The Salted Fish Cultivator: My Pet System Awakens

The fox was still perched on Lu Tian's shoulder when he shuffled into the dining hall the next morning. Its soft tail brushed against his neck, making him itch, but every time he tried to shoo it off, it would dig its claws into his robe just enough to stop him.

"You're stubborn, you know that?" he muttered.

The fox responded with a quiet yip, tilting its head as if to say, And you're lazy.

Zhang Wei spotted him from across the room and waved enthusiastically. "Brother Lu! And… your little friend!"

Lu Tian groaned. "Why do you sound so excited about this?"

"I mean, look at it!" Zhang Wei said, gesturing to the fox. "It's practically a badge of honor. Spirit beasts don't just hang around anyone, you know."

"It's not hanging around me because of honor," Lu Tian said, sitting down and grabbing a steamed bun. "It's here because it wants free food."

The fox leapt down gracefully, landing on the bench beside him. It nudged his hand, letting out another soft chi sound before pawing at his plate.

"See?" Lu Tian said, pushing a bun toward the creature. "Freeloader."

The fox sniffed the bun delicately before nibbling on it, clearly unbothered by his complaints.

Wei Jingyi, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up. "It might want more than food."

Lu Tian raised an eyebrow. "Like what? A career plan?"

She shook her head. "Spirit beasts don't usually stick around unless there's a reason. It might sense something in you."

"Probably my willingness to feed it," Lu Tian replied.

Zhang Wei chuckled. "Or maybe it thinks you're too weak to survive on your own and wants to babysit you."

The fox let out a small yip, and Lu Tian froze.

"Was that agreement?" Zhang Wei asked, laughing harder.

"Don't encourage it," Lu Tian muttered, rubbing his temples.

---

The academy's training field was bustling again that morning, with Elder Zhao overseeing the day's activities. Rows of students lined up, their spirit beasts beside them, as assistants handed out scrolls detailing their next challenge.

"Today's focus is synergy," Elder Zhao announced. "A strong bond between cultivator and beast is vital for survival in combat. You'll work in pairs to overcome a series of tasks, each designed to test your connection and cooperation."

Lu Tian groaned softly, earning a sharp glare from the instructor.

"Lu Tian," Elder Zhao said, his tone cold. "Since you seem so… enthusiastic, you'll demonstrate first."

The students turned to watch as Lu Tian trudged to the front of the group, the fox following close behind.

"What's the task?" he asked, his voice flat.

Elder Zhao gestured to a nearby obstacle course. "Your goal is to retrieve the crystal at the end. Your beast must assist you, or you'll fail."

Lu Tian stared at the course, which included a series of narrow platforms, swinging logs, and a pit of bubbling water that glowed faintly with Qi.

"Great," he muttered.

The fox trotted ahead, its tail swishing as it examined the course. It turned back to him, letting out a sharp yip that seemed to say, Hurry up.

"Don't rush me," Lu Tian said, reluctantly stepping onto the first platform.

The fox bounded ahead with ease, leaping gracefully from one platform to the next. Lu Tian, on the other hand, wobbled precariously as he tried to keep up.

The students watching began to murmur.

"Is that even his spirit beast?"

"It's doing all the work!"

"Classic Lu Tian."

Ignoring the chatter, Lu Tian grabbed a rope to swing across the bubbling water. He managed to make it halfway before the fox, clearly impatient, grabbed the rope with its teeth and tugged him the rest of the way.

By the time they reached the crystal, Lu Tian was out of breath and glaring at the fox. "Happy now?"

The fox grabbed the crystal in its mouth and trotted back toward the start, leaving Lu Tian to stumble after it.

Elder Zhao's expression was unreadable as they returned. "You completed the task, though I suspect the beast did most of the work. Still, a pass is a pass."

"I'll take it," Lu Tian said, slumping against a tree.

---

As the morning wore on, the students were paired off for more challenges. Lu Tian found himself working alongside Wei Jingyi, who was still paired with her timid deer-like beast.

"Don't expect much from me," he said as they approached the next task: a puzzle involving a series of glowing stones that had to be arranged in the correct order.

Wei Jingyi smiled faintly. "I'm used to it."

The fox and the deer watched as their humans fumbled with the stones, occasionally nudging them toward the right positions.

"This is ridiculous," Lu Tian muttered. "Why can't they just tell us the solution?"

"They're spirit beasts, not tutors," Wei Jingyi replied, though there was a hint of amusement in her voice.

Eventually, with more help from their beasts than from themselves, they completed the puzzle. Elder Zhao nodded approvingly as they returned to the group.

"Well done, Wei Jingyi," he said. "And Lu Tian… adequate effort, I suppose."

"High praise," Lu Tian muttered.

---

As the day came to an end, Lu Tian found himself back in his dorm room, the fox curled up on his bed.

"You're really settling in, huh?" he said, sitting down beside it.

The fox opened one eye, let out a soft chi, and went back to sleep.

Lu Tian sighed, leaning against the wall. For all his complaints, he couldn't deny that the fox's presence was oddly comforting.

Just as he was starting to relax, a faint hum echoed in his mind—a subtle, familiar reminder of the system's presence.

[Host has demonstrated progress in synergy. Continue efforts to unlock further capabilities.]

Lu Tian frowned, glancing at the sleeping fox. "You're part of this, aren't you?"

The fox didn't respond, but something about its stillness made him uneasy. Shaking his head, he pushed the thought away and closed his eyes. For now, rest was more important.