Clan Building System: I'm not the Protagonist?!-Chapter 333- Updated*

After that grand display from Fu Ji Wei earlier, the judge’s voice rang across the arena, once more, formal and steady.

"Hua Shen, step forward."

A lanky youth rose from the seating area.

His eyes were half-closed, dark circles so deep they looked painted on.

His long sleeves dragged the floor as he shuffled forward, yawning mid-walk.

The same young man who has scored barely to pass the first test with just a mere push.

No one present dared to underestimate him.

His cultivation aura slipped through the cracks of his lazy posture.

Even with droopy eyes and a back slightly hunched, his qi pulsed like a sleeping beast.

Nascent Soul Realm.

Barely twenty years old.

Whispers stirred through the crowd.

"He looks like he’s dying but his cultivation... terrifying."

"Do you think he’ll beat Fu Ji Wei’s performance?"

"I heard he’s younger than her, so maybe?"

"He doesn’t even look interested in fighting? Can he win?"

At the platform, the senior disciple he was about to face clenched his jaw.

The humiliation from earlier still burned.

He stared at Hua Shen with simmering irritation.

"Boy," the senior disciple said coldly, stepping forward, "I hope you’re prepared to last more than ten moves."

Hua Shen blinked at him slowly.

Then, in the dullest tone imaginable, he said, "Ten moves sounds exhausting. Can’t I finish this in fewer?"

The senior disciple twitched, and before he could retort, the judge declared, "Begin!"

The instant the command dropped, the senior disciple surged forward like a soaring crane, qi bursting beneath his feet. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

He aimed for Hua Shen’s neck, talons forming from refined qi, only for Hua Shen to drift one step sideways.

It looked lazy and even effortless.

The attacks kept only grazing thin air which further infuriated the senior disciple.

"Stop dodging, seriously. Fight back!"

The senior disciple snapped, unleashing another flurry of strikes.

Wind blades shredded through the air.

Without rushing, Hua Shen raised his palm.

"Soft Palm — Drifting Cloud."

His hand moved in a slow arc, almost lazy swatting motion.

BOOOOM.

The senior disciple’s entire body jerked and his stance broke.

He stumbled back three steps, breath knocked from his chest.

Silence fell on the arena at the display.

One casual tap and that nearly blew the man’s organs out of alignment.

The senior disciple’s face reddened.

"You—!"

He charged in again, faster and faster, his attacks becoming wild.

But Hua Shen’s movement was just a little tilt here, a shift of weight there.

A lazy toe-step and a drooping sway, that was all it takes and after that, every strike missed by a hair’s width.

The audience leaned forward, speechless.

Somewhere behind the judges, Elder Hao’s mouth fell open.

Zhao Lusi grinned, elbows on knees, enjoying every second.

Finally, after dodging nine strikes in a row...

Hua Shen exhaled.

His palm lifted once more which the senior disciple saw it.

But he could not stop as he had already charged in.

Smack.

A gentle palm landed on the senior disciple face which was followed by a loud BANG.

The senior disciple flew with the force, smashing into the arena wall.

Dust exploded everywhere and the referee stumbled back, eyes bulging in disbelief.

Ten moves had not even been needed.

Hua Shen rubbed his neck sleepily.

"...Did I pass?"

The judge recovered his voice.

"A-Ahem! Hua Shen... PASS!"

Thunderous applause erupted like a storm.

Fu Ji Wei’s brows lifted slightly, clear interest flashing in her eyes.

Fang Yuan on the other hand raised a brow as this youth was clearly worth remembering.

If he was asked if he could have achieved that when he was still at the nascent soul realm, his answer would have been no.

Up on the podium, Zhao Lusi clapped slowly, lips curling.

"This batch may not be completely useless after all."

Elder Hao let out a cold chuckle, folding his arms.

"Elder Zhao, if I were you, I would start worrying about how to pay me those sixty thousand spirit stones we wagered. You wouldn’t want that precious sword of yours to end up in my hands, would you?"

Zhao Lusi did not rise to the provocation. She simply smiled as if he were a child throwing tantrums.

"Why stop now? We could always increase the wager again."

Elder Hao’s eyelid twitched.

There was no way he would take that bait twice.

"Hmph. No need."

Just then, the judge called the next name.

"Hao Lo. Step forward!"

Zhao Lusi leaned lazily against the railing and snickered.

"Looks like your champion is up."

Elder Hao shook his head with full confidence.

"He will pass. Definitely."

Zhao Lusi nodded slowly, eyes glimmering with mischief.

"If both of them pass, how about we determine the winner by... the number of moves needed?"

Elder Hao scoffed and glanced toward Fang Yuan, eyes full of ridicule.

"Your brat passing? A Nascent Soul brat who doesn’t even hone his physical strength? We both know he will be lucky just to stay standing."

But having a backup plan was never bad.

He waved dismissively.

"Fine. The one who defeats the senior disciple in fewer moves wins."

Zhao Lusi flashed a bright grin.

"Wonderful."

Then she cupped her hands to her mouth and shouted toward Fang Yuan.

"Oi Fang! Knock that senior disciple out as fast as possible, alright?"

Her voice echoed across the arena.

Dozens of heads snapped toward Fang Yuan at once.

Whispers spread like wildfire.

"Is she insane? He barely passed the first test!"

"Hao Lo is Nascent Soul. That boy may also be at the Nascent but he’s clearly weaker. There is no way!"

Fang Yuan simply lifted his chin and nodded once.

Meanwhile, Hao Lo’s back straightened, and his mouth tugged upward in a smug grin.

He had also heard every word.

He bowed to the senior disciple waiting before him.

"Forgive me, Senior," he said with a smirk. "But I must make this quick. I need to earn Elder Hao’s favor, after all."

The senior disciple’s brow twitched.

First he was nearly killed.

Then he was humiliated.

Now this brat dared to be arrogant in front of him?

Oh, he was furious.

"Begin!"

Hao Lo instantly launched forward like a fired arrow.

His fists gleamed with reddish qi, body refinement clearly superior to most participants today.

The senior disciple moved to counter.

But Hao Lo’s foot dug sharply into the stage, his body twisting.

Boom!

His fist smashed into the senior disciple’s side before the man could even fully raise his guard.