Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

Aiko quietly cried that she was forgotten. It was difficult for her to see others happy and not include her.

”Say...” Aiko would just make her own fun.

”What is it?” Grandpa Flame slurped that soup before it burned inside his body.

”You are also a Dragon. Can you teach Feifei?” Aiko narrowed her eyes.

”Good idea...” Grandpa Flame nodded. ”I didn’t do it previously since I was missing my body, but with 2 other Dragons, the demonstration will go smoothly and without danger.” He nodded his head slowly and floated over to them.

”... That’s not what I wanted to do...” Aiko gently cried out as she was abandoned yet again.

...

Grandpa floated over to their side.

The Dragons and Feifei trained their eyes on them.

”It seems you went through that recently. How do you feel?” Grandpa Flame floated around Yueying.

”...?” Yueying tried to figure out who he was.

”I would be your Great, great...- Flood Dragon.” Grandpa Flame proclaimed before he kept going.

”You should’ve used all of her strength to test your limit and possibly break it...” Grandpa Flame kept floating around her.

”This insignificant youngling greets Grand Elder.” Yueying immediately bowed when the connection between them was established.

”Meh. Forget those kinds of things.” Grandpa Flame rolled his flames around. ”Why is that nasty thing attached to you?” He was watching what others could see. It was the string that connected the heart to the body.

”That’s my heart...” Yueying pursed her lips.

Grandpa Flame clicked his tongue. ”Someone is trying to purify it, but that nasty thing would be difficult to purify without the original owner.” He shook his head.

”Do you know what’s wrong with my heart?” Yueying’s eyes quivered.

”Eh.” Grandpa Flame could only make educated guesses from the string that attached those two things.

”It’s been polluted for many years and settled down inside that heart. It will be hard to combat with a weak mindset. You will feel worthless and unable to do much, but if you persevere...” Grandpa Flame narrowed his eyes.

’Two hearts... Aiko did something crazy again...’ Grandpa Flame almost extinguished himself when he noticed that. ”You will possibly become the most powerful Dragon there is. Maybe even True Dragon, but you won’t be able to contend against me any time soon.” He snorted arrogantly.

”Thank you for telling me this, Grand Elder.” Yueying was overjoyed that someone was able to tell what was wrong with her, but also not tattle on her.

She knew damn well that this Spiritual Flame was not normal, and since he could guess her heart’s condition, that also meant he could see her current heart.

”What do you think, Grand Elder?” Yueying was talking about her current heart.

”It’s bizarre, but you will make a fine partner for Aiko.” Grandpa Flame was completely unaware that Aiko didn’t make any moves. He was still convinced that she kidnapped these poor Dragons, like she did with Feifei.

Yueying blushed. ”T-that’s not true!”

”Oh, shut it.” Grandpa Flame rolled his flames. ”You are pretty much wrapped all around her!” He pointed at the tail that was sneakily wrapped around Aiko’s waist.

Aiko didn’t mind it since it kept her waist warm, and since she didn’t need to move around, she was more than happy to indulge Yueying.

Yueying’s face was completely dyed red, and she was stuttering like crazy.

”More sisters for me~!” Feifei fanned the flames like crazy, since she liked their facial features and kind demeanours.

”You didn’t even imprint, and you call yourself a Dragon...” Grandpa Flame clicked his tongue.

”Don’t give her ideas or my head will roll!” Yanyan immediately yelled at the stupid flame.

”Dragons need to be bold by nature, or they will live in oppression!” Grandpa Flame glared back.

”But my neck is on the line! No means no!” Yanyan immediately crossed her arms, making a big X.

”Tsk, meek bastards.” Grandpa Flame snorted harshly. If it were him, he would already imprint on her.

Someone like Aiko was like a comet, quickly coming, destroying and flying away. There was nothing to say that she would stay close to you for a prolonged period of time, so it was better to grasp that opportunity when it came.

Yueying was blushing. Yanyan was roaring against Grandpa Flame. Feifei was enjoying all of it in the middle.

Meanwhile, Aiko was sipping her soup. ”I’m completely left alone...” She sighed as she watched the chaos unfold.

...

The next day, everyone calmed down.

It was obvious that Yueying was more conscious of Aiko and that there was strange tension between Grandpa Flame and Yanyan.

Aiko chose to ignore all of that. She would let Feifei outside until they found that Treasure, and then she would stash her away.

This would allow Feifei to enjoy her time outside with someone who was close to her.

It was important for her stable mind after all she experienced. Healing her injuries was important, even if others couldn’t see them.

Feifei suddenly nudged Aiko.

”Hm?” Aiko tilted her head.

”There is a strange plant lady pursuing me...” Feifei immediately got to the topic.

