The morning sun rose lazily over the Sect of Sudden Success, as if even the heavens weren't sure what this place was doing.
Zhao Jin woke up to a duck standing on his chest.
"Okay," he groaned, "I get it. I'm awake."
The duck didn't move.
It just quacked. Once. Loudly.
> **[You have been assigned your first probation task. Do not disappoint the duck.]**
Zhao stared at the sky. "This sect is one bad nap away from turning into a circus."
The duck quacked again, more sternly. A scroll appeared in a puff of smoke.
> **Task #1: Retrieve the Sacred Potato of Immovable Focus from the Trial Garden. Bring it back uneaten. Yes, that's a real problem.**
---
### 🏞️ The Trial Garden of Mild Peril
Zhao followed the duck past the Hall of Inexplicable Exams and the Pavilion of Roasted Hopes. The Trial Garden looked peaceful... too peaceful.
There were glowing vegetables, whispering flowers, and a suspiciously muscular scarecrow who looked ready to fight.
> "Stay calm," Zhao whispered. "Just grab the potato and—"
The potato rolled.
It *ran.*
> "Oh COME ON!"
The Sacred Potato of Immovable Focus was neither sacred, immovable, nor focused. It zipped around like a greased-up hedgehog on lightning pills.
Zhao dove. Missed. Dove again. Landed face-first in a bush that hissed.
The duck sat on a rock and watched silently, judgmentally.
---
### 🥔 Potato Showdown
After thirty minutes of chasing, Zhao tried reasoning with the potato.
> "Look, I don't want to eat you. I just want to pass probation. Help me help you."
The potato paused. Quivered. Then bounced high in the air — and smacked him in the face.
> "...That's it. We duel."
He drew a stick like a sword. The potato glowed faintly. A battle commenced. It was confusing, overly dramatic, and completely silent except for the occasional "QUACK" from the duck.
Eventually, Zhao collapsed in a heap, clutching the potato triumphantly.
> "Victory... tastes like starch and pain."
---
### 🎓 The Duck Exam Begins
Back at the sect, Zhao placed the Sacred Potato on a glowing pedestal. The duck nodded solemnly, then quacked.
> **[You have completed the trial. You may now begin the Spiritual Duck Exam.]**
> "That wasn't the exam?"
The duck quacked twice. A panel of elders appeared behind a rice paper screen.
Elder Tu Fang's voice echoed:
> "Zhao Jin, answer this: What is the greatest cultivation method?"
Zhao blinked. "Uh... sleep until enlightened?"
> "Correct."
> "Wait, really?"
> "Only for disciples of Sudden Success. Next question: What is your combat specialty?"
> "Falling down dramatically?"
> "Acceptable."
> "This test feels made up."
> "All tests are made up."
---
### 🧙 Promotion and Confusion
A flash of light. A token appeared in Zhao's hand.
> **[You have advanced to Official Inner Disciple. Welcome to confusion-based cultivation.]**
The duck gave him a tiny hat. It didn't fit.
Zhao looked up. "Okay, fine. I'm in. But someone better explain what I'm supposed to *do* around here."
A second scroll appeared.
> **Task #2: Prepare for tomorrow's group training session. It may involve soup, explosions, or possibly both.**
Zhao sighed. "Of course it does."
The duck did push-ups in celebration.
---
**Chapter 2 Ends**
✅ Caught sacred potato
✅ Passed ridiculous duck exam
✅ Became inner disciple
✅ Still no idea what's going on