Cultivation Struggles of a Lowly Fox

Chapter 281 – Inscription Story

The next day, Aiko woke up refreshed. She got permission from Mei to adjust part of this den.

Aiko would do her best to do just that, but there was one slight problem: she didn't have enough Inscription Ink.

Mei fortunately foreseen this outcome. Seeing that the huge Inscription didn't make much sense to her, she just went outside to buy more Ink.

Meanwhile, Aiko started carving into the ceiling and nearby wall. She would do her best to do as much as possible before Mei returned with the Inscription Ink.

Aiko started with the form that would allow her to bathe in the Moonlight. This would allow her to gather Moonlight Qi while sleeping.

It was important to sleep with Mei since she was quite restless these days.

Aiko didn't know why and she had no intention of asking. She would just hug Mei as it didn't cause her any inconvenience.

The Grandmaster would also visit quite often to talk with Mei. It seems like they were very good friends... outside of the fact that Mei called her a servant...

Aiko munched on a nearby candy. Mei left her a few for her hard work and Aiko would now use them as a distraction while working on the thing.

It would take her a long time since she didn't want to fail this. She believed that she could get at least a Mid-Grade reward, but she was aiming for the maximum rewards.

She was not pressured though. As there was no time limit or penalty, Aiko could work slowly and carefully to ensure that everything worked properly.

'It's still strange that the Grandmaster is called a servant...' Aiko could not shake that thought from her mind.

Aiko inscribed and inscribed. Time passed like grains of sand in the desert.

...

Mei returned with an Elder. They made a deal about high-quality, but discounted, Inscription Ink if he was allowed to see what the Vicious Cub was creating.

That's right: it was the Peak Elder of the Inscription Peak that wished to see it.

Mei entered briefly to clean things up a bit before she invited the Peak Elder.

The Peak Elder took a few steps in and looked around. He wished to see Mei's room and what their little Disciple was doing.

The room was clean, thanks to Mei's effort. He curiously looked around, only to almost faint.

'What is that abomination of an Inscription?!' The Peak Elder almost fainted. A very thin trickle of blood left his lips.

He discreetly wiped it off, before smiling like nothing happened.

"Jade Fox..." The Peak Elder smiled, but his lips twitched. "What would that be?" He gently gestured towards the wall that was littered with Runes.

"That would be my Mate's work." Mei likewise did not quite understand what Aiko was creating, but she let her do it since she worked hard.

"No. I mean. I can see that, but what is it?" The Peak Elder grumbled inside, but he could not insult the Jade Fox. 70% of Pills created inside his Sect were supplied from this very Fox.

If he did something wrong, they would return to the previous state of Pill deprivation.

"Aiko." Mei softly called Aiko.

The small Fox ears in the corners twitched. Aiko paused her inscribing and walked towards Mei.

"Yes?" Aiko hugged Mei.

The Peak Elder almost fainted when he saw that. The Jade Fox was notorious for not letting anyone within 5 metres of her, yet this supposed 'mate' was able to hug her casually?!

His worldview about the Jade Fox was destroyed...

"Tell the Peak Elder what you are creating." Mei gently caressed Aiko's hair.

"One-way see-through Inscription that would allow me to Cultivate during the night." Aiko summed it up briefly. She didn't need to say more as it was bothersome and unnecessary.

The Peak Elder paused. He was processing what he just heard. Gently nodding, he asked another question. "Is the rest necessary?" He gently gestured towards the wall littered with Runes.

"No, but I need it." Aiko said innocently.

At this moment, the Peak Elder really coughed up blood. He wanted to scold the Vicious Cub, but he might be beaten by the Jade Fox or Sect Leader...

The Peak Elder suppressed that desire and tried to ask gently. "Do you really need it?"

Aiko nodded.

The Peak Elder sighed. So much high-quality Inscription Ink would be wasted...

"Is there a reason you need it?" The Peak Elder asked again.

"You can learn Runes from this." Aiko, like always, made up bullshit to pull through.

"That-" 'was quite on point...' The Peak Elder frowned. He looked over again. It was not yet filled with Inscription Ink, but he sensed some familiarity with it.

"Am I allowed to copy it?" The Peak Elder asked gently.

"No." Aiko flatly denied it. "If you want something like that, you can recreate it on your Peak. I will create another one for you, but you will have to pay for each use." Aiko's capitalistic mind was awakened thanks to the ruthless Mei.

Mei smiled. This was how one made a lot of Spirit Stones and Aiko's creations would always make a lot.

The Peak Elder's lips twitched. He didn't want to do that, but he also could not remember the whole Inscription the wall.

"How much would that be?" The Peak Elder's lips kept twitching. This was daylight robbery, but one that he had to accept in order to advance his Peak.

