Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

Passing through the overbearingly hot cave, Aiko arrived at a water cave.

’Now it’s water...’ Fortunately, Aiko already knew how to keep her tails dry; she would have to figure out the dirt part too.

For a moment, Aiko groaned unhappily. It was not like the entire cave was submerged, but she went from a sand-dry cave to a humid-ass-jungle.

Neither of those she liked, but she was more inclined towards the dryness than the wetness.

Aiko shook her head as she used her [Gale Steps]. They didn’t consume as much Beast Core Energy as she suspected, since she was not really going for speed, but for simple levitation.

This place didn’t have the movement restriction like the previous room, but it still wouldn’t allow Aiko to move her body through the shadows.

It might’ve been because of the water, or maybe there was a partial restriction on the movement.

Aiko didn’t mind that part, since the water cave was simple.

She managed to get past it and arrived at another large cave opening.

This place had once again that familiar square board, but this time it outlined black and white stones.

”Ugh, not this again...” Nightmare Aiko groaned unhappily.

”What’s wrong?” A gentle voice drifted into Aiko’s ears from the opposite side of the room.

”I don’t like Go, everyone always bullies me when I play it...” Aiko didn’t feel any negative intentions from her, so she didn’t mind sharing this.

”And from whom did you learn it?” That gentle person asked again. For some reason, she was too far for Aiko to see her, but that shouldn’t be the case!

Aiko could see really far away, and this place was not that big that she couldn’t see her. In other words, that person was using some kind of technique once again...

Aiko avoided her gaze, since it couldn’t be said she had a teacher.

That female shook her head slowly.

”You can call me Wei Bixiang.” Wei Bixiang gestured towards the little Fox to move to a different place.

Aiko followed slowly as she returned to her ’human’ form. ”Are you the person that is overseeing this Inheritance Site?” She was wondering if this person was the last boss.

”Why yes. I’m that person, but also not quite like that.” Wei Bixiang chuckled as she led the little Fox to her place.

”What do you mean by that?” Aiko tilted her head.

”I’m still alive, unlike everyone else.” Wei Bixiang giggled. She was curious about what kind of stories this little Fox could tell her.

”But you are a Ghost.” Aiko blinked a few times, but no matter what she did, in front of her was still a Ghost.

”Not quite. It’s just a small part of my Soul.” Wei Bixiang shook her head. It was difficult to explain this to someone in the Mortal World, as they have no means to accomplish what she did.

”So you are here and not at the same time?” Nightmare Aiko couldn’t really wrap her head around it, so she switched with Moon Aiko.

”But wouldn’t that be exhausting?” Moon Aiko narrowed her eyes.

”A bit...” Wei Bixiang nodded. ”But I’m not doing this every day, only when someone clears all the tests.”

”I have not cleared them yet.” Aiko rolled her eyes.

”Certainly, but you are not far either. I could not feel any kind of Go skills from you, so it would be difficult to clear the last part.” Wei Bixiang glanced at the now adult Fox. She quite liked how she could switch the colour of her hair. She would never be able to get tired of that.

”But there is also no need to go out of your way to help me.” Moon Aiko paused her steps.

Wei Bixiang paused her steps, too. It was strange that she was so indulgent, but maybe she could call this a cheating day?

”That is a fair point.” Wei Bixiang nodded her head slowly. She appreciated that the little Fox didn’t completely trust her. ”I suppose... I’m quite curious about the person who gathered so many Blessings, while also not being Heaven’s Chosen.”

”You can see them?” Aiko squinted her eyes. Was this the first time someone noticed her Blessings?

”Yes. I’m not a Ghost and I’m not a Mortal. I’m quite sensitive to energies, so it’s only natural that I would see them.” Wei Bixiang paused her words for a moment. ”Well, ’seeing’ them might be an exaggeration. I can’t ’see’ them in a way you can see your surroundings, but it’s also not like I can ’feel’ them.”

She paused her thoughts for a moment. Wei Bixiang was quite the doting teacher and she was always looking for ways on how to explain everything to her students.

This little Fox was far from her student, but she was exceptional enough that she might become one.

”Have you ever experienced ’Spiritual Seeking’?” Wei Bixiang stared at the little Fox, who was completely oblivious to her words.

”Hmmmm...” This was very difficult for her, much more difficult than any of her previous students.

But she liked this Fox more than that ’harem protagonist’, even if she had a similar air to him.

’No, she feels more bratty?’ Wei Bixiang narrowed her eyes.

”What does ’Spiritual Seeking’ do?” Aiko was quite curious about it since it felt important to her.

”Spiritual Seeking is a profession in which you are looking for stones that have Jade inside.” Wei Bixiang summed it up briefly, but then she added. ”As you climb the ladder of sensitivity, you will be able to appraise Spirit Stone Mines, Spirit Stone Floating Island and eventually be good enough to actually find them.”

Aiko’s ears perked up, and her single tail wagged happily.

Wei Bixiang giggled at her non-expressive face, yet expressive features. She found it quite cute.

