Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

Moon Aiko worked with Mei on the metals that she melted. All the broken Treasures were thus recycled and a lot of things could be reused.

Of course this was not perfect, since a lot of those metals had to be burned due to the corrosion from the middle layer, that Aiko dubbed flux.

However, the vast majority was properly cleaned, which would ensure a higher chance of success if one used those materials.

All in all, a good haul that could be stored in the continental flying ships.

”Now that I think about it, why don’t we just ask everyone to share their Storage Pouches and just transport them through that.” Moon Aiko noticed that almost nothing was stored in any storage-based Treasures.

”The ocean has this weird effect that neutralises Treasures that store resources if there are too many of them in a single location.” Mei sighed. It would be so much easier, if they could transport it in Treasures or Aiko’s tails, but...

”Are you sure you want to stay?” Mei didn’t want to leave Aiko in this place.

”I’m not sure, the feeling draws me into a certain place, but I won’t know where it is until I approach it.” Moon Aiko shook her head. While this feeling was ever-present it was never pressing enough that she had to focus on it.

This allowed her to mostly ignore it, but her heart still longed for it for some reason.

”Okay.” Mei didn’t want to limit Aiko, but at the same time didn’t want to part with her.

”Mei!” A certain angry lady almost crashed into her.

”What is it, Dai Lu?” Mei obviously knew why she was angry, but still played dumb.

”Don’t play dumb with me! Couldn’t you tell me that I had ripped clothes?!” Dai Lu pouted at her.

”It’s your fault for not taking Aiko’s thoughts seriously.” Mei shrugged like it was not a big deal.

”Ugh.” Dai Lu groaned, but she didn’t have a way to retort that.

”How did it go?” Mei glanced at her.

”They will come for one continental flying ship later. He is currently busy.” Dai Lu was looking forward to his improved swordsmanship.

After all, she wanted to beat him up black and blue when he was at peak! Only then would she forgive his previous attitude.

”Also, I have good wine, so once we leave this place we can celebrate~” Dai Lu was looking forward to popping that Cloud Dew Wine.

”Oh?” Mei was curious about what got her so excited, but she would hold it in for the time being.

”But yeah, in a few months they should come and if not I will just find him later and we can do the transaction later.” Dai Lu added before turning around.

”What’s wrong with them?” Mei was curious what was holding them back from receiving the continental flying ship.

”He might make a breakthrough.” Dai Lu giggled before disappearing. It seemed like she was a lot more free than before.

”That doesn’t tell me much...” Mei sighed softly. The previously serious Dai Lu was much better than this...

”I didn’t even tell her that Aiko might stay...” Mei shook her head a few times.

”Aiko won’t leave with us?” Two curious heads popped up from the bushes.

It was the Twins that were running most missions in the Shadows Peak.

”I don’t know yet.” Nothing was concrete, so Moon Aiko didn’t want to worry them just yet.

She would just make them worry later, hehe~!

...

Moon Aiko walked throughout the individual continental flying ships. The ones assigned to the Northern Sects were the most advanced when it came to storage, but their Spirit Stone efficiency was really bad.

However, she still didn’t have enough experience to make it work.

’Plus I can’t really touch space-related Runes...’ Moon Aiko groaned, but it couldn’t be helped. Once they are settled down again she would do research about it and try to figure out what was wrong with her.

The insides were similar to all continental flying ships, like they were already pre-made, and the Sects would just then include their individual system, for flight, storage and so on.

It was quite puzzling, but also curious.

Most of these ships would also be able to float on the water, but they would flood quite quickly if damaged, so they couldn’t be really used for a long voyage.

Another thing she noticed were the suspicious Runes for concealment.

There were simply too many of them and Moon Aiko was unable to figure out the reason behind it.

Normally, one Rune about concealment would be able to cover the whole ship if one placed it in the right place and it was connected to the other parts of the continental flying ship.

But for some reason, each section would have multiple concealment Runes.

Sure, you could argue that those are used as ’fail-saves’, but you wouldn’t necessarily need that many, right?

”It’s because if you are not concealed and above the ocean, death is but a guarantee.” Chen Shi appeared out of nowhere and explained things that Aiko touched.

”Is the ocean really that dangerous?” Moon Aiko tilted her head.

”The ocean has a natural suppressive nature to Heavenly Secrets. If you can conceal Heavenly Secrets and other things, then it’s possible that you can gather strength without ascending.” Chen Shi explained briefly, since he almost died once because of this.

