Chapter 44: A Mosquito and a Rat, Fighting Side by Side!

He had not anticipated that this seemingly insignificant little mosquito could display such extraordinary means.

This surprise vanished in a flash, replaced by an even more resolute determination.

Spotting the right moment, taking advantage of the gap when the four blood swords were knocked away, his figure flickered like a ghost and lunged straight toward Yun Yi, intending to capture this mysterious little demon in one fell swoop.

Although Yun Yi was alert, he was ultimately a step too slow.

Facing the human cultivator's strike, which descended with the weight of Mount Tai, he could only hurriedly condense his demonic energy into a barrier, attempting to block this fatal blow.

The demonic energy barrier flickered with a faint light, seemingly on the verge of shattering at any moment. Panic gripped Yun Yi's heart, yet he could only pin his hopes on this hastily erected defense holding out for a few moments, giving him a chance to devise a countermeasure.

Right at that moment, the human cultivator's sneer echoed in the air: "Little mosquito, how long do you think your little tricks can hold out? Today, I will let you witness the true power of human cultivators!"

Before his voice had even faded, the flying sword in his hand shot forward like an arrow released from a bowstring, piercing straight toward Yun Yi's protective demonic barrier, its tip gleaming with a bone-chilling, terrifying radiance.

The very instant the human cultivator's flying sword was about to pierce Yun Yi's protective demonic barrier, an unprecedented sense of crisis abruptly washed over him.

A claw print, carrying a roaring wind and surging demonic energy, struck the human cultivator's flying sword from the side like lightning in the dead of night.

Upon that claw print, demonic energy churned, flashing with a dim green light, clearly containing extraordinary power—it evidently originated from a deeply hidden and formidable beast.

This sudden turn of events caused the human cultivator's body to sway violently. His fiercely aggressive momentum instantly stalled, and he even involuntarily stumbled back a few steps, his face written with disbelief.

He clearly had not expected that the earth rat demon would actually intervene against him.

On the other side, Yun Yi felt a surge of indescribable emotion and astonishment upon seeing this.

He swiftly shifted his gaze to the side toward the earth rat demon, its small eyes flashing with disbelief.

He realized that the one who had stepped in to help him was none other than the earth rat demon with whom he had previously reached a truce.

At this moment, a myriad of complex emotions churned within Yun Yi's heart. He had never imagined that this seemingly cunning earth rat demon would display such a sense of righteousness at a critical juncture, casting aside previous prejudices to protect him.

Having repelled the human cultivator, the earth rat demon did not linger. Instead, it quickly turned to the other side, watching the human cultivator whose momentum had been disrupted with vigilance, as if ready to launch another attack at any second.

Yun Yi understood this scene, feeling both gratitude and anxiety in his heart.

He was grateful for the earth rat demon's assistance, but he was also acutely aware that relying solely on the earth rat demon's individual strength, it was by no means a match for this human cultivator.

After all, he could sense that the human cultivator's strength far surpassed both his own and the earth rat demon's.

"Now is not the time for sentimentality," Yun Yi silently admonished himself.

He quickly reined in his stray thoughts and refocused his attention on the jade slip in his hand.

He knew deeply that only by swiftly and precisely completing the duplication of the Dragon Blood Transformation Art could he free his hands and gain sufficient power to truly aid the earth rat demon, thereby altering the destiny of this battle.

Yun Yi took a deep breath and once again gathered all his demonic energy, as if every sliver of power carried his yearning for victory.

He meticulously manipulated the demonic energy, guiding the ancient runes within the jade slip. Every single stroke was like a meticulously carved piece of art, condensing all his effort and unyielding determination.

Yet, fate always seemed fond of playing jokes on people. Just as he was about to touch the crucial moment of replicating the cultivation technique, the situation on the battlefield took a sharp turn for the worse.

The earth rat demon, once a mortal enemy and now a half-comrade, gradually showed signs of exhaustion under the human cultivator's fierce assault, and was ultimately heavily wounded by a single blow, crashing down heavily right before Yun Yi's eyes like a kite with a snapped string.

Its body trembled slightly, its eyes flashing with unwillingness and despair, clearly no longer able to continue the fight.

"A lowly rat dares to block my path. Today, I shall end your life right here." The human cultivator's voice was cold and resolute. The sword light in his hand flashed, and right before Yun Yi's eyes, he prepared to deliver the fatal blow to the earth rat demon.

At this critical, life-or-death moment, Yun Yi's heart tightened violently. He could not bear to watch this friend, who had saved him from peril, perish beneath the blade.

Even though he knew doing so would interrupt his progress in replicating the cultivation technique, he still resolutely divided a portion of his mind to control the four blood swords carrying his will and demonic energy. Like loyal guardians, they instantly materialized in front of the earth rat demon, precisely blocking the human cultivator's fatal strike.

The blood swords and the human cultivator's sword glare collided fiercely in mid-air, resembling two shooting stars streaking across the night sky, erupting into blinding sparks. Demonic energy and spiritual power intertwined and entwined at this moment, forming a brief barrier flashing with a peculiar glow, temporarily holding back the footsteps of death.

The human cultivator was knocked back by this sudden resistance, staggering before finally steadying himself, though he was now ten zhang away from Yun Yi and the earth rat demon.

"Very well, today, all of you shall die here." The human cultivator's voice was as chilling as a wintry wind. He glared furiously at the four blood swords still hovering in the air, clearly incensed that they had failed to completely drive him back.

An even more formidable power surged turbulently within his body, akin to a volcano on the verge of erupting.

"Boom!" With a deafening roar, accompanied by sweeping shockwaves, the human cultivator unleashed his power once more. That force swept forth like a raging storm and tempest, fiercely batting away the four blood swords. They tumbled and whistled through the air before finally returning to Yun Yi's side, revolving around him as if whispering of an unfinished fighting will.

However, the crisis was far from over.

Standing tall with his sword in hand, the human cultivator's eyes revealed resolve and murderous intent. With a flicker of his figure, he rushed toward Yun Yi and the earth rat demon, who was struggling to crawl up from the ground, like a ghost.

Though severely wounded, the earth rat demon stubbornly dragged itself forward a few steps, clearly intending to buy time for Yun Yi to finish replicating the technique.

However, its battered body no longer permitted it to make any further movements, and even standing had become exceptionally arduous.

To the human cultivator, this scene appeared nothing short of farcical and ridiculous. "Want to die? Very well, I shall grant your wish first." A cruel smile curled the corners of his mouth as he poured his all into a single sword strike. The sword glare resembled a dragon, aimed straight for the earth rat demon's vital points.

Gritting its teeth, the earth rat demon managed to raise its hands into a cross shape before thrusting them downward. A cross-shaped slash erupted from between its hands, carrying its final stubbornness and defiance.

Yet, before the human cultivator's sword glare, this power was like a fragile bubble, easily shattered.

Just as the earth rat demon was about to sink into despair, facing the human cultivator's wrath alone, a figure shot out from beside it, transforming into a rabbit-sized mosquito beast.