Clan Building System: I'm not the Protagonist?!-Chapter 335- Updated*

Fu Ji Wei stepped forward slowly, placing her palm upon the jade tablet.

A faint hum echoed through the hall as the tablet came to life, its surface glowing.

All eyes instantly fixed on the shifting colors.

It began with a soft yellow...

then deepened into dark, inky black.

Just when everyone expected that to be it, the glow shifted again.

The darkness lifted into earthy brown, and then, suddenly the entire tablet flared with a pristine, luminous white.

Gasps erupted around the assessment grounds.

"Heavenly Root. Bone age: twenty-one," the examiner announced, stunned.

Even his stern voice cracked with excitement. "Exceptional talent! A perfect foundation, one in millions. With proper guidance, this girl could shake the cultivation world."

Jealousy and admiration rippled through the examinees expression. They could only stare, powerless to hide the envy burning in their eyes.

From behind Hua Shen merely nodded, as though this result was no surprise to him at all.

Fang Yuan observed quietly, noting the brilliance of that pure white light.

It hadn’t even been a month since he set foot in this world, yet he had already encountered someone sharing the same rare Heavenly Root as himself.

The examiner was still reeling from the brilliance of Fu Ji Wei’s result when he cleared his throat and tried to regain composure.

"N-Next... Hua Shen!"

The young man stepped out from the crowd, hands tucked casually behind his back.

He walked as though this was nothing more than a formality.

When he reached the jade tablet, he didn’t bother with ceremony, just lifted one hand and rested it lazily against the surface.

The reaction was instantaneous.

A burst of pure, radiant white flooded the hall, even brighter than before.

The other candidates eyes widened in disbelief.

"Heavenly Root. Bone age: twenty-two," the examiner announced, voice trembling with excitement.

Silence, then a wave of whispers and sharp intakes of breath swept through the hall.

Jealousy simmered everywhere, two Heavenly Roots appearing back-to-back was beyond improbable.

The examiner clasped his hands together as if thanking the heavens.

"Two Heavenly Roots in a row! Our Flying crane Sect is truly blessed today!"

Hua Shen merely gave a slight nod, accepting the result.

Meanwhile, the crowd looked on with burning envy, already comparing the two prodigies and imagining their future rise.

Then came Hao Lo.

He walked out with a swagger meant to look confident, though his fingers twitched nervously at his side.

As he reached the tablet, his smirk widened, although it appeared to be too forced.

He slapped his palm down and the colour slowly changed until it reached into a white radiance which burst forth into brilliance.

Gasps echoed once again. Three in a row.

"Heavenly Root. Bone age: twenty-four!" the examiner declared, practically jubilant.

The crowd erupted in another wave of gasps and chatter, and jealousy was practically thick in the air.

But Hao Lo barely heard any of it.

Behind the proud smirk, his thoughts were sour: 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

What ’soaring into the sky’?

Talent means nothing when you’ve already disappointed an Elder...

And offended someone at the Hollow Spirit Realm...

This result might as well be ashes in my hand.

The examiner, drunk on excitement, waved the next candidate forward.

And so the procession continued.

One after another placed their hands upon the tablet, one of them shone dim black...

Another one had a dull brown...

Occasionally a faint white flicker which instantly returned back to being brown...

But not another white Root appeared.

The contrast to the earlier brilliance was stark.

Each new result only fueled the growing jealousy, the murmured comparisons, the fearful realization...

Three stars had already risen today,

and everyone else was merely here to be overshadowed.

Soon, it was fang Yuan turn.

"Fang Yuan."

Every head turned.

Even Fu Ji Wei and Hua Shen looked over with interest.

For someone who’s already in the Hollow Spirit Realm at his age, most of them could not even imagine what his talent would be like.

Fang Yuan stepped toward the tablet. His palm touched the cool, smooth jade.

A deep light flared.

Pure white, bright and steady.

"Heavenly Root."

There were some gasps and nods of expectations.

Then the examiner squinted as numbers appeared.

"Bone age... thirty-two."

The stir of awe dimmed instantly and comparisons came instantly.

Fu Ji Wei at twenty-one.

Hua Shen at twenty-two.

Hao Lo at Twenty-four.

Their potential was considered higher.

The examiner’s gaze remained thoughtful as he finished recording the results.

The examiner recorded the last result, then closed his jade tablet with a soft snap.

He faced the group and spoke clearly.

"Congratulations. From this moment forward, you are officially disciples of the Flying Crane Sect."

A wave of excitement rippled through the room. Even those who tried to appear composed could not hide the spark in their eyes.

The examiner clapped twice.

A side door opened, and several inner disciples entered carrying neatly folded robes of pale sky-blue with the emblem of a soaring crane stitched over the heart.

"These are your sect uniforms," the examiner said. "Wear them when summoned or when entering any formal grounds of the sect."

The disciples distributed the uniforms, and soon each new recruit held their first tangible symbol of belonging.

The examiner continued.

"Your records, including bone age and cultivation root, will be delivered to the Elders. They will determine your cultivation resources and how much support you will receive."

Some faces brightened with pride while ohers tensed with anxiety.

"And now that you are disciples," the examiner added, "you must seek an instructor. I recommend approaching an Elder first. Senior disciples are also allowed to take students, but your future achievements will be influenced by your mentor’s capability."

He raised a brush and a small stack of identity plates.

"When you have chosen your instructor, come to me. I will inscribe their name and give you your official disciple token."

He looked up.

"Next."

Fang Yuan stepped forward calmly.

"I am a disciple of Elder Zhao Lusi," he said without hesitation.

Every sound in the room seemed to pause.

Fu Ji Wei then took a step forward as well.

"I am also under Elder Zhao Lusi."

A wave of confusion suddenly swept through the crowd..