Clan Building System: I'm not the Protagonist?!-Chapter 346- Updated*

The words landed coldly and before anyone could respond, Fang Yuan stepped forward.

At the same time, Fang Tian also stepped out.

The two stood facing one another, only a few paces apart.

The air between them tightened.

Zhao Mei rose from her seat and spoke evenly, authority in every word.

"I will leave the rules to the two of you. What do you propose?"

Fang Tian did not hesitate. His eyes never left Fang Yuan.

"A battle where the loser must surrender," he said.

Fang Yuan studied him for a brief moment, then nodded.

"I commend your confidence," he replied calmly.

Then his lips curved slightly.

"Traitor. Let’s do that."

Zhao Mei turned her gaze toward the two sect leaders.

Qin Shi Huang smiled faintly.

"I won’t interfere."

Zhao Lusi shrugged lazily.

"Neither will I."

Zhao Mei breath out a sigh of relief and then she snapped her fingers.

The very next moment, the world swiftly folded in an instant and the grand hall vanished.

Space seemed to twist and expand and before they could make any sense of it, everyone reappeared atop a massive dueling stage suspended beneath the open sky.

Formation lines glowed faintly beneath their feet, stretching far beyond the edges of the platform.

At the very center stood Fang Yuan and Fang Tian.

Zhao Mei appeared between them, robes fluttering as she turned.

"Pick your weapons."

Fang Yuan glanced around, eyes briefly lighting up at the complexity of the formation surrounding the arena.

If the Fang Clan had something like this...

I could upgrade the clan.

"Fang Yuan."

He turned his head.

Zhao Mei was looking directly at him.

"So," she asked again, "what kind of weapons do you want? We will provide weapons of the same grade to both of you."

Fang Tian drew in a slow, deep breath.

"I choose the sword," Fang Yuan said calmly.

Zhao Mei nodded and then flickered her wrist, two ripples of light bloomed in the air.

A sword descended into Fang Yuan’s hand.

At the same time, a spear fell into Fang Tian’s grasp.

Fang Tian took one step forward, spear angled downward, posture steady.

Zhao Mei swept her gaze over them both.

"Very well," she said. "Preparation is complete."

Her hand dropped.

"Fight."

The instant the word left her mouth, Fang Tian moved.

He surged forward like a released arrow, the spear stabbing out in a straight, ruthless line.

The tip whistled through the air, aimed directly for Fang Yuan’s throat.

Fang Yuan shifted half a step to the side.

The spear grazed past him, missing by the width of a hair.

In the same breath, Fang Yuan’s sword flashed.

He slashed diagonally, the blade cutting toward Fang Tian’s shoulder with crisp precision. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Fang Tian’s eyes narrowed as he twisted his wrist and spun the spear in a tight arc.

The shaft struck the flat of the sword with a sharp clang, redirecting the force away as sparks burst between metal.

Fang Yuan landed lightly, boots skidding back a step as he turned.

Fang Tian did not pause. His spear flowed seamlessly into another strike, sweeping low toward Fang Yuan’s legs.

Fang Yuan managed to jump as the spear swept beneath him, cutting empty air.

While still midair, Fang Yuan twisted his body and brought his sword down in a clean, vertical strike.

Fang Tian planted his foot and thrust the spear upward, meeting the sword head-on.

CLANKKK!

The impact forced both of them apart.

Fang Yuan slid backward several meters, sword humming in his grip.

Fang Tian steadied himself with the butt of his spear against the ground, eyes burning brighter.

Without hesitation, Fang Yuan charged.

This time, his steps were lighter and he closed the distance in a zigzag, sword flickering with short, controlled strikes aimed at Fang Tian’s wrists, ribs, and throat.

Fang Tian retreated half a step, spear spinning continuously.

Each rotation deflected a strike, the shaft moving like an extension of his body.

When Fang Yuan overextended for a split second, Fang Tian snapped the spear forward.

Fang Yuan twisted his blade sideways and knocked the spear aside, then followed with a thrust straight toward Fang Tian’s chest.

Fang Tian leaned back just enough for the sword tip to skim past his robes.

In the same motion, he slammed the butt of the spear into the ground and pivoted, sweeping the spearhead in a wide arc.

Fang Yuan crossed his sword horizontally and braced.

The impact rang out like a bell.

Both of them were forced back once more, boots carving shallow grooves into the stage.

For a brief moment, they stared at each other in silence.

Fang Tian then drew in a slow, deep breath and the air around him suddenly shifted.

"Nine Inch Soaring Dragon Strike," he muttered.

In an instant, the spear in his hands seemed to blur.

A phantom image surged outward, a coiling dragon of qi twisting through the air, its presence overwhelming and deceptive.

Fang Yuan’s pupils contracted.

An illusion...?

He reacted on instinct, launching backward, feet carving arcs through the dust to widen the gap.

SLASHH!

The spear’s tip shattered his guard and tore a crimson line across his shoulder.

Blood sprayed in a sharp, vivid arc, scattering like rain against the stone.

Fang Yuan staggered back several steps, jaw tight as a fiery pain lanced through his arm.

His fingers trembled and the sword nearly slipped from his grasp.

I moved... I should’ve been out of range. Then how—?

Across from him, Fang Tian’s expression had lost all trace of arrogance.

His stance shifted, hands steady, spiritual energy coiling around the spear as he prepared for a second strike.

Fang Yuan ground his teeth while blood dripping down his arm.

His eyes narrowed.

Out of range and I still got hit, huh?

His spiritual energy churned, surging through his meridians like a rising tide.

Fine then. Let’s see how you handle this.

From the rear of the stage, Zhao Lusi frowned sharply.

"You taught your disciple that already?" she muttered. "That’s not fair."

Qin Shi Huang laughed coldly, eyes fixed on the stage.

"Fairness?" he replied mockingly. "What’s that?"

Fang Yuan steadied his breathing.

His injured shoulder burned, strength draining from his arm. Without hesitation, he shifted the sword to his other hand.

His gaze lifted, sharp and calm despite the wound.

"You have indeed grown stronger," he said evenly. "But I wonder... if you still remember the family’s technique?"