Was the Merit Golden Lotus real or not?
It was real.
There was not a trace of fakery in it-every bit came from genuine incense offerings from the Mortal Realm.
But any Immortal with discerning eyes who leaned in for a careful look would see strands of stubborn gray energy tangled deep within the lotus's heart. That was resentment.
The two kinds of energy mingled within the merit like sand mixed into white rice, grating against the teeth.
The Wenqu Star Lord governed literary fortune and cultivated noble, righteous energy. Could he possibly fail to notice the gray energy inside the golden lotus?
Of course he had noticed. He simply did not care.
Only the numbers mattered, not the quality.
The Lian Zhen Star case had left the Lunar Mansions Government Office trampled beneath the Censorate's feet, its reputation utterly ruined. What the office needed most now was not clean incense offerings, but dazzling achievements.
With this golden lotus, they could finally vent their frustrations in Lingxiao Palace and reclaim their lost dignity.
An achievement was enough.
Who would bother prying open the golden lotus to complain about the gray energy inside?
Indeed, the Star of Literary Excellence was stroking its leaves with an utterly intoxicated look in his eyes.
Seeing the High Immortal behave like this made Li Zhenji's calves cramp. He had personally collected this thing from the Mortal Realm. He knew its contents better than anyone.
Passing it off within their own office was one thing. If they actually presented it to the Great Heavenly Venerable, something would go wrong.
His heart bobbing up and down with anxiety, Li Zhenji hesitated briefly before finally offering a quiet reminder. "Star Lord, look at the heart of this golden lotus..."
"Enough!"
The Star of Literary Excellence impatiently waved his