Lu Qing's sudden strike was the last thing Xiao Tian could have expected.
He had never even considered the possibility that Lu Qing would suddenly attack him with such lethal intent here.
But the fierce killing intent carried in Lu Qing's strike was all too real,
convincing Xiao Tian beyond doubt that if he didn't dodge, Lu Qing would truly cleave him in two!
Involuntarily, Xiao Tian's mind was flooded with the image of Lu Qing's murderous silhouette from their time at Happy Village.
Overwhelming fear instantly enveloped Xiao Tian's entire body.
In this life-and-death moment, he had no time to think; he could only desperately dodge backward, relying on instinct.
At that moment, he unconsciously unleashed all his strength,
pouring all his heart and spirit, and will into his legs, hoping to summon even a bit more force, to increase his speed and avoid Lu Qing's deadly slash.
In this moment of utmost focus, Xiao Tian seemed to sense an extra surge of power within his body that he could call upon.
Without thinking, he channeled it into his legs.
And so, with every ounce of strength mustered, Xiao Tian finally managed to retreat just as Lu Qing's war saber reached him, knocking down a nearby fence and tumbling into the vegetable patch.
Lu Qing did not pursue after his failed strike but instead sheathed his saber, looking down at Xiao Tian on the ground with a smile.
"Not bad, your reflexes are pretty sharp."
"Young Master Lu, why did you do this? Have I offended you in any way?"
Lying on the ground, Xiao Tian asked in panic.
He genuinely couldn't understand why Lu Qing would attack him out of the blue.
"You haven't offended me. Now, sense the Qi-Blood in your body. Is there any difference from before?" Lu Qing said with a smile.
"The Qi-Blood in my body?"
Xiao Tian was startled and hastily began to sense his own body.
In that explosive moment just now, Xiao Tian had used all his strength. Now, he felt weak all over, and his leg muscles were strained and ached terribly.
However, Xiao Tian didn't care about the pain, as he discovered that the Qi-Blood within him was now very lively. More importantly, he could command it at will, capable of gathering and dispersing it with ease.
At this moment, Xiao Tian finally understood.
He had grasped the mystery of the Qi-Blood connection and had stepped into the long-dreamed Qi Blood Realm!
"Thank you so much, Young Master Lu, for your great kindness and mercy!"
Xiao Tian got up and started kowtowing to Lu Qing.
Heaven knows how many years he had labored in an effort to enter the Qi Blood Realm.
Yet for some reason, he could never take that crucial step.
Even just before, after taking the Blood-replenishing Qi-enhancing pill, he thought he would surely breakthrough immediately.
But to his surprise, even after the medicine's effect was more than halfway gone, he still couldn't find the opportunity to break through.
Xiao Tian's heart had almost sunk into despair, but Lu Qing's saber strike had somehow thrust him into the Qi Blood Realm.
Now, it became clear to him that the killing intent in Lu Qing's strike was not aimed at taking his life but rather to forcibly draw out his potential on purpose.
Otherwise, with Lu Qing's prowess in the Martial Arts, if he had truly wished to kill him, he would not have needed such an overt display of killing intent—a simple strike would have likely sufficed.
Therefore, at this moment, Xiao Tian was filled with gratitude toward Lu Qing.
"Enough, there's no need for that. The Heavenly Dao rewards the diligent. If your foundation had not been so solid, barely a hair's-breadth away from the Qi-Blood Realm, my saber could not have helped you break through," Lu Qing said with a smile.
Xiao Tian knocked his head against the ground three more times before finally getting up.
"No matter what, Young Master Lu, you are my benefactor, and I will never forget your great kindness and mercy in this lifetime," Xiao Tian said earnestly.
Lu Qing smiled and shook his head, about to speak.
Suddenly, a loud shout erupted: "Who's the little rascal causing trouble, tearing down my fence and trampling all over the vegetable field ?!"
Lu Qing blinked, seeing Uncle Zhang's second son glaring fiercely at his own vegetable field.
It turned out that Xiao Tian, in his frantic attempt to evade Lu Qing's slash, had damaged Zhang's vegetable garden fence and trampled on two vegetable plots.
Now, the vegetables on those two plots were a sorry mess.
Xiao Tian's face instantly flushed with embarrassment.
"Uncle Zhang, it was me."
Seeing the situation, Lu Qing had no choice but to call out.
"Ah Qing, was it you who did this to the vegetable field?"
Uncle Zhang, still fuming, then noticed Lu Qing and paused.
"Sorry, Uncle Zhang, I was just sparring with a friend and accidentally damaged your vegetable garden. I will fix it for you later," Lu Qing said apologetically.
"Never mind, never mind, I thought it was some troublemaker, but if it's you, Ah Qing, then it's fine. I'll handle it later; there's no need to trouble yourself," Uncle Zhang said dismissively, his anger dissipating.
At the same time, he recognized Xiao Tian.
After all, Uncle Zhang often went to buy things at the marketplace and knew Xiao Tian as Ma Ye's capable assistant who maintained order there.
He noticed Xiao Tian's clothes were a jaundiced green, stained with mud and vegetable juice, looking quite disheveled.
Then, looking at Lu Qing, who was spotless, he couldn't help but click his tongue in wonder.
It seemed this was hardly a sparring session but rather a one-sided pummeling.
Xiao Tian's face turned a deeper shade of red as he pulled out a pouch from his bosom and poured out some pieces of silver, stepping forward to place them in Uncle Zhang's hand.
"Uncle, I'm the one who damaged the vegetable plot and fence. This silver is to compensate you."
Then, he bowed to Lu Qing and said, "Young Master Lu, I'll head back to the marketplace. If you need anything in the future, just command me, and I'll do my utmost to assist you!"