Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

Moon Aiko laid in the familiar bed. It was soft and squishy-

"You just can't help yourself, huh?" Mei complained from her drowsiness.

"It was soft and squishy." Moon Aiko nuzzled into that embrace like a baby, enjoying the soft sensation against her face.

Mei squirmed briefly before falling asleep again. It seemed like she was quite tired, which was only natural.

She worked hard on the papers and continental flying ship. Not only did she do a perfect job on both of them, but everything went well even later on.

The continental flying ship never broke down, one could say that it's working miracles right now. The papers were finished successfully, there was nothing missing in the storage facilities, which was unlike what was happening in the Fox Village.

Honestly, she deserved this sweet rest...

...

Moon Aiko squirmed awake. She rested for a long time, but from the 'feeling' that she was experiencing, they had probably landed again.

Moon Aiko stirred completely awake as she observed the sleeping Mei. She seemed still tired, so Moon Aiko squirmed like a worm out of her embrace to have a look outside.

She was curious if something went wrong or if everything was alright and Chen Feet was just making rounds to see if everything was working.

Leaving the room, she met up with Dai Lu, who was smiling at her.

"What?" Moon Aiko blinked at her.

"How about a quick spar while he works on the continental flying ship?" Dai Lu wanted to see if Aiko went soft and lazy or if she actually trained her skills.

"Did something happen?" Moon Aiko wanted to know if everything was alright with this ship.

"Nothing bad. Certain wood decayed quicker than expected and while it would not affect the ship as a whole, it was better to replace it so that nobody would get injured." Dai Lu explained the situation. If she wanted to fight Aiko, she had to give her the answers first.

"Poor quality?" Moon Aiko nodded her head as she went with Dai Lu. Since she suggested this spar, she also should have a room in mind.

"Not quite, the wood didn't have enough Qi inside, so while the quality itself was good, it was simply overwhelmed by Qi." Dai Lu explained as she guided Aiko outside and towards a lone place.

"Is this far enough?" Moon Aiko questioned Dai Lu. She knew how powerful she was, so if she did an oopsie, then the continental flying ship might not come out unscathed...

"I won't fight for real and only do the bare minimum, so go at it with your heart's content." Dai Lu smiled. She only wanted to make sure that Aiko was still training and not slacking off.

"Okay..." Moon Aiko nodded her head. She had deepened her understanding of her Abilities, so this was a good opportunity to try them.

Moon Aiko started lightly. She used her [Gale Steps] first.

"..." Dai Lu observed closely as Aiko approached. Both of them knew this was not her full strength, but it was a good idea to stretch before doing anything serious.

Moon Aiko approached with a staff, probably because of the increased reach.

She whirled on her toes, trying to slam the staff into Dai Lu's side, but it was easily blocked by the hilt.

Moon Aiko jumped back, but this time when approaching, she also mixed the [Illusionary Steps].

Moon Aiko's silhouette would become a blur here and there, making her difficult to spot for normal Beasts.

However, we were talking about Dai Lu, so this was not difficult at all.

Moon Aiko used the staff for a stab, but it was once again blocked by the hilt. She was convinced that she wouldn't be able to harm Dai Lu with normal means, but it was not like this fight was to the death. There was no need to overdo this.

[Devouring Sun & Glacial Moon Manifestation]

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It was a very complex Divine Ability, encompassing both the Sun and Moon. However, Moon Aiko would only be using the Moon as the Sun lacked the required Essence to manifest.

With this, she would be able to find Dai Lu's weak spots which were... none.

"Isn't that a bit unfair?" Moon Aiko complained as a translucent barrier formed around her. It was reminiscent of her [Moon's Crust], but it felt like a lesser version of that.

"Is it?" Dai Lu pursed her lips. She only intended for Aiko to fight and not for her.

She was not confident that she wouldn't get engrossed and destroy something she was not supposed to destroy.

Moon Aiko dropped low, trying to kick Dai Lu' stomach.

Her leg was once again blocked, but this time by Dai Lu's knee.

It seemed like Dai Lu wanted to retaliate with the sheath, but Moon Aiko changed that translucent barrier into [Moon's Crust], blocking that blow with a deafening boom.

"..." Moon Aiko jumped back. "Can you like, not retaliate?" A chill went down her spine when she saw the hole that Dai Lu's casual strike created.

"..." Dai Lu's lips twitched. She held back, like a lot, lot. But even then, her strength got the better of her.

"I will only counter to the side." Dai Lu wanted to get a better grasp over her strength, but if things went south, she would just drop that idea altogether.

"I feel danger, you know that?" Moon Aiko pursed her lips.

"You are imagining things." Dai Lu didn't want Aiko to leave before she verified everything.

