Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

*Yawn*

Moon Aiko stretched sensually, feeling quite refreshed.

Her [Jaws of ####] didn’t cause that big of a fuss this time, so she didn’t need to rest that long and she also wasn’t injured.

However, there was quite the crowd around her.

”Slept well?” Mei’s lips twitched, no matter how many times she counted those tails, they easily passed ten. Was that even possible?

”Ah~” Moon Aiko happily smiled at Mei, making her briefly blush. ”It’s nice to be back, how about everyone joins me? The grass is nice and warm.” She patted the space next to her.

Danji wanted to step forth, but it was obvious it would be impossible, since-

Dai Lu was holding her laughter from reading everyone’s mind.

The Twins were looking excitedly at Aiko and her fluffy tails. Her body also changed so they were curious just how powerful she became.

The Nightmare Owl was staring speechlessly, shifting uncomfortably backwards, like facing a mortal enemy.

Mei was switching between a light blush and concern mixed with scolding.

It was a mess, but a glorious one.

Danji could only shake her head.

Moon Aiko yawned. ”I have a lot.”

”That you have.” Dai Lu had to say that, since she briefly read what Aiko imagined and it was quite a wild ride. ’Usually, only Foxes with 9 tails would arrive in their Soul Realm, but Aiko already has something similar right now... it’s outrageous.’’ No matter how many times she rewound what she saw in Aiko’s mind, she still couldn’t believe it.

’She lost some weight...’ Mei narrowed her eyes. ’But her Soul is so thick that I can barely scrape it with my empowered Divine Sense.’ She was concerned that something might’ve happened to her.

’They look fluffy, I wonder if I can sleep in them like Aiko did in the beginning.’ Yuxi was squealing inside her mind, while Wanshu just shook her head. She didn’t mind if Yuxi played with Aiko, as long as she was also invited.

’It’s good that she is back, but why is she so intimidating...’ The Nightmare Owl just shuddered, taking a few steps back.

”Let’s eat first and let’s consider what to do next later.” Mei dispersed the crowd, since she first had to ’interrogate’ Aiko about her tails.

”Food~” Moon Aiko wiped the saliva that almost dripped on the ground. She quite missed the food that everyone made, even if some were not all that good.

”...” Mei sighed. She was glad that Aiko was still Aiko.

...

The group slowly moved towards their abode, but nobody said a word.

Aiko could feel their scorching gazes, but it was obvious their questions were reserved and had to be asked in private.

The abode increased in size. Mostly because of the rivalry between Danji and Mei. However, that was not necessarily a bad thing as they no longer fought until they bled.

Aiko sat around the table while Danji and Mei walked into the kitchen. The Twins and Dai Lu stayed behind, wanting to ask a few questions first.

The Twins almost pounced on Aiko, especially Yuxi. ”How did you obtain so many tails?!” Her eyes were pretty much screaming: Tell me! Tell me!

”Some things happened.” Moon Aiko recalled those Soul Points and how she used them. Meanwhile, Dai Lu read their respective minds and choked on her tea that she just prepared.

’What the f-’ Dai Lu had so many questions. No, just having questions didn’t do it justice as her mind was in complete turmoil. ’Where in the hell did she gain so many Souls!?’ She questioned her arduous journey till now.

You have to keep in mind that each tail cost roughly 10 times the previous tail, so the numbers got big seriously quickly. At start, just a few villages would reward you with a tail, but later on, even Empires wouldn’t have enough Souls to form a tail, meaning that you would have to either wage a monumental war, or do it in different ways.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from NovelPhoenix; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

’The Demonic Foxes and that apparatus?’ Dai Lu pondered, but before she could ask, the duo returned.

”Here is some food.” Danji placed the food on the table. She prepared more than Mei, and while it was lower in quality it was still delicious! As long as Dai Lu didn’t cook, everything would be alright!

Moon Aiko licked her lips, immediately stealing a few roasted thighs, munching on them happily.

”So, where did you disappear to?” Mei had a professional expression, but it was obvious she would talk with Aiko one on one later.

”The person that enslaved the Beasts here, I popped into his Inheritance Realm? Or whatever it was called?” Moon Aiko tilted her head. Tea was prepared for everyone, so she sipped on happily.

Mei paused for a moment. ”Wouldn’t that mean you have encountered him?”

”I mean, before, yeah.” Moon Aiko nodded her head seriously. ”Uncle kicked his ass.”

’Uncle?’

Everyone had the same thought... except Dai Lu. She was sitting there silently, feeling completely lost. She definitely read Aiko’s mind, that shrouded person was definitely the one that messed with the Beasts in this place, but...