’She is not as cute as the Phoenix girl, but that might change over time.’ Wei Bixiang gently licked her lips. For some reason, she was looking forward to her growth.

”How can I learn that?” Moon Aiko narrowed her eyes. This lady might know something about it, but it was a different matter if she wanted to share it with her.

”Hmmmm...” Wei Bixiang narrowed her eyes. To teach or not to teach.

”First, let’s get you started on Go.” Wei Bixiang weighed the pros and cons, but believed this would be the best course of action.

”How about telling me your name?” Wei Bixiang giggled.

”How about revealing yourself?” Moon Aiko shot back.

Wei Bixiang’s eyes widened slightly. Was this the snappy nature that she felt from this girl? It was not bad, but not good either.

”How about indulging her Junior?” Suddenly, Lady Liu’s voice drifted from Aiko.

”How are you doing that?” Moon Aiko really couldn’t understand how Lady Liu could bypass everything and just let her words drift outside.

Wei Bixiang was briefly shocked, but she recovered quickly and cupped her hands. ”Senior Sister Liu Zhi.” She held her teacher in high regard, so it was only natural to be this polite.

Aiko took out her Lamp, since she was wondering how Lady Liu was doing these things.

”Questions for later.” Lady Liu appeared next to Aiko to pat her head. She then made a shushing motion with her finger.

Wei Bixiang was deeply shocked, since Liu Zhi was supposed to rule one of the Factions in the Immortal World. Or rather, she never left her domain.

Yet, right in front of her, was Liu Zhi as a Ghost, with no Immortal Body attached to it.

”Impostor?” Wei Bixiang narrowed her eyes.

”I believe the Golden Palace would do something like that...” Liu Zhi briefly nodded her head.

”But just Golden Palace wouldn’t be able to keep you in check...” Wei Bixiang narrowed her eyes. This was an important matter, much more important than being polite.

”When was the last time you stepped outside, Junior?” Lady Liu placed her hands on her hips, like she was scolding a child.

”Ugh...” Wei Bixiang groaned unhappily. She liked to teach students, but she didn’t like going outside.

The outside world was too vast to cover, and it felt overwhelming to her. She was unwilling to go outside and explore it.

”So the Golden Palace grew in strength?” Wei Bixiang asked doubtfully.

”Indeed.” Lady Liu nodded her head. ”They went as far as using ’chains’ on me.”

”...” Wei Bixiang’s face distorted. ”I see... How are you holding up?” She was concerned about her teacher, since she must be in a lot of pain.

”Healthy.” Lady Liu smiled briefly. ”Well, as much as a Ghost can be.” She laughed quite happily since she no longer felt that suffocating feeling around her throat and limbs.

Wei Bixiang blankly stared at her teacher. ”There is no pain or anything? But those chains-”

”They were destroyed.” Lady Liu shrugged like it was no big deal, but she was really just trying to get a reaction from her Junior.

”You-!” Wei Bixiang realised that her Senior was making fun of her and puffed up her cheeks.

”You are being unfair, Senior! You always tease me!” Wei Bixiang looked away, pouting.

”You are just too cute.” Lady Liu sighed at her Junior.

”Shall we talk elsewhere? My disciple is also curious about many things.” Lady Liu caressed Aiko’s head.

Wei Bixiang blinked a few times. ”Who are you and what have you done to my Senior-”

As Wei Bixiang doubtingly accused Lady Liu, she only got a whack on top of her head in return.

Wei Bixiang held her head even if it didn’t hurt, since this was the exact same feeling she always got from her Senior.

’An imposter in the Mortal World would never be so perfect...’ Wei Bixiang narrowed her eyes.

She observed Liu Zhi as she caressed the little Fox’s head and exchanged a few words with her.

”Please follow me, Senior.” Wei Bixiang gently bowed and guided them to her private room.

”This feels similar.” Aiko blinked a few times.

”I believe that this place should be similar to the ’Moon Lady’.” Wei Bixiang briefly explained as she seated them.

It was a very basic room, but with a Qi density that would suffocate any Mortal being.

”This place is quite spacious.” Aiko looked around, but she couldn’t clearly grasp the size of this space. It was not like something was preventing her from doing that. The sheer size of this space was just beyond what she could ’sense’.

”I like large places-” Wei Bixiang paused her words and covered her ears.

”What? You think I will tease you just because you hate going outside?” Lady Liu felt a bit speechless at her Junior.

”But you just did!” Wei Bixiang protested.

”Well, I didn’t say that you should take your fat, lazy ass outside, did I?” When Lady Liu was angered, she was no joke.

”I’m sorry...” Wei Bixiang immediately shrank back.

”Seriously...” Lady Liu sighed. ”I never told you to go that often outside, only once every 100 years or so...” She touched her cheek like she was amused at her inability to go outside.

”But... 100 years is a bit...” Wei Bixiang wanted to say that the time span was too short, but seeing Liu Zhi’s expression, she didn’t continue her sentence.

”100 years and you have to go outside.” Lady Liu scolded her like a child.

”Yes...” Wei Bixiang sniffled, but she didn’t reject her Senior and friend...