Moon Aiko sighed. It seemed that she would not be allowed to go back without Dai Lu being satisfied.

She used [Lightness Technique] in tandem with [Illusionary Steps].

The difference was startling as her body flowed like a snake, blurring and obscuring her location.

Dai Lu could still see Aiko, but she was impressed by this combination. It was a great success that combined two techniques together, allowing it to strengthen each other significantly.

Moon Aiko slammed the staff from the upstairs below.

Dai Lu blocked it, this time with her sheath, but Moon Aiko used her [Prehensile Mastery] to make Dai Lu eat some rocks.

Unfortunately, Dai Lu read her mind and just stepped to the side, avoiding everything.

Moon Aiko followed that with her Divine Arts, [#### Needle Technique]. While that technique was in its infancy when it came to her experience, it should cause enough trouble for Dai Lu to move again.

Moon Aiko would consider that great success, but her needles were blocked by Dai Lu's clap.

"When you are using needles not for healing, you have to coat more Qi into them. That way you can prevent them from being blasted away so easily." Dai Lu offered the first piece of advice, since she felt like Aiko was very lacking in this aspect.

Moon Aiko pouted as her colour changed.

It was time for Witch Aiko to try and 'assassinate' Dai Lu.

Witch Aiko blurred as she used [Captivating Witch of Illusive Dreams Incarnate].

Her first ability not only caused fog to form, but a gentle sweet fragrance spread through it, dulling the senses and weakening her enemies.

"When using such a technique, you should make sure it will actually work on your opponent." Dai Lu stomped casually, blowing all the fog away. However, Aiko was nowhere to be found, which startled her.

'Now this is impressive.' Dai Lu couldn't briefly find Aiko, but she was able to find her whenever she moved.

"When you start moving, there is a lag between the ambient and your Qi. Make sure to make it flow more smoothly so you are less exposed." Dai Lu kept offering advice when something was lacking, or if something was worth expanding upon.

This technique was very elaborate, if it could fool even her senses, so Dai Lu wanted Aiko to train in this more.

Flying knives stabbed into her sheath. It did actually lodge themselves into it and while the damage was not significant, this was still impressive...

"Intimidation won't work on me, so you will have to find someone else for that." Dai Lu sincerely apologised, since this was an unfortunate situation for Aiko who was trying to make this work.

[Demonic Intimidation] was too low in level, so it didn't affect Dai Lu as much as Witch Aiko hoped.

However, she had more weapons that she could use.

"Sling, really?" Dai Lu heard that familiar sound and stepped aside. However, the very next moment she had to block a rock as she didn't expect there to be several slings.

"Don't tell me you are using all your tails to shoot these." Dai Lu was pelted by those rocks like Aiko's life depended on it.

She was honestly impressed and slightly scared if Aiko would use her signature 'Spirit Crystal' ammunition.

Dai Lu found Aiko and tried to force her out of her stealth, but what she hit was an actual pillow!

"Now this is very good. It seems you are getting used to using the ambient Qi to mask your own Qi." Dai Lu gave a seal of approval as she blocked daggers and cut through wires.

"..." Witch Aiko was not impressed as nothing was working. If at least something went through, she would be a lot happier about this situation, but she was already this strong and struggling?! Just how strong was Dai Lu?!

Witch Aiko used both [Body Arts] and [Flame Arts]. She wanted to use Grandpa Flame to inflict at least some damage to Dai Lu-!

However, her body was unable to block the strike from her, so she was sent flying.

If not for her[Captivating Witch of Illusive Dreams Incarnate] which allowed her to dive into shadows, she might be seriously injured as she would be eating trees along the way...

"Honestly, this is ridiculous." Witch Aiko was not amused by this sparring. She was in too big of a disadvantage, and she didn't have Sun Aiko to wreak havoc upon her.

"Is it time for me to give up?" Witch Aiko asked Dai Lu.

"Fine." Dai Lu sighed. "I wanted to see a bit more, but I can understand this was not too fun for you." She understood that Aiko might be upset, since she couldn't land a single hit, but Aiko was surprisingly easygoing about it.

"It's fine. It's good once in a while, but I would like to get some 'feedback' when trying to strike you. You are blocking everything too effortlessly." Witch Aiko shook her head.

"I see..." Dai Lu didn't have this issue before, but now she had to be more careful and actually play with the rules she set up before.

"But thank you. This was quite a nice experience." Witch Aiko slowly changed to Moon Aiko. They now had more experience in their abilities and while they didn't go full out, didn't pull the [Little #### Nightmares], [Serene/Pandemonium Lantern Eyes], [Jaws of ####], [Soul Domain] or [Intention Perception]. This outcome was still enlightening!