207: Chapter 207 Gu Manzi, Leader of the White Lotus Sect

The back wall of the massive agarwood wardrobe slid open silently to the sides at this instant, revealing a pitch-black, narrow secret passage inside.

Jiang Yingrao moved with lotus-like steps, walking gracefully inside.

The interior of the secret passage was extremely narrow, with walls cast from refined iron on both sides.

In the very center of the secret passage stood an exquisite lifting platform, about the height of a person, constructed entirely from redwood and fine copper wire.

The moment Jiang Yingrao's feet landed on the lifting platform, the mechanism was triggered.

"Boom—"

The wardrobe door behind her, guided by the Formation, closed slowly, completely shutting out the last glimmer of morning light.

Immediately after, the sound of heavy, yet rhythmic gear turning and chain friction echoed in the darkness.

"Clack... clack..."

A tremendous force pulled the lifting platform, carrying Jiang Yingrao steadily as it descended deep into the underground of Yihong Pavilion.

In the darkness, Jiang Yingrao kept her hands behind her back, her red dress rustling in the downdraft, yet her expression was terrifyingly calm.

About half an incense stick of time passed.

"Clang!"

A dull sound of metal colliding rang out in the darkness.

The lifting platform touched down steadily at the very bottom.

Jiang Yingrao stepped out, her soles landing on the damp bluestone, emitting a crisp "patter" sound.

This was an extremely secretive underground chamber.

The surrounding walls were all built from heavy granite, engraved with Formations emitting a faint fluorescent glow.

In the very center of the chamber stood a pitch-black cold iron pillar, about taller than a person.

At the top of the pillar, there was a sunken, circular groove about the size of a Dragon's eye.

Jiang Yingrao walked to the cold iron pillar, expressionless.

She flicked her wrist, her fingers gently brushing over the white jade storage Waist Token at her waist.

Accompanied by a subtle spatial ripple, a round, milky-white bead emitting a warm glow appeared out of thin air in her fair palm.

This was the White Lotus Dharma Bead, a Treasure Artifact used by Jiang Yingrao to communicate with the White Lotus Sect.

Jiang Yingrao took a deep breath and carefully placed the bead into the groove at the top of the cold iron pillar.

"Hum—"

The moment the bead fell into the groove, the previously dead-silent underground chamber suddenly lit up with a dazzling, milky-white light.

The Formation patterns on the cold iron pillar lit up instantly like a spider web.

A large expanse of white Qi mist surged and billowed out from the bead.

The mist rapidly intertwined and condensed in mid-air, and within a moment, it transformed into a white Qi screen about a zhang in size, resembling a bright mirror.

Formation, long-distance voice transmission!

Jiang Yingrao's expression was respectful, her hands hanging at her sides, waiting quietly.

About ten breaths of time passed.

On the previously calm, mirror-like white Qi screen, a woman's voice, extremely languid and even carrying a hint of unfinished sleep, finally arose:

"Mmm... little Yingrao."

"What kind of earth-shattering matter is it, that you would come to disturb Master's beautiful dream so early in the morning?"

The voice was so soft and sweet it could almost drip water, exuding the extreme sexiness and languor unique to a mature, beautiful woman.

On the screen, a voluptuous and sultry figure of a mature woman flickered in and out of view amidst a vast expanse of misty, milky-white fog.

As the milky-white Qi screen vibrated slightly in mid-air, amidst the shifting light and shadow.

That graceful shadow also completely underwent Condensation.

Inside the screen, there were brocade couches and quilts, with a faint fragrance floating in the air.

A voluptuous woman was lying on her side on a soft couch.

She had a standard oval face, eyes like a pool of autumn water, two dark eyebrows that were naturally green without needing paint, and slightly parted red lips like cinnabar.

Most alluring of all was the tiny tear mole embedded at the corner of her left eye.

Set against her jade-like white skin, it possessed an extreme, soul-captivating charm.

This person was none other than the White Lotus Sect Leader, the top powerhouse ranked twelfth on the immortal stele heaven rank, Sect Leader Gu Manzi.

Sect Leader Gu Manzi was currently supporting her head with one hand, wearing only a pale pink silk nightgown as thin as a cicada's wing.

As she yawned languidly, the already loose nightgown slid down most of the way along her rounded, fragrant shoulders.

She stretched lazily, her figure extending with the movement.

That pair of snow-white, voluptuous curves, barely wrapped by the thin silk, tightened instantly without warning, almost bursting through the restraints of her clothing to be exposed.

The large expanse of dazzling white skin made the very air in the chamber feel somewhat stifling.

"Little Yingrao, disturbing Master's peaceful sleep so early in the morning will cause wrinkles."

Sect Leader Gu Manzi rubbed her sleepy eyes, her voice as soft and alluring as a feather.

Jiang Yingrao was long accustomed to her Master's unreliable temperament.

She kept her expression unchanged, only her beautiful willow-leaf eyebrows knit tightly together, as she spoke in a grave tone:

"Master, something major has happened in the capital. The Grand Elder's faction... is making moves."

"Oh?"

Sect Leader Gu Manzi toyed with a strand of her ink-black hair with some boredom, her red lips curling slightly:

"The people that old dog arranged have always been skulking about in the capital; what kind of waves can they possibly stir up?"

"He has the gu-severing pill in his hands."

Jiang Yingrao enunciated each word, her voice sounding extremely cold in the empty underground chamber.

Upon hearing the three words 'gu-severing pill', Sect Leader Gu Manzi, who had been looking languid and sleepy in the screen, suddenly froze.

In her eyes, which were like autumn water, an extremely dangerous glint flashed and vanished.

She propped herself up slightly, and the nightgown that had slid down piled up, yet it still could not conceal those astonishing curves.

"gu-severing pill? Are you sure?" Although Sect Leader Gu Manzi's voice remained soft and alluring, it now carried a trace of unquestionable chill.

"Disciple has already personally verified it."

Upon hearing this, the languid and charming smile on Sect Leader Gu Manzi's pretty face finally vanished completely, replaced by an unprecedented gravity.

Afterward, she sneered, her fair jade fingers tapping gently on the edge of the bed, emitting a barely perceptible crisp sound.

"This Seat was wondering why the progress of the plans laid out by the Sect in various places has been so slow recently, and why there are always some old fogies who disobey while pretending to comply, not putting in much effort. So that's how it is..."

A moment later, Sect Leader Gu Manzi raised her eyes, looking at Jiang Yingrao in the screen, a trace of approval flashing in her eyes:

"However, this news has come very timely indeed. Had you not discovered it, This Seat would likely still be kept in the dark. Little Yingrao, how did you manage to get this gu-severing pill from the Grand Elder's hands?"

The Grand Elder acted with meticulous care; since he intended to use this gu-severing pill to rebel, it was absolutely impossible for him to let outsiders know easily, let alone deliver the medicine into the hands of Jiang Yingrao, the White Lotus Saintess.

"This medicine was given to me by that Marquis of Zhenguo's heir, Chen Shanzhi."