Seeing this, Yang Ji couldn''t help but reveal a smile on his face.


    However, this was not enough. He immediately flew above the magma pool, brandishing his sword and hacking off ny percent of the remaining Fire Crystal Stones, leaving only one piece untouched—the one which the roots of the me Tree were nted in.


    Yang Ji did not wish to eradicate the tree''s sourcepletely; by leaving one piece of Fire Crystal Stone to absorb the power of the magma, the me Tree would be able to survive. In several decades or possibly a hundred years, it would bear fruit again.


    Simrly, leaving that piece of Fire Crystal Stone was also done so that it could continue to absorb the strength of the magma and grow stronger. Perhaps in a thousand years, this area would once again be a field of Fire Crystal Stones, nurturing another Earth Spirit Fire.


    His wandering thoughts reined in, Yang Ji began to attempt to control the power of the Earth Spirit Fire but initially met with resistance.


    Perhaps it was because the Fire Essence Power that enveloped it had been refined by his cultivation technique and imprinted with the mark of Yang Ji''s aura.


    After several attempts, the clump of Earth Spirit Fire gradually shifted from initial resistance topliance.


    Ultimately, it epted Yang Ji''s aura.


    Yang Ji could feel a sense of kinship emanating from the mes, which filled him with joy.


    Originally, he had thought that after absorbing it into his body, it would require slow refinementter on. It seemed that was unnecessary.


    For at that moment, with a flick of his fingers, a strand of Earth Spirit Fire sprang from his fingertips, burning fiercely yet causing him no harm whatsoever.


    Because the Fire Essence embryo wrapping it had been refined by his cultivation technique, bearing Yang Ji''s aura, the me now also regarded Yang Ji''s body as its nurturing mother, as its cozy cradle.


    Therefore, it bore no intent to harm.


    Although the mes were gentle, Yang Ji could feel the terrifying high temperature within, many times powerful than that of the Earth Fire.


    Spiritual Fire indeed lived up to its name, seeming to contain a trace of sentience within; Yang Ji could perceive some of its instinctual will.


    No wonder the texts stated that some fearsome Heaven and Earth Spirit Fires could develop consciousness, and just like humans, cultivate to be immortals and turn into Lords of Fire. It seemed to be true.


    "This Earth Spirit Fire''s spiritual power is strong, but its sentience seems to have just begun to form, possessing only a trace, much like that of a one-year-old child. If, in the future, it absorbs enough Fire Essence Power, perhaps it really could develop its own consciousness and start speaking," Yang Ji thought.


    Indeed, if nts and trees can be spirits, why not the Spiritual Fire born from the absorption of the essence of heaven and earth?


    In this Cultivation World, everything has its predestined fate and path to immortality; all beings are treated equally and have their own Dao.


    ...


    Above the Flowing Fire Sea Region.


    Chang Lin and Chen De burst forth from the water with a crash,nding on the deck of the ship.


    At this moment, Chang Lin was glowing with a warm andcent air.


    Seeing his cheerfulness, Chen De said with a respectful smile, "Senior, congrattions on capturing the zing Beast and obtaining the zing Beast Fire."


    "Haha, your guess wasn''t wrong this time. Down there was indeed a Demonic Beast that had nurtured a Beast me within it. This trip was not in vain," Chang Lin said with a heartyugh, quite pleased with himself. "With this zing Beast Fire, my nephew''s Alchemy skills can advance another step."


    "Chang Yuan, the young master, already has an alchemy talent far beyond the ordinary. With this Beast me, he''s even more powerful, like a tiger that has grown wings. It seems he will soon be an Alchemy Master," Chen Deplimented with a smile.


    "Indeed, indeed!" Chang Lin agreed, still smiling.


    "Senior, should we go down to meet with them?" Chen De asked, as if something had just urred to him, looking towards the Flowing Fire Sea Region.


    "Life and death are destined! Whether they cane up alive depends on their own fortune," said Chang Lin indifferently, shaking his head and turning to walk into the cabin.


    Chen De nced once, his expression not changing much, and also turned to walk into the cabin.


    The two men navigated the ship, quickly vanishing into the deep blue horizon.


    ...


    Below.


    Having subdued the Earth Spirit Fire, Yang Ji rxedpletely. Aplishing such a task indeed filled him with a sense of achievement.


    But when he gathered his thoughts and looked outside the nest, he was instantly stunned.


    He only saw a message about a leg entering the Water Boat with extreme speed—that leg... along with the Water Boat, had run away.


