Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

”Then a demonstration is in order...”

Wei Bixiang lifted her hand with a white Go piece and slammed it onto the board.

The small Go piece lightly vibrated as it released a torrent of flames right where it touched the board.

The scenery twisted and shifted. Aiko was now standing on a huge Go board with hundreds of pieces all around.

There were small statues quite far away from her, and each had Go pieces floating around them.

When it came to Aiko, she had 77 white pieces floating around her and an uncountable number of black pieces.

However, there were 23 black pieces that were the most prominent.

”Where am I?” Aiko looked around, but she couldn’t really move from her place.

”This is my inheritance.” Wei Bixiang giggled as she gently floated in front of Aiko.

Her dress was quite revealing, but for a good reason, as most corners of that dress burned quietly.

Wei Bixiang was around 170cm tall, quite taller than Aiko. Her hair was quietly burning in light-blue colours.

Her body was slim, as expected of a Cultivator, yet her curves were likewise modest.

She had Black clothing, which burned quietly on the edges from the sheer heat that her body exuded. Yet Aiko didn’t feel like her body would burn away.

Her lips were quite small, but not small enough that Aiko wouldn’t notice that faint smile.

She had quite a picturesque face and even more so thanks to those blue flames quietly dancing around her body.

”This is cool.” Moon Aiko kept nodding her head, appreciating her outfit.

Wei Bixiang smiled even more. ”Thank you~”

Aiko looked around curiously. She was wondering how this whole place worked.

...

As she got more and more used to this place, Aiko noticed a few things.

Beyond the board, there was a huge blue Sun burning quietly in the background.

Under her was a vast expanse of flames burning ferociously.

Yet she could not see any ’ground’ or ’sky’, as if this whole place was isolated.

”How does this place work?” Aiko squinted her eyes.

”The Sun is the centrepiece that makes everything happen. You might not be able to see it right now, as you are quite weak, but beyond this board, there are many other boards with even more pieces.” Wei Bixiang gently ’touched’ something, and the scenery slightly changed.

There were a few more boards floating above Aiko, but she didn’t believe that was the end of it.

”The Sun gently burns the impurities from the body as I wish. It doesn’t have enough power to hurt the body as its main characteristic is ’purification’.” Wei Bixiang kept explaining since she was curious what Aiko might think about her Inheritance Site.

”Does it also remove poisons and other things?” Aiko narrowed her eyes.

”Yes... and no.” Wei Bixiang gently shook her head. ”It’s impossible to purify poison that has seeped into your bones unless you burn your bones too. As long as the poison doesn’t ’settle’, it is possible to gently burn it away.” She nodded her head, but Aiko’s poison would be difficult to deal with.

”Beast Core impurities?” Aiko squinted her eyes.

”Possible.” Wei Bixiang waved her hand, and Aiko was submerged in flames.

Aiko felt a light tinge of pain inside her body.

-1,000,000HP

[Beast Cores(77%)] -> [Beast Cores(80%)]

Aiko’s eyes bulged. She might’ve lost 1 million health, but she gained 3% Beast Core purity!

That was a big deal since she might be able to reach 100% at this pace.

”That’s as far as I can go without permanently hurting you.” Wei Bixiang breathed out gently. It was a lot harder to burn away something that was in sensitive places. Especially comparing the difference in the Cultivation Stage.

”Awwww.” Moon Aiko was slightly saddened, but 3% was 3%. ”Thank you.” She lightly bowed, pleasing Wei Bixiang.

”You are welcome.” Wei Bixiang was obviously very happy, and while it was not too obvious on her face, the flames were more honest.

They would happily dance around both of them, which made Aiko giggle.

”But this is a shocking surprise. I didn’t think it would be so versatile...” Aiko was shocked that her Beast Core could be purified so easily.

”It depends on how much attainment and insight you have.” Wei Bixiang quite liked Aiko, not because of her Go skill, which was far from perfect, but because she was very attentive when needed.

”What do you think? Will you try the final test?” Wei Bixiang smiled happily.

”No.” Aiko rejected her, shocking Wei Bixiang greatly.

Before Wei Bixiang could say anything, Aiko continued. ”I’m not skilled enough to win against you when you focus, so I need to learn more about Go before challenging you.” She slowly nodded like this was the most obvious path for her.

Wei Bixiang pursed her lips before laughing loudly. She didn’t expect this side of Aiko.

Most Cultivators would take the easy way out when the opportunity arose, but that was not the case for her. Aiko walked steadily on her path, making most prodigies seem less prodigal.

”How long do you think it will take~?” Wei Bixiang teased Aiko.

”I don’t know, but I can also learn from Lady Liu.” Aiko smirked at her.

”Oh...” Wei Bixiang was startled. It was obvious she didn’t expect that kind of answer, and it made me wonder.

”Do you believe that Liu Zhi will be able to teach you well enough to beat me?” Wei Bixiang narrowed her eyes. While it was fine to walk this path, if she was overconfident, she would not give Aiko the inheritance.

”That’s impossible. I don’t want to spend years here just playing Go; there are more things to explore in the vast land.” Aiko shook her head slowly. She felt like she could move now, but she didn’t take a step from her place.

