Chapter 40: Having gorged itself so plump, the creature found the entrance too small, leaving it wedged firmly in the gap.

Each collision between the blood-red sword and the rock was like a duel between Yun Yi and his destiny. He gritted his teeth, his eyes fixed on the shifting stone layer, sharp as a hawk’s, missing not even the slightest hairline fracture. Under the infusion of his spiritual power, the sword in his hand fell like a torrential storm, each strike accompanied by a boom that caused cracks to spiderweb rapidly across the rock face.

"It's working." An irrepressible joy surged in Yun Yi’s heart; he felt he could already see the dawn of victory. Thanks to his relentless efforts, the stone layer was finally on the verge of breaking, and an opening large enough for his escape was gradually emerging.

However, at this critical juncture, danger crept in silently. The Earth Rat Demon seemed to have sensed Yun Yi’s intentions. It daringly popped its head out from not far behind him, its eyes glinting with greed, and lunged straight at him. Simultaneously, it swung a claw with a fierce whistling wind, intending to strike Yun Yi dead in one blow.

Caught up in the joy of the impending breakthrough, Yun Yi had been completely unaware of the sneak attack. Yet, his three blood-red swords, hovering around him like loyal guardians, sensed the danger instantly. They automatically formed a crimson barrier, shielding him.

Bang! The Earth Rat Demon’s full-force claw slammed into the barrier with a deafening crash. Though the three swords fought with all their might, they appeared precarious under the beast's immense power. Yun Yi felt a massive shockwave surge from behind like a giant wave, tossing him about like a withered leaf in the wind; he stumbled forward, nearly losing his balance. His heart constricted, and a chill rushed to his head, but he quickly adjusted his breathing, steadying himself through sheer force of will.

In this moment of life and death, Yun Yi chose not to retaliate immediately. He knew every second was vital; any hesitation could lead to his doom. With every ounce of his strength, he commanded the other three hovering swords to join the one in his hand, launching an even more violent assault on the rock layer. Under the drive of his demonic power, the four swords became like four streaks of bloody lightning, tearing through the air and slamming into the rock with destructive force.

Each impact echoed with a thunderous roar, and the cracks on the rock face widened rapidly, appearing ready to crumble at any moment. Yun Yi grit his teeth, his eyes locked on the stone, his mind filled with only one thought: escape! He poured all his remaining strength into the swords, desperate to carve his path to freedom before the demon could strike again.

Finally, after a fierce impact that drained nearly all his spiritual energy, the rock layer shattered with a roar, revealing a hole just large enough for his mosquito form to pass through. A wave of indescribable joy washed over him, the light of life within reach.

Yet, that fleeting joy was quickly replaced by a sense of urgent crisis. Yun Yi keenly sensed that the Earth Rat Demon had not given up; instead, it was closing in at an astonishing speed. His heart tightened. Knowing there was no time for anything else, he made a quick decision: he pulled the four swords in front of him, bracing for the demon’s imminent strike.

The air seemed to freeze, and Yun Yi could hear his own frantic heartbeat. Then, the demon’s claws struck the barrier with a whistling gale. The massive impact sent Yun Yi flying like a kite with a broken string, slamming him heavily against the cave wall and leaving him gravely wounded.

Suppressing the excruciating pain, Yun Yi didn't make a sound. He feigned an attack, his eyes fixed on the demon to lure it in. The Earth Rat Demon took the bait, immediately adopting a defensive stance. Just as it prepared to meet his "lethal" blow, Yun Yi seized the momentary opening and used his remaining strength to dart into the small hole.

By the time the demon reacted, Yun Yi had already vanished into the depths of the tunnel. It let out an angry roar and tried to squeeze through the hole to pursue him. However, its massive frame was far larger than Yun Yi’s mosquito form, and it became wedged in the opening, trapped and unable to move.

On the other side, sensing the demon had not followed, Yun Yi looked back. With his keen vision, he could clearly see the demon’s pathetic state, wedged tightly in the hole.

"Too fat to catch me, ha!" Yun Yi couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, though he realized this was his best chance to escape. He beat his wings and flew off in a chosen direction.

But just as he had flown a short distance, a loud bang erupted behind him. Yun Yi started and looked back to see the ground where he had exited had collapsed. The Earth Rat Demon had somehow forced its way through, though its body was badly deformed and it looked utterly wretched.

"What? So strong, it actually..." Yun Yi was horrified. He never expected the demon to possess such explosive power, forcing its way through such a narrow gap with seemingly little impediment.

The shock lasted only a second. Knowing this was no time to freeze, he flapped his wings as fast as he could, hoping to escape this perilous zone before the demon fully recovered. Though Yun Yi was fast, the Earth Rat Demon’s speed in digging through the earth was no less impressive. He could feel the ground behind him trembling—a sign of the relentless pursuit. He couldn't help but glance back; the cracks on the surface were spreading like a spiderweb, marking the demon’s path. Yun Yi’s heart sank.

In this desperate struggle for survival, a thought flashed through his mind. He adjusted his state, deciding to stop fleeing blindly and take the initiative. He commanded the four blood-red swords to strike, but with the demon deep underground, the swords hovering in the air found no clear target.

"What..." Yun Yi whispered. He realized that in the enclosed, complex environment of the underground, his sword attacks were severely hindered, making it nearly impossible to land an accurate blow.