"The Fire-Refined Rock Python is dead, haha, it's all mine now." Jiang Feng excitedly looked at the corpse of the Fire-Refined Rock Python lying on the ground.

Now that the Fire-Refined Rock Python was dead, the flames on its body had extinguished, revealing its true form. Its scales were densely packed, each as large as a bowl, with intricate patterns at the junctions between the scales, making it look quite beautiful.

However, due to the fierce attack earlier, some parts were damaged, which was a bit of a pity.

Jiang Feng was used to handling the corpses of spirit beasts in the Immortal Realm, so he wasn't unfamiliar with this. He immediately borrowed Yao Yaoling's short knife and began to dissect the Fire-Refined Rock Python's body.

It was akin to a master butcher at work!

First, he carefully peeled off the python's skin, folded it neatly, and set it aside. Then he collected the python's fangs and venom.

Next were the python's eyes and tongue. Of course, the most important part was the python's tendons, which Jiang Feng extracted with great care.

The python's tendons, skin, and fangs were excellent materials for artifact refining, rare and valuable.

The python's eyes, venom, and tongue could be used in alchemy. Jiang Feng knew of a poison pill that required this kind of python venom for its creation.

After a round of work, all that was left of the giant python was a bloody carcass.

"And there's this horn on its head, can't forget that." Jiang Feng turned his attention to the horn on the Fire-Refined Rock Python's head, thinking it must be something valuable.

"This is the unique horn of the Fire-Refined Rock Python, very hard. Once it grows to a certain extent, it can emit a fire and thunder net. Maybe it didn't have the chance to use it before it died," Yao Yaoling explained.

"Then we definitely can't let it go. According to you, it can be refined into a magic artifact," Jiang Feng said, starting to dig with the short knife.

After half an hour, he finally extracted the horn of the Fire-Refined Rock Python. Holding it in his hand, it felt heavy, like a piece of stone, cold to the touch, yet occasionally emitting a trace of heat, quite mysterious.

After playing with the horn for a while, Jiang Feng also took some python meat and bones, which were useful for alchemy. The more he could take now, the better, to prepare for future needs.

"Alright, mission accomplished." Jiang Feng waved his hand, feeling very satisfied.

This trip had not anticipated the appearance of the Fire-Refined Rock Python, a complete surprise, truly an unexpected gain.

Jiang Feng returned the short knife to Yao Yaoling, who remarked, "Why do I feel like you're a butcher?"

"Haha, actually, that's exactly what I am. Tell me, which cultivator isn't a butcher?" Jiang Feng laughed.

Embarking on the path of cultivation inevitably involves killing. If you don't kill others, others will kill you. This is the lesson Jiang Feng had learned over five hundred years.

Since cultivating, one must be ruthless. As long as it's an enemy, one must not hesitate.

Of course, for those with feelings, one should still leave a trace of compassion.

Suddenly, little round heads popped up from the magma pool, smooth and shiny, like a group of little monks with big eyes, small noses, and small mouths.

However, these little monks were emitting flames, their bodies entirely red, with veins clearly visible beneath their skin.

They looked like peculiar creatures formed from magma.

"What are these things?" Jiang Feng took a few steps back and asked.

"If I'm not mistaken, these should be Fire Spirits, magical beings formed over long years in the intense flames. They are not afraid of high temperatures and swim in magma like it's the ocean. They even feed on magma and can devour any flame," Yao Yaoling explained.

"Are they powerful? Dangerous? Did we invade their territory?" Jiang Feng asked.

"They're not very powerful individually, but a group of Fire Spirits in magma is formidable. If you provoke them, they'll throw magma balls at you, leaving no place to hide," Yao Yaoling said.

"So what should we do now?" Jiang Feng asked.

He had never encountered such creatures before, so he didn't know how to handle the situation and could only ask Yao Yaoling.

"It's simple, either run now or try to win their favor," Yao Yaoling suggested.

"I understand running, but why win their favor?" Jiang Feng was puzzled.

"If you win their favor, they might give you some gifts. What kind of gifts depends on your luck," Yao Yaoling explained.

Gifts? Jiang Feng thought to himself that he was here to find spirit fire, and these Fire Spirits lived in magma. Perhaps they knew if there was any spirit fire around.

If he could win their favor, he could ask for a spirit fire, and maybe he would actually get one.

That way, he would achieve his goal effortlessly.

"How can I win their favor?" Jiang Feng asked.

"Didn't you notice their eyes?" Yao Yaoling pointed out.

"Their eyes?" Jiang Feng looked and saw the Fire Spirits staring intently at the corpse of the Fire-Refined Rock Python, with crystal-clear drool dripping from their small mouths.

Jiang Feng immediately understood that these Fire Spirits wanted to eat the python's meat.

"You see, these Fire Spirits have a particular fondness for meat, especially snake meat. When the Fire-Refined Rock Python was alive, they could only watch eagerly. Now that it's dead, they've come out to feast."

