Chapter 225: The Divine Power Dagger

Lu Fang pondered for a long time and decided he needed to help Zheng Xu; the number of demons and barbarians here meant nothing to him, but he did not want the ancient alien possessing Song Ce to regain its full power.

If that happened, even he would find it extremely difficult.

“Scatter!”

He roared sharply at the thick mist, and the space around it twisted violently; the mist shrieked as if crushed, then flew backward a great distance.

Zheng Xu thus escaped death—he now had one side of his body shriveled and withered, while the other remained plump and youthful, making him look like a withered old man on one side and a vigorous young man on the other.

“We’ll settle our business later—right now, join forces to subdue this ancient alien, or we’ll all die here.”

Zheng Xu said grimly.

“Agreed.” Lu Fang nodded; Zheng Xu posed no threat to him now, but Song Ce and the ancient alien gave him pause.

“You two?” The mist twisted in midair, forming a humanoid shape of smoke, its blood-red eyes sweeping over Zheng Xu and Lu Fang’s faces as it coldly said: “My power has recovered somewhat—I no longer need to borrow your body.”

“Help me hold off that hawk demon—it has an ability that counters mine. Once I consume more flesh, I won’t fear its power anymore.”

The ancient alien spoke as if to itself.

“Understood.” Song Ce’s voice emerged from the mist—he stepped out, a cruel grin on his face, staring fixedly at Lu Fang: “You seemed to enjoy beating me last time—let’s see how you fare this time.”

Almost as soon as the words left his mouth, a torrent of righteous qi surged from Song Ce’s body, and his realm instantly rose from Fifth Rank First Tier to Fourth Rank Second Tier.

Previously, his realm had ascended too rapidly, forcing him to use a secret technique to temporarily suppress the increase.

Now, when needed, he could instantly restore his true realm.

“Fourth Rank Second Tier!” Lu Fang swallowed hard—he’d been surprised by Song Ce’s rapid ascent the first time he saw him, but he’d underestimated him even then.

Back in the Buddha Realm trial ground, their realms hadn’t been far apart.

Even with the Devil Heart’s aid, he’d only reached Fifth Rank Third Tier, while Song Ce was now Fourth Rank Second Tier.

“Can you still land a punch on me now?”

Song Ce smirked at Lu Fang, then turned to the ancient alien: “I have a personal grudge with this birdman—I’ll handle him.”

The mist nodded and drifted forward toward the demon barbarians.

Lu Fang didn’t move—he stared unblinkingly at Song Ce, who in his eyes was no weaker than the ancient alien. He’d previously discussed this with the Devil Heart, and both agreed the entity possessing Song Ce’s body was also an ancient alien.

After all, this fellow knew many things ordinary people couldn’t possibly comprehend.

For instance, how he’d gone to the very back of the sealing ground and released an ancient alien—if not for the Devil Heart’s keen perception, even they wouldn’t have suspected Song Ce could do such a thing.

“Watch closely.”

Song Ce smiled confidently—his afterimage still lingered as he appeared before Lu Fang and punched forward.

Everyone who’d seen Song Ce knew him as a Confucian scholar wielding righteous qi.

But few knew he now cultivated body, divine power, and righteous qi simultaneously—his physical form, at his current realm, was no weaker than a demon barbarian’s of the same rank, even surpassing it by several levels.

To avenge the humiliation he’d suffered at Pan’s hands, he deliberately refrained from using righteous qi, relying solely on divine power and physical strength to retaliate.

Even though Pan was Fourth Rank Third Tier and he was Fourth Rank Second Tier, one sub-tier lower, he was confident he could crush it effortlessly.

Under normal circumstances, that would have been true.

But he didn’t know Pan was Lu Fang in disguise—when his fist, infused with divine power, neared Lu Fang’s skull, his body froze for a split second; that brief hesitation was enough for Lu Fang to evade.

Simultaneously, Song Ce’s divine power clashed violently with Lu Fang’s aura, and the resulting energy wave hurled both of them backward.

“How is this possible?”

Song Ce stabilized his flight, stunned by Pan’s performance—why had it reacted like that? He couldn’t fathom it.

Logically, the opponent should have had no chance to resist.

And the way Pan used his ability felt strangely familiar—he just couldn’t place it yet.

“Looks like your mouth is tougher than your strength. I thought you had some real power—turns out you’re nothing special.”

Lu Fang mocked.

At the same time, he communicated with the Devil Heart: Song Ce was no ordinary man. Though only Fourth Rank Second Tier, he sensed immense power within him—alone, even if he used every trick, victory would be a bloody one.

That outcome was unacceptable under current circumstances.

He needed to borrow the Devil Heart’s Wuchang power again—to swiftly defeat Song Ce in this state, and the ancient alien.

“You want my Wuchang power? Fine—trade me the White Jade Skull Hand. If you’re willing, I have no objections.”

The Devil Heart said.

Lu Fang nodded: “Give me the Wuchang power first. After this is over, I’ll hand you the White Jade Skull Hand.”

“I trust you won’t deceive me—deal!”

The Devil Heart agreed readily.

Lu Fang immediately felt that powerful force surge into his body again; since his realm had risen one rank, this power was not just stronger—it was a full step above what he’d received before.

Sensing the change in Lu Fang, Song Ce—who had intended to stall—suddenly narrowed his eyes. Before him, a divine power dagger formed from pure energy, radiating terrifying might, instantly appeared before Lu Fang’s forehead.

“See if you can survive this!”

As he unleashed the Divine Power Dagger, Song Ce seemed to exert tremendous effort, beads of sweat forming on his brow.

Hum!

The Divine Power Dagger trembled violently, then halted dead, suspended mere inches from Lu Fang’s forehead.

Lu Fang’s face remained expressionless, calm as he blocked the attack—but sweat soaked his back. Such a bizarre technique: not only did the dagger contain terrifying power, but its instant-movement ability alone could kill most cultivators.

Only his current aura’s strength had saved him—if it had been weaker, he might have evaded the strike but still suffered grave injury.

Only a power like the Heavenly and Earthly Aura could have blocked it effortlessly and unscathed.

Boom!

Lu Fang’s Heavenly and Earthly Aura crushed the Divine Power Dagger into shards.

Song Ce’s eyes narrowed into cold slits, his face dark as he said: “Now I know why your ability feels so familiar.”