Chapter 1198: Xuangang Phantom God

"What is he doing? Is he surrendering?""It doesn't seem like it?"

Yun Che had severe internal injuries, and his breathing was heavy and ragged. But as he closed his eyes, his mind quickly cleared. On his left arm, a blue light suddenly flashed, then was released.

The blue light, now separate from him, shimmered in the air, then suddenly unleashed a scorching fiery glow. Within the light, it rapidly took shape, transforming in the blink of an eye into a gigantic three-legged bird shadow.

It was unmistakably the Golden Crow's image!

"Is that... the Golden Crow Divine Image?""Why is Yun Che manifesting a Golden Crow image now?"Everyone in the spectator stands looked bewildered, not knowing what to make of it.

"Oh? What is the meaning of this?" Star God Emperor asked. "Could it be that he knows he's defeated, and is displaying the Golden Crow's might to the Eastern Divine Region in his final moments?""Perhaps," Eternal Heaven God Emperor nodded slightly. "After all, though he is a disciple of the Snow Song Realm, he inherited the Golden Crow's flame power."

Above Yun Che, the Golden Crow flame image was rapidly changing. From an initial phantom, it gradually became semi-illusory and semi-real, then steadily transformed into a seemingly non-illusory... entity?

The Golden Crow flame image spread its wings, and a long cry echoed across the sky.

At this moment, the Dragon Monarch, the Five God Emperors, and all the Divine Masters present suddenly froze, their gazes stunned, before their expressions abruptly changed.

"This... this is..."The Star God Emperor and Moon God Emperor actually stood up abruptly, their eyes wide with disbelief, gasping out in shock:"Illu... sory... God... Art!???"

The voices of the two God Emperors left everyone in the stands dumbfounded. What in the world could make these two God Emperors lose their composure?

"Illusory God Art... This... how is this possible?" A supremely bizarre atmosphere spread through the spectator stands. Almost all the strongest Divine Masters froze, their gazes fixed intently on the Golden Crow flame image above Yun Che, their shocked expressions as if witnessing the most absurd and unbelievable scene in the world.

The Golden Crow flame image stood proudly above Yun Che, silently releasing a scorching oppressive might that blanketed every corner of the Conferred God Stage and every soul present.

Divine Spirit Illusions can freely appear to display divine might when the corresponding divine power is exerted to a certain extent or when specific profound skills are used. They can also be condensed or dispelled at will. Examples include the Golden Crow flame image when Golden Crow flames are released, the Phoenix flame image when Phoenix flames are released, or the shadows of the Heaven Wolf and Azure Dragon.

Illusions are, after all, just illusions; apart from exuding an intimidating aura, they serve no other purpose.

However, the Golden Crow flame image appearing above Yun Che was emitting strong spiritual pressure and a flame aura. Furthermore, one could perceive its life and soul with utmost clarity!

"That's not an illusion..." Huo Rulie looked up at the sky, murmuring as if in a dream, "That is... an Illusory God!"

To young profound practitioners and ordinary powerful individuals, an "Illusory God" was an extremely unfamiliar concept. Only those at the pinnacle of the Primal Chaos realm truly understood the nature of "Illusory God Art."

This was because it was a power of the highest realm, one that could only be wielded by those who had inherited sufficiently concentrated primordial divine blood and whose profound strength had reached the Divine Master Realm.

Yet Yun Che... was clearly only at the Divine Tribulation Realm!

"No... it can't be Illusory God Art. That's a power at the Divine Master level; he couldn't possibly use it," Eternal Heaven God Emperor slowly stated, his gaze also fixed on Yun Che. In the depths of his pupils, there was nothing but astonishment.

He tried his best to perceive the existence of the Golden Crow flame image, hoping to find any illusion or abnormality within it. But the more he perceived, the more intense the astonishment in his heart became.

A Divine Tribulation Realm practitioner wielding "Illusory God Art"... This completely overturned the perceptions of the God Emperors who looked down on the Primal Chaos, and they simply couldn't believe it.

Lu Lengchuan stopped in his tracks, his face filled with astonishment.

"Illusory God Art" was a Divine Master level power, so Yun Che naturally couldn't wield it. The Golden Crow flame image he released was not the "Illusory God Art" as Divine Masters understood it, but rather his unique...

Profound Handle Illusory God!

That day, after returning to Snow Song and submerging himself in the Minuscule Cold Sky Lake, he was rejected when seeking power from the Ice Phoenix girl. She then gave him a simple hint: to try integrating his Profound Handle with his profound veins and fusing it with his divine soul.

Yun Che initially didn't pay much attention to it. At that time, his greatest desire was the improvement of his profound strength, and he had no mind to think of anything else.

