Fang Hao’s heart skipped a beat, knowing that trouble had come knocking.

The Muscular Cultivator smashed the Medicinal Pill bottle, scattering porcelain shards and pills all over the ground, and the surrounding onlookers immediately gathered around.

"Everyone, judge for yourselves. This black-hearted vendor is selling fake medicine. My Junior Brother took his qi gathering pill, and his spiritual power became disordered during cultivation, nearly causing Qi Deviation." the Muscular Cultivator shouted loudly, while several lackeys behind him joined in the clamor.

Fang Hao looked at the other party calmly: "Senior Brother, you shouldn’t speak recklessly. My Medicinal Pills are all properly refined. Many Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters have bought them, and there has never been a problem."

"Bullshit. It was your family’s Medicinal Pills." The Muscular Cultivator pulled a pill bottle from his robes, which indeed looked the same as the ones Fang Hao sold. "My Junior Brother took it during cultivation last night, and today there’s a problem! What do you have to say for yourself?"

Fang Hao took the pill bottle and examined it carefully. The bottle was indeed his, but the Medicinal Pills inside... the texture was wrong. He handled his own pills frequently; with one touch, he knew these weren’t refined by him.

"These aren’t the Medicinal Pills I sold," Fang Hao said with certainty. "Although the bottle is the same, the Medicinal Pills are fake."

"You say they’re fake just because you say so?" The Muscular Cultivator grabbed Fang Hao by the collar. "If you don’t compensate my Junior Brother for his medical expenses today, I’ll smash your stall!"

More and more onlookers gathered, pointing and whispering. Fang Hao’s business had finally started to pick up; if he were labeled as a seller of fake medicine, he wouldn’t be able to survive here anymore.

Just as Fang Hao was about to lose his temper, a cold voice rang out: "Let him go."

Everyone turned around to see Liang Ling standing outside the crowd at some point, her face as cold as frost.

Seeing she was an Inner Sect Disciple, the Muscular Cultivator’s arrogance immediately diminished by seventy percent, but he still spoke stubbornly: "Senior Sister Liang, this kid is selling fake medicine and harming people. I’m just acting on behalf of heaven."

Liang Ling didn’t even look at him, directly asking Fang Hao. "What happened?"

Fang Hao briefly explained the situation. Liang Ling nodded and walked up to the Muscular Cultivator: "You say the Medicinal Pills are his, what evidence do you have?"

"This... this bottle is from his stall!" the Muscular Cultivator said, lacking confidence.

Liang Ling sneered: "Just because the bottle is the same, it’s his? If I find someone wearing the same clothes as you, does that make him your father?"

The onlookers burst into laughter. The Muscular Cultivator’s face turned beet red.

Liang Ling ignored him and turned to the crowd: "I often buy Medicinal Pills from Fang Hao, and there has never been a problem. Anyone who has bought his pills knows their quality."

Several regular customers chimed in one after another.

"That’s right, Junior Brother Ning’s pills are very effective."

"I’ve bought them several times and never had an issue."

"It’s obvious someone is jealous and looking for trouble."

Seeing things were going south, the Muscular Cultivator wanted to argue further, but Liang Ling directly released a wave of pressure. Her Foundation Establishment Stage Aura instantly rendered him speechless.

"Scram," Liang Ling said only a single word.

The Muscular Cultivator and his lackeys fled dejectedly, not even daring to pick up the ’evidence’ on the ground.

Fang Hao thanked Liang Ling.

"Thank you for helping me out, Senior Sister."

Liang Ling waved her hand. "A tall tree attracts the wind. Since your business is doing well, it’s inevitable that some will be envious. Be careful in the future." After saying that, she left.

After this incident, Fang Hao’s business actually became even better. Everyone trusted his character and the quality of his products.

But Fang Hao knew in his heart that this was only the beginning. As his business grew, it would surely touch the interests of certain people. He had to be prepared.

In the following days, Fang Hao became even more cautious. He added a special mark to all his Medicinal Pills—using the spiritual power of the Myriad Manifestations Heaven Swallowing Art to leave a subtle imprint inside the pills that outsiders could not replicate.

At the same time, he began to study defensive and offensive Talismans. Previously, he only made lifestyle Talismans, but now he needed some means of self-protection.

Protective Talismans, vajra talismans, Fireball Talismans, Ice Arrow Talismans... various practical Talismans were developed one after another. Fang Hao tested them himself first to ensure their effectiveness and safety.

