Soon after, Tulk walked out of the tree hall with a dazed expression on his face.
The Slime King had not fully agreed to his request, but had given him a precious opportunity.
As long as he could persuade the members of his tribe, lead them safely through the perilous Swamp Forest, and arrive here, the gates of the Slime Kingdom would open for them. All Lizardfolk would be welcomed and formally become members of the kingdom.
Leading one or two people through the swamp was difficult enough, let alone guiding an entire tribe, including the elderly and young, on such a long migration.
But wasn't this exactly the Slime Kingdom's test for them?
"Father, Mother, fellow tribesmen... wait for me to return."
The moment Tulk made up his mind, a faint green halo seemed to flash around him. He instinctively stretched out his palm, and the vines on the trees came alive, twisting like snakes.
Though it was just the simplest trick, it symbolized Putu's approval. He had become a qualified Lizardfolk Shaman.
A faint sense of joy and pride welled up in Tulk's heart, but he quickly suppressed the emotion.
He looked to the side, where Little Ka was lying obediently, wagging its tail. It was clearly following Chen Yu's orders, ready to escort him back to the tribe.
"I trouble you, Guard Lord," Tulk said respectfully, then carefully mounted the subdrake's back once more.
With the sound of powerful wingbeats, Little Ka carrying Tulk took to the skies again, leaving this dreamlike Slime Fortress behind.
Tulk looked back, watching the strange territory gradually blur within the Thick Mist. His gaze held a new layer of determination compared to when he arrived.
At the entrance to the tree hall, Chen Yu and Little Flower hopped out, watching the figures of Tulk and Little Ka disappear into the horizon.
Little Flower tilted its head up and asked curiously, "Brother, haven't you always wanted more subjects? Why not let those Lizardfolk join us directly?"
Chen Yu patted Little Flower's head with his gel hand and explained earnestly, "Little Flower, you must remember, the easier something is to obtain, the less people tend to cherish it."
"Only when they have exerted their own effort, traversed dangers and hardships, and finally arrived here themselves, will they truly see this place as a home worth protecting. Only then will they become qualified and loyal subjects of the kingdom."
Little Flower wobbled its body, not fully understanding such a profound concept. Its little mind couldn't completely grasp it yet, but it knew that what Brother said always made sense.
It just needed to firmly remember and slowly comprehend it later.
"Alright, stop spacing out."
Chen Yu hopped and turned around. "Go tell the little ones at the Slime Academy to start studying those martial arts books I left there. In the future, they will be the ones to teach the Lizardfolk subjects."
"Oh, right. Also, select another batch of scholars with talent for alchemy. We'll need to refine more pills in the future."
"Mhm mhm, got it."
Little Flower bobbed its gel body up and down seriously to show understanding, then hopped and skipped towards the direction of the Slime Academy.
...
Far away by the Reed River, the Rotten Moss Tribe was as busy as usual.
The Lizardfolk were mending fishing nets, processing the freshly caught fish, and taking stock of some game meat and mushrooms gathered from the forest's edge.
For the upcoming northward migration, the tribe needed to stockpile as much food as possible to cope with the most difficult period after the Magical Tides.
By the Fire Pit at the center of the camp, the elderly Shazak was holding a bowl of clear water, drinking slowly. Around him sat Tulk's parents and several tribal warriors with worried expressions on their faces.
Tulk's father, this strong Lizardfolk warrior, finally couldn't bear the silence any longer, his voice full of concern.
"Shaman Lord, Tulk has been in the forest for a full day now, and there's still no news. Is this normal for past trials?"
Shaman Shazak's hand holding the clay bowl paused slightly. He looked up at the anxious parents before him and sighed inwardly.
To be honest, the length of the trial was not fixed, but generally speaking, the faster one completed and returned, the greater the chance of survival.
For every extra day that passed, hope became fainter.
Both he and that child Sekashi had completed their trials and returned on the very day they entered the forest. Tulk had been gone for a day with no return;
the situation was indeed not optimistic.
However, the tribe's ancient records did indeed contain precedents of those who entered the swamp for four days, passed the trial, and returned alive.
So, Tulk was not completely without hope.
He was carefully choosing his words, preparing to comfort these anxious parents and the equally worried tribesmen around them.
Just then, joyful and excited shouts came from the distance.
"Father! Mother! Shaman Shazak!"
"I'm back!"
"I passed the trial!"
It was Tulk's voice!
"Tulk is back?!"
All the Lizardfolk in the camp stopped their work, looking towards the direction of the Swamp Forest in pleasant surprise.
However, what puzzled them was that the forest's edge was empty;
they couldn't see Tulk's figure at all.