"Since the Fire-Refined Rock Python is yours, if you let them eat it, they'll be very grateful to you, and winning their favor will be easy."

Yao Yaoling explained.

Jiang Feng took a step forward and said in a gentle voice, "Do you want to eat meat? Here, I'll give you this meat. Feel free to eat."

But the Fire Spirits were cautious, and none dared to leave the magma pool easily.

"Don't be afraid, we're not bad people. Look, we killed the Fire-Refined Rock Python so you could eat the meat. If you don't eat it soon, it won't be fresh anymore," Jiang Feng smiled again.

Finally, one Fire Spirit hesitantly stepped out, appearing to be the leader of the group.

"Are you really letting us eat it?" the leader asked cautiously.

This was their nature, timid but fierce. Help them, and they'll repay you. Provoke them, and they'll fight you to the death, never yielding.

"Of course, I'm such a kind person, I never lie," Jiang Feng said sincerely.

The leader approached the Fire-Refined Rock Python's body but kept its eyes on Jiang Feng, possibly fearing a sudden attack.

Jiang Feng maintained a smile, trying not to startle the leader.

The leader took a bite of the meat, chewing it heartily, still watching Jiang Feng. Seeing no reaction from Jiang Feng, it grew bolder, taking several more bites, its courage gradually increasing.

The Fire Spirits in the magma pool watched eagerly, drooling, waiting for their leader's signal.

After a few big bites, the leader was satisfied and waved, "Come on, everyone, it's time to eat."

"Dinner time."

"Delicious."

"Smells so good."

"Let's cut some pieces and roast them in the magma."

"Don't grab from me, I love the tail meat."

"…"

The Fire Spirits swarmed over, devouring the meat, the sound of chewing and swallowing filling the air, making one instantly hungry.

"I'm hungry too," Bao Dalong said, clutching his stomach.

"Then go ahead and gnaw on it," Jiang Feng teased.

"No way, if I provoke these Fire Spirits, they'll eat me too," Bao Dalong shook his head.

After a noisy commotion, all that was left of the Fire-Refined Rock Python was a skeleton, not a trace of meat remaining.

They cleaned it to perfection.

The Fire Spirits, with their bellies round and full, sat on the ground, burping contentedly.

At this moment, the leader emerged from the Fire-Refined Rock Python's skeleton, holding a white egg, and presented it to Jiang Feng, saying, "Our most esteemed guest, this is an unlaid egg of the Fire-Refined Rock Python. We give it to you now."

"Quick, take it. A Fire-Refined Rock Python egg can hatch into a new Fire-Refined Rock Python. Once tamed, it will serve you," Yao Yaoling reminded.

Jiang Feng glanced at Yao Yaoling, thinking to himself that he knew. Back in the Immortal Realm, many cultivators tamed spirit beasts, creatures far more powerful than this Fire-Refined Rock Python.

Jiang Feng nonchalantly accepted the egg, pretending not to know, and exclaimed, "Wow, such a good thing can't be missed."

After securing the egg, Jiang Feng took the opportunity to ask, "Since I'm your esteemed guest, could you do me a favor?"

"Of course, just say it. If it's something we can do, we won't refuse," the leader said boldly.

"Well, I'm looking for a special flame, the most essential flame here," Jiang Feng said nervously, hoping it existed.

"A special flame? Let me think," the leader pondered, shaking its head.

"Is it this kind of flame?" At that moment, a Fire Spirit ran over, opened its palm, and revealed a white flame.

As soon as this flame appeared, the temperature in the area soared to unbearable levels, even the True Qi layer around them was useless, unable to withstand such high heat.

Jiang Feng's heart raced. He could feel the intense heat of this flame, exactly the spirit fire he was seeking.

"Yes, that's the kind of flame," Jiang Feng said excitedly.

"I found this at the bottom of the magma pool. I thought it was fun, so I took it and named it White Wave," the Fire Spirit said.

"Could you give it to me? I really need it," Jiang Feng asked.

"Of course, you're our most esteemed guest. After such a satisfying meal, giving you these little things feels a bit shabby," the Fire Spirit said.

"No problem, not shabby at all. I like it very much," Jiang Feng said.

"Alright, then it's yours," the Fire Spirit placed "White Wave" in Jiang Feng's hand.

Jiang Feng instantly felt an overwhelming heat, his skin emitting white smoke, burning a patch.

"Ouch!" Jiang Feng cried out, quickly tossing "White Wave" away.

Thud!

"White Wave" hit the ground, creating a small crater, the rocks instantly turning to ash.

In his excitement, Jiang Feng had forgotten that spirit fire was too hot to handle barehanded. Now, his hand was blistered with large bubbles.

But Jiang Feng hadn't forgotten that anyone aspiring to be an outstanding alchemist or artifact refiner must endure the baptism of intense fire, absorbing the spirit fire into their body. Otherwise, they couldn't carry such a scorching thing with them.

"In that case, I'll absorb it right here and now," Jiang Feng resolved.