Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

”Well... shit...” Grandpa Flame was staring at Aiko that was wrapped in gentle light. ”What is it this time, don’t tell me you intend to Evolve or some kind of shit.” He groaned painfully, since he would have to clean this mess until she woke up.

Moon Aiko was no longer in the Mortal World, but in a vast expanse of nothingness.

[Domain of one’s Mind and Soul.]

[The Divine Sea.]

”But you are still here.” Aiko immediately called out the system narrator.

[Don’t ruin the moment! Most would be astonished to get to this point and overjoyed!]

”Alright, alright.” Aiko rubbed her head. ”Please continue.”

[In this space you will see what you have accomplished and what is part of you.]

”Wait, hold on a moment. Why is there another star here?” Aiko noticed an overly large star shrouded in mist.

[Stop interrupting me!]

It was obvious that the system would cry if Aiko kept going like that.

”No, seriously, look there.” Aiko nudged them again and again.

[There is noth-]

The system paused.

[Wait, hold on. That’s not supposed to be here.]

Aiko could hear pages flipping.

[Riiiight...]

And even more pages.

[Since when did you befriend someone with the #### Cultivation Stage?]

”I have no idea what you are talking about.” Aiko played innocent, but it was obvious this was not part of this universe.

’Another gift?’ Aiko shifted around, but that star didn’t reveal itself.

She shifted around, but nothing happened.

[Phew, good thing it’s locked for the time being.]

Aiko rolled her eyes. ”Weren’t you saying you would explain things?”

Aiko played with the water surface, since it seemed gentle and cute.

[Right...]

The system was so startled that it completely forgot about that.

[In this place anything and everything you have a connection to floats around.]

[You can interact with it by getting closer to it, and it will reveal its might to you.]

[But be careful. Things that are not refined can still enter this place and harm you, so you have to be careful about what you approach.]

”So for example that big thingy, right?” Aiko pointed at herself, who was huddled into a small ball.

[That’s... your Divine Consciousness...]

”So no approaching, got it.” Aiko nodded her head seriously.

[No, that’s... never mind...]

The system was not allowed to say too much, in order to allow Aiko to grow naturally and be less spoiled. It would be a big problem if she didn’t change even after such a long journey and would become a lazy bum again...

”There is another statue...” Aiko was curious, since this one felt more solid.

[This one is about your state of body. The refinement of your body. And so on.]

”Okay, so physical changes, while that one is psychical?” Aiko nodded her head slowly.

[Indeed.]

”Cool.” Aiko floated towards the [Unnamed Spirit Boat].

It was very empty and cold, like it was created by someone, but ruined at the end.

Aiko didn’t like this place at all, so she floated towards another object.

[Inscription Carving Pen]

It was very warm. There was some kind of small light circling it gently.

The small light was even warmer than the pen itself and liked to float around Aiko for some reason.

Aiko couldn’t feel any malice from it, so she just let it be.

The [Inscription Carving Pen] was seemingly unfinished. There was just something faint missing, but Aiko could not figure out what, so she wouldn’t touch it for the time being.

[Immortal Heat Devouring Bracelet+]

This thingy was pretty much the sun that stirred the waves in this place.

It packed so much energy that if one released it, it would easily burn half of the continent.

But Aiko also realised there was something wrong with it, but this time she could see what it was.

There was some kind of Beast sealed within. She could vaguely make its fluffy shape, but the bone-chilling sensation she experienced just from getting close to it warned her that it was a dangerous and agitated Beast.

The [#### Dragon Pearl] was the most impressive one.

There were Souls and Ghosts floating around it. Seemingly unaware of Aiko.

The whole thing was very warm, but with the ’coldness’ of Yin.

The [#### Yueying’s Embrace] was very gentle and warm. Warming Aiko even inside this place, while [#### Ghost Harmony Kitsune Vessel] was cold, feeling like a sealed world or even a jail.

Well, not the whole thing. Just the strange Cauldron in the middle felt like that. Like inescapable ravine whistling with cold winds.

[The Ever Shaping Cauldron]

The whole thing was like a blurred out mess. Like it was incomplete and missing too many things.

Aiko thought it might not be complete, but this thing was really a mess.

’Fortunately, we will have enough metals for me to finish my Cauldron.’ Aiko nodded her head slowly. This would help her greatly once she obtained the Human Body Stage.

[Embryonic Breathing]

It was some kind of oddly shaped thing that was breathing constantly.

Aiko didn’t feel it before, but the energy inside her stirred with each of its breaths, making it possible to gather natural energies passively.

[Awakened Divine Sense]

”Geh-” Aiko was startled when she saw herself with Buddhist attire and in that familiar lotus position, with one hand raised and the other resting.

”I will never become a monk!” Aiko swore to herself, since this Aiko was completely bald!

[Divine Solar Physique]

”Yep, that’s Sun Aiko.” Aiko nodded her head. This thing was pretty energetic, but fortunately in this place it had limited space to run around. Otherwise, she would already wreck the other ’Treasures’ inside this place.

