Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

”I didn’t expect you to gather your energy so soon.” The Evil Deer was impressed by her recovery speed.

”The Herbs were good.” Witch Aiko shrugged like it was not her problem that she ’ate’ all those Herbs.

”...” The Evil Deer’s lips twitched. He would have to explain what happened with those Herbs to his father and he didn’t really want to do that. His father was a dick about almost everything. Always grumpy and going on and on with: In my age-

It was simply painful to listen to, not to mention he would always ’probe’ his defences, leaving the Evil Deer often injured.

”He is... peculiar, so please don’t take offence.” The Evil Deer didn’t know how to describe his father without insulting him. It was difficult to describe a jerk/dick with normal words.

”It can’t be that bad, right?” Witch Aiko blinked at him.

”...” The Evil Deer awkwardly shifted his body.

”So... about my reward...” Witch Aiko worried that those Herbs would be her only reward- Well, even that reward would be substantial, but it was not her fault that nobody warned her not to take anything!

”I think that my father will give you the Herbs you already ate...” The Evil Deer ruffled his hair in frustration. While he did mess up by having that Holy Deer accompany her.

”...” Witch Aiko felt like that was unfair, but she would find a way to get more rewards out of them.

The Evil Deer guided her towards the huge-ass tree. It was the centre of this place and definitely the place where the Ancestral Beast resided.

’I’m not looking forward to this.’ Witch Aiko quickly noticed that everything around her was quite blurry, as if this place was rejecting her and not allowing her to look around.

Then, with the next step everything disappeared...

...

Witch Aiko blinked her eyes once and she was in a different place.

This place was vast and expansive, but below her feet there was a strange water-like floor. It felt like this place was infinite and finite at the same time.

Looking around, she couldn’t see anything else other than the ’lake-like’ floor.

”You don’t seem as flustered as I expected.” An old voice spoke behind her.

Witch Aiko didn’t hurry to turn around, since it could be a trap, but she was trying to find anything odd about this place.

”This is an artificial Spiritual Realm.” The old voice explained, since he was bothered how he was ignored.

”Artificial? Is that possible?” Witch Aiko tilted her head as she turned around.

”It’s not about possibility, with the right tools you can make anything possible.” The old person sounded quite grumpy, but he was still humouring this Fox that was supposed to help him.

He didn’t have any distinguishing features, just your common old guy that you would find in any village.

”Does that mean that this place is not the Mortal Realm?” Witch Aiko was trying to figure out where exactly she was.

”Hmmmmm...” The old person pondered. ”You can take this place as amalgamation of the Spiritual, Mind and Mortal Realm.” There was no simple explanation about what one should call this place and where it was located since it was located everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

”So...” Witch Aiko looked around, since this was a pseudo Spiritual Realm it should be possible to see his Soul.

”There.” The old person grumbled, pointing behind himself.

And just as he said that, something behind him was uncovered.

Witch Aiko felt like that huge cracked ball was there all the time, but she was just unable to ’perceive’ it.

”How weird...” Witch Aiko tilted her head again. This place was stranger than she expected. Moreover-

’He is not honest.’ Witch Aiko felt that his intentions were impure, so she didn’t move from her spot.

”Even if you don’t move, you won’t be able-” The old person wanted to say that the Fox was locked in here, but something terrifying swam right under him and to where the Fox was located.

*Crack**Crack*

The whole place cracked all over until it shattered...

-----

{At the same time when Aiko disappeared.}

The Evil Deer turned around to see no one was following behind him. However, he also felt her presence until now, so it was impossible that she hid somewhere.

He didn’t even need to figure out what happened, since it was obvious. His father was too egoistical. His ego pretty much reached the heavens.

As such it was obvious that he was trying to either threaten or lock up the Fox.

”I don’t think that’s a good idea ’father’.” The Evil Deer spoke neither fast nor slowly.

”What makes you think that, my stupid son?” The Ancestral Beast spoke slowly.

”You seem to be under a misconception.” The Evil Deer rolled his eyes.

”What?” The Ancestral Beast seemed upset, but he didn’t lash out yet, since he already restrained the Fox.

It was unfortunate that he didn’t act sooner and the Crow Clan was liberated. Sure, it weakened that bird greatly, but she didn’t lose any cultivation, unlike the stupid Earthen Elephant.

As such he wanted to lock the Fox, liberate him and keep her there so that she wouldn’t be able to help the last Clan.

With only the Crow Clan being able to retaliate, he would be able to conquer both the Nightmare Owl Clan and Earthen Elephant Clan without any issues.

”You still believe you will be able to leave this place?” The Ancestral Beast rolled his eyes.

