Chapter 41: Oh No, I Can’t Communicate With It

At this moment, Yun Yi felt an unprecedented sense of urgency and difficulty. He knew clearly that the Ground Rat Demon moved through the soil with terrifying speed, like a venomous snake slithering through the earth—silent, swift, and lethal. If he could not find a countermeasure soon, he would inevitably be overtaken by this cunning enemy.

Instantly, Yun Yi’s mind became a storm-tossed sea, churning with potential strategies. Yet, every thought felt as if it were blocked by an invisible wall, making it impossible to find a breakthrough that could pierce the darkness and strike the vital point. He attempted to envision using an area-of-effect attack to cover the ground where the demon was tunneling, but the mere thought of exhausting his meager remaining demonic energy—with no guarantee of a hit—made his heart sink.

"What should I do? I cannot continue this blind evasion. If this drag-out continues, who knows what unpredictable dangers might arise?" Yun Yi hovered in mid-air, glancing back to see the Ground Rat Demon’s shadow-like pursuit beneath the earth. His heart pounded, each beat a reminder of the fleeting time and the fragility of his life. Yet, in this moment of life and death, he felt bound by invisible shackles, unable to find a way out.

"Should I take a gamble and fight to the death? No, that is too risky; I may not be its match." Yun Yi pondered, each thought like a sharp blade slicing through his mind.

At that very moment, an idea flashed through his heart like lightning. "What if I..." A look of resolve flickered in his eyes. He remembered clearly that the reason he was being pursued so relentlessly was because he had stolen the "Dragon Blood Transformation Technique." If he could negotiate, perhaps he might find a sliver of hope. "I could transcribe the technique and copy it for the demon; perhaps that would quell its rage. Or, I could use the technique as bait, feigning a negotiation to find an opening to kill it." He calculated silently, each plan a chip in his hand, waiting for the perfect moment.

"It might just work." He nodded to himself, believing this plan could be the key to his escape. He did not act immediately, however, instead turning the plan over in his mind to ensure every detail was foolproof. Finally, after deep deliberation, he reached a decision. A weight seemed to lift from his heart, replaced by an unshakable resolve. He decisively ceased the beating of his wings, hovering motionless in the vast night sky like a speck of dust.

His gaze, sharp as a torch, pierced through the layers of soil to lock onto the demon rushing toward him. His eyes held both determination and anticipation. Yet, at this critical juncture, a massive problem struck him like a bolt from the blue: "Damn it, I cannot communicate with it!"

After all, he was of the Mosquito tribe and the other was a Rat Demon. Though both were of the demon race, the language barrier between species was a chasm that rendered normal communication impossible. "How..." Yun Yi panicked, his voice barely a whisper, betraying his inner anxiety. He knew that if he could not resolve the communication issue, all his plans would crumble into dust.

Meanwhile, the Ground Rat Demon, burrowing through the earth in close pursuit, seemed to sense the change. It halted its rapid advance, wearing a confused expression. Its eyes, filled with murderous intent, peered through the gaps in the soil, fixed tightly upon Yun Yi. "Why has it stopped running?" the demon muttered to itself, a mix of bewilderment and excitement in its thoughts. It quickly realized the significance of Yun Yi stopping. Was this not the perfect opportunity to kill him? How could it let such a chance slip away?

The Ground Rat Demon lunged, its body launching like an arrow from a bow toward Yun Yi. Its sharp claws glinted with a cold, metallic light, seemingly capable of tearing through anything in their path. But the moment it swung its claws, an eerie red light appeared before its eyes. It was six characters, condensed from Yun Yi’s demonic energy, floating in the air like six brilliant stars, radiating a dazzling glow.

"Shall we talk?"

The six characters seemed to possess a magical power, causing the Ground Rat Demon’s movements to freeze instantly. Seeing these words, the lunging demon faltered, a look of shock and confusion flashing in its eyes. In that split second of hesitation, Yun Yi acted.

He controlled his blood-red sword, which snaked out like a nimble serpent, striking the demon’s incoming claw with precision.

*Clang!*

A crisp sound of metal striking metal rang out as Yun Yi cleverly neutralized the attack. The blood sword carved a graceful arc through the air and returned to his side, like a loyal guardian ready to fight at a moment's notice.

At this moment, a delicate balance was struck between Yun Yi and the Ground Rat Demon. Yun Yi was surrounded by four blood-red swords, their tips trembling slightly as if waiting to be summoned for a lethal strike. Below him, the burly Ground Rat Demon stood firmly on the ground, its eyes flickering with complex emotions—a mix of vigilance toward Yun Yi’s aerial position and curiosity about this bizarre scene. The demon kept its claws clenched, ready for any potential conflict.

Yun Yi observed the demon from the air, and seeing that it did not renew its attack, a flicker of joy arose in his heart. At the very least, this meant there was a possibility for negotiation. However, as time ticked by, the demon offered no response, causing Yun Yi to grow anxious once more.

"Why isn't it responding? Could it be..." Yun Yi speculated, deciding to prepare for both outcomes. If the demon refused to negotiate, he would have to act decisively and use force to resolve the situation. He quietly channeled power into the surrounding blood swords, making them more agile and dangerous, yet he dared not be too obvious, fearing that revealing his killing intent would provoke the enemy and shatter the chance for negotiation.

He waited patiently for a long while, but the Ground Rat Demon remained motionless. Yun Yi felt a surge of confusion: "What on earth is this demon playing at?"

Just as Yun Yi was losing his patience and preparing to launch an attack, the unexpected occurred.