Just as everyone looked at each other, wondering if they were hearing things, a Lizardfolk child stood on tiptoe, pointed at the sky, and exclaimed in a clear, childish voice:
"In the sky, look at the sky! Brother Tulk is flying!"
All the Lizardfolk looked up at the sky in unison. They saw Tulk riding on the back of a winged creature, waving vigorously at them.
"That's... a subdrake?!"
Shaman Shazak's expression changed drastically. He stood up abruptly. Several tribal warriors also instantly became alert, instinctively grabbing the weapons beside them.
Little Ka carrying Tulk slowly descended on the open ground outside the camp. It blinked its innocent big eyes, curiously observing these tense Lizardfolk, lying obediently and not moving a muscle.
It was afraid that any of its movements might cause unnecessary misunderstanding and conflict.
Tulk quickly dismounted from Little Ka's back, ran quickly back to the camp, and loudly explained to the tense tribesmen, "Everyone, don't be nervous! This is Guard Little Ka from the Slime Kingdom. It escorted me back. It means no harm."
Seeing that the seemingly quite ferocious subdrake indeed showed no intent to attack, everyone relaxed slightly, but the suspicion in their eyes did not fade.
Tulk's parents rushed forward and hugged him tightly.
"Child, are you alright? Are you hurt?" His mother cried tears of joy, checking his body up and down.
"I'm fine, perfectly fine. I even successfully passed the trial," Tulk comforted his parents repeatedly.
After their emotions had calmed somewhat, Shaman Shazak leaned on his walking stick and slowly walked over. The tribesmen automatically made way for him.
The old shaman's gaze first took a deep look at the quiet subdrake outside the camp, then fell on Tulk. He asked, "Child, what exactly is this Slime Kingdom you speak of?"
Tulk took a deep breath. Facing all the gathered tribesmen, he began to recount his incredible experience.
"After I entered the swamp yesterday, I followed the Shaman's advice, heading west all the way, deep into the forest, without looking back... I spent a night in the forest. When I woke up the next day, I encountered an Envoy from the Slime Kingdom and this Guard Little Ka. They led me to the Slime Kingdom located deep in the swamp."
"There truly exists a very magnificent fortress there, inhabited by countless slimes, along with Poison-stinger Wasps, Beetles... many different Magical Creatures living together in harmony."
"I met their King, a great and benevolent Slime King. He warmly received me, and then had Guard Little Ka escort me back."
All the Lizardfolk, after hearing this bizarre account, looked at each other, their faces filled with confusion.
Slime Kingdom?
A fortress deep in the swamp?
Various Magical Creatures living in harmony?
This sounded too much like something made up by those Bards who never did proper work all day.
If not for the living, breathing subdrake standing there as evidence, they might even think the child had mistakenly eaten hallucinogenic mushrooms in the forest and was seeing things.
Seeing his tribesmen's expressions, Tulk became agitated. He waved his arms, trying to make his words more convincing.
"It's true! Every single word I said is true!"
"That place is like the promised land of fantasy that Putu promised. No hunger, no bitter cold. All efforts are rewarded. The weak are also protected. Followers of Putu are respected there!"
He described in detail what he had seen and heard in the Slime Kingdom—the neat farmland, the busy yet orderly slime residents, the peculiar Tree House architecture, and that wise Slime King.
Finally, he voiced his idea.
"Shaman Shazak, let us join the Slime Kingdom. Accepting the protection of that benevolent King is the best choice for our Rotten Moss Tribe, our hope to escape generations of hardship."
"As long as we make up our minds and unite, crossing this swamp, we can reach that land of fantasy flowing with milk and honey."
Everyone looked at each other, their faces filled with bewilderment and doubt.
In this harsh swamp they had lived in for generations, could there truly exist a Slime Kingdom like paradise?
It sounded too wonderful, too wonderful to be real.
Moreover, leading the entire tribe through the perilous heart of the swamp carried immense risks. The slightest misstep could lead to a terrible price.
Low murmurs of discussion rose within the camp, interwoven with doubt and worry.
Just as the debate was starting to grow, the silent Shaman Shazak slowly raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet. Then, he looked at Tulk with his weather-beaten eyes.
"What Tulk says... might not be false."
Everyone immediately fell silent, looking at the old shaman in surprise.
Shazak continued, "Before that child Sekashi left, she also vaguely mentioned receiving help from friendly beings within the swamp. And those Adventurers recently frantically trying to penetrate deep into the swamp... their target likely also has something to do with the Slime Kingdom."
