Volume Three: Rising Fame Chapter Forty-Two: Look Not Upon What Is Improper

“Tell me… about that Jingbao.”

The woman half-reclined on the ground, cradling the unconscious young man, while another man, stabbed by a sword, remained silent, gritting his teeth as blood poured from his wound.

“Jingbao?”

At Li Yu’s question, the woman looked somewhat surprised.

She had assumed Li Yu had attacked them because they were causing trouble for Qingyuan, yet the young man before her asked a question entirely unrelated.

“Yes, speak up!”

Li Yu crouched slightly, staring at the woman’s face. “Is there some problem?”

“No… no!” The woman no longer hesitated and began to explain in detail.

Jingbao is, strictly speaking, a general term—much like how all spirit-imbued beasts are called strange beasts. If classified precisely, there are many nuanced names.

Jingbao are generally divided into two types: one formed through the cultivation of plants, and the other from the transformation of various rare and precious treasures.

Their common characteristic is that before becoming Jingbao, they lack intelligence and require a long period of gestation.

Although Jingbao are also abnormal life forms, they are not categorized as strange beasts. One key reason is that while Jingbao absorb spiritual energy, they do not accumulate it, nor do they possess levels. Instead, they undergo several metamorphoses, each time mastering a new attribute.

For example, one known as ‘Earth Affinity’ grants the Jingbao an earth-burrowing ability far beyond most creatures.

Each metamorphosis brings earth-shattering changes, possibly even altering their consciousness, with the only constant being their attraction power… Regardless of type, Jingbao always draw the covetousness of strange beasts.

“We discovered the original form of the Jingbao as a ginseng root. When we found it, it was in the late stage of metamorphosis. Upon seeing us, it forcibly halted the process and fled.”

She said “original form” because she did not know how many metamorphoses the Jingbao had undergone.

“It’s because of you that the forest erupted into chaos.”

Li Yu clicked his tongue in amazement, finally understanding why the strange beasts in the forest suddenly revolted. “But you’re really unlucky!”

During metamorphosis, a Jingbao cannot use its attributes and is essentially defenseless. Unfortunately, when these three found the Jingbao, it was already near the end of its transformation—barely able to forcibly stop it.

It was precisely because of this that the Jingbao could not control its aura, attracting the attention of the forest’s strange beasts.

If the Jingbao had managed to escape, without some fortunate opportunity, it might never have completed its metamorphosis in its lifetime.

“Do you know why Qingyuan came here?” Li Yu asked.

“No…” The woman shook her head. Seeing Li Yu’s grim expression, she quickly added, “We were always trailing behind and never got to meet him. Even Ninth Prince wanted to pursue for another day, but if we still hadn’t met, weI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.