Morning in the Mistcloud Sect began with the chime of bronze bells, the soft rustle of robes, and one young disciple screaming about a duck egg that exploded in his bed.
Shen Yuan sat up, blinked blearily, and examined the mess around him. His hair stood on end, his bedding was mildly scorched, and the faint scent of sulfur clung to everything.
[Congratulations. You have opened your first Daily Loot Box.]
[Today's Reward: Egg of Shockling Hatchable Lightning Spirit Beast (Infantile, Unstable)]
\[Warning: Improper handling may result in mild to medium electrocution.]
Shen Yuan glared at the system prompt. "You put a lightning bird egg in my bed?"
[Randomness is the spice of destiny.]
"Destiny needs boundaries."
He stared at the cracked shell, now emitting the occasional spark.
From within the egg, something chirped.
---
Later that morning, Shen Yuan shuffled into the outer sect training yard carrying a basket. Inside: the sparking remains of the egg and a fuzzy yellow chick with tiny wings, a lightning-shaped birthmark on its beak, and the temperament of a caffeinated thundercloud.
"I shall call you... Zap-Chan."
The chick immediately zapped him.
Ping Mei, kneeling nearby to sort herbs, watched him twitch.
"Why are you like this?"
"Fate," he croaked.
"You know you're supposed to be preparing for your Qi Condensation breakthrough, right?"
"I am," he said, standing upright with dramatic flair. "Through adversity. Through voltage. Through poultry!"
Zap-Chan zapped him again. Ping Mei nodded. "That checks out."
---
The next few days were unusually peaceful.
Shen Yuan meditated under trees, fed Zap-Chan breadcrumbs and peach slices, and occasionally flinched from spontaneous lightning pecks.
He felt his qi circulate more clearly. The Laughing Orchid essence he'd absorbed during the Spirit Beast Trial was slowly integrating into his meridians. His spiritual sea was calmer now deeper, even.
[Breakthrough imminent: Qi Gathering Stage 2 → Stage 3]
[System Notice: Fortunate energies detected nearby.]
He opened one eye. "Fortunate energies?"
[An ancient inheritance lies within the Hidden Trial Grounds. Coordinates marked.]
Shen Yuan frowned. "Is this another rabbit cave? I'm not falling for that again."
[This one has glowing doors and dramatic wind.]
"…Go on."
---
The Hidden Trial Grounds were located behind the north cliffs, past the meditation pools, and through a very suspicious waterfall. It was said only those fated with chaos or terrible luck could enter.
So, naturally, the doors opened the moment Shen Yuan stepped close.
Inside was a sprawling cavern lit with glowing stones and engraved tiles. Ancient inscriptions shimmered along the walls, whispering forgotten words.
Zap-Chan nestled on his shoulder and chirped.
[System Alert: Trial Activated – "Path of the Fool's Fortune"]
[Objective: Survive.]
"That's comforting," Shen Yuan muttered, stepping forward.
The stone beneath him shifted. He tumbled down a slide, rolled through spinning traps, ducked under swinging axes, and belly-flopped into a glowing pond.
When he surfaced, sputtering, he was in a different chamber, one filled with ancient statues of cultivators, all facing a central pedestal. On that pedestal rested a scroll, untouched by time.
[New Objective: Acquire the Scroll of the Laughing Heavens]
[Warning: Curse probability – 72%]
Shen Yuan narrowed his eyes. "What kind of scroll has a curse... probably?"
[The interesting kind.]
He took a cautious step toward it. Nothing happened.
Another step. Still fine.
Zap-Chan chirped nervously, then burrowed into his robe.
He reached out… fingers brushing the ancient parchment.
Suddenly, all the statues' eyes lit up with cold blue light.
The room trembled.
From behind the pedestal, a figure slowly rose, a hooded silhouette wrapped in tattered robes, exuding a corrupted spiritual pressure that warped the very air.
Its voice rasped like dry wind. "You are not worthy."
Shen Yuan froze. "I.... uh.... can explain?"
The figure raised a hand. Black energy gathered into a spear of void.
Zap-Chan shrieked.
The system dinged.
[Emergency Quest Activated: Survive the Wrath of the Fallen Guardian]
[Time limit: 2 minutes]
Shen Yuan took one step back. Then another.
Then he bolted toward the exit.
Behind him, the spear struck the ground where he'd stood, shattering the marble and sending a shockwave that cracked the very walls.
The scroll flew into the air.
He dove, caught it mid-fall, and kept running, screaming the entire way.
---
Outside the waterfall, disciples looked up as the mountain briefly shuddered.
Ping Mei narrowed her eyes toward the cliffs. "He's doing something dumb again, isn't he?"
Master Zhen looked toward the sky.
In the clouds, a lightning bolt cracked without thunder.
He nodded to himself. "The boy is awakening something."
---
Back in Shen Yuan's room, he collapsed onto his bed, panting, bruised, soaked, and holding a scroll he didn't dare open.
Zap-Chan climbed onto his chest, chirped triumphantly, and immediately electrocuted him.
He winced. "I don't know what that thing was… but it said I wasn't worthy."
[System Notice: New Trait Unlocked - Stubborn Luck]
[New Passive Skill Acquired: Defy Fate (Lv. 1)]
[Scroll of the Laughing Heavens: Analysis In Progress]
He lay in the dark, the scroll glowing faintly beside him.
From outside, wind whispered through the trees carrying with it a distant laughter.
Not warm.
Not kind.
But ancient.
And watching.