33: Chapter 33 If you don't cut the weeds at the root, they'll grow back in the spring breeze.

Outside the Purple Bamboo Forest, the ten-thousand-mile plain was exceptionally bustling today.

In the center of the plain, a Purple Bamboo Forest stretching for a thousand miles appeared and disappeared within the spiritual mist; the space at the edge of the bamboo forest was slightly distorted, a sign that the Restriction was about to open.

A hundred miles outside the bamboo forest, Cultivators from the Five Regions were densely gathered.

However, to everyone's surprise, not a single top faction from the local Southern Desolation had appeared yet.

"Strange, the Purple Bamboo Forest is about to open, so why haven't those top factions from the Southern Desolation arrived yet?"

A Loose Cultivator from the Western Region muttered in a low voice, his gaze sweeping back and forth across the crowd.

"What's the rush?" his companion beside him sneered.

"Although the Spiritual Qi in the Southern Desolation is thin, those major factions are, at the very least, the masters of this land; how could they not come? They are most likely just waiting for the final moment to appear and put on airs."

"True." The Loose Cultivator nodded and said no more.

Time ticked away second by second.

One hour remained until the Purple Bamboo Forest opened.

Just then, a jade-green light suddenly illuminated the eastern horizon; the light grew increasingly intense, and within just a few breaths, it had covered half the sky.

A jade-green flying boat tore through the air, its hull covered in profound Alchemy patterns.

At the bow, a flag fluttered in the wind, inscribed with two large ancient seal characters—Medicine King.

"It's Medicine King Valley!"

Someone in the crowd exclaimed.

"The Medicine King Valley, one of the seven top factions of the Southern Desolation, has finally arrived!"

The flying boat descended slowly, stopping at the very center of the plain, the position closest to the Purple Bamboo Forest.

The boat door opened, and dozens of figures filed out.

The person in the lead wore a green robe, his beard and hair entirely white, and a faint medicinal fragrance lingered around him; it was none other than the Medicine King Valley Grand Elder—Dan Qingzi.

Behind him followed several Medicine King Valley Elders, and further back were more than twenty young Disciples.

Each one was well-dressed with a calm expression, their eyes revealing an inherent arrogance.

The appearance of Medicine King Valley immediately drew the attention of the entire crowd.

Many Cultivators stood up one after another, casting their gazes in that direction, their eyes filled with awe and envy.

It was not because the strength of Medicine King Valley was particularly great, although it was indeed very strong.

But rather because Medicine King Valley was one of the three great Alchemy Holy Lands of the Xuanhuang World.

In this cultivation world where the strong were respected, the status of an Alchemist was far above that of an ordinary Cultivator.

A single Medicinal Pill could save a life or take one, and could even change the outcome of a war.

Offend anyone, but do not offend an Alchemist.

This was a long-standing consensus in the cultivation world.

"Senior Dan Qingzi!"

A figure darted out from the crowd and hurriedly walked to greet the group from Medicine King Valley.

The person was a middle-aged man in a brocade robe embroidered with a Pill Furnace pattern; he was Chen Yunqing, an Elder of the Danxia Sect from the Western Region.

Although the Danxia Sect did not have as deep a foundation as Medicine King Valley, it was still a renowned Alchemy faction in the Western Region.

Chen Yunqing arrived before Dan Qingzi and bowed deeply with a respectful posture.

"Junior Chen Yunqing greets Senior Dan Qingzi. It has been several years, and Senior remains as impressive as ever; this is truly a joyous occasion."

Dan Qingzi nodded slightly, his tone indifferent: "Chen Yunqing, you have arrived early."

Chen Yunqing laughed: "The Purple Bamboo Forest opens once every hundred years; how could this Junior dare to be negligent? Arriving a few days early allows for more preparation."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the twenty-plus young Disciples of Medicine King Valley, a flash of envy in his eyes.

"The Disciples Senior has brought this time are all extraordinary in demeanor; they must be the most outstanding Alchemy Geniuses of Medicine King Valley's generation, right?"

