Before the final demise of the Great Wei Dynasty, Cao Cao was determined to arrange a retreat path for his loyal officials. Had Yi Tianxing not appeared, their only options would have been to follow him into oblivion or part ways and let fate decide.
"The Great Yi Dynasty is indeed a beacon for the human race," said Xi Zhicai with a calm smile. "To rise to an imperial dynasty in such a short time—its ruler cannot be a fool. But still, some things depend on fate. Whether we are destined to serve him or not remains to be seen."
The ruler chooses his ministers, and the ministers choose their ruler in turn.
It was always mutual.
"Hmph, do as you please. My life, Cao Cao's life, is destined to be anything but ordinary. If Great Wei is to perish, then let it do so in a blaze of glory."Cao Cao chuckled, an overwhelming heroic spirit emanating from his body.
On the Cloud Viewing Platform, he continued to stand, watching as countless citizens stepped into spatial gates, vanishing one after another from the lands of Wei. As they disappeared, the qi luck flood dragon in the void grew visibly withered and despondent.
This was the result of the people's departure.
In a dynasty governed by the path of fortune, it was the people who fed its destiny. With their disappearance, the dragon of fortune lost its sustenance. It would not vanish outright just yet, but there would be no more growth. It was like a fish stranded on dry land. The people are like water—able to carry a boat, or overturn it.
But when the Great Wei Dynasty truly collapsed, that qi luck dragon would also vanish into nothingness.
In her palace, beside Yi Tianxing, Cao Jie stood radiant from their night together. Resting in his arms, she gazed toward the Cloud Viewing Platform, her expression conflicted.
"My father founded this dynasty with his own hands—from a single village, building it step by step, pouring blood and sweat into every inch. Just when it was time to flourish, such a thing happened. He must be devastated."
"No need to worry," said Yi Tianxing calmly, pulling her slender waist closer. "Your father is no ordinary man. He's long prepared a backup plan—and it won't be something minor. Those foreign cultivators who think they've cornered him have badly miscalculated."
He too noticed the declining state of the qi luck dragon in the sky. It was now a rootless duckweed. The end was near.
Time passed quietly.
Since the heavenly gates opened, citizens across every city were rapidly migrating—families, goods, even officials, constables, and soldiers stepping into the gates. The dynasty was clearly at its end. Many still chose to remain, but in the end, Cao Cao issued a direct decree, ordering them to enter the gates. There was no use staying.
For those unwilling to leave, he arranged for their secret evacuation to hidden places.
Within just two days, the Great Wei Dynasty was emptied. It became a land of ghost cities. And the qi luck dragon hovering above Xuchang grew ever dimmer, even emitting faint traces of deathly aura.
On the third morning, with the first light of dawn, Cao Cao stood atop the Cloud Viewing Platform. Alongside him were his sons—Cao Zhi, Cao Pi—and others of the Cao clan. Around them stood three thousand elite soldiers, their bodies radiating killing intent and icy energy.
Cao Cao raised his eyes to the sky.
He stared at the qi luck dragon, silent.
Clang!
With a sudden motion, he drew the war sword at his waist, pointing it to the heavens. Then, he shouted:
"I, Cao Cao, bearing the Mandate of Heaven, established the Great Wei Dynasty, shepherded the people, and defended this realm.Now, as the foreign races push us to ruin—do they think I, Cao Cao, am some pliable soft fruit, easy to squeeze? Today, I offer this qi luck dragon as a sacrifice to Heaven. I pray—open the Heavenly Eye!!"
Each word resounded into the skies.
At that moment—winds rose, thunder roared, and terrifying celestial omens unfolded. The commotion immediately drew the attention of foreign cultivators nearby.
"What's he doing? Is he going mad?"
"They say all the citizens of Wei vanished into some mysterious gate, and never returned. Something's going on."
"He's sacrificing? Using the qi luck spirit as an offering? What is he trying to do?"
"Stop him—whatever he's attempting, it won't be good!"
Countless foreign experts were alarmed and furious. One by one, they acted to stop him:
"Cao Cao, stop at once!!"
"Today, you die!!"
From the skies came divine techniques and roars—from the Flame Lion King, the Sphinx-headed creature, the Immortal in Black Robes—all hurling powers toward Cao Cao.
But then—
ROAR!!!
The qi luck dragon looked sorrowfully at Cao Cao and let out a mournful dragon cry.
Boom!!
Radiant divine light burst from its body. It burned with heavenly fire. In that light, a mighty will descended.
And then—a giant golden eye appeared in the void.
Emotionless, eternal, containing infinite mysteries: The Heavenly Eye had opened.
Clatter!
Chains of golden divine law appeared out of nowhere, binding the qi luck dragon, preparing to drag it into the void.
"What is that?!"
"It's the Heavenly Dao!"
"He's sacrificing to the very laws of Heaven! He's completely insane!"
The foreign kings who had tried to intervene were immediately suppressed, crushed to the ground by the Heavenly Eye's presence. All their spells and attacks disappeared like smoke.
No one can defy the Heavenly Eye.
Even Yi Tianxing, watching from afar, was shaken.
What in the world was Cao Cao doing?
"Today, with the qi luck dragon as offering, I call upon Heaven and Earth to witness!I, Cao Cao, establish a sect—the Sect of Thieves!
'To steal is a path, but not an ordinary one.We steal from ancient tombs; we steal a thread of life from death.
In Heaven and Earth, nothing cannot be stolen.
I am the Sect Master of the Thieves' Sect!'"
"Within the Sect, we establish four branches—Mo Jin Xiaowei, Mountain Movers, Unsealing Brutes, and Fuqiu Celestial Officers!"
"Heaven and Earth, bear witness—Thieves' Sect, arise!!"
As he chanted the sacrificial scripture, the words manifested into ancient divine script, forming a glowing black coffin in the sky.
A heavenly coffin.
So powerful, even the Heavenly Dao could not stop it.
"The Heavenly Coffin grants blessing—nothing shall be forbidden!"
"Nothing shall be forbidden!!"The 3,000 soldiers on the Cloud Viewing Platform shouted in unison.
They threw their old identity tokens into the black coffin—sacrificing their past.
Moments later, the tokens emerged again from the coffin, now transformed.
The Thieves' Sect was born.
And thus, Cao Cao stole life from Heaven itself.