Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

Aiko rested next to Bai Jing. They were both tired from collecting those Herbs due to the intense heat.

Well, Bai Jing was the one who was mostly tired from it, since Aiko played the block game, just taking patches of dirt with grass on top. Of course, that included those Herbs too.

She was tired from stashing everyone away and working on her Cauldron.

It was now a finished Cauldron, but it couldn’t be used for its intended purpose.

Aiko blocked the opening between the two chambers.

This allowed her to make Treasures in the lower chamber and refine Pills in the upper one.

It was not a perfect solution, but it would work for the time being, and Aiko was even able to earn some protection thanks to it.

...

Bai Jing stirred awake. She didn’t need as much rest as others since she would never fight, and if she did, she would just run away.

As a Divination Cultivator, she didn’t need to fight, but to understand stars, star signs and other things.

She had to understand how much and what kind of thing she should divine in order not to lose her sense of self.

If your Divination was spread too thin, your mind might escape your body due to the scale.

As your Cultivation Stage rises and your mind improves, it’s a lot easier, but then you have to use Vitality if something goes wrong.

Bai Jing looked around. They were still safe and sound, so she divined for a bit.

’Sudden death...’ Bai Jing blinked a few times, as if not concerned about those words.

She saw them at least a few times already in this Sacred Realm, but it was definitely due to outside sources.

”What is it?” Bai Jing was about to stir Aiko awake, but she had already asked her.

”Nothing, we should move.” Bai Jing pursed her lips.

”Something something dangerous?” Aiko could also feel the faint scent of danger that was slowly encroaching on them.

”En.” Bai Jing was surprised that Aiko was so sensitive about these things.

They both stood up and packed up their things.

”You won’t collect those Talismans?” Bai Jing tilted her head. Every Talisman was precious, and it was difficult to make, especially those that Aiko used.

”It’s a perfect distraction for whatever is trying to get us.” Aiko wouldn’t be stingy with resources if it could help her.

In this case, both she and Bai Jing sensed the danger, so it was not a normal danger.

This way, there would be a place that they would have to get inside and waste a lot of time while doing it.

”Ah, since I won’t use this, you can have it.” Moon Aiko handed over the [Divination Jade]. She already got plenty of Herbs and even [Sunburst Spider Lily], which seemed precious, so she would give something more in return.

Bai Jing stirred, seeing that Jade, something deep inside her, stirred a few more times before calming down.

”Are you sure?” Bai Jing narrowed her eyes.

”Yeah, I got plenty of Treasures, and you are keeping me safe, so it’s fine to give this to you.” Aiko smiled innocently.

Bai Jing had mixed feelings. From the energy exuding from the Jade, it was at least Heavenly Grade.

Those things are not easy to find, much less obtain.

Heavenly Grade ingredients, Treasures, and Herbs are difficult to obtain because they are always guarded behind some kind of test, and those tests could not be compared to Inheritance Sites. Well, at least most of them.

So, obtaining this would require a lot of resources.

”You don’t want to court me, right?” Bai Jing felt a slight sense of danger.

”Huh? Why would I want that?” Aiko was confused.

”Nothing...” Bai Jing touched her face. Did Aiko really not see through her disguise?

”Anyway. Do you want it?” Aiko blinked at her as they walked away.

Bai Jing hesitated for a while. ”I will take it...” She then paused her steps. ”But tell me in advance if you want to court me.”

”Being friends is enough.” Aiko waved her hands. Her hands were full with Mei and her companions, so there was no way that she would add someone in.

”In that case, I will help you when you need it.” Bai Jing’s eyes shone in a mysterious green light as her dice moved.

”If you move south-west from here, you will encounter someone in danger. If you save them, you will be protected when the time comes.” Bai Jing said as her eyes stopped shining.

It was obvious that she was tired again, but what was more, her eyes were quite bloodshot.

”Are you alright?” Aiko pulled out a precious Healing Pill for Bai Jing.

”I’m fine...” Bai Jing didn’t even question why Aiko had a 4th Grade Pill and just stuffed it inside her mouth.

A warm current spread throughout her body, helping her alleviate her condition.

”You are going away?” Aiko tilted her head as Bai Jing moved southeast.

”I just obtained a priceless Treasure, so I have to refine it and meditate on it.” Bai Jing giggled. Aiko was truly one of a kind.

”Oh...” Aiko nodded gently. She felt that she would meet Bai Jing again in the future.

”The Cultivation difference between this place and the main place is different. It’s better not to get to the Human Stage before then.” Bai Jing warned Aiko.

”I figured as much.” Aiko felt that Mei was doing some legwork, but she also sealed her Human Stage for the time being.

”We shall meet again, if fate wills it.” Bai Jing smiled.

”We will definitely meet again.” Aiko chuckled. It was not just a feeling, but she knew that she wouldn’t go to someone who could seek Treasures for her. She was also kind of cute.

...

Aiko walked towards the southwest. Along the way, she encountered a few bodies, which startled her.

