Chapter Seventy-Two: A Flaw Exposed!

Everyone had been completely taken in by Jiang Yuan; one by one, they were desperate to pledge their unwavering loyalty to him.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yuan himself sat leisurely in the tent that Wen Zhong had arranged for his rest, calmly enjoying a cigarette as he pondered the course of his life and considered his next move.

If he wanted to play it safe, after meeting Ji Fa and Ji Chang in Xiqi, he should return to Zhaoge to devise his strategies. The great Investiture of the Gods war was now inevitable. The Chan Sect had already set so many pieces on the board; there was no way they would let all their efforts go to waste.

The only question was, how many from the Jie Sect would stand with him when the time came?

If only he could speak directly with the Sage, the Grandmaster Tongtian—then, with the Immortal Execution Sword Formation on their side, even Yuanshi Tianzun would have to concede defeat.

And then there was the half-saint Kong Xuan, who would undoubtedly become one of his greatest allies in the future—pity that, in the end, Kong Xuan was taken by Zhunti from the Western Sect. Speaking of the Western Sect, Jiang Yuan felt he might try to win their favor; after all, they boasted two Sages.

Receiving and Zhunti—their power, though perhaps not quite equal to that of the Three Pure Ones, was not to be underestimated. The trouble was, the Western Sect was always short on followers and loved to wander about, forcibly recruiting anyone they claimed had a fateful connection with them. That was a headache—he didn’t want to see his own resources stripped clean by the Western Sect after a single collaboration, before the enemy even had a chance to wear him down.

This matter required careful thought; the Investiture of the Gods war would not reach its fever pitch overnight.

Plans could never keep up with changes. No matter how perfect a scheme he crafted now, should some unforeseen event occur, all would be for naught.

After all, the greatest anomaly of all was himself—having crossed into the world of the Investiture of the Gods with a system.

Finishing his cigarette, Jiang Yuan decided to ask the Grand Preceptor about the situation in Tianyuan—the place seemed to hold an irresistible pull. What exactly was hidden beneath it?

“Someone come in!” Jiang Yuan called out.

“What are your orders, my king?” came the response from outside.

“Go and fetch the Grand Preceptor. I have matters to discuss with him,” Jiang Yuan said calmly.

“Yes, sire.”

Silence fell outside. Before long, the tent’s curtain was lifted, and Wen Zhong entered, bowing respectfully to Jiang Yuan. “What does my king wish to ask of this old man?”

Jiang Yuan did not rise, but remained seated on the bed. Producing two more cigarettes, he handed one to the Grand Preceptor and kept the other for himself.

So many things had happened lately that Jiang Yuan had almost forgotten about these cigarettes.

Jiang Yuan lit his cigarette as if it were the most natural thing in the world, filling the tent with curling smoke as he took a leisurely drag.

Wen Zhong watched Jiang Yuan enjoy his smoke in contentment, then glanced at the cigarette in his own hand with the same stunned look Zhang Kui had worn before.

“My king, what is this?” Wen Zhong asked curiously.

Jiang Yuan made no secret of it, passing the lighter to Wen Zhong with a smile. “Just copy the way I did it, Grand Preceptor, and you’ll be able to use it. But don’t try to use your spiritual power on it.”

Wen Zhong, half skeptical, did as instructed. After one drag, he didn’t cough violently like Zhang Kui had; instead, his reaction was quite normal—he even seemed to enjoy it.

This time, it was Jiang Yuan’s turn to be surprised. Was this what they called a born old hand at smoking?

“How do you feel, Grand Preceptor?” Jiang Yuan asked, unable to believe it.

“Not bad at all. My mind feels much clearer after a smoke,” Wen Zhong praised.

He’s already getting a boost from it? No adjustment period at all? Jiang Yuan felt a pang of envy. If only he’d adapted to cigarettes as easily as Wen Zhong, he wouldn’t have suffered so much ridicule when he first started.

“My king, what is so remarkable about this thing? On my way here, I saw General Zhang Kui also enjoying one with great relish,” Wen Zhong inquired.

“Try checking your spiritual sense, Grand Preceptor,” Jiang Yuan said confidently.

Wen Zhong focused inward—and was astonished to find a slight increase in his divine sense!

At his current level—Great Luo Golden Immortal—progress was notoriously difficult. A single puff had granted him a measurable improvement, however slight; it was nothing short of miraculous!

“My king, where did you obtain such a divine treasure?” Wen Zhong’s voice trembled.

This was no ordinary treasure. If even he was tempted, how much more so would those of lower rank?

Jiang Yuan replied casually, “It was just something I came across by chance. If Grand Preceptor likes it, I have more here—I’ll give you a whole pack.”

With that, Jiang Yuan drew a fresh pack from his storage and handed it to Wen Zhong, his face displaying an air of nonchalance as if this treasure were nothing special.

Wen Zhong accepted the cigarettes with trembling hands—this was nothing less than a sacred object in his eyes!

“My king, are you truly willing to bestow such a divine thing upon me?” Wen Zhong asked.

This was different from the Exorcism Pills of the Supreme Venerable. When he’d requested those, it was to help Jiang Yuan win hearts and minds—so there was no guilt. But these cigarettes were of an even more wondrous and precious nature to Wen Zhong, perhaps surpassing the pills.

And now he was receiving them as a gift?

“It is only right that you receive them, Grand Preceptor. Just remember not to use your spiritual power when smoking,” Jiang Yuan said with a gentle smile.

In any case, they had little effect on him; he would simply gift them to those who could be of use to him. Who would have thought cigarettes would work here as they did in his previous life?

Jiang Yuan felt a touch of irony, but in the end, these were simply tools to win people over.

“My king, you must keep these well hidden. At the very least, do not disclose their true effects,” Wen Zhong warned gravely.

“Rest assured, Grand Preceptor, few know I have cigarettes—only General Zhang and Li Jing of Chentang Pass,” Jiang Yuan answered with a smile.

Nezha had already slipped from his mind—he’d barely returned to his tent when Nezha had come wobbling in, barely waiting for Jiang Yuan to speak before demanding, “Old Jiang, you promised I could borrow that Lamborghini for a day. I’m here to collect!”

Jiang Yuan had no choice but to hand over the Lamborghini. The boy was probably having the time of his life with it by now—no thought for cigarettes at all.

Upon hearing this, Wen Zhong’s brow furrowed slightly, but in the end he said nothing. Zhang Kui was trustworthy, but Li Jing of Chentang Pass—he’d entrusted his son to be taught by Taiyi Zhenren. Could his loyalty to the Shang truly be counted on?

“You needn’t worry about General Li’s intentions, Grand Preceptor. I’ve met him and know where he stands,” Jiang Yuan seemed to sense Wen Zhong’s doubts.

After all, the Li couple’s loyalty to himself and the Shang was acceptable enough.

As for Nezha, that was a wild card—the child was already in the thick of battle, and not holding back.

“That’s good. Has my king’s health fully recovered?” Wen Zhong asked, noting the healthy flush on Jiang Yuan’s face.

It seemed the side effects of his magical promises were not so severe after all.

At these words, Jiang Yuan’s expression changed dramatically. He immediately began to cough violently, feigning extreme weakness. “I was so caught up in talking with the Grand Preceptor that I forgot my own condition. Sitting is too tiring—I’d better lie down.”

With that, Jiang Yuan lay down at once, inwardly berating himself—oh, Jiang Yuan! To think you call yourself an ‘actor king,’ and yet you let such a small flaw slip through. You must reflect on this!