Clan Building System: I'm not the Protagonist?!-Chapter 331- Updated*

The plaza fell silent as the jade-testing platform rose from the ground.

A massive slab of translucent stone, carved with intricate runes, shimmered faintly under the morning sun.

An elder’s voice echoed through the mountain.

"The first test is the Jade Power Monument," he announced.

"No spiritual qi allowed. Use only your raw physical strength to strike the monument. This is to test purely your physical strength."

A murmur rippled through the candidates.

No qi?

That meant pure physique, pure bone strength, pure martial foundation.

This was a test that separated pampered geniuses from true monsters.

Hao Lo stepped forward immediately, spear still resting across his back.

He flashed a confident smile toward Fang Yuan before turning to the monument.

"Watch closely," he said loudly. "A real cultivator needs no tricks."

He planted his feet, drew back his fist, and struck the jade rock.

A thunderous crack tore through the mountain air.

The jade lit up instantly as a deep golden radiance surged through its carvings.

The numbers rapidly climbed.

Forty-five thousand.

Fifty thousand.

Sixty.

Seventy.

Eighty.

Ninety.

It finally stopped at:

Ninety-three thousand jin.

The crowd erupted.

"Ninety-three thousand jin!"

"That is monstrous!"

Elder Hao lifted his beard smugly.

"Hmph. This is the strength of a true genius."

Zhao Lusi yawned loudly and waved her hand lazily.

"Seventy-three thousand is cute. Like a baby buffalo kicking a tree."

Elder Hao’s eyebrow twitched violently.

Hao Lo retrieved his fist and cracked his knuckles smugly.

"Next," he said, deliberately looking at Fang Yuan. "Try not to embarrass yourself."

One by one, the other candidates stepped forward.

A burly youth with ox-horn braids stepped forward.

He roared as his fist crashed into the monument.

Forty-two thousand jin.

The crowd murmured, solid strength, fitting for his size.

Next, a slender woman in dark robes glided up.

Her knuckles touched the stone like a whisper scoring a solid Fifty-five thousand jin.

Gasps, then applause. Grace and power combined.

Another candidate swaggered forward and his punch boomed like thunder.

Sixty-eight thousand jin.

Cheers erupted. Admirers called his name.

Next, a plain-looking youth approached, quiet, unimpressive.

He drew in a slow breath... and tapped the monument.

There was no roar.

Forty thousand jin.

Barely the minimum, but that was exactly what caught everyone’s eyes.

Elders narrowed their eyes. That kind of control... was rarer than brute force.

Before the excitement died down, next came a girl.

She didn’t hesitate and with one violent crack split the air scoring One hundred and twenty thousand jin.

For a heartbeat, the world fell silent.

Then awe crashed over the arena like a wave.

Fang Yuan stepped forward last.

A few candidates snickered, whatever he was going to achieve, it was definitely going to be overshadowed by the two before him.

A few watched curiously while Elder Hao smirked.

Fang Yuan came face to face with the monument.

His body still carried traces of exhaustion from the ten-day climb. His muscles trembled slightly.

He inhaled deeply, shutting his eyes for a brief moment to steady his shaking limbs.

The exhaustion from climbing for ten straight days had not yet left his muscles.

But he stepped forward anyway as he tightened his stance.

Drawing every ounce of physical strength remaining in his body, he struck the jade monument with everything he had.

The hit boomed like a hammer crashing into steel.

A deep, resounding echo rolled across the plaza as the stone lit with a dull glow. The runes flickered once, then began tallying.

The crowd leaned forward.

The number appeared.

Forty five thousand jin.

Hao Lo muttered in disappointment.

"So that is all," he said quietly. "Not bad, not impressive."

The judging elder nodded calmly.

"You have passed. Proceed to the next trial."

Fang Yuan blinked.

He had passed.

Before he could react further, Elder Hao erupted into laughter.

"Forty five thousand jin?" he exclaimed, voice booming across the mountaintop. "Even my grandchildren could do better. So this is the genius you bragged about, Zhao Lusi?"

He wiped a tear from his eye, clearly enjoying himself far too much.

Zhao Lusi frowned, just slightly.

Yet, she easily pushed the annoyance away and smiled once more.

"Since the first test was so entertaining," she said leisurely, turning to Elder Hao, "let us increase the bet. Double or nothing."

Elder Hao stiffened for a heartbeat. Then his confidence returned full force.

"Very well," he said. "Thirty thousand becomes sixty thousand. And that sword still remains part of the wager."

Zhao Lusi nodded, smile unwavering.

"Agreed."

Fang Yuan stood beneath the monument, staring at the glowing forty five thousand.

His thoughts turned inward.

So this is my raw physical strength.

It seems my body refinement is lacking.

I rely too much on cultivation rather than foundation.

He nodded slightly to himself.

He turned and walked back to where the other candidates stood, steps steady despite his fatigue.

Next, a platform of smooth white stone rose at the center of the summit. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

A young man wearing the Flying Crane Sect’s outer disciple robes stepped forward, spear in hand. His aura rippled confidently.

The judging elder’s voice carried through the air.

"This round tests your combat foundation. You will face our senior disciple. If you can endure ten moves against him without falling... you pass."

The crowd stirred with excitement.

No spiritual qi was restricted this time.

Skill, reaction, and battle experience would determine who advanced.

The first candidate stepped up.

Then the second.

One by one, the majority fell before even the sixth strike.

The senior disciple’s spear moved like a dancing crane, striking pressure points and disarming weapons with sharp precision.

Hope shattered with every failed attempt.

The air grew heavier, anticipation turning to dread.

Then the judge’s voice cut through the silence:

"Fu Ji Wei, come up on stage!"

A slender girl stepped forward, lightning burning in her eyes.

Her fingers curled confidently around a curved saber, its edge gleaming beneath the sun.

The crowd stirred, then erupted.

A talent who scored one hundred and twenty thousand jin even without spiritual qi...

If she unleashed her qi, how terrifying would her strength become?

Excitement vibrated through the stands.

Expectations soared.

Fu Ji Wei approached with calm poise.

She offered a graceful bow, every movement refined.

Across from her, the senior disciple’s lips twisted into a smug grin.

He rolled his shoulders, already imagining a swift victory.

The referee raised his hand.

"Begin!"