Dan Qingzi's mouth tilted slightly upward, his tone carrying a touch of pride.

"These children have decent Aptitude; I brought them to the Purple Bamboo Forest to gain some experience and broaden their horizons."

Chen Yunqing nodded repeatedly, flattering him: "Senior is too modest; with the foundation of Medicine King Valley, these Disciples will surely shine brilliantly in the Purple Bamboo Forest."

As the two were speaking, several more figures emerged from the crowd and headed toward the Medicine King Valley group.

These people were all representatives of factions from other regions, all smiling, respectful, and scrambling to curry favor with Dan Qingzi.

For a time, the place where Medicine King Valley was located became the busiest spot on the entire plain.

Dan Qingzi wore a smile, responding to them one by one, feeling quite gratified.

Half an hour remained until the Purple Bamboo Forest opened.

Just then, a low rumbling sound suddenly came from the northern horizon, as if thousands of troops and horses were galloping.

Everyone looked up and saw three massive flying boats tearing through the air, arranged in a triangular formation, with the ancient seal characters for Zhouwu, Xuanyuan, and Nanli inscribed on their hulls respectively.

"The three Imperial Dynasties have arrived!"

Someone in the crowd shouted.

The three flying boats descended slowly, stopping not far from the Medicine King Valley flying boat.

Subsequently, three even more magnificent flying boats tore through the air from the end of the horizon.

On the flying boats, spiritual light swirled and the Dao aura was abundant; the ancient seal characters for Ethereal, Qingyang, and Heavenly Sword were inscribed on the hulls respectively.

"Piaomiao Sect! Qingyang Sect! Heavenly Sword Sect!"

Bursts of exclamations erupted from the crowd.

"The three major Sects of the Southern Desolation have finally arrived!"

At this point, the seven top factions of the Southern Desolation—Medicine King Valley, Zhouwu Dynasty, Xuanyuan Dynasty, Nanli Dynasty, Piaomiao Sect, Qingyang Sect, and Heavenly Sword Sect—had all arrived.

The atmosphere on the plain suddenly became heavy.

Those Cultivators from small factions in the other four regions fell silent one after another, not daring to speak loudly.

And those top factions from the Central Plains, Eastern Sea, Western Region, and Northern Territory also began to carefully size up these factions from the Southern Desolation.

At the same time, inside the Zhouwu Dynasty flying boat, Jiang Changge was instructing Lu Jinghan and the others.

"This trip to the Secret Realm will certainly be extremely dangerous; you must stick together for support and appear weak to the enemy."

"If it is not necessary, try your best not to come into conflict with others."

At this moment, Jiang Changge looked seriously at the few Disciples.

"Of course, if a conflict does occur, you must completely kill the opponent and erase the Karma."

"As the saying goes, if you don't root out the weeds, they will grow again with the spring breeze!"

"Remember, when killing someone, you must deliver the finishing blow to ensure the opponent completely dissipates."

Upon hearing this, Qin Muchuan, Zhou Tianchen, and the others looked at each other with strange expressions, though they still appeared to be taking it to heart.

Only Lu Jinghan knew that this was the fundamental Law for surviving in the Xuanhuang World.

He had spent a thousand years in his previous life before realizing this truth.

Outside the flying boat, the commotion on the plain gradually subsided.

The seven top factions of the Southern Desolation occupied the best positions outside the Purple Bamboo Forest, maintaining a delicate distance from each other, both guarding against one another and observing each other.

However, the leaders of those major factions always inevitably drifted their gazes in the same direction—the Zhouwu Dynasty.

Dan Qingzi stood with his hands behind his back, his green robe fluttering slightly in the wind.

Seemingly admiring the churning spiritual mist outside the Purple Bamboo Forest, in reality, his peripheral vision never left the place where Ancestor Zhou Huaixu was located.

"Grand Elder."

An Elder of Medicine King Valley beside him spoke in a low voice, his tone carrying a hint of confusion.

"What exactly is that Ancestor Zhou Huaixu waiting for?"

Dan Qingzi did not answer immediately.

He naturally knew what this Elder was asking.