Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

Aiko rested on Queen's tails and browsed through the shop.

'I will need something to improve my Dexterity...' Aiko stared at her stats, sure she had 9,223 Dexterity, but that's only 922 when in the Human form.

[Dexterous Fingers]
[Passive Skill]
[Increases Dexterity by 5% per Level]
[Cost: 100]

'The others are too weak, or have flat effects that are not good since everything gets reduced in my human form.' Aiko sighed, it would be much easier if the Human form didn't decrease almost all her stats.

[Skill Points: 2,284 -> 2,184]

[Inscription Mastery]
[Passive Skill]
[Cost: Unable to be purchased]

Aiko stared at it, she didn't understand why they would place it in the shop if it couldn't be bought.

[You can't buy it, but you can obtain it through hard work.]

'As if I care about 'hard work' kind of bullshit! Let me buy this!' Aiko angrily slapped her paws and they slipped on her inventory

[Obtained [Inscription Mastery]!]

Aiko blinked few times flabbergasted. 'What the fuck?!'

She looked through her inventory.

[Skill Coupon x4->x3]

Aiko's eyes shined brightly. 'See you dumb fuck!?' Aiko smiled from ear to ear.

She then remembered something important. 'Appraisal...'

'She used her little grubby fingers on the [Skill Coupon].

[Unable to be purchased]
[Do you wish to use Ability Coupon to purchase [Appraisal]?]

'... I only have 2 coupons...' Aiko didn't want to use them just yet, what if she needed them later?

[Obtained [Appraisal]!]

'Gah! Now I have done it.' Aiko silently cried, but she had now [Appraisal]!

[Appraisal used!]
[Tail]

Aiko blinked a few times, she already knew that, that thing was a tail, but how about telling her what kind or something?

[Rock]
[Tree]
[Dirty Pond]
[Grass]
[Human?]

'God fucking dammit! Why did I purchase something so fucking useless!' Aiko now really cried, her special Coupons were spent on useless trash Ability...

There was also another problem...

'It uses 1,000 Stamina?!' Aiko almost fainted, she could only use Appraisal 10 times before she had to meditate.

'Isn't this a bit too much?' Aiko listlessly laid down on the fluffy tails thinking.

Aiko had an empty mind. She was upset that she wasted something precious and at the same time, she wanted to continue to buy more things...

'Right... I wanted those round candies called Pills.'

[Skill Coupon x3->x2]
[Obtained [Alchemy Mastery]!]

[Skill Points: 2,184 -> 1,184]
[The Ever Shaping Cauldron]

'I also need knives and stuff, but I don't intend to do that right now. I will first learn Inscriptions, then buy knives and Inscribe them myself.' Aiko nodded.

[Martial Ability: [The Ever Shaping Cauldron: - ; -/-]]
[The Ever Shaping Cauldron]
[Please Choose starting Material]

'I don't have anything right now so let's postpone it. I also don't have a description for those Masteries, but if they are like the [Calligraphy Mastery] then I'm set for the time being.' Aiko could now sleep peacefully.

...

Aiko returned to Elder Shu. She was now allowed to create basic Runes, but she was also tasked to adjust the strength of the Runes.

'I already know all these basic Rune names, so it's easy.'

Aiko immediately got to work and slowly Inscribed them on the cloth.

Beast Core(30%): 1,000 -> 900 (1,120)

'That... costs too much.' Aiko frowned and the cloth in front of her disintegrated.

"You need to adjust its strength more, make it as weak as possible, without making mistakes in creating the runes." Elder Shu explained gently.

Aiko gave her the stare of 'What the fuck do you want from me...' and Elder Shu smiled gently.

"Like this." Elder Shu demonstrated her Skills, creating the same Rune Aiko did, but within a few breaths.

Aiko had to take around a minute or two to get it right, but Elder Inscribed it so fast.

"The faster you are, the weaker the Rune is. Of course that does not mean the slower you are the more power the Rune has. Each Rune has its 'limit', you can imagine that as a bucket, there is little difference when you fill it up with lake water and ocean water. The volume inside the bucket is the same."

Aiko nodded. She understood her assignment and would do her best to recreate it.

She Inscribed the Rune quickly but failed.

Beast Core(30%): 900 -> 850 (1,070)

She tried again but failed again. She was trying too hard and her fingers were stiff.

"Here." The Elder Shu placed the parchment in front of her. "Practice writing the Rune on this parchment, but stop each time you make a mistake, once you can create that rune within 10 breaths."

Aiko nodded.

Elder Shu really liked this little Cub. She was obedient and listened well, unlike her direct disciples who would rather stare at her body and tails than do what they were supposed to do.

'It's all because they get corrupted by the other Elders and that stupid mandatory training.' Elder Shu clicked her tongue. She was already devising tactics to exclude her little Disciple from those nasty tests, but she would need most Elders to acknowledge it.

'They won't agree with me, since that test is beneficial to prodigies.' She rolled her eyes, remembering those 'Harem Kings'.

'But she will end up like them if I don't do something... should I discuss it with the Peak Elder?' She sat near her little Disciple taking out her comb.

It was great stress relief if she could comb her tails.

'... Did her tails get fluffier?' Elder Shu tilted her head. 'What is her Mate doing...'

She remembered that her Mate took her little Disciple for about a day from the grasp of the Peak Elder. She just didn't expect that it would make such a significant difference.

