“Is it really a moon rabbit? It’s so cute!”
Mu Xiaoxiao came over wanting to touch it too, her two eyes starry.
Unexpectedly, the white rabbit, which was soft and well-behaved just now, instantly became alert and made a grinding sound with its teeth, gnashing them up and down, not allowing others to touch it.
Bai Wushang disguised himself as a kind father, and gently reassured, “Don’t be afraid, this is the little sister.”
Mu Xiaoxiao resentfully withdrew her hand, and only then did the little rabbit get intimate again and rub around in Bai Wushang’s embrace.
“Congratulations, you’ve officially contracted a beast. Looks like a good fit.” Jiang Lingyue frowned as she stared at the little guy again and again. “It’s just a bit of a pity that the Moonrabbit has no natural evolutionary pathway, and has limited growth potential, which might slow you down.”
“Is that so?”
An elusive smile appeared on Bai Wushang’s face as he gazed at the attribute panel in his eyes.
[Name]: Twin Moonrabbit/Normal Form (Contract)
[Race]: Demon Beast Realm – Walking Beast Type – Moonrabbit Mutant
[Life Level]: Peak youth form
[Bloodline Quality]: Elite level 1 star
[Status]: Cheerful
[Wisdom]: Relatively High
[Characteristics]: Pupil of the Silver Moon/Twin Symbiosis
[Skills]: Moon Shadow Diversion, Moonlight Baptism
[Gourmet Cell]: N/A (Host contract partner, unable to hunt)
This little bunny could not be more recognizable as a textbook version of the moon rabbit look-alike, no matter how one looked at it from the surface.
With these magical eyes of perception, Bai Wushang knew clearly that things weren’t that simple.
The Moonrabbit was one of the lowest and most common creatures in the transcendent world food chain, and could easily be seen in the grasses of the plains at night.
This small creature had almost no combat ability, only some minor talents of healing and dodging, and could only be defined as a support-type pet if it had to be classified.
In reality, very few people were willing to contract this transcendent creature as a pet on their initiative, and it tended to be the female Masters with average talent and a love of furry and cute creatures who would use it as the softest of bed cuddlers.
I didn’t expect that with Senior Sister Jiang’s perceptiveness, she’d still make an error in judgment. This little guy has quite a lot of secrets. To think that he is a mutant species like her Ice Flame Fox…
Bai Wushang’s thoughts trailed off and wandered.
The so-called mutation referred to a rare phenomenon that occurred when a transcendent creature went against its original bloodline during its natural growth.
This phenomenon might be inherited from birth or appear due to environmental or other factors later in life.
In transcendental biology, a mutation was a vast, complex subject that the Masters could measure and judge from two aspects if they wanted to learn it simply.
The first aspect was based on actual results.
Mutations were not 100% driven to make a creature strong, and it was equally possible to mutate and be even weaker.
So in terms of actual results, mutations could be classified as “benign mutations” and “malignant mutations.”
The second aspect was concerning the degree of mutation.
Different levels of mutation would define the question of racial affiliation of transcendent beings.
For example, if there were only a change in skin color or growing an extra organ with a slight change in traits skill, these cases would not change the original racial branch even though the individual differed from the original race, because the mutation was small.
Comparatively, if the mutation were so great as to prompt a complete change in the creature’s appearance, with all aspects of its attributes and abilities in stark contrast to the original race, this would result in the creature being redefined, and often becoming a brand-new species.
In reality, the vast majority of biological species were derived in this way; mutation was a major factor in promoting the expansion of the numbers of races.
It was similar with Jiang Lingyue’s Ice Flame Fox. Bai Wushang could venture a guess by referring to the attribute panel that it originally belonged to the Red Fox species precisely because of the mutation. It had to have been a substantial mutation that leaned towards the benign side, prompting it to become an entirely new breed or even the only one of a kind in the world.
