"It wasn't the Mandarin Duck Pot. The wine Cao Cao drank was the same as mine. If I was affected, then he was too. But this so-called 'trap' wasn't harmful—it was just an aphrodisiac. You can guard against everything, but not this kind of thing. Ah, Cao Cao... Truly a formidable hero through the ages."
Yi Tianxing smiled bitterly in his heart.
This was an aphrodisiac, not a poison. It merely incited desires from within the body. It wasn't toxic, so naturally, his instincts didn't issue a warning, and even the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower didn't react. It seemed to sense that there was no actual harm. Of course, it was his own greed—Monkey Wine is a rare treasure, and to a gourmet like him, it's irresistible. If he had activated his cultivation or true essence, he could have easily dispelled the effects of the wine. But then, what would be the point of drinking it?
His Gourmet Cells were deeply embedded in his flesh and blood, and completely defenseless against such fine cuisine and drink.
Besides, within his body was the Venom God Life Aperture. Any true poison entering his body would be instantly detected and absorbed, refined into nourishment for the life aperture. But lust is not a poison—it's instinctual. What could he do about that?
Even Cao Cao poisoned himself.
There was no way the Mandarin Duck Pot could escape his notice, yet he drank it anyway. Still, the wine was harmless. After a night of indulgence, nothing would come of it—if anything, it added spice to life. In his harem, women were never lacking.
"Your Majesty, I am guilty."
The young woman opened her eyes, looked at Yi Tianxing with a complicated gaze, and spoke in self-reproach.
"Forget it. Guilt or innocence—there's no point in arguing now. The only fact that matters is this: you are now my woman, and I am your husband. From today on, we are husband and wife." Yi Tianxing smiled. "By the way, I still don't know your name."
"This concubine is named Cao Jie."
She spoke softly, her gaze toward Yi Tianxing changing, now tinged with gentleness. No matter what had happened, her future was now irrevocably tied to this man before her.
"Cao Jie... Then I'll call you Jie'er. Once we return to Great Yi, you will be a royal consort—Consort Jie."
Yi Tianxing smiled and gently tightened his arm around hers. Then he continued, "I didn't get a good look at you last night due to the wine. Let me make up for that now. A night of spring is worth a thousand gold coins. The night is still young—we shouldn't waste such a perfect evening."
Cao Jie blushed deeply.
But—she did not refuse.
And so, another round of passion ensued.
There was no denying it—she possessed a rare natural talent, not an ordinary one at that. Her unique trait, "Whale Drinking Water", needed no further explanation—it was something no outsider could fully grasp. To men, she was the ultimate fantasy.
The experience was beyond words.
Unknowingly, waves flooded the Golden Mountain.
The night passed without further elaboration. By the time dawn broke, a new day had begun.
That day, in Jinshui City, the city officials left the yamen and approached the city gate, where a massive notice was posted on the city wall. A literate scholar read it aloud with shock on his face:
"The Great Wei has suffered catastrophe. Foreign invaders eye us hungrily; internal and external troubles mount to a breaking point. These invaders are savage by nature—should they breach our cities, they will bring slaughter and shame. This is the failure of your king. However, with ruin looming, I cannot ignore the innocent people of my race. I have found a path of retreat for the people."
"From this day forth, a Heavenly Gate shall descend. All citizens willing may step through the gate and enter a safe haven. From then on, peace shall be theirs. Refuse, and you take your fate into your own hands."
The proclamation left nothing hidden—it openly declared that the Great Wei Dynasty was on the verge of collapse. But now, a lifeline had been offered—an escape route, a peaceful refuge safe from foreign invaders.
Had this come from anyone else, people may not have believed it. But now, coming directly from the official channels of Great Wei, people had no choice but to trust it. In truth, many had already sensed the danger brewing. They had no way to escape. But now—a second choice had appeared.
"Is my Great Wei truly finished?"
"Damn these foreign invaders! We finally carved out a place to live, and now they want to destroy it all. If I had the strength, I would fight them to the death on the battlefield."
"The Wei King is truly kind. Even in such dark times, he thinks of giving us a way to survive. I wonder where the Heavenly Gate leads… Is it really safe?"
"It's so hard to survive in these chaotic times. So hard!"
The townspeople's faces were filled with fury, hope, curiosity, and longing. Just when life was finally getting better, disaster struck again. It was almost too cruel.
But compared to dying in a city overrun, being offered a way out was something to be grateful for.
This same proclamation was posted in every city across the Great Wei Dynasty. The announcement spread like wildfire.
Whoosh!
At that moment, divine light shone in the centers of each city. Then, in the central plazas, a silver-white ancient gate suddenly manifested, massive enough for over a dozen people to pass through simultaneously without crowding. Within the gate, flowing lights shimmered, endless and profound—as though it led to another world.
It was clearly a spatial gate projection.
Agents had long ago carried spatial gate tokens to each city, linking them to the main spatial gate. Once the connection was established, a stable teleportation pathway opened.
Step through the gate, and you would be transported into the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower, into a space within the tower suitable for human survival.
That space already housed citizens from other worlds—veterans of the Great Yi Dynasty—who would help guide newcomers and introduce them to Great Yi's customs and ways. There were even cultivation manuals left behind, freely available to any who swore a heart-devil oath. With them, anyone could begin cultivation, without stalling their growth or future potential.
Stepping into that world meant a complete change of destiny.
As the gates appeared, citizens in every city were stunned.
Clever ones hurried home to pack.
"Go, go, go! Let's get our things. This gate is our last refuge. Once we enter, we might never return. Bring everything important!"
"Grain, supplies, money—take it all! If we leave it, the invaders will just profit from it. Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we're not leaving anything behind for those beasts!"
"Let's go. Staying means death. This gate is the way out the Wei King found for us. Only by leaving can he fight freely, without worrying about us. Let's not be his burden."
People rushed home, gathered their valuables, and began pouring into the spatial gates. The gates, like bottomless pits, accepted an endless stream of people, never faltering.
"Damn those invaders. I wish I could eat their flesh and drink their blood!"
On the city wall, Xu Chu's face was cold and grim. He was furious—furious that the invaders had destroyed everything the Great Wei had built. It was a shared effort, and now it was being reduced to dust. The pain was deep.
Scenes like this repeated across the entire Great Wei Dynasty.
Even the capital, Xudu, saw the same exodus.
As the gates opened, thousands of citizens streamed in, city after city plunging into organized chaos—families dragging their belongings, fleeing like refugees.
"Alas, my Great Wei was a dream after all. Heaven does not bless Cao Cao. What else can I do?"
On the Viewing Cloud Terrace, Cao Cao stood silently. His eyes seemed to take in the entire dynasty. He watched the people of Xudu begin their migration, and indescribable emotions swelled within him.
To see his life's work collapse—how could he possibly be unmoved?
"Your Majesty, this act is a great merit to our people. The citizens of Great Wei should all bow in gratitude."
A youth in black robes spoke, clearly admiring the decision. This was a salvation for the common folk.
"I only seek a clear conscience. As ruler of a dynasty, I must protect the people. That is my duty."
Cao Cao sighed.
As the lord of a dynasty, he had received the support of the people—thus, he must in turn shield them. This was the balance of responsibility.
"Zhicai, you are a man of great talent and ambition. But I have failed your expectations. I now walk a different path, one no longer tied to the fate of this dynasty. Therefore, I intend to recommend you to the Emperor of Great Yi. The Great Yi is the foremost human dynasty—your talents will find full expression there."
He had made arrangements for the common people. Now, he turned to the scholars and generals of Great Wei. That was all he could still do.
The path he walked now… was no longer one they could follow.