[Primordial Intoxicating Sacred Lotus Physique (2% Completion)]

”Oh, my~” Aiko coughed awkwardly when she glanced at that half-naked seductive beauty. She had quite the erotic lingerie on her, but Aiko knew that single kiss of hers would kill her, since this was the embodiment of beauty and poison.

[Hollow Moon Physique (Incomplete)]

”I like this the most.” Aiko nodded her head. This kind of cold beauty that would step on others, but with clothes that could topple nations.

*Gulp*

”Maybe I should design more bold dresses for myself.” Aiko pursed her lips. She really wanted to lick this Aiko, but she would definitely freeze to death if she did that.

...

The rest were unstable elements, techniques and other things. Not very interesting for the current Aiko, but since she now unlocked this part of hers, she would be able to visit it any time.

However, for now she would be here. She felt like something beneficial was happening to her, so she just sat down and observed what was happening.

The [Hollow Moon Physique (Incomplete)] was slowly warping, changing, shifting...

It soon became the [Hollow Glacial Origin Moon Physique (Control >1%)].

The [Divine Solar Physique] suddenly shuddered and looked towards the [Hollow Glacial Origin Moon Physique]. It felt like it was fearful of it.

Both of them walked towards each other and then suddenly threw hands.

Aiko expected some kind of epic fight, but...

”Isn’t that how children would fight...?” Aiko tilted her head. What was unfolding in front of her was truly bizarre.

The [Hollow Glacial Origin Moon Physique] kept grabbing the hair of the [Divine Solar Physique]. While the [Divine Solar Physique] was spinning its arms like a windmill trying to crash into the [Hollow Glacial Origin Moon Physique].

This absurd ’fight’ unfolded in front of her for a while before both of them finally gave up.

The Sun and Moon kept quite close to each other, but Aiko could see the faint repulsing forces not allowing them to make up completely.

She would have to solve that part later, but for now this was good enough.

She could also vaguely feel that their Bloodlines were much thicker than before, making her more powerful in return.

There were even more changes with her professions. The system acknowledged all her achievements, even those when she didn’t have them. It allowed her to understand where she stood compared to before.

The most changes happened to her Titles, once again.

[True Kitsune] combined with [Icon of Fear].

[Seductive Holy Princess] changed into [Seductive Demonic Princess] and added [Blunt Mouth].

New Title formed: [Royal Kitsune]

And combined: [One Who Survived Against All Odds], [Walking Runic Encyclopedia], [Respect from Dragons], [Awakened Divine Sense], [Royal Enjoyer]

[More changes will happen over time.]

[A new system for earning {Titles} was implemented.]

[It will use less Providence, allowing you to still earn {Titles}, but at a reduced rate.]

Aiko looked over the impressive changes and nodded her head.

’A Lot of things are happening.’ Aiko was impressed, but also concerned about what it meant for her.

[Special Multistep Mission completed!]

[Cold Moon (Step 1)]

[Once you reach mainland, we will release potential Evolution that you will be able to take without endangering your life or the life of those around you.]

[Special Mission completed!]

[Awaken, Maiden!]

[Awaken body that can rival the [Divine Solar Body].]

[Reward: #### body will be strengthened]

[Body Arts R-1]

[Body is being reinforced. Allowing you to release the first Seal without endangering your life.]

[Special Mission completed!]

[Purify Beast Core]

[Find a way to increase your Beast Core Purity to 90% or higher!]

[Reward: Understanding of Fire]

[Sun: 5->3]

[You will be able to understand Spiritual Flames better.]

[Anything Fire-related, will have a natural bonus to learning.]

[Fire Arts R-1]

[Myriad World Linguistics: Lv.2/99->3/99]

’That’s... a lot of stuff...’ Aiko felt a bit overwhelmed, but this was definitely a good thing, since she didn’t need to think about those any more.

Fortunately the string of messages soon ended, and it was quiet now, but Aiko would still have to wait before going out.

-----

”This is...” Grandpa Flame stared at Aiko. ”Less explosive than expected.”

Aiko was only adjusting the energies around her and inside her body, so outside of the Auspicious Clouds, there was nothing else happening.

Nobody would know that something was happening if the clouds didn’t give it away.

...

”Mei did tell us to come, but...” Wanshu paused when she saw that Heavenly Phenomenon.

”Aiko is up to something again...” Yuxi nodded her head seriously.

”And you were looking forward to meeting her again.” Wanshu giggled.

”Aiko was always running around or doing things, so she didn’t spend enough time with us...” Yuxi pouted, but both of them were walking with wrapped hands around each other.

”I think she will like you now~” Wanshu teased her.

”Don’t say that, or Mei might bite our heads off.” Yuxi shuddered.

”That’s true...” Wanshu shuddered too, but then she raised an eyebrow. ”Everything will be fine if you don’t tell anyone!” She giggled mischievously.

”Gosh... you are irredeemable...” Yuxi groaned, but her heart stirred at that thought.

”Don’t say you don’t like that idea.” Wanshu pouted at her, squeezing her ass.

”Shush. We have to make sure nobody will know about this!” Yuxi swore that she would do her best to avoid Mei’s gaze!