’Some kind of battle?’ Judging from the corpses, Aiko concluded that they had been ambushed. The Human Cultivators didn’t struggle at all; it didn’t even seem that they pulled out their weapons.

’No, wait. Why didn’t they take the Treasures?’ Aiko felt something amiss, since she knew that most Cultivators would not reject free Treasures.

’Invaders again?’ Aiko concluded that there might be some kind of plot going on.

’No Beasts around.’ Aiko could not feel either the Beasts or the animals around. It felt like this whole zone was avoided by everyone.

’South-west, huh...’ Aiko narrowed her eyes. She definitely found a lot of Treasures, but what if it was a trap?

Aiko didn’t take anything for the time being and moved further.

The further she walked, the louder the noise was coming from in front of her.

Aiko hid in the crowns of the trees and moved along stealthily. She was wondering what this place could show her.

...

For some reason, as she got closer, her body was getting lazier and lazier.

Aiko couldn’t even arrive at the scene without falling asleep!

’I will just rest for a bit...’ Aiko narrowed her eyes and concluded. It was better to rest now so that there wouldn’t be any hiccups later.

She nestled inside a tree crown lazily and fell asleep, being protected by Talismans that Mei created for her...

-----

Yueying and her group were surrounded.

”Senior, you should run away!” A Northern Cultivator yelled as they were trying to hold off the Fiendish Cultivators.

”You won’t be able to run anywhere~” The Fiendish Cultivators laughed. They had this whole place surrounded, and their boss was using his Technique to put everyone to sleep.

Nobody would be able to resist, especially if they were tired.

It was obvious that this was the case for Aiko, who was running out of juice, but even more obvious to those who had to constantly fight and were both mentally and physically exhausted.

The Fiendish Cultivators were troubled. They already suffered greatly thanks to the Dragon and her breath, but they weren’t able to pierce her hastily erected barrier.

It was completely ridiculous, a Dragon without a heart was able to hastily erect a powerful enough barrier to stop dozens of Fiendish Cultivators.

If this news spread, their notoriety would plummet, and nobody would be willing to join them.

One Fiendish Cultivator clapped. His feeble mind came with an exceptional plan. ”If you desert that Dragon, we are willing to let you go.” He smiled more and more. ”If you injure her, we will give you 100 Spirit Stones.”

The Fiendish Cultivator let 1,000 Spirit Stones fall to the ground. The other Fiendish Cultivators itched to get their hands on it, but the Dragon was worth more; they were barely able to get their emotion in check.

The Righteous Cultivators hesitated, so the Fiendish Cultivator pressed on.

”Of course, this will stay as our secret. This place is sealed from the outside, so not even your Elders know what’s happening.” That was a complete lie, but the Elders outside wouldn’t be able to act until their Disciples came out.

And thanks to the war that just happened, everyone’s hands were tied.

The Righteous Cultivators were tempted, but they still didn’t move.

”Nobody will listen-” Yueying spoke, but suddenly, a sword pierced her abdomen. She tried to kill that Cultivator, but she jumped away and out of the barrier.

”I-i did it!” The girl laughed and came to the Fiendish Cultivators.

They rewarded her 200 Spirit Stones for being the first one to do it and let her leave this place.

The atmosphere changed. Now, everyone was eyeing their Senior for quick resources and safety.

Yueying crushed the sword, but didn’t pull it out. It would be dangerous if she bled even more than she already has.

Her body was already littered with wounds thanks to their relentless pursuit, and the Righteous Cultivators were no different.

However, the situation changed, and her supposed companions turned on her.

Most of them walked outside the barrier and left the place unharmed.

Seeing this, the rest of them ran out of the barrier, and the Dragon stood alone...

The Fiendish Cultivators snapped their fingers, and everyone went to kill the Righteous Cultivators.

”You have promised us!” The Northern Sect Disciple yelled.

”And you believe promises with the Fiends?” The Fiendish Cultivator laughed as he slaughtered them; nobody was able to live, not even the first girl.

”I can’t believe how stupid they are.” One Fiendish Cultivator laughed happily. This changed things for the better, and they wouldn’t be scolded by their boss.

”Well, it’s time to finish things.” Another ugly, Fiendish Cultivator snorted, and they bombarded that barrier once again.

However, this time, thanks to that injury, the barrier showed cracks.

It was about time that it shattered.

And as expected, the barrier imploded after a few more hits.

Yueying was hit by an energy backflow and coughed up blood. Her convulsing body deteriorated her wounds further.

”You are mine!” They had a personal mission that whoever killed the Dragon would be able to obtain 1,000,000 Spirit Stones.

Naturally, everyone jumped at this opportunity, especially one Fiendish Cultivator.

He was chanting till now and formed a small fireball that he threw at the Dragon.

”Die!” He shouted.

Yueying wouldn’t go down without a fight and deflected that fireball with the remaining breath.

The fireball flew through the air and destroyed a few trees before exploding.

”Auch!” An unfamiliar voice spread from the collapsed trees...