"You... you believe me?" Tulk was both surprised and delighted. He thought he would need to explain much more to convince everyone, never expecting Shaman Shazak to lean towards believing him.
Shazak slowly walked up to Tulk, stretched out his withered hand, and gently felt the natural aura still lingering around him.
"Child, the natural aura on you cannot be faked. This is far more powerful than any words."
"I prefer to believe you have indeed reached a miraculous land blessed by nature."
"However, whether to migrate or not concerns the life and death of every single person in the tribe. For everyone's sake, we cannot make a decision lightly."
"Ak, Quine."
He looked at the two most experienced warriors in the tribe. "Prepare yourselves. Accompay me and Tulk on a trip. We must see the situation deep in the swamp with our own eyes."
"Yes, Shaman Shazak!" The two strong Lizardfolk warriors immediately stepped forward, accepting the order without hesitation.
"Shaman Lord, your health..." a tribesman worriedly reminded. Shaman Shazak was too old. The harsh environment deep in the swamp and the long journey would be extremely dangerous for him.
"It's no trouble."
Shazak waved his hand, his gaze falling on Tulk with trust. "With our newly promoted Shaman Tulk here, and Putu's guidance, we can make the round trip smoothly."
Tulk said seriously, "I will definitely protect the Shaman Lord."
Seeing the old shaman and Tulk both so insistent, the tribesmen, though still worried, could only reluctantly agree.
The four of them simply prepared some rations and weapons, then took advantage of the best sunlight at noon to step once more into the dark Swamp Forest.
This time, with Tulk, who knew the path, guiding the way, the two warriors Ak and Quine cautiously cleared the path ahead, their sharp bone spears always aimed at potential dangers.
Shaman Shazak was carefully carried on Tulk's back.
However, as they continued deeper, the two experienced warriors gradually noticed something unusual.
This area of the swamp's heart, usually teeming with various dangerous Magical Creatures, now seemed excessively quiet. The numbers of those common Magical Creatures had noticeably decreased. Even the annoying poisonous insects seemed to have vanished.
They could still clearly identify the footprints Tulk had left during his solo trek the day before.
Shaman Shazak, carried on Tulk's back, silently observed all of this, lost in thought.
Following Tulk's footprints, easily dealing with a few scattered low-level Magical Creatures, they smoothly reached the depths of the swamp.
"It's right ahead!"
Tulk stopped, pointing towards the direction obscured by dense vines and shrubs.
"Pass through this stretch of woods, and you'll see the fortress. My sense of direction isn't wrong."
Hearing this, warrior Quine took a deep breath. With his strong arms, he swung his stone axe, vigorously hacking through the blocking thorns and shrubs.
When the last tangle of vines was pulled aside, sunlight suddenly poured down. The scene before them made all the Lizardfolk hold their breath instantly.
Under the sunlight, a majestic, grand fortress stood like a divine miracle upon the land deep in the swamp.
Sturdy City Walls extended to both sides, disappearing into the forest shade, so grand they seemed almost endless.
"By the Ancestral Spirits..."
"Was what Tulk said actually true?!"
Ak and Quine exclaimed in shock. Even the steady Shaman Shazak showed an expression of astonishment on his aged face.
They cautiously walked out of the forest, approaching the fortress.
On the City Wall, they could see silver Metal Slime guards patrolling regularly, emitting faint metallic hums. There were also some slimes they couldn't name hopping about on the battlements.
They didn't even need to enter the fortress interior. Just this sight before them was enough to make them believe most of it.
The slime guards on the wall clearly recognized Tulk. After a careful identity verification, the heavy city gate slowly rose with the sound of mechanisms.
The four of them stepped inside the fortress. The scene before them left the two Lizardfolk warriors so shocked they were speechless.
Slimes of various colors lived and worked busily yet harmoniously within. Farmland, workshops, peculiar domed Tree Houses... everything appeared so vibrant and orderly.
The Slime Kingdom was real!
Tulk originally wanted to immediately lead his tribesmen to pay respects to the Slime King, but he learned from a scholar slime who seemed to be in charge—
His Majesty the King, due to busy affairs, had temporarily left this Eastern Swamp fortress to inspect another territory within the kingdom. It was unknown when he would return.
"Another fortress? Just how big is the Slime Kingdom?" Ak and Quine looked at each other, swallowing hard.
The last trace of doubt in Shaman Shazak's eyes completely vanished. He suddenly thumped his walking stick and said gravely, "Tulk, we return immediately to prepare for the tribe's migration."
Tulk was taken aback, instinctively asking, "Are we still preparing for the northward migration?"
"No. It's to immediately gather all tribesmen and migrate to join the Slime Kingdom."