’I don’t see anyone else...?’ It was strange. She definitely saw the idiot having his ass handed to him and his neck being choked, but she couldn’t see anyone, it was as if there was nobody there.

”Ah, right. Can you use this?” Moon Aiko pulled that ugly flower.

*PFFFFT!*

Everyone choked on their tea, especially Mei, since she was the only one who knew what that was.

The others recoiled in disgust while Mei grabbed that precious Herb.

”It’s a bit wilted?” Mei cleared her throat, still feeling like she was being choked by the tea.

”I had to rough it up.” Moon Aiko said seriously.

For a moment, Mei forgot that she was still in the Mortal World, since what she was currently holding was not something you should be able to obtain here.

Mostly because these things required Immortal Qi to blossom.

”Ah...” Mei felt that Aiko was lucky. If it was anyone else, they would already be turned into fertiliser...

”Are you alright?” Mei threw that Herb away like it was not precious at all and observed Aiko’s body closely.

She couldn’t see any injuries, but her body definitely lost some weight.

’She was probably scared and confused.’ Mei nodded her head.

’Should I say something...?’ Dai Lu’s face was as hard as a rock. Both of them were thinking of something else and there was a huge misunderstanding, but Dai Lu didn’t know how to approach this without making one of the parties upset.

”I’m fine, but I will eat to my heart’s content.” Moon Aiko said seriously.

”Of course.” Mei nodded back. She was just glad that Aiko was happy.

”Oh, and I have a few dozen of thousands of those, so if you want some, just tell me.” Moon Aiko said without a change of expression and Mei violently choked on her tea, almost swallowing the cup when she heard that sentence.

”-What?” Mei’s voice was hoarse, like something was stuck in her throat.

”Oh and I also have something called Spiritual Immortal Herb or something like that.” Moon Aiko added.

”Pft.” Mei almost coughed up blood. There was still a trickle running down from the corner of her lips, but she held it well.

”Ah, I have a few of them, actually.” Moon Aiko enjoyed the situation, but she didn’t think that Mei would actually violently vomit blood from the information.

”M-Mei?!” Moon Aiko was startled as she caught Mei who almost fell from her chair.

”I see stars. This must be a dream. I just heard something outrageous...” Mei spoke like she was delirious. ”Someone just told me that they have Immortal Spirit Herbs, something that I had to pay almost all of my wealth to obtain just one...”

”...” Moon Aiko felt bad, like she actually overdid it with her ’cute’ prank. ”Sorry...”

She apologised gently, but that was only a finishing blow to Mei, making her faint on the spot.

”...”

Everyone was silent, but judging from how Mei just acted, ’being wealthy’ wouldn’t just cut it when it came to Aiko now.

...

The table was cleaned by the professional gulper Aiko, while Mei was recovering from her shock.

”Ugh...” Mei groaned. ”How well preserved are those Herbs?” Even if Aiko roughly pulled them up and stored them, they would still be able to maintain at least 4% of their strength and for Mortal World that was good enough to easily surpass the 9th Grade.

”I asked Yuqi, and she gave them to me in perfect state.” This time Moon Aiko didn’t play any pranks and immediately stated the facts, but this might’ve been even more devastating than the previous news.

Dai Lu gently caught the falling Mei.

”Haha...” She was laughing listlessly. All of her wealth accumulated over millennia couldn’t match Aiko’s current wealth.

”I think you should brace yourself more.” Dai Lu replied with a stiff face.

”... There is more...?” Mei’s eyes shook. Surely that was all...? Surely Aiko didn’t have anything more outrageous.

”Oh, right. I have a gift for you.” Moon Aiko smiled.

A chill ran down everyone’s back. If those things that Aiko listed before weren’t worth as gifts, then what would be considered a gift...?

”Here~” Moon Aiko placed a Herb in front of Mei.

Mei blinked her eyes a few times.

*Poke*

She poked the Herb, as if trying to assess if she was imagining it or not, before her body violently spasmed and she fainted again.

”...” Dai Lu was silent. Mei’s outrageous thoughts were shared with her, but Dai Lu decided to ignore it.

The Mythical Herb that was only seen once by the Ancestor of the Fox Village. A Herb that could repair any and all injuries to the Soul, which was exceptionally fragile the deeper you went, but if that was all, it would still be ’fine’.

The Herb was also able to strengthen the Soul, to a point where others wouldn’t be able to affect it...

...

Danji introduced Aiko to her room, so she could rest a bit more. Everyone had a lot of questions, but they didn’t want to ask without Mei around, so it was decided to hold this meeting again later.

The Nightmare Owl was no longer panicking. Well, he still was, just differently. He disappeared almost immediately when Aiko came into this place, probably to report to his Clan Head about this sudden occurrence.

Needless to say, chaos was on the horizon...