Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

Moon Aiko’s room was small, but cosy. There were a lot of small pelts here and there, making it feel like she was in a fur shop.

However, that was not a bad thing, she actually quite liked it.

Running her toes through the fur, the feeling was simply sublime.

Smiling to herself, Moon Aiko plopped onto the bed, drifting to sleep while enjoying the cosy sensation on her skin.

...

The next day, Danji visited her in the early morning with some clothes.

Those were simple kimonos, something that Aiko, who hated to dress, would be able to easily use.

”I don’t mind more elaborate clothes.” Moon Aiko gestured, but still picked one kimono, since Danji took her time picking it.

Danji looked startled, immediately touching Aiko’s forehead if she was fine.

”What...?” Moon Aiko’s stiff face stared at her.

”... Nothing...” Danji didn’t feel like Aiko was unwell. Moreover, it also didn’t seem like she was being controlled, but then, what changed?

”Hmmmm...” Danji pondered for a moment, before correcting her posture. ”Mei woke up some time ago, but Dai Lu asked that you don’t share any more shocking news for the time being. It seems like she didn’t process all the information just yet.” She explained the situation, which was so unlike her.

She and Mei didn’t get along, mostly because they had the same target of affection.

The Demonic Foxes were very peculiar about having a single partner and that partner not having anyone else and while there were some outliers, that was the usual rule.

Meanwhile, Mei was a very old, archaic, person. She didn’t like much change so she preferred if she had Aiko for herself.

However, both of them understood that was impossible, mostly because Aiko had too much stamina.

You could make an argument that sex was not everything, but sex was still part of a relationship. If the character, attitude, conversation, sex, hobbies, and so on, don’t line up properly, then it was a disaster in the making.

Sure, you don’t need to have a carbon copy of your likes. It’s good to have some unique hobbies that the other doesn’t have, so that you have a place to relax, but at the same time, there has to be some kind of overlap.

For Mei, it was Herbs, or rather Alchemy, the art of Pill Refining.

For Danji, it was food and affection. A lot simpler, but neither of them minded.

While they didn’t compromise with each other, there was also no point in undermining each other in front of Aiko. After all, if Aiko caught them in the act, it wouldn’t end up with just scolding.

”Ah... That’s hard.” Moon Aiko nodded her head slowly. She understood that Mei might not be in the best condition, but she still had to finish everything.

’After all, I want to bring them over, but for that to happen they need to know what to expect.’ Moon Aiko was already planning for the future, mostly because-

’An easy and ”safe” way to obtain tails.’ Moon Aiko wanted for everyone to get strong, but hunting Beasts or Humans for this was... not advised.

Foxes were one of the weakest, if not the weakest race in the beginning. That would change later on, but first they would have to get to that point.

Having more tails was the perfect way to prevent the stronger predators from preying on them too quickly. Slowing the process if you will.

”I know, but just try to be a bit more gentle and less... explosive.” Danji pursed her lips. She wanted to hear Aiko’s stories, no matter how crazy they were, while also feeding her some yummy food.

However, Mei was still better at making Spiritual Food, since she had extensive knowledge about Herbs...

’I never knew she was so skilled.’ Danji discreetly clicked her tongue from frustration.

”I will try, well, I intend to tell the story so that I can invite you later.” Moon Aiko nodded her head seriously.

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”Invite us later?” Danji tilted her head in confusion.

”Don’t mind it. Don’t mind it.” Moon Aiko waved her hand. There was no point explaining it now, since she would have to explain it later for everyone.

...

Moon Aiko and Danji walked down the stairs into the living room.

Everyone was already gathered there. Some ate some snacks, while others read Jade Slips with Beast Techniques. It was a peaceful and harmonious time.

Moon Aiko sat back in her chair, on her right was Mei, while on her left was Danji.

Nothing changed, and they were followed by Dai Lu behind Mei and the Twins around the table, fooling around with food.

There were some other ’visitors’, but those could be safely ignored.

”Where do I even start...” Moon Aiko smacked her lips. Either way, Mei would get shocked, so she would start with the safe area first.

...

”...” Mei was silent. She didn’t faint or anything, but she was in deep thought.

Meanwhile, Dai Lu was over there foaming from the mouth, probably because while Aiko narrated it, she also imagined those things, making Dai Lu see it from first person.

The Twins had sparkling eyes. It was obvious they wanted to visit that place, but Moon Aiko was unable to pull them in.

’I need bigger [Soul Domain].’ Moon Aiko didn’t expect to have troubles with this.

”I can’t comprehend it.” Mei decided to give up.

”What?” Moon Aiko tilted her head.

”It shouldn’t be possible for you to have such a big ’space’ with such limited Beast Core.” Mei shook her head.

