Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

Moon Aiko tried to throw it a few times, but the weight was always off. The materials they put inside were irregular, so the weight always changed slightly, making it impossible to accurately guess the distance.

If she knew a bit more about the materials it might be possible, but this was just...

Moon Aiko shook her head gently. It would be difficult to guess the distance without experience, so she just settled to where it would land.

Then it was just a waiting game until it-

*nudge nudge*

”...” Moon Aiko felt fortunate that it actually worked so quickly, so she didn’t need to wait for too long, but...

’It’s heavyyyyy.’ Moon Aiko tried to reel in the string with the fish, but that thing was so damn heavy!

It took her a few minutes to reel it onto the shore.

*huff huff*

Moon Aiko was out of breath since she was not really used to muscle work like the others, but she also wanted to get some resources since they were willing to let her.

Free resources just for a bit of time and energy!? She would be against herself not to take it!

Moon Aiko nodded her head repeatedly.

”What is next?” Moon Aiko looked at the old birdie and waited for instructions.

”Now you lift it and beat the shit out of it!” The old birdie laughed, only to get an incredulous look from the Foxy.

”What?” The old birdie tilted his head.

”Heavy.” Moon Aiko made an X with her hands, like she was saying that it was impossible for her to lift it.

”Oh...” The old birdie didn’t expect that would be an issue. ”How about beating it up...?”

”You want to break every bone in my hand?!” Moon Aiko glared at him.

”...” The old birdie scratched his head.

Then Moon Aiko inspected the fish and had a devilish idea.

”Do you have a rope?” Moon Aiko smiled gently, but the birdies around her shuddered.

”Uh, sure.” The old birdie was not as affected since he was strong.

Moon Aiko used the string and blob to tie the rope while the fish was smirking at her.

Moon Aiko slapped the fish for that smirk, but it was really, really tough!

”Tsk.” Moon Aiko clicked her tongue, displeased at that smirk. Like it was telling her: This metal is mine, whatcha gonna do about it~?

”Hehe~” Moon Aiko made that devilish smile and the birdies paused from fishing.

They wanted to know what this cute Foxy was plotting with this fish.

”Can you help me?” Moon Aiko came over the most muscular birdie and made cutesy eyes.

”Ugh.” It was super effective on birdies that were always surrounded with muscles.

He followed that Foxy obediently, took the rope that she was giving him and-

”Now spin it~” Moon Aiko smiled from ear to ear.”

”Huh?” The birdie snapped out of it and looked at the Foxy incredulously.

”And you better digest that metal quickly.” Moon Aiko tapped that fish with a smile that was reserved for devils.

Both the birdies and fish shuddered. They didn’t expect this at all, but it wouldn’t work since they already tried it.

The birdie still spun the fish around. It was quite heavy so it was difficult, but once it took off it was easier to manage.

”Keep spinning, keep spinning~” Moon Aiko was jumping around like a cheerleader, invigorating the birdies. This was her plan to keep them going since it would take a while until-

*Ffffffrt*

A wet fart left from the fish, it seemed like it was doing its best to keep those metals inside, but-

As the fish kept spinning around and around its eyes started to spin and its muscles loosened.

*Ffffffffffrt*

And it ripped well, all the somewhat digested metal left from the other side as the fish was unable to keep it inside.

Moon Aiko skilfully caught that metal into a pan, but the impact was quite heavy, so she missed a few parts.

The birdies were staring at this speechlessly. Sure it took a lot of time to get it out of the fish this way, but their hands wouldn’t be injured, and the fish would also not be injured... mostly.

This way they would be able to increase the production so much that their Ancestor would be able to make anything she wanted every day!

”Say, can I bring some Foxes over.” Moon Aiko huffed being completely out of breath and her hands quivered from the impact.

”Just some? Bring all of them! This kind of thing can’t be repaid easily!” The old birdie understood the implication of this new method of extracting metals.

The digested metals had most of its impurities removed and you had malleable and easy to store. It didn’t need to go through a second smelting, they didn’t need to use Pills to heal their wounds and they didn’t need to wait for the fish to heal!

As long as the volcano produced lava and thus metals they would be able to extract, extract, extract!

”We should adjust this method to get as much metal as possible.” The old birdie murmured, already making mental notes for a few test mechanisms that would allow them to keep most of the metal.

He looked at the fish, walking close to it and checking its state.

The fish was just dizzy, nothing else was wrong with her, but they couldn’t return it into the lava immediately. It was better to feed it the metal it was trying to swallow and keep it on shore until it woke up. That way even if it sank it wouldn’t be eaten by other fish immediately.

”Is there something wrong?” Moon Aiko was concerned that her method wouldn’t work.