”I will.” The not-so-Evil Deer spoke slowly like his father.

”How arrogant.” The Ancestral Beast slammed his chair in anger, but soon he held his breath as he could feel that blood rising within his throat.

*crack*

The space shattered, and the familiar Fox appeared in the throne room. Her tails were unlike that of a Fox. There was something terrifying about them, something that would make even the bravest Beast turn around and run.

”Well, that was a whole lot of nothing.” Witch Aiko sighed. She was not worried about anything since her [Jaws of ####] were still active.

What that meant was that if she was in danger, she would be transported out of here, but that decision was not in her hands.

Over time, the more she used this Innate Ability, she quickly realised that each of them had a ’mind’ of their own. The [Jaws of ####] were no exception.

If the [Jaws of ####] noticed any danger, it would swallow her and move her out of here.

’It’s strange how I only noticed it now.’ Witch Aiko was confused, but it might be because of that strange place that she was kidnapped into.

”... How?” The Ancestral Beast was confused.

”What do you mean how? You clearly half-assed that and you are asking me how?” Witch Aiko rolled her eyes. She might not be as smart as Moon Aiko, but when it came to practice, she was always the best!

”You-” The Ancestral Beast’s anger flared.

Suddenly, those jaws snapped and that Fox disappeared even before anything hit her...

...

The jaws appeared in the familiar temporary Fox Village.

”That was... an experience.” Witch Aiko slowly nodded her head.

”You are back?” Danji was startled that Aiko returned so soon.

Witch Aiko breathed in.

”PREPARE FOR BATTLE!” Her booming voice immediately crossed the whole meadow and plains. The supposed Beasts that were guarding around were even more flustered than anyone else.

”What happened?” Mei and Dai Lu appeared out of nowhere.

”The Ancestral Holy Deer wants to play a naughty game.” Witch Aiko smiled, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

Mei noticed that Aiko had lower energy than before and her tails were... strange, but the most damning thing was-

”Then what about him?” Mei pointed behind Aiko.

”What about whom?” Witch Aiko was confused and turned around, only to see the not-so-Evil Deer behind her.

”What the hell?!” Witch Aiko jumped. ”Where did you come?”

”How am I supposed to know that? Something just swallowed me...” The Evil Deer was flustered since he never felt so hopeless in his life.

”... What...?” Witch Aiko blinked at him blankly.

[Good portable healer.]

Suddenly the system popped up with this message, making Witch Aiko’s lips twitch.

”Never mind.” She would definitely scold her system later, but for now she had to figure out what to do with this guy.

”Oh right, here.” The not-so-Evil Deer gave her a Spatial Ring.

”What is this?” Witch Aiko took it and looked at it strangely.

”Your reward for helping the Ancestral Beast of the Holy Deer Clan.” The not-so-Evil Deer smiled evilly.

”But I didn’t...” Witch Aiko was even more confused.

”Exactly.” The Evil Deer chuckled. ”Since that old man wouldn’t want to reward you because of eating those Herbs, I took it upon myself to prepare something.”

”???” Witch Aiko was more and more confused. ”When were you able to do this?”

”From the beginning?” The Evil Deer tilted his head.

”??????” Witch Aiko felt like this made less and less sense, but it was not like she had that much time to ask everything about it.

”Mei, let’s establish the defences before the Holy Deer Clan comes over. We also should be cautious about the guards.” Witch Aiko turned around and immediately took arms, since the Holy Deer Clan was stirring trouble, it was only natural to retaliate.

”I will take care of those guards.” Dai Lu chuckled. She had a few issues with the Nightmare Owls and Crow Clan, since both of them flaunted their wines but never offered any!

As such she would take that grudge and whip it into the Holy Deer Clan to calm her nerves!

”I will stir trouble with the Earthen Elephants, I don’t believe they can’t occupy their time and resources while you solve the last place.” Mei snorted disdainfully, sowing bad seeds was the perfect job for Foxes, especially as old as she was.

Witch Aiko seriously nodded her head. It was so nice to see everyone working together.

”The Demonic Foxes are prepared for resistance.” Danji came over when she heard Aiko’s voice.

”The Shadow Foxes are already sabotaging their weapons~” Yuxi popped out of nowhere and happily hugged Aiko.

”That was my report...” The Shadow Fox that always slept clicked her tongue.

”Don’t bother her too much.” Wanshu also appeared soon after and picked her partner so that she wouldn’t bother their Mistress.

”Almost the whole gang is here~” Witch Aiko chuckled. ”I wonder what should we do with them~”

The whole group snickered sinisterly, ready for anything.