This scene left many on the battlefield with strange expressions. It was, frankly, absurd.
When it came to brutality, this was brutal beyond belief—he had sliced his own manhood, causing himself to faint from the pain. It was unprecedented: the torture began with his own genitals. It was savage—terrifying even. Let's not even talk about the psychological impact—90% of the men present were horrified by that first cut.
Jiuming's face twisted into a peculiar expression.
"So this is my opponent? What an idiot."
A thought flickered through Jiuming's mind.
Of all the places to cut, he chose that one. The pain there must have been unbearable—one slash, and he'd never be a man again. What's worse, that area is particularly sensitive; the pain receptors there are acute. Not passing out after such a cut would've been a miracle. But he was seriously ruthless. Even Jiuming admitted to himself: I wouldn't dare start with that… that's just suicide. The blood loss alone could kill you.
"Bastard!!"
The clown's masked face stiffened in disbelief. Staring at the Yellow Turban Warrior, he felt as though he had lost all face. This was pure humiliation—cutting his own manhood and fainting on the spot. Choosing such a contestant was disgraceful.
"But amusing nonetheless," the Clown soon regained composure, the playful smile on his mask returning, and even more intrigued than before. "I've seen countless executions, but cutting one's own manhood as the first act? That's a first. At least it's not boring anymore."
Victory or defeat didn't matter to him—he relished the process.
The Yellow Turban Warrior didn't stay unconscious for long. He quickly awoke, and blood was still dripping. Waves of pain surged through his body like a tide, sending tremors through every muscle and nerve. His face contorted as if he were possessed.
"The duel continues," the Clown said cheerfully.
Jiuming remained silent. Without hesitation, he slashed his arm with the small knife. A piece of flesh the size of a green bean was sliced off. It was a small wound by normal standards—tolerable—but in this duel, pain was amplified a hundredfold. Even such a tiny wound sent his body trembling. His teeth clenched tightly as he endured. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
But at least he didn't cut that place, so he could bear it—for now.
On the city walls, soldiers watched with solemn and concerned expressions. They could all empathize with the pain. Seeing that small piece of flesh fall to the ground, they understood all too well just how intense and terrifying such pain must be under this amplification.
One cut alone rivaled the most horrific tortures known to man.
"Hmph!!"
The Yellow Turban Warrior, eyes gleaming with savagery, slashed once more—this time avoiding his manhood and aiming at his arm. Another piece of flesh fell, and blood flowed.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
At that moment, the battlefield fell eerily silent. All eyes were on Jiuming and the Yellow Turban Warrior as they repeatedly cut themselves, slicing away bits of flesh with the same precision each time.
Cries of pain echoed continuously.
Even Jiuming began to scream—each cut brought overwhelming agony. Blood drenched their bodies; the ground around them was littered with pieces of flesh.
"Wonderful! Fantastic!! Those expressions are so satisfying. Don't stop now—keep going!"The Clown watched with great amusement, almost as if he were munching on sunflower seeds while enjoying a show.
His joy was built entirely on others' suffering.
Twelve thousand nine hundred sixty cuts—an astonishing number.
By now, Jiuming and the Yellow Turban Warrior were numb from the pain, their souls teetering on the edge of collapse. Yet their hands continued cutting, dropping flesh around them in heaps.
Their skin had been flayed off completely. Bones glistened in the sunlight, horrifying all who watched.
On Sunset City's walls, soldiers trembled. Tears welled up in the eyes of battle-hardened men.
From arms to chest to legs—internal organs were gradually exposed, hearts still beating in their hollow chests.
It was unspeakable horror.
To be cutting one's own flesh, over and over, while resisting the desire to end it all—this was more than pain; it was a brutal test of the will. Each cut brought a battle within: Should I stop? Should I just die? The urge to give up came with every stroke.
This was a trial of the soul. Whoever had the stronger will would endure.
"Your Majesty…"
Jia Xu stood beside Yi Tianxing, his face grave. He was moved, even disturbed.
"This was Jiuming's choice. Let it continue—"Yi Tianxing took a deep breath and answered solemnly.
He could stop it at any time—but he respected Jiuming's choice.
This was more than a test of endurance—it was a sharpening of one's heart and will. If he survived, his Dao Heart would be indestructible.
"I can't take it anymore."
Time passed. The ground was soaked in blood. Their skeletal forms grew more complete.
Suddenly, the Yellow Turban Warrior's expression twisted with pain and despair. With a roar, he drove the knife into his own heart. His body collapsed to the ground.
At that moment, one could see a look of release in his eyes.
He was dead—gone, but with a look of peace.
"Jiuming, take the Yin-Yang Pill immediately!"Yi Tianxing called out at once.
Jiuming's face showed a similar look of release. He had long lost count of the number of cuts. He was on the verge of collapse, his will shredded by pain.
But—he had endured.
Without hesitation, acting purely on instinct, he took out the Yin-Yang Pill and swallowed it.
Whoosh!!
As the pill entered his body, red and blue divine light burst forth, instantly engulfing him. A miraculous transformation followed. Before everyone's eyes, flesh began regenerating on his skeleton at a visible pace.
In mere moments, his body fully regenerated—muscles, veins, skin—all restored.
Even more—his new flesh glowed with divine light, and a strange aura radiated from within.
His physical strength surged to new heights.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
A series of mystical chime-like sounds rang out from within his flesh.
His body had become far more powerful. Blood surged like a tidal wave through his veins. At the same time, worldly energy flooded into him.
"He's about to break through."
Yi Tianxing's eyes lit up. This was the prelude to a breakthrough. Without hesitation, he summoned a beam of divine light, whisking Jiuming away into the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower.
There was no safer place for a breakthrough.
Only after that did he turn to the Clown and said coldly, "This round—I win."
"Indeed, you win," the Clown chuckled. "But the process was so entertaining. Now I suddenly feel like I don't want to continue anymore."
"You're backing out?"
Yi Tianxing's tone turned cold. He stared at the Clown, his eyes gleaming with killing intent.
To gamble one moment and back out the next—it was sheer mockery. The urge to strike down this Clown grew stronger. If he didn't want information from him, he'd have already acted.
Even Jia Xu frowned. The Clown's personality was unpredictable, completely unbound by logic or rules. He did whatever he pleased, only seeking amusement.
Such an opponent was dangerous beyond compare—you couldn't strategize against someone with no pattern.
Very difficult. Extremely troublesome.
"No, I'm not backing out. I just think telling you something might make this war even more interesting. I realized—it might be more fun that way."
The Clown giggled, his masked eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Oh? So you're willing to tell us what you know?"Yi Tianxing's eyes sharpened.
"Of course. Why not?" The Clown grinned. "But—I'll answer only three questions. No more."
"Fine. First—I want to know: what lies beyond the Stargate?"
Yi Tianxing asked without hesitation.
"The world behind the Stargate is called Eternal Night (Evernight). Darkness shall fall—Eternal Night is the true eternity."The Clown's grin widened, his gaze mocking.
Yi Tianxing's mind jolted. "Is the Divine Demon Battlefield the warzone between Eternity and Eternal Night ?"
"Exactly. This is the battleground of the last epoch. Now it's restarted—a new era has begun. And here," the Clown smiled wickedly, "will become your grave."