”Where does Beast Core play a role in this?” Moon Aiko was genuinely curious.

”Of course, Beast Core...” Mei trailed her words once she realised that she was not sure about it either. ”Huh...” She thoughtfully nodded her head. ”I have no idea.”

”That’s rare.” Danji blinked at her in surprise. She never expected Mei to so freely confess, making her even more formidable than she anticipated.

”I know.” Mei agreed. ”Every teacher said you need a powerful Beast Core, but none of them ever mentioned why. The same was in the Immortal World. Most Clans and Sects said the same thing.” There was something strange going on, but Mei was not sure what or why.

”Well, I think it comes down to manipulation?” Moon Aiko tilted her head. If she didn’t have her system, it would be impossible to do so many crazy things, but all it boiled down to was control.

”Manipulation, huh?” Mei nodded her head thoughtfully again. ”That might not be far from the truth. The Soul is exceptionally frail. We usually just ’sip’ on it to gain the necessary Soul to add tails, but controlling the Soul itself to form a world of its own... Yeah, that’s probably why they made so many rules.”

”To protect them from dying early.” Moon Aiko smiled.

”En...” Mei still felt like there was something amiss, but she didn’t know what.

”So, after the huge walls, you went out?” Mei decided to take it easy. Moon Aiko already gave her something even the Golden Palace was unable to obtain, so there was no need to stress over this. ’I might have to get that ”merchant” to give me some anti-indigestion Pills.’

Speaking of which. Mei felt like that ’merchant’ was similar to Aiko. It never had the same ’form’ but it always sold something that she needed, for a respectable price.

”En.” Moon Aiko smiled.

”I want to go on an adventure...” Yuxi grumbled, but Wanshu covered her lips with her hand, so that she wouldn’t interrupt this session.

Moon Aiko kept telling what she encountered, but that made everyone even more speechless.

”That place is not normal.” Mei concluded, but she was still curious about it. ”You said you can invite others? At least you could Yue, but what about the living?”

”I couldn’t do so with Twins, so I’m probably not strong enough.” Moon Aiko shook her head.

”That feels natural.” Mei pondered. ”If you could easily store more ’Souls’ in your little world, then everything would turn trivial and death would have no meaning.” She clicked her tongue.

”Death would have no meaning?” Moon Aiko tilted her head, confused about that statement.

”En. It’s because if someone dies, their Soul is still left over. If you ’store’ it in the little world, then that Soul is perfectly preserved even without expensive Treasures and liquids.” Mei explained, while also adding a few things.

”Oh...” Moon Aiko nodded her head. If everyone could create what she did, then death would truly become meaningless. ”Does that mean that those stronger Foxes can do it?” She tilted her head.

”No. I heard that only those that fit the requirement for ’final’ Evolution, get to make something ’big’ enough to fit other Souls in.” Mei regretted that, since she was never able to get to that point.

However, now she had more time and experience, so it would be possible-

Mei discreetly glanced at Aiko.

-No, was it already given that she would reach that state?

She foolishly shook her head, while smiling gently.

”Hmmmm...” Moon Aiko nodded her head. ”Well, I can only invite Ghosts for now, so.” She didn’t think it was all that impressive.

Mei pinched her nose-bridge. More common sense to teach, but this was probably fine to leave alone, no?

”Ghosts do not have ’anchor’ or ’lifeline’, whatever you want to call it. It’s basically something that allows you to stay inside your living body without feeling that your ’insides’ are leaking out.” Mei explained the concept and why it was so tough to invite anyone else, other than Ghosts.

”So once the space gets big enough I can invite them, with the anchors, allowing them to return their bodies?” Moon Aiko tilted her head.

”En. Since the ’Soul’ takes the ’anchor’ nobody else will be able to use that body until they return.” Mei smirked. This would be the best, since nobody would be able to interact with their bodies while they were not around.

”That sounds like some kind of defensive measure.” Moon Aiko quite liked that.

”It is, since there are too many old jerks floating around, waiting for a body to have a weak enough Soul so they can push it out and nestle in.” Mei explained the concept and why there could be some many ’strange’ individuals.

”But I can’t see the end of your Soul.” Mei narrowed her eyes. While this was not unusual, it was impossible for someone to have it so soon, especially since Mei was superb at cracking these ’shrouds’.

Aiko’s ’concealment’ felt more like a sturdy wall, than a fog that you could still walk through.

”Is that a bad thing?” Moon Aiko was slightly concerned, so she munched on some food, offered by Danji.

”No, it’s a good thing. They won’t understand your uniqueness, and you will have an easier time estimating their purpose and worth.” Mei smiled, that was one burden off of her shoulders.