'I really need to devise a plan as soon as possible. If she grows up like this those Elders will definitely try to take her under their 'teachings'.' She wasn't pleased about that.

...

Aiko was trying her best to Inscribe those Runes, but it didn't seem quick scribbling would help her.

'I need to improve [Dexterous Hands] if I want to Inscribe that Rune within 20 seconds...' Aiko frowned, she only managed to create that Rune around the 50-second mark.

'It's not even a difficult Rune...' Aiko sighed.

...

2 weeks later Aiko finally succeeded... almost.

[Inscription Mastery: Lv.1->2]
[Dexterous Fingers: Lv.1->4]

'25 seconds.' That's how long Aiko took to create that Rune without any Inscription Ink. It would be longer if she had the Ink since she would have to pay attention to consistency, but for now, that was good enough.

"Good, now try to write that first Rune with Ink." Elder Shu gently smiled.

Aiko nodded and picked up the Metal Pen. She made sure to write consistently so that she wouldn't deplete her Beast Core with failures.

Her fingers were less stiff and her posture was good. Her attention was on the cloth that she was Inscribing with precision. No sparks were flying from the Rune like they would previously. The Rune was calm like an undisturbed lake.

She succeeded.

It took her around 32 seconds or 16 breaths, but she was able to create that Rune without it immediately burning that cloth.

[Beast Core(30%): 990 -> 980 (1,200)]

'10 Beast Core Energy... that's really good.' Aiko nodded happily. She could recover 10 Beast Core Energy per day through her Fox.

"Nice." Elder Shu praised her little Disciple. "We will still practice this more, but you have a good foundation for future Inscriptions. I hope you won't forget practising the Runes before actually Inscribing them, as many could accidentally kill your future."

The Elder warned Aiko and then smiled.

Elder Shu already convinced Peak Elder about her little student's prospects. At first, he was hesitant, but remembering her growth he was more inclined to help.

'I will test her knowledge first and if she can pass the [Inscription Apprentice Test] then I will fully support your plan.' Remembering his works Elder Shu giggled and petted her little Disciples head.

"Now you will be going to the Peak Elder. You will have to learn many Runes from him, as there is a test in one and a half of months. Called [Inscription Apprentice Test], you can become an official Inscription Apprentice." Elder Shu hesitated.

"It will be hosted by Humans, but you will get the protection of Sect Leader so there shouldn't be any mishaps..." Elder Shu said calmly.

Aiko tilted her head. 'Why are Humans hosting this...' She didn't understand but also didn't dwell on it too much.

'If I can increase my [Dexterous Fingers] further I will be able to Inscribe that Rune faster.'

...

Aiko left Elder Shu's abode and arrived at Inky Head's Den.

"I will be teaching you all the Runes necessary for [Inscription Apprentice Test]. While Humans do host it, they are impartial, only if you show good enough Skill in Inscribing. If you show excellent Skill you might even be protected by the Inscription Association, but don't count on that." Inky Head sighed.

He Inscribed all the Runes needed for the [Inscription Apprentice Test]. There were around 1,000 Runes in total and Aiko's brain was already overheating slightly as she couldn't understand most Runes and had to remember them by remembering their shapes.

There were many different shapes, from animals to hieroglyphs. It was difficult to remember all of them so soon.

Fortunately Inky Head was patient as he realized that this little one could remember some immediately. At first, he was puzzled and tried to figure out how she managed that, but soon gave up as he couldn't find anything common between those Runes.

...

[Inscription Mastery: Lv.2->5]
[Dexterous Fingers: Lv.4->5]

"Now remember your strokes need to be firm yet smooth." Inky Head was not very good at explaining the Inscribing style but was very good with Runic knowledge.

That was also one of the reasons why he became Peak Elder. He learned over 5,000 Runes! That was more than enough to earn him Inscription Emperor Rank, but unfortunately out of those 5,000 Runes he was only able to write around 3,200... as such he was stuck at Inscription Master Rank.

Aiko almost frothed from her mouth trying to follow his awful instruction, but fortunately, her saviour arrived!

"Peak Elder, it has been a month and I will be taking my Mate back." The Queen had a very awful expression and The Peak Elder recoiled from seeing it.

"Feel free to take her. In a month there is [Inscription Apprentice Test] and I intend to take her to try it." He was wondering about her position on this test.

"I don't mind, but before she leaves she will take a bath, her Beast Core is not in good shape, so she won't be able to stay in this Sect if she doesn't improve it." The Queen didn't protest as having the Inscription Apprentice Rank would allow her little sweetie to earn a lot of money, which can be used to post-mission and obtain valuable Beast Cores.

"That is fine." The Peak Elder nodded readily.

The Queen grabbed her little servant and left the Den.

...

[Medicine Bath 3]
[Beast Core Purified by 5%!]
[Beauty per Level increased by 25!]

[[Bath Enjoyer] Triggered!]
[Medicine Bath 3]
[Beast Core Purified by 5%->10%!]
[Beauty per Level increased by 25->50!]

'That Title is just straight up cheating...' Aiko thought looking at her Core which was now 40% Pure.

Meanwhile, the Queen was frowning. 'This doesn't make any sense! This bath was supposed to give her only around 5%! Why is it 10%?! Why is she even fluffier!?' The Queen had a bad headache from Aiko and swore to herself that she would get to the bottom of this!