Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

Moon Aiko moved the metals over, but Mei was nowhere to be seen.

”If you are looking for her, she is making the Pill.” Grandmaster seemed livelier than before, but her expression was quite dark.

”Tasty Pills?” Moon Aiko joked, but seeing her expression darken even more, she shut her mouth.

The Grandmaster was probably the scariest person in this place, to her.

”Fortunately I won’t have to eat them any more.” Grandmaster nodded her head seriously. She would never get ambushed/betrayed like that again!

Everything would go through her ’ability’ even the tiniest thing wouldn’t escape her gaze.

”Also, how rude, I’m not that scary!” Grandmaster sighed softly, why was everyone thinking about how scary she was...?

”Can you repeat that when you train others?” Moon Aiko felt like Dai Lu was unaware about how her training was pretty much a death sentence.

’Twins are amazing that they can take it like that without complaining.’ She nodded her head seriously, feeling admiration towards them.

”First, rude. Second, they complain all the time, but since they train together they support each other well.” Dai Lu nodded her head in appreciation towards their perseverance.

”They might ascend at this pace.” Moon Aiko joked, but seeing Dai Lu’s unchanging expression she gulped nervously. ”You have to stop them from ascending! We need to have more fun!” She worried that she would be left behind, so she would have to pick up her pace.

’But there is so much to dooooo...’ Moon Aiko groaned inside her mind. She didn’t want to do anything since the work she had to actually do was so overwhelming it pained her mind.

”But it seems like you will be getting your tails back soon.” Moon Aiko glanced behind Dai Lu, thinking about how thick she would get once all her tails were back.

”You will get more tails too, so stop thinking about something so rude.” Dai Lu was flabbergasted at how shameless Aiko became while she was not looking.

”That’s it. I think you need more training!” Dai Lu snorted unhappily and immediately dragged Aiko away.

”Is it too late to apologise?” Moon Aiko didn’t want to train, since there was a lot of work to do.

”Late.” Dai Lu snorted again before ignoring Aiko.

”I’m in danger.” Moon Aiko sighed.

...

”What are you doing?” Dai Lu looked over at Aiko, who immediately tucked her body into a shell like some kind of turtle.

”Defending.” Moon Aiko knew that angry Dai Lu was a disaster that nobody would be able to protect her from, so she wouldn’t take any chances against her.

”It’s a lot more solid than the last time I saw it.” Dai Lu was impressed by this, but still used all her strength to try and shatter it.

”Eeek.” Moon Aiko dodged out of the way as she cleaved through her [Moon’s Crust]

”It has its weaknesses, but I don’t think Body Cultivators will be able to harm you.” Dai Lu nodded her head seriously.

”Penetration is your main weakness, but if you can condense this shell further, I think that will remedy that issue, at least slightly.” Dai Lu didn’t know how to improve this further, since she never saw that.

”Well, there is nothing I can’t cut through, so you won’t be able to beat me.” Dai Lu hummed happily that she was still able to beat this ridiculous Fox!

”Nothing you can’t cut, huh?” Moon Aiko smiled from ear to ear.

”Of course.” Dai Lu said proudly.

’Hehehehehe~’ Moon Aiko cackled inside her mind.

’Come on, help me out.’ Moon Aiko nudged her system.

[Others shouldn’t help you, Princess.]

’I know, I know. Just a one time thing.” Moon Aiko smiled mischievously.

[...]

She could hear the system audibly sigh, but it still indulged her.

In front of her manifested a familiar black wall with a small hole dug into it.

”If you can cut this, I will listen to everything.” Moon Aiko cackled as she patted that black stuff.

Dai Lu knew about the conversation that Aiko just had and had many questions, but first she would deal with-

*Clang*

”H-huh?” Dai Lu stared speechlessly at the black wall that was without a scratch.

”Kekekeke~” Moon Aiko adapted a new way to laugh just to get back at her.

*Clang**Clang**Clang*

”...” Dai Lu was stunned that this black stuff didn’t allow her to cut it, even when she used all her strength!

Well, she made a small mark on it and the tiniest bit of dust fell off it, which bothered her even more!

Dai Lu immediately turned towards Aiko.

”Come here.” Dai Lu immediately chased after her, since she was embarrassed.

”Why are you chasing me?!” Moon Aiko cried out as she was dodging the sword slashes from Dai Lu.

She knew that Dai Lu meant no harm, but her sword wouldn’t discriminate against its target, so she had to dodge out of the way!

”You are asking me, really?!” Dai Lu slashed at Aiko, since she was quite upset.

”Eeek!” Moon Aiko haphazardly compressed her [Moon’s Crust] as she was advised.

*Clang*

”H-huh?” Moon Aiko was startled that she actually blocked that slash!

However, it would never end with a slash.

She could feel her body getting lighter and the ground was suddenly running away.

”... Not again...” Moon Aiko groaned as she was high up in the sky.

”Dammiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit-!” Moon Aiko cursed loudly as she started to fall down.

-----

”...” Dai Lu looked at her sword before looking towards the sky.

