A month later.
Autumn had deepened in the hills behind Shrek Academy. The ancient trees had turned golden, their leaves rustling in the breeze. Every so often, one spiraled down onto the chessboard, only to be gently swept away by a fair-skinned hand.
Yi Chen lounged in a wicker chair with his eyes closed, a cup of tea gone cold in his hand. He had no intention of drinking it.
His awareness was immersed in the system panel. Watching the number steadily tick upward, he slowly curved his lips into a satisfied smile.
[Current Registered Players: 1,000,000]
A full million players.
A month ago, that number had seemed like an unattainable goal.
But with Spirit Hall, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Dugu Bo, and the Zhu Family all working together, and word of Golden Spatula continuing to spread, the number of registered players had grown far faster than he had expected.
In the northern region of the Heaven Dou Empire, the Golden Spatula Pavilion in Spirit City had already expanded to three branches, each packed to capacity every day.
At the main pavilion in Heaven Dou City, tickets were nearly impossible to get. Some people even began lining up a day in advance just to secure a chance to try the game.
Within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's territory, Golden Spatula had become a popular topic among the disciples. Even some of the elders couldn't resist joining the ranks of the players.
In the Star Luo Empire, the branch overseen by the Zhu Family had officially opened a month ago. Nearly ten thousand players had flooded in on its first day, making for an unprecedented spectacle.
And the source of it all was now reclining beneath this ancient tree, as carefree as a cat basking in the sun.
"Ding! Congratulations, host. You have completed the second stage of the main quest: Conquer the Continent."
The system's clear notification chimed in his mind. A golden panel unfolded before his eyes, lines of gilded text appearing one after another:
[Quest Objective: Reach 1,000,000 registered players]
[Current Progress: 1,000,000/1,000,000]
[Quest Rating: S Rank]
[Calculating quest rewards...]
Yi Chen sat up, set down his cold tea, and focused on the system panel.
[Congratulations, host. You have received the following rewards:]
[1. Eight-Player Battle Mode unlocked: Supports eight players competing at once, each fighting for themselves and using strategy and luck to vie for the ultimate victory. This mode will serve as the core gameplay of Teamfight Tactics and be available to all registered players.]
[2. Ranked system unlocked: Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Grandmaster, Master, and Challenger—nine ranks in total. Players can earn Rank Points by participating in Eight-Player Battle Mode and climb the ranks.]
[3. Rank reward system activated: Players who reach designated ranks can claim corresponding rewards at the end of each season. Rewards include, but are not limited to, Soul Power infusion, Soul Rings of various ages, top-grade Soul Bones, and rare items. The higher the rank, the richer the rewards.]
[4. Host-exclusive rewards: For completing the quest with an S Rank rating, you have received the following additional rewards: the fully upgraded Golden Spatula Sanctuary is unlocked and can be placed anywhere as the headquarters and training grounds for Teamfight Tactics; the host's Soul Power cultivation has been further consolidated, and his maximum spiritual power has increased by 30%.]
After reading through the rewards, a satisfied glint flashed in Yi Chen's eyes.
The combination of Eight-Player Battle Mode, the ranked system, and rank rewards would ignite the whole continent's enthusiasm.
Especially the Spirit Masters who had been stuck at bottlenecks for years. Once they learned that they could obtain Soul Rings and Soul Bones by climbing the ranks, they would probably pour into Golden Spatula like mad.
He was even more intrigued by the fully upgraded Golden Spatula Sanctuary.
The Golden Spatula Sanctuary he had obtained before had only been an incomplete version, usable only as a mobile training ground. Now that he had unlocked its full form, it should have all sorts of unexpected functions.
With a thought, the shimmering phantom of a golden palace, small enough to fit in his palm, appeared.
Unlike before, the palace was rendered in far greater detail. Faint streams of light flowed between its soaring eaves and intricately carved brackets, and the aura it gave off was far more vast and divine.
He could feel that the space inside the sanctuary had expanded several times over. It could now accommodate thousands of people training or battling at once.
"Master! Master!"
Ning Rongrong's excited voice rang out in the distance, interrupting Yi Chen's thoughts. He put away the phantom sanctuary and looked up. Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu were running up the slope, excitement written across both their faces.
"Master! Did you see? We've passed one million registered players!" Ning Rongrong ran up to Yi Chen, waving a statistical report in her hand. Her voice was brimming with barely contained excitement. "We just got word from Spirit City. The millionth player registered a moment ago!"
Xiao Wu nodded repeatedly and added, "And I heard there are still so many people waiting in line to register in Heaven Dou City! Grandpa Dugu sent word that, if things keep going like this, we'll have no trouble reaching two million players in another two months!"
Seeing how excited his two disciples were, Yi Chen couldn't help smiling.
"I know." He picked up the tea beside him, still ice-cold, took a sip, and set it down. His tone was calm, but carried a note of gravity. "But the real challenge is only just beginning."
Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu exchanged a glance, both looking puzzled.
"Master, what do you mean?" Xiao Wu tilted her head and asked. "Haven't we done really well already?"
Yi Chen stood and walked beneath the ancient tree with his hands behind his back, gazing toward the distant horizon. The autumn sky was clear as washed glass, with a few white clouds drifting lazily past. Everything seemed peaceful and beautiful.
But he knew those peaceful days would soon be over.
"One million registered players is only the beginning," he said slowly, his voice clear and composed.
"Next, Teamfight Tactics will enter a whole new stage—the S1 Season. Eight-Player Battle Mode, the ranked system, and rank rewards will all officially launch during the season."
He turned to face his two disciples, a deep glint in his eyes. "By then, Golden Spatula will no longer be just a game.
"It will become an entirely new cultivation system, a path that runs alongside traditional Spirit Master cultivation.
"More and more people will gain power through Golden Spatula, and more and more people will see it as a chance to change their fate."
"And with that will come even greater challenges and trials."
Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu listened quietly. The excitement on their faces faded, replaced by seriousness and resolve.
"Master, we're not afraid of a challenge." Ning Rongrong spoke first, her voice firm. "We're your disciples. Whatever difficulties we face, we'll face them together."
Xiao Wu nodded hard and clenched her fist. "That's right! Anyone who comes looking for trouble will get beaten by us with our Golden Spatulas!"
Seeing how serious his two disciples were, Yi Chen couldn't help laughing.
"Enough. There's no need to get so worked up." He reached out and ruffled both their heads, his voice affectionate.
"If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. You just focus on training and try to reach Challenger when the new season begins."
"Yes, Master!" Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu answered in unison, their eyes blazing with fighting spirit.
Yi Chen lowered his hand and looked toward the distant horizon again, anticipation and depth in his gaze.
The S1 Season was about to begin.
And the balance of power across the continent would be turned upside down.