With these preparations, Fang Hao felt much more at ease. Now, even if someone came looking for trouble, he had a certain level of self-protection capability.

Ten days before the Outer Sect Grand Competition, Fang Hao’s cultivation reached the Qi Refining Eighth Layer Peak. He was just one step away from breaking through to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer!

But this step was exceptionally difficult. No matter how many Medicinal Pills he took or how hard he Cultivated, he was always missing that little bit of Opportunity.

Fang Hao understood that he had encountered a Bottleneck. The further one progressed in cultivation, the harder the Breakthrough became. Relying solely on resources and bitter cultivation was not enough; one also needed Opportunity and insight.

One day, while Fang Hao was studying a new Talisman, he suddenly felt a flash of inspiration. He put down his Talisman pen and walked out of his room.

In the courtyard, Li Xuan was practicing his sword. His sword technique was sharp, each strike carrying the sound of breaking air. Zhu Pang was on the other side practicing Earth-system Spells, with earth walls rising from the ground one by one. Chen Feng was not in the courtyard; it was said he had been reflecting on his mistakes in seclusion.

Watching the two of them Cultivate, Fang Hao suddenly had an Epiphany.

Li Xuan’s sword technique was unstoppable, emphasizing a one-hit kill; Zhu Pang’s Spells were heavy and steady, focusing on defense. This offense and defense, hardness and softness, seemed opposite but were actually interconnected.

Isn’t the path of cultivation the same? The Myriad Manifestations Heaven Swallowing Art embraces all rivers and is inclusive, not limited to a single attribute, but rather integrating everything...

As he thought, Fang Hao fell into a mysterious state. The Spiritual Qi around him began to circulate on its own, faster and faster.

Li Xuan and Zhu Pang both sensed something unusual and looked over in surprise. They saw Fang Hao standing there with his eyes closed, the Spiritual Qi around him forming a small vortex that grew increasingly thick.

"Is this... an epiphany?" Li Xuan said in surprise.

Zhu Pang also widened his eyes.

"Good heavens, Fang Hao is about to make a Breakthrough."

Fang Hao was indeed on the verge of a Breakthrough. That moment of insight allowed him to grasp the Opportunity for a Breakthrough, and the Bottleneck of the Qi Refining Eighth Layer began to loosen.

He immediately returned to his room, activated the time-slowing function of the qiankun ring, and put all his effort into pushing for the Qi Refining Eighth Layer.

Under the tenfold time acceleration, Fang Hao had plenty of time to guide his Spiritual Qi to strike the Bottleneck.

Once, twice, three times.

After an unknown amount of time, a crack sound seemed to ring out, and the Bottleneck finally shattered! Surging spiritual power flooded his entire body, and his cultivation naturally reached the Qi Refining Eighth Layer.

Fang Hao opened his eyes, feeling the powerful strength within him, overjoyed. The Qi Refining Eighth Layer! Among the Outer Sect Disciples, this was already at an upper-middle level!

More importantly, this Breakthrough gave him a deeper understanding of cultivation. The Myriad Manifestations Heaven Swallowing Art was not just about absorbing Spiritual Qi quickly, but more importantly about the concept of embracing all rivers and integrating everything.

After ending his seclusion, Fang Hao found that there were only five days left until the Outer Sect Grand Competition. He hurried to make his final preparations.

First, he went to the Magical Artifact shop and bought a qinggang sword. He had been using Geng Metal Sword Qi, but in actual combat, having a physical sword was more reliable.

Then he bought a piece of Inner Armor; although its defense was average, it was better than nothing.

Finally, he went to the Mission Hall to take on a few combat missions, sharpening his skills at the last minute to get used to the feeling of battle.

Now Fang Hao, with his Qi Refining Eighth Layer cultivation, proficiency in Formations and Talismans, some combat experience, and various Medicinal Pills and Talismans in reserve, already had the strength to compete in the Outer Sect Grand Competition.

The day before the Grand Competition, while Fang Hao was adjusting his state, he suddenly received a communication talisman from Liang Ling.

"In tomorrow’s competition, be careful of Ye Qing. He might target you."

Fang Hao’s heart tightened. Ye Qing... that Single Spiritual Root Genius. Although he had progressed rapidly, he was likely still far behind Ye Qing. He heard that Ye Qing had already successfully reached Foundation Establishment and become an Inner Sect elite Disciple.

However, Fang Hao was not afraid. The path of cultivation was long; a temporary lead did not mean forever. With the Myriad Manifestations Heaven Swallowing Art and the qiankun ring, he would catch up sooner or later.