”I’m in trouble...” Dai Lu scratched her head. She didn’t want to send Aiko flying so far away, since Mei wanted to meet her soon.

But because Aiko was able to block her light strike, she got upset and put more strength into it.

”I will have to train her more, since she forgot to put Qi into her legs in order to root them to the ground.” Dai Lu was definitely not running from her responsibilities by doing this. Aiko should definitely know this and this was definitely not her embarrassment speaking...

”... I should probably go and find her.” Dai Lu sped up, using both [Lightness Technique] and [Gale Steps].

They were both mastered, so not only was she light, but the surrounding wind propelled her forward at astonishing speed.

”How far did she fly?!” Dai Lu was shocked by how light Aiko was, considering how heavy that barrier was...

-----

”Well...” Moon Aiko was still falling, but there was one good thing about this.

”I’m getting a lot of Solar Essence.” Moon Aiko nodded her head seriously.

Previously, Solar Essence wouldn’t budge at all, but that was no longer the case. It was slowly increasing over time, although that wouldn’t last long either.

”I will hit the ground soon.” Moon Aiko was not too concerned since she still had ways to go around this, not to mention she also had her flying boat, so it was not like she was in a pickle.

The wind picked up and Aiko was suddenly being carried.

”Huh?” Moon Aiko blinked her eyes as she saw Dai Lu jumping from tree to tree easily and with her to boot.

”Phew.” Dai Lu breathed a sigh of relief. ”You flew really far away.”

”And whose fault is that?” Moon Aiko pursed her lips, but she was not too concern-

”Wait, you don’t strike me as someone who would go to such lengths, so spill it. Why are you suddenly being nice?” Moon Aiko narrowed her eyes.

”Ugh, why are you so sharp when it comes to this.” Dai Lu groaned unhappily.

”Mei wanted to see you, but with this distance I don’t think we will make it.” Dai Lu sniffled, her own pride got in the way and now she will have to pay for it.

”It’s still amazing how quickly you can move.” Moon Aiko hummed, completely ignoring her plight.

”Not even words of comfort, huh?” Dai Lu narrowed her eyes.

”I mean, you did send me flying, so maybe that’s karma paying you back?” Moon Aiko suggested, but seeing her scary eyes, she decided to stay quiet for the time being.

...

They arrived next to a hidden shed. The medicine scent filled pretty much the whole area.

It smelled so delicious that Moon Aiko wanted to take a bite out of it.

”You are late...” Mei was not smiling, making both of their hairs stand to no end.

”I’m sorry.” Dai Lu immediately apologised.

”You know that there are not too many chances where she can observe the Heavenly Phenomenon from a safe distance.” Mei said seriously, it was obvious that she was mightily upset. ”Not to mention, when it comes to Pills that are of high grade.”

Dai Lu didn’t say anything.

”So, can I take a bite?” And of course it was Aiko who shattered that awkward atmosphere.

Mei staggered slightly. She wanted to maintain her tough persona, but with Aiko around...

”That’s not for you.” Mei immediately threw that Pill at Dai Lu. ”You know what to do with it. If you fail there won’t be seconds.”

”En...” Dai Lu pursed her lips and excused herself.

”Should I bring you a throne, Queen~?” Moon Aiko teased this tough Mei, since she knew that she wouldn’t be hurt.

”Aren’t you even a little bit upset?” Mei was confused. Anyone would be livid if they were in her situation.

”Why? It’s not like this is the last Pill you will ever make.” Moon Aiko shrugged like it was not a big deal.

”You-” Mei groaned. She almost had another headache, but this was pretty much what she should expect from Aiko.

That determination and attitude that betrayed common sense.

With that Aiko would be able to go a long way, even if she were slow.

”And there will be more Pills to eat, so you can show me later.” Moon Aiko hummed and then paused. ”But don’t go easy on Dai Lu, she deserves it.” She nodded her head seriously. Anyone would be able to guess that she was upset with her.

”What did she do to you that you hold such a grudge?” Mei was startled, since usually Aiko would take it easy.

”She blasted me away with her sword!” Moon Aiko proclaimed. ”Can you believe that she would do that, just because I have blocked her sword?!” She stomped her feet unhappily.

At first Mei giggled at her antics, but then she stiffened at the last part. ”Sword Cultivators are really prideful, so I’m surprised it ended with just that...” She would give Dai Lu a good earful later.

”Because I have condensed my barrier to its current maximum potential, allowing me to block that single strike.” Moon Aiko proclaimed with pride. She was very happy about that part.

”But you didn’t put any energy into your legs, huh?” Mei giggled.

”Nobody told me it works like that!” Moon Aiko pouted at Mei.

”Right, that’s just like you.” Mei smiled. ”I will teach you, now that the most pressing matters are finished.”

”There is still a lot to do.” Moon Aiko stopped her.

”No.” Mei wouldn’t listen to Aiko and just grabbed her away.

”Why always me...” Moon Aiko just sighed and surrendered to her fate of being carried like a plushie...