Aiko’s unwavering eyes pleased Wei Bixiang greatly. ”Very well, then let’s return.” She clapped her hands, and the scenery dissolved.

”There is more to my inheritance, but for now, this should be enough.” Wei Bixiang sipped her tea, and her body was once again shrouded by a ’fog’.

”Awwwww... I really liked your boobs.” Nightmare Aiko pouted unhappily, and Wei Bixiang choked on her tea.

”...” Empress Liu pursed her lips. She was glad that she wasn’t a target-

”But Lady Liu is much better.” Aiko nodded seriously.

*whack*

”Auch!” Aiko groaned unhappily as she massaged her head. ”What was that for?!” She was asking why Lady Liu would whack her head.

”It’s rude to talk about someone else’s body, much less about their sensitive parts.” Lady Liu sternly reprimanded Aiko.

”Oh...” Aiko nodded seriously. It seemed like she understood what she meant, but that was just Lady Liu’s misunderstanding...

”So they are sensitive, huh?” Aiko tilted her head.

*whack*

”Auch!” Aiko covered her head since it now hurt quite a bit.

”Hmpf.” Lady Liu snorted unhappily and avoided Aiko’s gaze and questions.

...

After both of them calmed down, they no longer went easy on Aiko when it came to Go.

For some reason, that was especially the case for Lady Liu, who was playing Go like her life depended on it, but thanks to their fervent attention...

[Arts Mastery: Lv.2-4 (Inscription, Alchemy, Assassin, Smithing, Forging, Go)]

Aiko’s [Arts Mastery] progressed all the way to Lv.4! This was a huge deal for Aiko, since she felt like she was growing more powerful, not physically, but psychically.

It was not shown in her system, but Aiko’s thought process was slowly changing to a more advanced one.

Not quite making her smarter, but making her able to connect the dots quicker than before.

Slowly nodding her head, Aiko finally defeated the easy version of Wei Bixiang. That was the version that still paid attention, but also gave Aiko some handicaps.

’This is unreal...’ Wei Bixiang didn’t believe that Aiko would suddenly progress so quickly.

She turned around and stared at her friend. Wei Bixiang wanted to know what Liu Zhi did to her to improve so much.

”Don’t ask me about this.” Empress Liu shook her head. How was she supposed to know that a few whacks on the head would turn Aiko into a sage?! That didn’t make any sense!

’Wait. Could it be...?’ Empress Liu paused her hands. They have upped the difficulty greatly for Aiko, but it was still within her means.

In other words, they provided ’adversity’ for Aiko, making her grow abnormally quickly?

”I’m finished.” Moon Aiko groaned. ”I have spent two weeks just playing Go. I’m already tired of it, so even if I can’t defeat you, I would like to leave this place.” She proclaimed as she stretched her body.

Moon Aiko’s modest body was similar to Wei Bixiang’s, which she appreciated.

”Sure, rest well, and we will do the final test.” Wei Bixiang smiled happily as she had time with her friend to discuss things.

...

The next day, Aiko arrived at the testing site.

”Are you ready?” Wei Bixiang smiled.

”En.” Aiko nodded her head.

The game just began...

-----

”How much time will it take to get through these caves?” The first Cultivator asked.

”We will need special Pills in order to endure the cold or heat. Does anyone know about Pill Refining?” The supposed leader looked around, looking for anyone who would be able to make Pills for everyone.

*Rumble*

The whole cave suddenly shook. It seemed like something was happening deep inside.

-----

”I will allow you to pass.” Wei Bixiang was satisfied with Aiko’s growth. ”But under the condition that you will keep improving.” She narrowed her eyes and waited for Aiko to give her answer.

”That is fine by me.” Aiko slowly nodded her head. She liked how Lady Liu was enthusiastic about Go, so she would like to play more with her.

”Very well.” Wei Bixiang was satisfied.

A large scroll appeared in front of Aiko.

Aiko wanted to touch it, but the scroll burned and turned into a small flame. That small flame blasted into Aiko’s body, settling inside her and burning quietly.

Cultivation Manuals (Waiting for Adjustments): [Delicate Sun Cultivation Scripture (Complete, Immortal Form)]

How many Immortal Scriptures did Aiko already have? Quite many...

They were still being adjusted, and Aiko wondered what would become of it.

”Thank you.” Aiko gently bowed and cupped her fists.

”En. Now go, I will be leaving this place.” Wei Bixiang giggled with satisfaction.

”Thank you.” Aiko once again thanked her before leaving the test room.

”Are you really leaving?” Empress Liu narrowed her eyes.

”En. I have achieved my goal. I need to increase my Cultivation Stage now.” Wei Bixiang licked her lips. Thanks to meeting Aiko, she was able to see things in a different light, which allowed her to progress her Cultivation to a point that she would be able to cross the chasm.

”Be careful.” Empress Liu wished her the best.

”You too, teacher.” Wei Bixiang smiled happily.

Empress Liu rolled her eyes, but they still bid farewell.

’It’s time for Aiko to seriously learn many things...’ Empress Liu had already prepared the whole course over this month and would let Aiko choose what to do first.

’It’s time to make her into a Queen.’ Empress Liu licked her lips. This part was the most enjoyable for her as she would let her students suffer through the tests~!