Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

{Grandmaster’s abode}

Mei and Aiko returned to their ’home’. Mei wanted to start teaching Alchemy once again, but there was also the problem of Aiko’s Divine Sense.

That needs to be solved as soon as possible, so she can teach both things at the same time.

She knew that Aiko was smart, so this should be no issue for her.

”First thing first~” Mei hummed. Training Divine Sense was always fun since it always starts with destruction.

Mei placed small firewood logs in front of Aiko. ”You will use your Divine Sense to crush them.”

Animalistic Divine Sense could not be used for scouting as it would crush everything in its path, as such you had to teach the Divine Sense what it should or should not do.

Aiko focused on that hateful log, a large shadow appeared above her. It snorted unhappily, slapping the log away.

Mei blinked a few times. She had seen these kinds of Divine Sense only from Dragons, was Aiko part Dragon?

Mei tilted her head. How was she supposed to train Aiko?

She placed another log a bit further and Aiko once again stared at it hatefully.

A shadow manifested above Aiko once again. It glanced at Mei before glancing at Aiko. It sighed before slapping the log away once again.

”...” Mei was speechless. She would have to ask the Grandmaster about this, but for now, this should work... right?

Mei kept placing logs further and further from Aiko. This would teach the Divine Sense to stretch its body as the Cultivator willed.

This was an important part of the ’sensing’ type of Divine Sense.

They did it further and further until the shadowy beast refused to cooperate. So far it was hitting the log within its range, but now that it was outside its range, it refused to move...

Mei would have to definitely ask the Grandmaster about Divine Sense as she did not teach it enough times to deal with these strange irregularities...

...

{Visiting the Grandmaster: Backroom inside the Massage Chair business}

”Dog-like Divine Sense?” The Grandmaster tilted her head.

Mei could only nod with a sigh. ”Once it got out of its paws range, it refused to move.”

”Maybe you are going about this incorrectly?” The Grandmaster asked Mei once she read her mind.

”Pardon?” Mei tilted her head.

”This looks like one of those Dragon Divine Senses, but not at the same time. It would be better to start with combat before you extend its influence.” Dai Lu nudged Mei in a strange direction.

It took Mei a while to realise what Dai Lu was planning.

”Oh! To improve her Divine Sense control, we first need for ’it’ to move!” Mei nodded in understanding and Dai Lu smiled.

Mei had her own weaknesses, but the most severe one was the distorted time. She perceived time at a different pace than others, which made certain things difficult. Moreover, she also dwelled on certain things a bit too long...

”Now, go go.” Dai Lu shooed Mei away. ”I still have a lot of work to do.” She chuckled.

Mei nodded. ”Thank you for your guidance.” She gently bowed, leaving Dai Lu alone...

”I can’t believe that scum betrayed her... she is such a cute and kind girl...” Dai Lu shook her head, but did not bring this matter to light. She was likewise betrayed, so it would be strange to talk about it...

...

{Grandmaster’s abode}

Mei grabbed Aiko and they went to the desolate place where they could train.

”You will fight me.” Mei said gently, startling Aiko.

”But I don’t want to...” Aiko refused. She didn’t want to hurt Mei.

”I’m much stronger than you are.” Mei reassured Aiko, but she gave her a doubtful look nonetheless.

”But you are to attack me only with your Divine Sense.” Mei finished her explanation.

”Oh...” Aiko nodded gently. This way it should be safer, right?

”How do I attack with my Divine Sense?” Aiko did not know how. It took all of her focus just to move it.

”We will be playing a tag and you will try to target me with your thoughts.” Mei elaborated.

”Will you be alright?” Aiko was still worried that she would hurt Mei.

”It’s fine.” Mei smiled gently.

The game of tag commenced.

Aiko was not able to keep up with Mei’s speed, since she used earth to her advantage.

It was a strange feeling that Aiko could not catch up to her...

No matter how much Aiko sped up, Mei was always faster...

...

*Wheeze Wheeze*

Aiko was lying on the ground refusing to move. Her stamina was rock bottom and she was exhausted.

Meanwhile, Mei was smiling happily on her side! This was unfair! At least show some sweat!

Aiko could not even pout as she had to breathe to calm down her body.

”I didn’t think you would have such a little stamina...” Mei shook her head, teasing Aiko.

Aiko glared at her hatefully and her Divine Sense attacked.

Mei gracefully dodged as she had already expected it.

Aiko looked sad, not because she didn’t hit Mei, but because her Divine Sense was a mess... At this time she did not wish to attack Mei, but the Divine Sense still attacked.

”It will take time, let’s play with logs until you catch your breath.” Mei smiled gently, but inside was shocked.

