.

The Dragon sighed. ’What a lucky little Fox, most Inscription Cultivators would wipe their whole families just to obtain such a thing. She will definitely have a hard life...’ He could only shake his head, since this was little Aiko’s journey and not his. However, he would try to support her to the best of his abilities!

Aiko prepared the Inscription Ink with everything and her skills activated the moment she created the first groove.

Sparks flew everywhere as Aiko created a more elaborate Inscription, thanks to the fact that she wrote that story and created more Massage Chairs.

The Dragon was immediately shocked, since the ambient Qi that made a small swamp was declining way too rapidly!

’She didn’t complete even 10% and she almost depleted the Qi that I gathered?!’ The Dragon felt that this was absurd, but his eyes did not lie! His body was also experiencing the effects of the sudden decline of the ambient Qi.

A chill went down his spine and he started to gather more Qi for Aiko.

’She is not yet applying the Ink, I wonder why...’ The Dragon was confused, since most people would use the engraving tool to also impart the Qi into the grooves, but Aiko was not doing that...? Why?

He could only watch as the small Fox was working her magic. The others were likewise startled since they felt the ambient Qi decline quite quickly.

Mei was the calmest, since she already expected Aiko to do something like this. Aiko was calm for too long to not cause any trouble.

’I will have to gather more things for her Evolution.’ The Dragon sweated and Mei chuckled.

”What’s so funny?!” The Dragon glared at his old friend.

”Nothing~” Mei chuckled with glee.

A vein throbbed on the Dragon’s forehead, but he would not be so childish as to attack his old friend over this. He is an adult, a very old one, so he should maintain his calm-

”You little brat! Stop stealing all the Qi that I gather!” The Dragon could no longer bear the insane requirements that Aiko set up to do.

”Don’t worry, I’m missing just a few lines.” Aiko replied expressionlessly, since she was too focused on her Inscription.

”Just a few lines my butt! Stop it now!” The Dragon could no longer gather enough Qi to satisfy the small gluttonous Inscription.

”Aaaaand finished!” Aiko wiped out the nonexistent sweat and smiled gently at the Dragon.

”Stop smiling! I won’t help you next time!” The Dragon snorted unhappily. This little Fox devoured too much ambient Qi! If he didn’t gather enough in time, she could shatter this small realm easily!

Then they would be doomed as they would only exist in the space between the Mortal World and the Secret Realm.

The Dragon huffed in annoyance. Mei said she would be going to Cultivate her Tails, but she was smirking at him right now!

The Dragon was beyond annoyed and he hid his head under his wing. No way would he entertain those two devils!

Aiko tilted her head. ”It seems Grandpa is sleepy.” She nodded her head gently.

The Dragon quivered with anger, but since he was the adult, he would not take it on them.

”Maybe he is constipated?” Aiko suddenly blurted out and Mei burst out laughing.

”Constipated?! Who is constipated?! You are constipated!” The Dragon could not curse. He would not curse. He was an angel in Dragon’s form. Moreover, he was also a revered Dragon! No way would he curse at them!

”Mei, I think Grandpa will need Pills for consti- Kyaaa!” Aiko started running around as the Dragon kept burning the ground behind Aiko.

”I will show you who is constipated!” The Dragon huffed as he kept burning the ground behind her. He would do this for some time, so that Aiko would understand her wrongdoing!

Meanwhile, Mei was laughing her ass off. There was no way that the majestic Dragon would not be upset at her. Aiko was pretty much asking for some kind of punishment with her words and a punishment she got!

Aiko kept calling towards Mei for help, but she just kept laughing.

”What’s so funny?” The Dragon growled at Mei.

”What? You want to go at it?” Mei growled back and a spark flew between their eyes. Both of them were ready to duke it out.

”Can you manage your Mate?” The Dragon huffed in annoyance.

”That is too bad, since I’m Cultivating my Tails.” Mei touched her face with her hand, looking all troubled.

The Dragon breathed another fire, but Mei easily diverted it.

”I’m being serious here.” The Dragon huffed.

”I’m being serious, too.” Mei narrowed her eyes. ”Moreover, I will soon be undergoing Evolution, so you will be taking care of her.”

”You are fucking joking with me, right?” The Dragon felt a cold sweat on his body. It was not truly a sweat, but his bad mood, but who could tell.

Mei chuckled. ”Don’t worry, if you give her tasty meat, she will leave you alone.” She chuckled with a mean smile on her lips.

”Does she like monkeys?” The Dragon coughed.

”Meat is meat.” Mei shrugged.

The Dragon could only sigh, it seemed like his fate was to be a babysitter and a cook...