Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

”I honestly didn’t expect this.” Moon Aiko nodded her head slowly. She especially liked the river that ran through the whole forest-like place.

However, even this forest was missing small critters, like they were banned from entering this place.

”There was a small accident with mice, so after that this forest turned like this.” The Holy Deer shook his head. If that mouse didn’t steal the Treasure from the secret vault, they wouldn’t have to seal this place from normal animals.

Moon Aiko followed the Holy Deer around. He was showing the forest and how it developed which fascinated Moon Aiko. However, she also noticed that someone tried to make this forest into some kind of Natural Treasure because all the trees were too... organised.

’If that’s not it, it’s probably because of their normal bodies, no?’ Moon Aiko tilted her head. Like the lady bird, the Holy Deer was also quite big and they could probably get even bigger with some kind of technique, so it would make sense that they would try to adjust this ’forest’ to accommodate that.

The Holy Deer didn’t hurry, the better rapport he had with this Fox, the better the chances of everything going smoothly.

”I can see some poisonous flora, is that on purpose?” Moon Aiko pointed at a few flowers and grass.

”This forest is riddled with small traps, which can be easily avoided. But once a fight breaks loose these small things can add up to quite the hefty defence.” The Holy Deer chuckled darkly.

Moon Aiko didn’t miss his expression and immediately asked. ”Did it ever work?”

”Many times, especially against the stupid Earthen Elephants.” The Holy Deer snorted. The Earthen Elephant was the first one to get his Contract removed, but he had to pay a hefty price. Compared to what happened to the Crow Clan Head, it was like the difference between Heaven and Earth.

”Seems like there are some issues.” Moon Aiko was curious why they were on bad terms.

”We control nature, which earth also belongs to, as such the Earthen Elephants despise us because of it.” The Holy Deer explained, since it wouldn’t hurt them in any way.

”There was such a thing?” Moon Aiko shook her head, she didn’t believe they would hold a grudge against something so insignificant... but then again, Human Cultivators were very prideful, so who knows if it was the same with certain Beasts.

”En. It was unfortunate, since until then we were quite close. Both aerial Clans cooperated together, so the terrestrial Clans also worked together to secure a place for us.” The Holy Deer explained as they walked through the strange forest. ”The Earthen Elephants took the canyons and mountainous area. Mostly devoid of plants. The Crows... well, you know. The Nightmare Owl took over the swamp area, it’s sometimes called Nightmare Forest, but as you know this whole place is also called that, so they started to call it a swamp instead. And us Holy Deer, we have taken over this lush forest and adjusted it as we needed.”

”Is there a friction because they don’t have flora?” Moon Aiko tilted her head.

”It’s hard to say. Most Beasts here are sustained with the abundant Qi that the Nightmare Forest produces, so we don’t have to eat as much, but the problem is other resources.” Holy Deer shook his head. ”Due to them having canyons, it’s hard to grow Herbs, but because the Crow Clan produces so many processed metals, it’s also hard to justify digging their canyons.”

”No Spirit Stone Mines?” Moon Aiko tilted her head.

”No Spirit Stone Mines. The Nightmare Forest has only a few of them and all of them were depleted.” The Holy deer shook his head again. He would be happy for a new Spirit Stone Mine to pop up, but he wouldn’t count on it.

”So they don’t really have any place.” Moon Aiko nodded her head. ”But don’t the Holy Deer produce Herbs? What about the Nightmare Owls?”

”Poison and Arrays or Runes, depending on whom you ask.” The Holy Deer didn’t like them too much, since healing them was pain in the ass.

One had to know which Herb poisoned them before they could devise how to heal them, but the Nightmare Owls were completely oblivious to what Herbs they grew as they didn’t tend their fields all that much.

”I see...” Moon Aiko nodded her head. She now understood why they were so out of place in the Nightmare Forest.

”Well, they are great terraformers, so we sometimes used them to level up some areas or add some hills.” The Holy Deer shrugged.

”That feels... quite insulting.” Moon Aiko pondered how they would react and this was the only thing that came to her mind considering how they behaved until now.

”They were cursing around, but they never rejected the offer.” The Holy Deer smirked.

”Well, since they don’t have anything else to give, what do you expect?” Moon Aiko rolled her eyes. So much for the ’Holy’ part of their name.

”It’s not that bad.” The Holy Deer shook his head. ”They could still mine and do other things, but they have to adjust their prices similar to the Crow Clan.”

”That’s a problem, you know.” Moon Aiko rolled her eyes.

”But it’s not our problem, so we can ignore it.” The Holy Deer shrugged. This was the way of the Nightmare Forest and as long as the Ancestral Beasts were around, nothing would change.

That’s also why he was trying to escape from this place, since this place was as stale as it could get.

”Senior! The Earthen Elephants are attacking!” An actual Holy Deer in his Beast Form jumped close to them.

”Again?” The Holy Deer that accompanied the Fox rolled his eyes.