In the Realm of the Revolving Cycle, after completely refining the Five-Jade Divine Pill of Heaven and Earth, the realm did not disappear. In the remaining time, he immediately began fusing with the divine soul bestowed by the Ice Phoenix girl. When the divine soul completed its fusion, his consciousness was renewed and sublimated. At its clearest point, the Ice Phoenix girl's hint suddenly flashed in his mind.

A glimmer of understanding, like a fleeting stream of light, suddenly imprinted itself upon his heart and soul.

The power of the Profound Handle was the core power of the Illusory Demon Clan's Yun family. The Yun family had become the head of the twelve Guardian Families of the Illusory Demon Realm back then precisely by relying on their unique Profound Handle power.

However, for Yun Che, due to the unique nature of his profound strength, his peak state required the support of the "Evil God Art." But the "Evil God Art"'s power did not affect the Profound Handle. Furthermore, the Profound Handle could not be used with weapons, leading to very little assistance when releasing it, while consuming immense energy. It simply wasn't worth the effort.

Therefore, when Yun Che was in the Profound Sky Continent, he rarely used it in fierce battles. When released, it was mostly used to disrupt enemy perception.

Upon reaching the God Realm, the Profound Handle became almost entirely useless.

But at that very moment, he suddenly truly understood that the Profound Handle, based on his bloodline, was not just a simple, completely independent special power. When a certain key link opened and energies merged, he suddenly discovered a new power—a powerful force that had never appeared in his understanding.

The Profound Handle he released at this moment was no longer just a standalone power; it was completely integrated and connected with his bloodline, profound veins, and divine soul. It possessed a life form attached to Yun Che yet also its own, with power originating from Yun Che yet also completely independent, and—a higher consciousness originating from his divine soul, completely its own!

In terms of nature and level, it was absolutely no weaker than the "Illusory God Art" as understood by profound practitioners in the God Realm.

However, Illusory God Art required cultivation to reach the Divine Master Realm and a sufficiently concentrated primordial divine bloodline. But Yun Che's Profound Handle Illusory God could be used freely the moment he comprehended and mastered it. It was a unique divine power he had comprehended on his own, belonging only to him.

It was truly unique in the Primal Chaos!

The power of the Profound Handle Illusory God was one of Yun Che's trump cards in this Conferred God Battle. After mastering it, he had originally intended to use it in the final battle. However, he had underestimated the strength of the Four God Children of the Eastern Region, and at this moment, he had no choice but to unleash it.

With the Profound Handle Illusory God formed, Yun Che's arm dropped, grasping the Heaven Smiting Sword once more. The discomfort in his right arm had significantly lessened. He didn't divert his profound energy to suppress his injuries; instead, his profound energy surged violently throughout his body.

Boom!!Yun Che's previously dispersed aura erupted simultaneously. Although clearly heavily injured, his power was no weaker than before. Lu Lengchuan was staring at the bizarre Golden Crow flame image, full of doubt and astonishment. Yun Che's sudden surge of aura startled him. Just as he was about to remind Yun Che to suppress his wounds, he saw Yun Che's entire body ignite with flames, charging forward in a fierce assault.

Lu Lengchuan's brows furrowed, and the Sky Splitting Spear's dragon shadow danced. But at that very moment, an incredibly scorching aura suddenly swept down from above. He subconsciously looked up and was startled to see the Golden Crow flame image spreading its wings, a hundred-zhang flame sword descending as if cleaving from the sky. Its might was astonishing, not much weaker than Yun Che's own attacks.

And in his ears came the deafening exclamations from the spectator stands.

"Golden... Golden Annihilation!?" This scene astonished the Flame God elders and disciples so much that their eyeballs almost popped out.

Distracted for a moment, Lu Lengchuan instinctively raised his spear to block the flame sword in the air. Meanwhile, Yun Che had instantly arrived and slammed his sword into Lu Lengchuan's body.

Boom... Boom!!Two fiery lights exploded simultaneously on the Sky Splitting Spear and the Glorious Dragon Sacred Realm respectively. When superimposed, it was an unprecedentedly terrifying fiery might for Lu Lengchuan. On his body, a pale golden flame mark was imprinted on the Glorious Dragon Sacred Realm, and the protective dragon image also let out a painful shriek.

Lu Lengchuan's pupils dilated for a moment. He clearly felt the astonishing power emanating from the Golden Crow flame image, yet Yun Che's own power had not weakened in the slightest.

That flame image was not illusory; it was highly likely that even its life aura and soul aura were genuine. Even more incredibly, the Golden Crow flame image actually unleashed the Golden Crow Flame Sword that Yun Che had used earlier!

"A flame image... actually used... Golden Annihilation?" A Golden Crow disciple vigorously rubbed his eyes.

"As I said, that's not a flame image; that's very likely... an Illusory God!" Huo Rulie said slowly, his lips trembling violently.

"An Illusory God... what is that?"

