Hua Bailian

Author's note: This is the continuation of what happened in Chapter 53. If you have forgotten what happened back then, feel free to reread.

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Azure Dusk Continent, Hua clan, ancestral hall.

"How about...I don't want to?" Hua Bailian looked at the matriarch of the Hua clan and gave a cheeky smile.

"You don't want to?" The matriarch instantly frowned as she released her aura that was focused on Hua Bailian. The matriarch of the Hua clan was already at the Vast Principality [1] realm, only one realm below the Supreme Principality realm which was attained by the Grand Elder of the Huang clan. This aura was easily able to instill fear into those who dared to go against her words, one of which was Hua Bailian.

Surprisingly, Bailian's fox ears slumped down as she let out a yawn under the aura's pressure. "Are we going to do this again, Matriarch?" After being cursed by that man to be stuck at the Martial Emperor realm, how would Hua Bailian neglect the other aspects of her cultivation? One of these aspects is her tolerance to the pressure of the cultivators' auras of a higher realm. From the current situation alone, it seemed that she was already used to the pressure of a Vast Principality realm cultivator.

"Y-You..." The matriarch was at a loss for words. At most, she could only unleash her aura within the ancestral hall since attacking Hua Bailian would potentially harm something precious within the hall. Letting out a sigh, she furrowed her eyebrows and asked, "Why don't you want to accept the mission?"

Of course, the matriarch fully knew of Hua Bailian's talent. If it wasn't for the curse, then she would already be at an extremely high realm, surpassing her own cultivation. But since it was fate that she would be cursed, it goes without a saying that she should contribute to the clan at least.

Hua Bailian sighed and gave a slightly angry expression as she replied, "Well you disturbed me while I was reading a book! I was already in the climax of the book, if you called me at a later time then my answer would probably be different."

The other elders were stunned. To think that the reason why Hua Bailian declined the matriarch's mission was because of a single book? At that moment, one of the elders could not stand Bailian's attitude any further and stood up from his seat. He then looked at Hua Bailian in the eye and shouted, "You should be grateful that the Matriarch cares about you, you half-blood piece of—"

Bang!

Before the elder could finish his words, he was forcefully pushed to the ground with his chair breaking as an aura filled with killing intent suffused throughout the room. All of the elders including the Matriarch looked at each other in shock before looking at the culprit.

"She can still exert pressure against a True Principality [2] realm Elder?" One of the elders could not help but mutter in fear. He was also at the True Principality realm himself, hence he did not want to anger Hua Bailian any further.

Hua Bailian looked at the elder that talked about her blood for a bit with her eyes slightly glistening a red color. She then opened her mouth.

"Don't talk about my blood like that if you can't even handle my power."

Hua Bailian did not regret being born as a half-blood as she was able to stand above her peers with her innate abilities. Not to mention, her cultivation aptitude definitely allowed her to soar like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Even if she was cursed, she would not hesitate to find ways to boost her power to fight against those of a higher realm than her, hence wielding a power that could easily beat a True Principality realm cultivator.

If only they knew the limit of her true power.

Letting out a cough to gain control of the situation, the matriarch looked at Hua Bailian for a bit before saying, "Do you really not want to do the mission?"

Letting out a sigh, Hua Bailian turned back to her normal state and pondered for a bit before replying in a serious tone, "I don't mind accepting the mission, Matriarch...under two conditions though."

Seeing that she was going to accept the mission, the matriarch did not hesitate to ask, "What are these two conditions, if I may ask? If I can do it, then I can accept your conditions."

Being the matriarch of the Hua clan for over 100 years now, she was able to see that Hua Bailian was still hiding her true power, making the matriarch look at Hua Bailian in shock inwardly as she tried to guess the limit of her maximum power.

After hearing the matriarch's words, Hua Bailian let out a smile before replying, "The first condition is that that elder should be removed from the elders of the Hua clan if he doesn't even treat the clan members equally." She then pointed her forefinger towards the elder who talked about her being a half-blood.

All of the elders could not help but inhale loudly at this condition. As for the elder that was chosen by Hua Bailian, he could not help but look at the matriarch with mercy.

Surprisingly, the matriarch used her energy that had a way higher quality than qi to wrap around the elder that Hua Bailian chose and lifted him up into the air. "Alright, I can do that."

She then conjured another strand of said energy to open the doors of the ancestral hall before shouting, "Hua Zongjun, you shall now be stripped of the elder position. Farewell!"

Whoosh!

With a serious look on her face, the matriarch did not hesitate to throw the elder...well, ex-elder out of the ancestral hall at a speed that a True Principality realm cultivator could withstand without garnering any heavy injuries.

Looking at the quick decision of the matriarch, Hua Bailian was satisfied. Seeing the satisfied look on Bailian's face, the matriarch continued to ask. "What is your second condition?"

"Well the second condition is quite simple," Hua Bailian replied. "As long as I have the freedom to whatever I want before, during, and after the mission, I'll accept it. Of course, I'll prioritize the fulfilling of the mission first."

"Alright, I accept." Realizing that the second condition just wanted her to do whatever she wanted, the matriarch could easily agree to it. Hua Bailian has already been stuck within the perimeters of the clan walls for over 300 years already, hence it isn't weird for her to ask this.

"Hehe!" Hua Bailian could not help but laugh with joy after hearing that the matriarch of the Hua clan acceded to her conditions. With a spring in her step, she bowed respectfully in front of the matriarch and the elders before heading towards the still opened doors of the ancestral hall.

"Well then, if you may excuse me, I shall now go and act as the representative of the Hua clan!"

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[1] The Vast Principality realm is the universal term for the eighth realm of Qi Cultivation.

[2] The True Principality realm is the universal term for the seventh realm of Qi Cultivation.