”It seems that because of their Ancestral Beasts injury they are trying to get our Herb fields to use them for his recovery!” The actual Holy Deer described the situation.

”I will be damned.” The Evil Deer laughed.

”What are you planning this time?” Moon Aiko asked him, since she was curious how he would solve this situation.

”They can’t get to the Herb fields or they might smash them to pieces, so we will have to stop them before it.” The Evil Deer pondered as he stroked his spotless chin.

”So battle?” Moon Aiko was curious how other Beasts would fight.

”You know that it’s written all over your face, right?” The Evil Deer laughed.

”Hey, I’m just curious, it’s not like anything will happen.” Moon Aiko shrugged.

”Whoa, you are almost as shameless as the Nightmare Owls.” The Evil Deer was startled that he met his match.

”Ew.” Moon Aiko shuddered from his gaze.

”... That hurts.” The Evil Deer murmured. He was deeply hurt from how she treated him just now.

”Well, maybe you shouldn’t pick on someone that has no interest in you.” Moon Aiko shrugged.

”I was never rejected before.” The Evil Deer said proudly.

”There is always a first time for everything.” Moon Aiko stuck out her tongue before taking a few steps back.

”Seriously...” The Evil Deer ruffled his hair as he parried the Earthen Elephant that just fell from the sky with his hand.

”You are back again?” The Evil Deer rolled his eyes.

”Should I call for backup?” The actual Holy Deer suggested to his senior.

”No need, just keep an eye on the Fox and make a barrier just in case.” The Evil Deer waved him away, before taking a few steps towards the Earthen Elephant.

”What a pleasant surprise that we met.” The Earthen Elephant spoke in a deep voice.

”I’m surprised that you can be here when your Clan Head is injured.” The Evil Deer knew where to strike to inflict as much damage as possible.

”And your Holy Deer Clan will be the perfect sacrifice for us to regain recognition!” The Earthen Elephant breathed out steam from his long nose.

’An actual Beast against a transformed Beast.’ Moon Aiko was curious if the Human Body Stage could hold against the Beast Form, but unfortunately, the Evil Deer transformed his body into a Holy Deer Form.

Moon Aiko clicked her tongue, since she was looking forward to seeing him fight in his Human Body Form, but alas.

The Evil Deer’s antlers lit up as lightning struck the Earthen Elephant, but it didn’t seem like it dealt any damage.

The Earthen Elephant as name suggests, is pretty much wholly wrapped in earth and rocks, making it resistant to most damage. However, that also means they are quite slow and very heavy.

The Evil Deer made use of his light and nimble body to circle the Earthen Elephant in order to strike from the side, however, the Earthen Elephant used his huge feet to stomp the ground and cause a local earthquake.

The actual Holy Deer shielded the Fox and protected it from this, but he was worried about his senior.

”You have improved from the last time.” The Evil Deer’s antlers shone again, but this time roots and vines suddenly shot up from the ground and wrapped around the Earthen Elephant.

”That I did, but we both know that you can’t hold me back.” The Earthen Elephant snorted at him.

”You never know until you try.” The Evil Deer smirked. The roots and vines struck deeply into the Earthen Elephants ’shield’ and since those carried a lot of water...

”Dammit!” The Earthen Elephant cursed when he saw the Evil Deer charge up his attack again, but it was simply too late to do anything about it, so he just compressed and strengthened his defences.

*Boom*

The shockwave shook the surrounding trees, and the deafening sound spread throughout the whole forest.

”You are like a turtle.” The Evil Deer rolled his eyes. He did deal some damage to this turtle, but it was not as much as he expected.

”Fuck.” The Earthen Elephant cursed. There were many more Holy Deer that he had to take down, but he was already injured from this bastard!

The Earthen Elephant stomped his feet, causing a sudden rock formation to manifest and go immediately after the Evil Deer.

The Evil Deer jumped high up in the sky and used the wind and small rocks for subsequent jumps, dodging the catastrophe that approached him.

”Haha! Fool! What about your guest?!” The Earthen Elephant laughed and the Evil Deer stiffened.

He immediately looked over his Junior and the Fox, but to his shock there was a miniature Moon where they were supposed to be?

”...” The Evil Deer was silent.

”...” The Earthen Elephant was also silent, because he couldn’t feel any direct contact with his ability, meaning he didn’t hit anyone.

”...” The Evil Deer looked at the Earthen Elephant with pity.

”... This is not fair...” The Earthen Elephant almost sobbed, seeing his plan not working at all.

”That’s the way of life.” The Evil Deer discreetly breathed a sigh of relief. While he was great at healing things, he never really healed Foxes, so this was quite the dangerous situation.

’I should’ve told her to leave this place, but I just had to strike some brownie points.’ The Evil Deer sighed. His greed almost caused him to mess up everything, but fortunately that Fox was better than he expected!

”I will take you down!” The Earthen Elephant swore loudly, ready for prolonged battle...