The mist around the outskirts of the Nine Nether Deep Earth Python Tribe was cold.
Not the ordinary chill of mountain air, but a bone-deep cold seeping up from the depths of underground waterways.
Jagged black rocks rose everywhere, and the swamps were as dark as ink. Fine ripples occasionally spread across the dark-green water, as though some serpentine magical beast were slowly swimming beneath the mud.
When the Snake-People Tribe's migration party first saw this place, many of them fell silent.
There was no blazing sun like Tagor's here.
No yellow sand that would scorch their scales the moment they stepped on it.
No nights spent arguing until their eyes reddened over half a bag of clean water.
There was water here.
Yin energy.
And earth veins suitable for serpent bloodlines to slumber and undergo transformation.
Even the low-tier serpent beasts hiding deep within the swamp, upon sensing Queen Medusa's Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python bloodline, merely retreated in fear rather than pouncing on the outsiders like ordinary magical beasts.
Die stood at the front of the migration party, her pale-purple cloak fluttering slightly in the cold mist.
She had only recently taken human form, and her face was still somewhat pale. Yet as she watched the young snakes crouch by the water's edge, cautiously stretching out their hands to scoop up a mouthful of water, her eyes gradually reddened.
A young snake-person cub held the water as though it were a priceless treasure.
"Princess Die, does the water here... not need to be exchanged for medicinal herbs?"
Die's throat tightened.
She crouched down and gently stroked the child's head.
"No."
The little snake-person stared blankly at the water in his palm.
Then, he lowered his head and took a sip.
The next instant, his eyes lit up as though