I can probably guess the direction of the Ice Flame Fox’s mutation, either reversing from the fire attribute to the ice attribute or possessing the ice attribute flames, but of course, the possibility of ice and fire coexisting can’t be ruled out…
…But this Twin Moonrabbit, how exactly has it mutated? Its appearance is no different from that of a normal moonrabbit. It has an extra ‘twin symbiosis’ in its characteristics. What is this concept? Is there another moonrabbit soul sharing a body with her? Or does she have a transformation-like ability that allows her to shift into a second form?
Bai Wushang’s unorganized thoughts came in a flurry.
In any case, the little guy is definitely on the side of benign mutation. The bloodline quality of a normal early youth stage Moonrabbit is only about two stars at the Mortal Bone level. This Twin Moonrabbit has crossed eight small levels to reach 1 star at the Elite level, far above the average upper limit of those at the early youth stage. Even many of those in the mature stages can’t match her…
Jiang Lingyue thought that Bai Wushang was silent because he was not satisfied with the pet, so she couldn’t help but frown and remind him, “Okay, don’t be too discouraged. The life-bound summoning is originally focused on the degree of affinity; qualification and talent potential are all another matter. This moonrabbit may not be able to become your powerful battle force, but it will definitely be your closest companion!”
“Huh?”
Bai Wushang was slightly stunned, and hastily explained, “No… it’s not easy to have a pet. I couldn’t be happier… But, it’s just that I’m still in a bit of a daze when I think of the process from awakening my soul power to contracting a pet—the process was so messy…”
Since Jiang Lingyue hadn’t uncovered the little one’s unusual features, there was no need for Bai Wushang to jump out and expose the secret himself, so he organized his words slightly, and just digressed from the topic.
Jiang Lingyue looked slightly better, and her clear and pure eyes glanced at Bai Wushang. Not dwelling further on this topic, she turned to say, “All right, pack up and hit the road. We need to arrive at the academy by noon.”
“Oh, okay.”
Bai Wushang stood up and tried to put the little one into the Book of Oaths, which at this time had its cover turned white and looked much better.
Unexpectedly, the little one snuggled into his arms, much displeased.
After a few attempts, Bai Wushang no longer insisted. Seeing the little one relying on him so much, he was actually quite happy.
“Little Ice!” Jiang Lingyue suddenly called out in a clear voice.
The lazy Three-tailed Ice Flame Fox instantly pricked up its ears, landed on all four feet, and howled to the sky.
“Oooh~~~~~”
A circle of cold blue mist rose from all around, encircling it in the middle, and spinning faster and faster.
A dozen seconds later, the icy mist dissipated, and a huge Three-tailed Ice Flame Fox with a length of seven to eight meters and a light blue body stood tall.
It wore a crown of ice on its head, its eyes were majestic, and its entire body of fur was untouched by a single speck of dust. Describing it with words like holy and noble would eclipse it.
Bai Wushang also noticed that the Ice Flame Fox’s three tails were a gradient blue, with the root being relatively light, and the tip at the very back being a deep blue as if it was seawater. It was quite a beautiful look.
“This is its original form.” Jiang Lingyue tapped her toes on the ground, and easily leaped onto the fox’s back. Her voice slightly apologetic, she continued, “However, Little Ice doesn’t like people sitting on its back, so I’ll have to burden you guys to grab its tail.”
“Squeak~”
The little rabbit in Baishang’s arms stared in awe at the beautiful fox that took up its entire field of vision.
!(;゚o゚)
Under the contract, Bai Wushang vaguely sensed that the little rabbit was a little surprised but more so envious, and he felt a little amused by this.
“If you work hard, you might grow this big too, and then I won’t have to worry about not having a mount…”
“Squeak!” The little one stomped its foot fervently, indicating that it would try.
***
The sun was blazing hot, and above the golden desert, the blue Three-tailed Ice Flame Fox moved and leaped from time to time, and sometimes raced.
Bai Wushang and Mu Xiaoxiao held a large fluffy tail, half suspended in the air, experiencing a roller coaster-like sensation.
Along the way, they saw swarms of black ant beasts in the process of arborizing, gray rock pythons lurking in the sand trying to sneak up on them, cloud eagles capturing steel finches, and even an eagle sphinx from afar!
And finally, they saw a magnificent green city looming on the horizon.