’What kind of monstrous stamina does she have?!’ Mei was left speechless and worried that her cute little servant would overtake her...

’It seems I will have to train again...’ Mei narrowed her eyes.

...

They rested a bit before her sulking Divine Sense played with the logs, but this time it even extended its paw past its limits.

Mei was overjoyed and would give Dai Lu more nice Pills as a thank-you.

The more she observed the Divine Sense, the stranger it became.

’Is that a wolf?’ Mei tilted her head.

It was strange, very strange. If Aiko had some kind of ’Divine Sense Manifestation’ it would be as Dragon’s as those have different Divine Sense, but this shadow felt like a different entity on its own...

’How do I deal with it? Can it even be trained?’ It’s been a while since Mei doubted her teaching capabilities, but she had to say that Aiko was everything, but normal...

’I have no idea what it will do, but fortunately, it can’t hurt Aiko.’ Mei sighed. It seemed like the strange shadowy wolf got bored with the small logs...

”How is your stamina?” Mei asked.

”I will have to meditate to replenish stamina...” Aiko said. While she was no longer panting, her Stamina was far from replenished.

”Here.” Mei gave Aiko a Pill that would improve the recovery of her Stamina.

”Candy.” Aiko took it and munched on it, but before she could bite into it, Mei used her Divine Sense to send it down Aiko’s throat.

”My candy...” Aiko sniffled. She was hungry and wanted to slowly munch on it, but Mei was ruthless in this aspect...

”I will give you candies later, you need to dissolve that Pill and circulate its effects.” Mei was stern when it came to Pills, so that Aiko would learn to circulate it every time. She didn’t want to encounter the previous incident!

Aiko sobbed, but still circulated her Energy.

[Your body consumed [Recovery Pill (Stamina): Grade 3 (Low)]. Your Stamina will recover at 10x the normal speed. (Time: 29:59)(Quality of the Pill is too low to affect Recovery Skills)]

Aiko circulated while glancing at the system from time to time. This was a much better system than she previously experienced, no matter what she did or ate, it would never tell her things like this...

Aiko was overjoyed that she now had a way to know more things about this world without needing to read or do some weird chants...

It took a while, but with the additional help from Mei’s internal energy, Aiko was able to recover her Stamina completely.

”Let’s restart the chase.” Mei smiled.

Aiko nodded, ready to chase Mei...

...

Days went by like a flowing river. Aiko was getting better and better at chasing Mei.

’I should be able to catch up to Mei soon...’ Aiko did not level up this whole time. It seems that either her body needed different nutrition or the system made it more difficult.

This was not necessarily a bad thing...

[Your [Lightness Technique] improved. You have grasped the basics: 6/9]

Aiko wondered what would happen once she grasped the basics. She was looking forward to that time.

Her Divine Sense was not tame at all, but it was more lively. Aiko had trouble controlling it, as it was easier to rouse action from it. She had to pay attention to her behaviour, as she once accidentally crushed a whole table because she stubbed her toe!

It would be bad if she bumped into a wall and destroyed the whole building! So Aiko had to pay close attention to her behaviour.

As such, her maturity drastically sped up.

She even heard the Blood Fox pouting that the cute Aiko was nowhere to be seen, so Aiko had to indulge them from time to time... she liked being spoiled...

...

”Can we do something else?” Aiko in her big form asked.

”What do you have in mind?” Mei was very accommodating as Aiko was working hard.

”I would like to make this.” Aiko placed a plan in front of Mei.

Mei picked it up. It was a strange writing and Mei narrowed her eyes.

”Why do you want to make a hole in our roof?” Mei questioned Aiko.

”It’s not a hole. It’s a special one-way Inscription that would allow me to bathe in the Moon rays.” Aiko elaborated.

”And what is this?” Mei narrowed her eyes.

”Doodles...” Aiko whistled away. She didn’t want to tell Mei about her next mission.

[Special Advancement Mission!]

[Create the most elaborate Inscription possible.]

[Rewards will be given depending on your Skill.]

[Minimum Reward: [Inscription Apprentice (9th Mid-Grade Inscription Cultivator)]]

[Maximum Reward:[Inscription Apprentice (1st High-Grade Inscription Cultivator)]]

[Placement depends on how well you know the Inscriptions in the given stage. 9th means the lowest amount of knowledge, while 1st is the highest possible.]

Aiko nodded gently at the system. She liked these kinds of missions where there was no penalty.

She could take her time and slowly build it up as there was also no time limit. This would improve her Profession and Aiko wondered what it might cause. Will it unlock something new? Will it improve her current Skills? Or was it just a ’Badge of Honour’?

She really wanted to find out~!