”Nothing is wrong.” Even if the fish wouldn’t wake up for an hour, it would still net great benefits since they didn’t need the Pills from the Elephant and Deer!

”Go get the Foxes you would like and we will welcome them.” The old birdie shooed her, since he was curious who she would bring.

”But I will need some Treasures that can keep the heat out. I won’t be able to bring the Foxes over otherwise.” Moon Aiko shook her head.

”There are some in that house, take them ’em and come back.” The old birdie was looking forward to what this Foxy would bring over, so he wouldn’t mind sparing a few Treasures for it.

After all, when they were born, they wouldn’t be able to bear the heat. They were but a simple crows that liked shinies. However, thanks to the star that was in the middle of the core room, they all earned the ability to manipulate fire.

Moon Aiko smiled and immediately went into the house to pick like 20 of those Treasures. She would equip the Muscle Foxes and hehe~.

Moon Aiko smirked as she ran back into the meadow through the Movement Array.

...

Moon Aiko came over to the Muscle Foxes, who were adjusting the houses since they didn’t have anything to do.

”Who would like to assist me with some heavy labour~?” Moon Aiko shouted.

And as expected. Every. Single. Muscle Fox. Turned towards her with scary eyes.

Moon Aiko almost hiccuped, since she didn’t expect this kind of enthusiasm.

”I can only take 20 with me.” Moon Aiko immediately said the limiting number and everyone turned against each other.

Flexing muscles, playing fist, open hand and eye-poke, and other games to decide who would go first.

Of course the Muscle Foxes intended to swap out after a few hours, since ’heavy labour’ for the Vicious Jade Fox was quite the extreme thing, always.

So they were considering who had the most stamina to test the waters too. It would be bad if the work was so heavy they wouldn’t be able to finish even an hour of it.

Moon Aiko distributed the Treasures that would raise their heat resistance before returning over to the Movement Array with them.

The other Foxes were also curious why the Vicious Jade Fox needed them, but they were not brave enough to ask anything.

...

Over at the other side, the Muscle Foxes were stunned.

”How bleak.”

”How hot.”

”How awesome.”

The Muscle Foxes chuckled. This was a different kind of heavy labour for sure, since the intense heat would complicate everything. And sure, they did have those precious Treasures, but that didn’t mean it could completely block the heat.

”Let’s go fishing~” Moon Aiko smiled, while the Muscle Foxes paused.

’Fishing?’

’Don’t look at me like that. I heard the same.’

’It’s the thing where you pull that frail string right?’

’For sure.’

’Hmmmmm.’

’Hmmmmm.’

’Hmmmmm.’

The Muscle Foxes still followed the Vicious Jade Fox, since they knew that her words always held meaning. If she said heavy labour, they would get heavy labour!

They walked over to the ’fishery’ only to be stunned.

Humans were swinging ropes around with fish, that shat out metals out of their rears and considering how much their muscles bulged...

The birdies noticed the Muscle Foxes, there was a brief spark between them as they narrowed their eyes at each other.

The Muscle Foxes approached the birdies. The birdies placed down their tools and fish and approached the Muscle Foxes.

The Muscles Foxes ran their hands through their hair while flexing their muscles.

The birdies ran their hands through their hair while also flexing muscles.

Another spark flew between them and-

”AYAYA~”

”HAAAAAA!”

A moment later the Muscle Foxes were swinging the fish around like the birdies and the birdies were crying for how beautiful this moment was.

Meanwhile, Moon Aiko stood on the side, not understanding a thing that happened. At first, she thought they would fight, but they just got really close with their chests and flexed their muscles at each other.

Then the birdies taunted the Foxes by dead-lifting several fishing rods at the same time.

Then the Muscle Foxes did the same and bromance bloomed...?

Moon Aiko was confused but seeing them swing the fish around happily-

”Money~” Moon Aiko rubbed her hands with a capitalistic look in her eyes. They would be able to create more heat resistance Treasures from these metals and be able to bring more Muscle Foxes over and thus earn even more metals!

Of course, she would get permission first.

”You got me good.” The previously frail old birdie turned into muscle bulging giant.

”Yohooooooo!” The birdies cheered like there was some kind of competition going on.

The old overly muscular birdie took a fishing pole and they raced to see who would be able to swing the most fishes!

”...” Moon Aiko gave up on thinking. She would like to swing the fish around too, but her strength was not enough...

’No, isn’t that ridiculous? I’m as strong as an Early-Peak Tribulation Transcendence Stage and I can’t swing it?!’ Moon Aiko found it ridiculous, but did this mean those Muscle Foxes were even stronger than her...?

’It’s better to give up thinking, I can beat them with my brain anyway.’ Moon Aiko comforted herself while watching the fish shit the metals out of their rears.