Aiko immediately turned towards Mei. She didn't want to deal with these things, but for some reason, the Blood Fox that stood outside stepped forward.

"I have prepared a nice, fragrant tea." The Blood Fox was polite. This was a clear invitation that they should talk outside and leave the little Fox alone.

Mei nodded in appreciation. This was the best way to scam someone.

They went outside, leaving Aiko alone. Aiko nodded in appreciation. "I have a good team."

'I like how they can scam just about anyone.' Aiko hummed in her mind. She was happy that the Blood Fox looked better than when she visited Aiko.

It also seemed like they were undergoing different training, but it was strange to Aiko. It felt like her whole team was trying to avoid her...

'I wonder if Mei has to do something with that...' Aiko narrowed her eyes.

She would not be able to get her answer, so she returned to inscribing into the wall.

'Hehehe~, I will also write about how the Peak Elder was shocked~!' Aiko grinned mischievously.

That's right: the lower Inscription was not quite an Inscription, but just a written story. It was about what Aiko encountered and went through while adding some flavour text to make it longer.

Like this, it counted as an Inscription, since this whole text would disappear thanks to another part of the Inscription. If the story was not written well enough, it would not be able to hide, and thus it would be a failed Inscription.

Why did Aiko believe she could fool the system like this? To answer this: She didn't do it with the intent of fooling the system. After all, there were no limitations to what she had to create, it just had to be: [Create the most elaborate Inscription possible.]

Stories are always elaborate and since she connected it to the Concealing Inscription, it naturally counted as an Inscription too!

This should be able to fulfil the requirements and give her the best possible outcome!

...

{Outside, around a round table}

The 'party' sipped a nice, aromatic tea.

"About the price." The Blood Fox suddenly spoke, attracting their attention. "It should naturally depend on the person's Cultivation in Inscriptions." The Blood Fox smiled like a fox.

Mei immediately knew what the Blood Fox was going for and frowned. This was a much better idea than just placing the Massage Chairs from the cheapest to the most expensive... She could've earned so much more...

"But what about Elders?" The Peak Elder frowned. He also wanted to use this to learn.

"The price depends on your Inscription Cultivation and not your Beast Rank." The Blood Fox repeated. "As such, it matters not if you are a Human or a Beast. The only thing that matters is your Inscription attainment."

Mei nodded gently. Some Elders were worse than the Disciples, but thanks to this, they would get cheaper prices and would be able to catch up to the Disciples.

It seemed like the Peak Elder somewhat understood, but not completely. Unfortunately for him, he had to agree to this deal as he really wished to learn from that elaborate Inscription.

It was messy writing, but if the Vicious Cub would be able to activate that Inscription... that would seal the deal for him!

"Only if the Vicious Cub succeeds in activating the Inscription." The Peak Elder added this condition, just in case they tried to scam him.

"It would cost you more if you wish for Aiko to create another elaborate Inscription." This time Mei was the one that tackled the Peak Elder's hopes.

From Mei's eye corner, she could see a discreet thumbs up from the Blood Fox.

Mei snorted unhappily that the Blood Fox was better at the scamming part than her. It seems like she lost another point to her, which she didn't like!

Mei snorted unhappily, but the Blood Fox just smiled. Aiko's best interest was in her mind and she didn't care if Mei didn't accept this solution, as it was for Aiko to decide the outcome.

"Moving on." The Blood Fox smiled. "How big do you wish for the elaborate Inscription to be?"

"Hmmmm..." The Peak Elder paused to think about it...

It was a long discussion.

...

{Back inside}

Aiko finished another row of Runes and connected it to the Inscription. Aiko was happy with her creation, but there was a slight issue...

"... I ran out of walls to write on..." Aiko whined gently. There was just not enough space for it!

Aiko grumbled. She won't be able to get the best evaluation like this!

The 'doors' opened and Mei returned. "We have made a deal with the Inscription Peak Elder. You can create whatever you want as long as it works. The longer it is, the higher the price it will yield." Mei smiled like a devil.

Aiko's eyes shined. There was another opportunity to make a longer Inscription!

[Would you like to submit the current Inscription for evaluation?]

'No.' Aiko rejected it.

[Submitting the Inscription does not necessarily mean finishing the Mission.]

Aiko paused. Maybe she would get additional rewards if she submitted both of them, or maybe it would take only the best Inscription?

Aiko didn't know, but since her system was currently more helpful. She didn't mind testing it!

[Submitted Inscription...]
[Evaluating Inscription...]
[Current Possible Reward: [Inscription Apprentice (5th Mid-Grade Inscription Cultivator)]]
[Do you wish to finish this Mission?]

'No.' Aiko didn't like this low kind of reward. She would aim for the top!

[Inscription saved. Please create a better Inscription for evaluation.]

And she would do just that!