”...?” Aiko was confused, but then she remembered the Flower Demon.

”What’s wrong with her?” Aiko blinked.

”Is she safe?” Feifei quite liked her attention, but she was worried that she would be hurt.

”She is a bit odd, but she isn’t bad...” Aiko concluded.

-----

Feifei floated around inside Aiko’s tails. It was not so empty any more, since there were many new Demonic Foxes coming in.

Everyone immediately mingled with each other.

Soon, there were even stranger creatures coming in. They would haphazardly change their looks, making Feifei confused.

At that moment, something hugged her.

”You smell delicious.” Yuqi playfully tasted her.

”Ah?!” Feifei yelped since she was startled, and everyone trained their eyes on her.

Feifei was a cute treasure to be protected, so they immediately glared at Yuqi.

”Hey hey! I didn’t do anything!” Yuqi felt she was being wronged.

”Who are you?” Feifei was startled, but still curious.

The Demonic Foxes wanted to answer instead, but the Demonic Saintess stopped them.

”I’m a Flower Demon.” Yuqi smiled happily and got close to Feifei again.

She sniffed her gently before circling her.

”You truly smell delicious. How about being with me~?” Yuqi was quite happy, but Feifei stopped her hug by instinct.

”Is she safe?” Feifei asked everyone, especially the newcomers.

The Demonic Foxes from the Sacred Realm were conflicted, since the Plant Demons liked taking their things, but she never hurt them in any way.

She could also tattle on them with Humans and sell their techniques, but that also never happened.

It was hard to say if she was good or bad, so they remained silent.

”I will ask Aiko then...” Feifei sighed. If this was so complicated, it was safer to ask Aiko.

”What is she to you?” Yuqi tilted her head.

”My goddess that saved me~!” Feifei giggled. She had already drawn many pictures of Aiko, but they were not good enough yet. She needed to improve more before sharing them.

”...” Yuqi felt like everyone around her was odd, but she really liked this girl.

’There is no sun here, so I need to sustain myself. That would be easy with the other Demonic Foxes, but this girl is special...’ That alluring, irresistible scent made her quite horny, but Yuqi wouldn’t act on her impulses. It would be bad if ’Feifei’ were scared so quickly!

-----

Feifei finished her quick narration of events, and Aiko’s head throbbed.

”Well, she should be fine... but you should be careful.” Aiko patted Feifei. ”It’s important how you feel about it, okay?”

Aiko had no problem kicking Yuqi out if it meant Feifei wasn’t comfortable with her approach.

”Okay, I will try to talk to her and figure it out.” Feifei smiled happily before running to the other two Dragons.

They resumed their journey through the foggy forest.

Burning their way inside, there were many who were following them, yet none dared to get even close to them.

They were always at least 100 metres behind them, making it seem like they were just collecting crumbs and not engaging with Aiko’s group.

That was fine by Aiko. As long as they haven’t approached their group, everything would be alright.

...

It took them a while, but they managed to get to the middle of the forest. The journey was without any hiccups thanks to Grandpa Flames.

They pretty much cheated their way in and didn’t suffer any casualties. They didn’t lose stamina or energy.

”It should be to the right here?” Yueying tilted her head.

Yanyan shook her head. ”That is a dummy; the real one is in the middle.” While Yueying was more sensitive than her, she still lacked the necessary experience to understand what the real thing was and what wasn’t.

This is where Yanyan’s expertise came in, and she was able to demonstrate that brute strength or sensitive senses weren’t everything.

Aiko nodded, and Grandpa Flame burned in the direction where Yanyan pointed.

The Cultivators around were lured by that fake Natural Treasure and were ambushed by the fog monsters.

They quickly fell prey to them, making everyone even more wary.

They already heard rumours about a certain Fox with vicious tendencies, yet beautiful visuals.

As such, most Human Cultivators avoided overly beautiful Foxes. It would be bad if they fell prey to her and made her even more powerful...

Aiko didn’t care about being followed as long as they didn’t get too close.

...

The group arrived in front of a large pond.

Aiko looked curiously around.

There were no visible Herbs, but there was something strange about this pond.

”Aiko?” Yueying tilted her head.

”What is it?” Aiko already stepped into that pond and was looking at what was wrong with it.

”Aren’t you a bit hasty?” Yueying pursed her lips.

”Can you vaporise the pond?” Aiko immediately tilted her head at her Grandpa Flame.

”That is an easy task, but I won’t be able to hold back the fog then.” Grandpa Flame shrugged as his flame rolled around.

”That is fine. If we get rid of this pond, the fog will naturally go away.” Aiko smiled sinisterly, and everyone was wondering what Aiko was up to...