Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Improving Spiritual Root Aptitude

"Disaster! Bandits have launched a sneak attack on Yunxi Market!"

A slightly trembling exclamation came from the main hall of Baidan Hall.

Upon hearing this, Wu Fan's heart tightened.

Without thinking twice, he immediately turned around and ran towards the main hall of the Hundred Pills Hall.

As soon as he stepped into the hall, the sight before him made him frown.

The once orderly hall was now in complete chaos. The staff of Bai Dan Tang were pale and frantically running around, some even sneaking towards the shelves where low-grade pills were stored, clearly intending to loot them.

In the midst of the chaos, a white figure swept in like a fleeting shadow, landing steadily in the center of the hall.

The newcomer was dressed in a silver-patterned outfit, with a long sword slung across his waist, his black hair tied up high, and his face was icy cold, instantly silencing the noise in the hall.

"Yes...yes...Young Miss!"

Suddenly, someone in the room shouted out.

When Bai Ruanyu appeared, the panicked crowd instantly quieted down, and their scattered emotions calmed down a little.

After all, with the head steward of Baidan Hall present, one would feel more confident in the face of such a sudden event.

"What's the panic!"

Bai Ruanyu's voice was clear and steady, carrying an undeniable air of authority: "Things have come to this point; chaos will surely lead to death!"

Before she finished speaking, her gaze had already locked onto the two men: "Sixth Uncle, immediately lead the market guards to reinforce the outer perimeter. You must hold those men in black at all costs and not let them break through the inner defensive formation!"

"Ruan Qiu, go quickly to the core of the market array and do your best to control the market's protective array to resist the enemy."

"Yes, Miss!"

The two figures responded almost simultaneously.

It was Bai Chenrang, the accountant of Baidantang, and Bai Ruanqiu, who was in charge of managing the daily affairs of Baidantang.

Bai Chenrang suddenly had a large sword in his hand. After receiving the order, he rushed out of the hall and quickly gathered a group of men, heading towards the outskirts of the market.

Bai Ruanqiu then turned and left the gate of Baidan Hall, running towards a high platform in the market.

After handling the emergency deployment, Bai Ruanyu's gaze quickly swept over the remaining people in the hall, as if searching for a key figure. After several glances, it finally landed on Wu Fan, her tone serious:

"Master Wu, as the resident alchemist of this alchemy hall, and having served in the Hundred Pill Hall for so long, you should be most familiar with the layout of the hall. I order you to lead the rest of the group to guard the main entrance, reinforce the defenses, and strictly prevent anyone from taking advantage of the chaos to break in and commit misconduct. If anyone suspicious approaches, do not ask any questions, take immediate action, and show no mercy!"

"Yes, Miss."

Wu Fan bowed and accepted, but secretly pondered in his heart.

Judging from the way the young lady was searching just now, it's likely that the one leading everyone in holding the line wasn't herself, but rather Alchemist Liu.

Only then did he realize that Master Liu was not among the crowd; he had not seen Master Liu at all throughout the day.

This alchemist, Liu Danshi, was a core alchemist specially hired by the Bai family and was usually present. It was strange that he disappeared at this critical moment of life and death.

This made Wu Fan somewhat suspicious.

But now is not the time to think about it.

Wu Fan knew very well that the cellar of Bai Dan Tang contained a vast amount of rare spiritual herbs and high-grade pills. If it were to be raided by bandits, not only would the Bai family suffer heavy losses, but those of them who remained behind would also have no chance of survival.

This responsibility of protection is as heavy as a thousand pounds.

Seeing that he readily accepted the order, Bai Ruanyu nodded slightly and said no more. With a light touch of her toes, she darted towards the side door of the hall like an arrow and disappeared into the depths of the corridor in an instant.

Wu Fan immediately composed himself, stepped forward, and said in a deep voice to the still somewhat bewildered crowd in the hall:

"Everyone, calm down! Panic won't help now. Bai Dan Hall is our home and our livelihood. Defending this place is defending our own lives! Follow me to the main gate to set up defenses; but if anyone dares to cause trouble, think about the consequences if Bai Dan Hall holds us accountable!"

These words were straightforward and powerful. Several mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators exchanged glances and immediately stepped forward.

They all understood the principle of mutual dependence; unless the Bai family had already been destroyed, if these cultivators who were attached to the Hundred Pill Hall dared to have any disloyal thoughts at this moment, they would probably not escape their doom later.

Wu Fan said no more and led the cultivators to the main gate. Together they slammed the heavy solid wood door shut and directed the others to move heavy stone tables, mahogany cabinets and other items to reinforce the door.

After doing all this, he quietly took out a speed talisman from his storage bag and hid it in his sleeve.

He had found this while strolling around the market earlier, and he was prepared to evacuate through the back door in the worst-case scenario.

Outside the door, the sounds of fighting, clashing magical artifacts, and exploding spiritual arts rose and fell, growing ever closer, which only made the atmosphere inside the hall feel more oppressive.

The shadow of death surged in like a tide, making the faces of several cultivators with lower cultivation levels turn even paler, and they couldn't help but huddle together and whisper among themselves.

"Just who are these cultivators? Not only are there so many of them, but there's even a late-stage Qi Refining expert among them!"

"This is something no ordinary cultivator would dare to do! With the Bai family, a Foundation Establishment clan, in charge of Yunxi Market, ordinary cultivators would be trying to avoid it, let alone dare to launch a sneak attack openly!"

"Could they be people sent by the Deng family?"

Someone lowered their voice, their tone speculative, "Right now, the Bai and Deng families are locked in a fierce battle on the front lines where their territories meet. Could it be that the Deng family is trying to use this as a diversionary tactic, sending someone to assassinate and disrupt the Bai family's rear?"

"That shouldn't be possible!"

Immediately, someone retorted, "The Deng family's main force is currently tied down at the front lines by the Bai family. How could they possibly spare so many cultivators? If they had that kind of strength, they wouldn't have been fighting the Bai family for so long, resulting in such a stalemate!"

Hearing the discussions of the crowd, Wu Fan was also quickly analyzing the situation in his mind.

He tended to agree with the last person's viewpoint and didn't believe that these men in black were sent by the Deng family.

If the Deng family truly possessed the strength to simultaneously contain the front lines and launch a surprise attack on the Bai family's rear, they should have already overwhelmed the Bai family and wouldn't be stuck in the current stalemate.

"Then this shouldn't be a cultivator from the Tribulation Clan, nor a cultivator from the Deng family. Could it be... a third-party force?"

The terrifying thought flashed through Wu Fan's mind, and his already furrowed brows furrowed even more.

Besides the Bai and Deng families, who are both Foundation Establishment families, there are other Foundation Establishment forces in Qingxi County. Could it be that they want to take this opportunity to interfere?

So, what is their purpose?

Is it an attempt to seize the wealth of Yunxi Market amidst the chaos, or has it already allied with the Deng family to completely annihilate the Bai family?

Countless questions swirled in Wu Fan's mind, making him increasingly anxious. His gaze kept drifting towards the door, and he tightened the Swiftness Talisman in his sleeve, preparing to activate it at any moment.