”So the monsters inside the ocean are super strong...” Moon Aiko nodded her head.

”Not just strong, but also perceptive. It’s not enough to just hide the ship from sight, but you also have to regulate and conceal the Qi and breath of life.” Chen Shi shook his head.

”So the many Runes are for this?” Moon Aiko looked around and found it excessive.

”And to make sure that if one fails, the others can replace it immediately.” Chen Shi nodded his head.

”It still feels excessive.” Moon Aiko narrowed her eyes, but neither of them said anything more.

They both walked through the hallways.

”It’s a sloppy job.” Chen Shi commented in most places.

”Am I really that uneducated...” Moon Aiko thought that she got the hang of Runes for the different professions, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

”They operate too differently, so you will have to get used to it more.” Chen Shi chuckled. He struggled a lot since those systems were damn different and difficult!

”We will see.” Moon Aiko was not sure if she wanted to dive into that rabbit hole too much, but she might have to.

...

Leaving the continental flying ships, they parted ways.

Chen Shi stayed aboard, seemingly still repairing, or possibly adjusting them.

Or maybe he was just worried those Inscriptions, Arrays and such, would fail at a critical moment.

Moon Aiko understood that plight, so she wouldn’t tease him for the time being.

”I heard you wanted to stay behind.” Dai Lu met Aiko halfway down the continental flying ship.

”I’m not sure yet.” Moon Aiko shook her head. The location was too vague, it was possible that it was in this place, but it could also be possible that it was on the mainland.

Nothing was set in stone, so Moon Aiko could not tell.

”Well, it’s better for you to prepare, since the journey might be treacherous.” Dai Lu nodded her head seriously.

”I will keep that in mind, thank you.” Moon Aiko smiled gently, but she was suddenly picked up by her.

”...?” Moon Aiko blinked her eyes.

”On that note, you should learn some more basic swordsmanship.” Dai Lu hummed, but Moon Aiko groaned as she was carried away...

...

*Clang*

Their swords met on at nice plains. The grass was already cut very short from the constant bursts of Qi.

”You have improved.” Dai Lu commented on Aiko’s swordsmanship.

”I don’t like this...” Moon Aiko groaned. She would be happier if she just could summon the Moon and hurl it at her enemies!

”Don’t be like that. The more versatile you become early, the less work you will have to do later.” Dai Lu chuckled.

”What does that supposed to mean?” Moon Aiko glared at her. She didn’t want to learn things that she wouldn’t use often.

Dai Lu smiled and explained. ”Every technique requires you to breathe in a certain way and move in a certain way. This naturally limits your imagination, since without breathing and moving those techniques wouldn’t work.”

”However, once you have understood and mastered many things, everything will feel familiar and you will be able to master many more things.” Dai Lu chuckled, but even she was unwilling to do that.

”I suppose I understand the intent behind this, but that doesn’t mean it will necessarily work.” Moon Aiko wouldn’t be on the fact that she could master everything.

Sure, she was very good at logical things or things set in stone- Well, fine, her gruesome creations were great too, let’s be honest.

Her combat improvisation was quite hard, so she didn’t really need to learn that many things.

”I know...” Dai Lu pursed her lips. ”But the more you age, the harder it might become to learn more things.”

”However, if you open your mind right now, it will be a lot easier later on.” Dai Lu smiled softly.

”Age changes many things, huh?” Moon Aiko pursed her lips. Being small was always good, since pretty much everyone was nicer to you, but everyone also treated you as a kid.

While when you were big, everyone would treat you as an adult, but wouldn’t hold your hand or be nice to you.

Well, at least in the outside world. Inside the Fox Village most were nice to each other.

Of course there was some conflict here and there, but fortunately the new Enforcement Hall was able to mediate most of these issues.

Mei changed the old Enforcement Hall from immediate punishments to mediation and de-escalation.

As such the injury rate of everyone dropped significantly.

The Enforcement Hall would first stop the fighting parties before trying to mediate.

They would also patch the injuries of the affected parties, making recovery a lot quicker.

But this also saved a lot of space inside the Enforcement Hall, since there were fewer issues when it came to apprehending rowdy Foxes.

Now only criminals would be sealed inside, so the whole place turned into quite the silent mess.

The Foxes were not used to this treatment, so there were some hiccups, but not too many that it would bother Aiko...