    Looking beneath the mountain fire, it was empty; which meant that the owner of that leg was thest one, apart from himself, to have escaped.


    This left him dumbfounded.


    They had all run off?


    So quickly?


    ```


    They had all been resisting fiercely just moments before, howe they all suddenly disappeared without a trace?


    Yang Ji, with eyes wide and tongue-tied, couldn''t help but furrow his brows deeply.


    Everyone had run away, but could he, alone, safely escape with only eight remaining Fierce Tiger Talismans in hand?


    He shook his head himself.


    Although those me Snakes dared not enter, at this moment, in his sensory perception, having lost their targets, all of them had encircled and blocked the major passages one li away, eyeing this nest with covetous eyes.


    Yang Ji peered out stealthily, and instantly, a me Snake King as thick as a water bucket opened its huge, gaping mouth, revealing its sharp, saliva-covered fangs, and roared ferociously at him.


    A pair of crimson eyes filled with boundless ferocity, a tail as tough as steel thumping and pounding the tunnel, exhibiting its fierce intention.


    This creature!


    Yang Ji''s face turned dark.


    After a nce, he quickly retracted his head; he truly feared that his flesh might arouse their aggressiveness and appetite, which would be disastrous.


    His expression at this moment was unsettled.


    Moving forward was impossible; looking ahead, there were at least a dozen me Snake Kings squatting outside, and there was no way to retreat.


    Yang Ji, frowning, simply wiped his Storage Bag, took out the remaining Fire Crystal Stones, preparing to refine them all to reinforce the nest of the Earth Spirit Fire.


    Time slowly passed, and after two incense sticks'' time,


    all the Fire Crystal Stones had beenpletely refined by him.


    The Fire Essence Power that formed the nurtured embryo became stronger, looking like a small two-story house the size of a millstone, with the Earth Spirit Fire residingfortably within.


    Two incense sticks had passed, yet the me Snakes outside showed no sign of leaving.


    This inevitably gave Yang Ji a headache.


    Frowning, he simply decided to oust them; of course, this was also a desperate move.


    During this idle moment, Yang Ji flicked his fingers, summoned the Earth Spirit Fire, and prepared to study its properties and power.


    Just then, the me Snakes outside trembled, and their heads disyed the message "Cowardice!"


    Hmm?


    Are they afraid of the Earth Spirit Fire?


    Yang Ji instantly captured their emotional fluctuations.


    Looking at the Spiritual Fire on his fingertip, his expression suddenly became odd.


    To verify his guess, he slowly walked to the mouth of the nest, brought out all of the Earth Spirit Fire, and let it burn vigorously in the palm of his hand.


    Just then, when the me Snakes outside saw this ball of fire, the information "Submission!" appeared above their heads again.


    They weren''t afraid but were actually worshiping the Earth Spirit Fire?


    Yang Ji''s expression was resolute, and as he looked again, he saw the me Snake Kings tremblingly bowing their heads, with "Snake Sovereign!" above them.


    Snake Sovereign?


    Yang Ji was taken aback, then guessed, "These me Snakes are born from magma, absorbing the power of magma to grow. And this Spiritual Fire is nourished by the Fire Crystal Stones condensed from the essence of magma. Though they have the same origin, the energy contained within is of a higher grade than theirs. Is this why they regard it as the Snake Sovereign?"


    Thinking this, Yang Ji looked at the Earth Spirit Fire, and then at the trembling crowd of me Snakes, prostrating on the ground, daring not to raise their heads, and an audacious thought rose in his heart.


    Taking a deep breath, he held the Earth Spirit Fire aloft and slowly flew out towards the exterior.


    As he flew over the head of a me Snake King, his heart pounded, and the Fierce Tiger Talisman in his hand crumpled from his grip.


    One, two, three, after flying over an entire passage, not a single me Snake dared to rise.


    At this moment, Yang Ji was thrilled beyond measure. After rapidly flying for several li, the exit was right before his eyes.


    He immediately withdrew the Earth Spirit Fire, took out the Water Boat, and rushed toward the Barrier.


    Upon hearing the sound of sshing water, Yang Ji knew that he had escaped to safety.


    This trip had brought huge gains indeed, not to mention the Earth Spirit Fire, just the five me Fruits alone would enable him to break through to the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining.


    In addition, he had gained some extra materials and Demon Cores from the me Snakes. Although the journey was perilous, it truly paid off.


    ```