73: Moon-worshiping rabbit
The price of nine thousand five hundred Origin Rune Stone was repeated three times. Finally, the auctioneer brought down the hammer, confirming the ownership of the Medicinal Fragrance Powder-Eared Rabbit belonged to the guest in the Heaven Character Grade A Box.
Immediately following, the attendant presented the next auction item, which was still a cage covered with black cloth.
This time, the auctioneer left no suspense and directly lifted the cage, revealing the Source Beast inside.
It was about twenty centimeters long, its entire body presenting a vibrant green color. On the upper part of its body were several small, arc-shaped pupils, though they were mostly tightly closed, as if every time they opened, they would release something into the outside world.
The auctioneer lightly waved his hand, and the "Glow Bees" waiting nearby once again formed glittering golden characters in mid-air.
"Name: Multi-Eyed Poison Worm (Different Rank Species)
Rank: Mortal Rank Middle-Grade
Aptitude: One-in-a-Hundred
Status: Healthy, Curious
Attribute Tendencies: Medicine, Pupil
Skill 1. Multi-Eyed Pupil Light: The Multi-Eyed Poison Worm has many eyes on its body, from which it can emit light rays, causing corrosive damage to the target.
2. Poison Tempering: The Multi-Eyed Poison Worm extracts toxins from different spiritual plant materials to refine compound poisons. The venom can be stored and released when needed.
3. Miasma Swamp: The Multi-Eyed Poison Worm likes to live in dark, muddy swamps. As its time spent living there increases, the swamp slowly releases a mist containing certain toxins."
"The Multi-Eyed Poison Worm is a rare toxic insect type of Source Beast among Medicine Beasts, and also one of the most combat-capable Medicine Beasts. If the various skills on its body are used well, it is very easy for it to defeat the strong with the weak.
The starting price is one thousand Origin Rune Stone, and each bid increment must not be less than 100 Origin Rune Stone."
Clearly, the bidding this time was much gentler than for the Medicinal Fragrance Powder-Eared Rabbit.
"One thousand four hundred Origin Rune Stone."
"One thousand seven hundred Origin Rune Stone."
"I bid two thousand one hundred Origin Rune Stone."
The guests in the hall and those in the Human Character Boxes bid for a while, but then a voice emerged from a Heaven Character Box.
"Five thousand Origin Rune Stone."
At this point, the rest of the people truly had no recourse, and the scene fell silent once again.
The auctioneer, possessing strong composure, slowly announced the price three times, then confirmed the ownership of the Multi-Eyed Poison Worm.
When the next auction item was yet another cage covered with black cloth, all the guests inexplicably felt a sense of numbness.
When the black cloth was pulled away, the Source Beast inside was revealed.
It was still a rabbit, but its appearance was vastly different from the previous Medicinal Fragrance Powder-Eared Rabbit.
This rabbit was also roughly palm-sized, but its entire body was white, without any other mixed colors on any part. However, on its forehead, there was a crescent moon mark branded like jade.
Moreover, that crescent-like forehead marking occasionally rippled with a trace of white light, flowing from its forehead to all parts of its body.
Its deep pupils resembled the profound starry sky, seemingly capable of containing everyone's Soul.
Such a rabbit, simply staying there quietly, was like a pure goddess, involuntarily attracting everyone's attention.
This rabbit must be extraordinary—this was the unanimous thought generated by everyone the instant they saw its appearance.
Although it did not have overly exaggerated physical changes, the mere faint light flowing on its body and the inherent temperament radiating from within already made people involuntarily unable to underestimate it.
"Species: Moon Worshipping Rabbit (Different Rank Species)
Rank: Mortal Rank Middle-Grade
Aptitude: One-in-a-Hundred
Status: Healthy, Dignified
Attribute Tendencies: Moon, Starry Sky
Skill 1. Moon Worship: The Moon Worshipping Rabbit bows toward the moon at night, thereby autonomously Cultivating and rapidly raising its own Realm.
2. Spirit Tempering: The Moon Worshipping Rabbit draws the essence of moonlight to temper itself or other Source Beasts and spiritual objects, slowly improving their quality.
3. Bright Moon Wheel: The Moon Worshipping Rabbit condenses a moon wheel in the Void Realm, showering moonlight onto the target area. The energy vitality within the body of the target covered by the moonlight decreases, slowing down energy recovery and skill response speed.
4. Moon Chain Co-Link: The Moon Worshipping Rabbit condenses a moon chain to connect two different targets, allowing them to share each other's skills while the moon chain is connected."
A Mortal Rank Source Beast actually possesses four skills. Although the first skill, "Moon Worship," seems passive, the people of Zhiyao County have never seen a Source Beast with four skills while still at the Mortal Rank.
This Moon Worshipping Rabbit before them could truly be called the first.
Before the auctioneer could announce the starting price, an aged voice came from the Heaven Character Grade A Box.
"Fifteen thousand Origin Rune Stone."
The auctioneer froze in place; this seemed somewhat outside the procedure. Just as he was rapidly considering how to speak,
Qing Luo, dressed in azure robes, appeared on the stage. She looked toward the box and spoke with a light laugh, "I apologize, but the starting price for this Source Beast is twenty thousand Origin Rune Stone."
"Then we will bid twenty thousand Origin Rune Stone." The voice from the Heaven Character Grade A Box was calm, showing no emotional change due to the price alteration.
Qing Luo glanced around the entire venue. "Very well, then this auction item belongs to the Old Ancestor of the Huo Family."
The moment the words Old Ancestor of the Huo Family left her mouth, the entire venue immediately quieted down. The Family members in the boxes might recognize the Old Ancestor of the Huo Family's identity through his voice.
However, this was difficult for the guests in the hall. Yet, the name of the Old Ancestor of the Huo Family was something the people of Zhiyao County could not possibly be unaware of.
Because this Old Ancestor of the Huo Family had almost become a legend in Zhiyao County. It seemed he had lived for nearly a thousand years and had intervened multiple times to save Zhiyao County from crises.
He was the type of figure who frequently appeared in storybooks.
Now, upon suddenly hearing that such a figure was actually inside a box, how could they not be shocked and astonished?
It was inherently unusual that a Domain Rank powerhouse would be interested in a Mortal Rank Source Beast of the Different Rank Species.
After a brief silence, Qing Luo gave the auctioneer a look, and then her figure slowly disappeared into the shadows.
Only then did the auctioneer seem to regain his composure. He took a deep breath and continued the auction.
In the back courtyard of the Treasure Pavilion, Qing Luo appeared before a stone table by the pond. She slightly raised her fingers, and some scattered crystals were sprinkled into the air by her.
Then, many palm-sized "Azure Birds" flew out from an ancient tree in the courtyard that remained lush green in winter, instantly gathering in mid-air and sweeping away the scattered crystal fragments.
Qing Luo approached the ancient tree, her fingers slowly stroking the strong trunk, as if she were waiting for something.
After about a few minutes, an old man with a head full of white hair and wearing a wide robe silently appeared in the courtyard.
He stood there quietly, his white hair falling down and obscuring his face, making it impossible to discern his appearance.
A silent Aura instantly enveloped the entire courtyard, as if a scroll painting was unfolding behind him, intending to transform the courtyard into another layer of imagery.
However, the scroll was confined to within three feet of his body, making it seem as though, despite standing in the courtyard, he was situated in another layer of reality.
"Qing Luo greets Senior of the Huo Family." Qing Luo curtsied.