"That is a power you cannot comprehend, a power even I cannot wield. All you need to know is that it can unleash the power of the Golden Crow's Record of the Burning World. Its existence will increase Yun Che's energy consumption, but it will not weaken his own power. It's like... simply having an enormous extra helper!" Huo Rulie said, suppressing his agitated blood.

"An Illusory God... *hiss*... How can such a power exist? But even if the power isn't dispersed, he'll certainly be distracted controlling it, especially when using flame skills. Won't his mind become chaotic?"

"No!" Yan Juehai shook his head emphatically. "If that truly is an Illusory God... it fundamentally doesn't need Yun Che to be distracted controlling it. It has its own consciousness... or rather, a soul!"

It wasn't just the Golden Crow Sect; the moment the Golden Crow Divine Image unleashed the flame sword, the eyelids of all the Divine Masters and God Emperors present seemed to be pricked by needles, twitching violently.

Although Lu Lengchuan was unharmed, he was severely forced back. He quickly suppressed the astonishment and horror in his heart, concentrating his mind, just as Yun Che's attack arrived again, a sword shadow slamming down from the air.

Bang!!Yun Che's attack was blocked by the Sky Splitting Spear. At the same instant, a golden fireball, hundreds of zhang in size, descended from the sky like a meteorite. With Yun Che's heavy sword pressing in front of him, Lu Lengchuan could only choose to endure it with his Glorious Dragon Sacred Realm. With a loud bang, the golden flames exploded right above them, burying both Yun Che and Lu Lengchuan in a sea of flames.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle...The Glorious Dragon Sacred Realm emitted chaotic sizzling sounds, and the Golden Crow flame image's attack followed closely. The Golden Crow flame image slashed down from the air, striking Lu Lengchuan's body.

Lu Lengchuan used the Glorious Dragon Sacred Realm to resist the sea of fire, fully engaged in a stalemate with Yun Che. Under this strike, the balance between the two was instantly broken. Lu Lengchuan was violently staggered, retreating more than ten steps backward, as Yun Che's attacks immediately poured down like a storm.

Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!With every one of Yun Che's sword strikes, a flame mark would be left on the Glorious Dragon Sacred Realm. It wasn't until the fifth sword that Lu Lengchuan finally regained his balance. His gaze sharpened, and completely disregarding Yun Che's attacks, he thrust his spear straight forward.

But this time, Yun Che no longer exchanged injury for a strong assault on the Glorious Dragon Sacred Realm. He abruptly retracted his sword momentum and, using the Moon-Shattering Shadow Step, instantly dodged. From above, a violent flame blast descended, burying Lu Lengchuan once again in a sea of fire, with Yun Che's attacks following closely. Under the same Golden Crow flame power from both the man and the image, Lu Lengchuan was almost entirely buried in the Golden Crow flames, unable to escape.

The strength of the Profound Handle was related to its color. A blue Profound Handle could release sixty percent of Yun Che's power.

The Profound Handle Illusory God was ultimately based on the Profound Handle. Therefore, with a blue Profound Handle, the divine image's power was sixty percent of Yun Che's power. However, unlike a mere Profound Handle, due to its integration with the Evil God's profound veins, the divine image's power, like Yun Che himself, was amplified by the Evil God Art, meaning it was sixty percent of Yun Che's current amplified state, not its normal state without the Evil God Art's boost.

In terms of combat power, the gap between Yun Che and Lu Lengchuan was very small, as evident from the stalemate at the beginning of their fight.

And with such a small gap, even a minor variable could influence the battle. For example, Lu Lengchuan's mere single layer of Glorious Dragon Sacred Realm had pushed Yun Che directly into a desperate situation.

So, if Yun Che suddenly gained an additional sixty percent power, what would be the result?

What's more, a divine image possessing sixty percent of Yun Che's power and an independent consciousness and soul is an entirely different concept from Yun Che simply gaining sixty percent more power!

On the Conferred God Stage, a Golden Crow's cry shook the heavens. The man and the image, sometimes one attacking and the other defending, sometimes reversing roles, or both attacking and defending together, coordinated with flawless synergy. Lu Lengchuan could withstand Yun Che's attacks, but with the sudden addition of the Golden Crow Divine Image, his defenses were easily broken. If he tried to counterattack, his offense would often collapse before it was even complete. He was like being dragged into a boundless sea of Golden Crow flames; the Glorious Dragon Sacred Realm continuously sizzled, and the dragon image shrieked incessantly.

It could be said that he was completely pressed down and ground within the sea of fire.

If not for the three layers of Glorious Dragon Sacred Realm he had activated on his body, he would likely have collapsed, body and soul.

In the spectator stands, countless mouths hung wide open, unable to close.

"That... that's really not... a contracted profound beast?"

"Have you ever seen a profound beast that can use ancient divine flame profound arts? That's Golden Crow Flames, and the Golden Crow's Record of the Burning World!"