The Holy Temple's Completion, the Spatula Association Plants Its Flag, and the First Encounter with the Crown Prince

Two days later, Spirit City.

Yi Chen stood on an open highland to the southwest of Spirit City, hands clasped behind his back as he gazed into the distance.

Behind him lay the towering silhouette of Spirit City's walls, while before him stretched an endless, desolate plain. The autumn wind swept across the withered grass, creating a faint, rustling sound.

He had chosen this location not for the scenery, but because it was close enough to Spirit City without falling under its direct jurisdiction.

It was neither subservient to Spirit Hall nor isolated from the mainstream circles of power.

"This will do."

Yi Chen raised his hand, palm facing upward. A palm-sized phantom of a golden palace emerged above it, complete with flying eaves, bracket sets, and carved beams. Every detail was so exquisite it seemed as though a master craftsman had spent decades perfecting it.

The phantom palace rotated slowly in his palm, the aura it emitted causing the surrounding air to grow heavy.

He flipped his hand downward, pressing the phantom into the ground.

BOOM!!!

A dull, thunderous roar erupted from deep beneath the earth, as if some colossal entity were awakening under the strata.

Immediately, the ground within a hundred-meter radius of his palm began to tremble violently. Soil and rock surged and scattered outward as a magnificent, solid gold palace slowly rose from the earth.

The base of the palace was a single, massive golden stone platform, its surface engraved with dense, intricate array patterns. These patterns shimmered with a flowing luster under the sunlight, breathing as if they were alive.

The main structure consisted of three levels, with golden wind chimes hanging from the eaves that rang out with a crisp, pleasant sound whenever the breeze passed. Above the main entrance, a blank plaque waited quietly to be inscribed.

The entire process lasted about the time it takes to brew a pot of tea. When the palace finally settled and its foundation merged with the earth, the surrounding tremors subsided.

The once-empty wilderness now held a grand, imposing golden palace, gleaming brilliantly in the autumn sun.

Yi Chen stood before the main entrance and traced four strokes in the air across the blank plaque. Golden light condensed at his fingertips, forming four bold, vigorous characters:

Golden Spatula Association.

Abbreviated as the "Spatula Association."

He lowered his hand, stepped back, and nodded in satisfaction at the characters. Then, he turned to face the direction of Spirit City. His voice was not loud, yet it reached the ears of everyone inside and outside the city with perfect clarity:

"The Golden Spatula Association is established today. Henceforth, all matters concerning the Battle of the Golden Spatula—including tournament arbitration, rank certification, reward distribution, and rule revisions—shall be under the unified jurisdiction of this Association. Friends from all walks of life who are interested are welcome to come inside for a chat."

His voice echoed in the air for a few moments before dissipating into the wind.

Inside Spirit City, players who had been competing in the Golden Spatula Pavilion all looked up, turning toward the source of the sound.

Some immediately abandoned their matches and ran out of the city to see the spectacle, while others stood where they were, thoughtfully chewing over the implications of "tournament arbitration, rank certification, reward distribution, and rule revisions shall be under the unified jurisdiction of this Association."

Within Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong stood before her office window, watching the golden palace that had abruptly appeared outside the city. She remained silent for a moment before saying to Chrysanthemum Douluo behind her, "Send someone to deliver a congratulatory gift. It need not be overly precious, but it must carry weight."

Chrysanthemum Douluo bowed in acknowledgment and withdrew.

Yi Chen did not linger long in the Association. He conducted a brief inspection of the temple's facilities: the first floor housed the lobby and reception area, the second floor contained the conference rooms and arbitration halls, and the third floor served as his private office and living quarters.

The arrays within the temple were functioning normally, the energy supply was stable, and the spatial folding technology made the interior at least three times larger than it appeared from the outside.

Satisfied, he locked the doors to the third floor, then flickered and vanished, leaving Spirit City behind.

His next destination: Heaven Dou City.

He did not go to the Golden Spatula branch in Heaven Dou City, nor did he visit Dugu Bo's residence; instead, he headed straight for the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

He did not use the main entrance, but circled around to a side hall on the east side of the palace. A nondescript plaque hung above the door, bearing three characters: Crown Prince's Mansion.

The guards at the mansion had clearly been notified. Seeing Yi Chen approach, they did not block his path, but instead bowed respectfully and pushed open the gates.

Yi Chen crossed the threshold, walked along a bluestone path strewn with fallen leaves, and arrived before the study of the Crown Prince's Mansion.

The study door stood open. A young man in moon-white robes sat behind the desk, holding a scroll. Hearing footsteps, he looked up, revealing a face as gentle as jade.

The Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe.

At least, on the surface, he was Xue Qinghe.

Yi Chen stopped at the entrance of the study. He did not rush to enter, his gaze lingering on Xue Qinghe's face for a moment before he gave a slight nod, acknowledging him.

Xue Qinghe set down the scroll, stood up, and returned the greeting with a smile: "Elder Yi Chen, I have long heard of your name. The Battle of the Golden Spatula has recently swept across the continent; though I remain within the palace, I have heard much of it. It is a pleasure to finally meet you."

His voice was gentle and clear, his manners impeccable, and his smile perfectly measured—neither overly enthusiastic nor lacking in courtesy.

Judging solely by appearances, this was indeed the demeanor expected of a well-bred imperial crown prince.

Yi Chen did not rush to respond. He walked into the study, sat in the guest chair, and waited until the maid had served tea and exited the room before speaking slowly: "Your Highness should know that I am not here for idle chatter."

Xue Qinghe's smile did not falter, but a subtle ripple appeared deep in his eyes, so fleeting it was almost impossible to catch: "Please, Elder, speak your mind."

Yi Chen picked up the teacup. He did not drink, but turned it half a circle in his hand, his gaze remaining fixed on Xue Qinghe's face with a sense of scrutiny.

The look was not offensive, but it was direct, as if he were not looking at an imperial crown prince, but at an object whose value he was currently assessing.

"The Golden Spatula Association established its site outside Spirit City today," he began, his tone unhurried. "But I require a permanent liaison point within the Heaven Dou Empire, responsible for coordinating tournaments and reward distribution for all branches within the territory. For this role, I hope to have Your Highness."

Xue Qinghe did not answer immediately. He picked up his own teacup, took a sip, and set it down. His movements were calm and unhurried, clearly using those few seconds to quickly weigh the pros and cons.

"Why did the Elder choose me?" He looked up, meeting Yi Chen's gaze with a calm expression.

"The Heaven Dou Imperial family has many members. I have my Imperial Father above me and many brothers below. In terms of seniority or power, I am not the most suitable candidate."

"Because you are smart." Yi Chen's reply was concise and direct. He set down his teacup, leaned forward slightly, and the scrutiny in his eyes intensified.

"Furthermore, you are more aware than anyone else that the Battle of the Golden Spatula brings not just entertainment, but a revolution in resource distribution. Whoever can seize the initiative in this transformation will hold more sway in the years to come. Your Highness is a person of vision; surely you would not want to miss such an opportunity."

He paused, the corners of his mouth curling into a meaningful arc. "Besides, I am quite interested in Your Highness personally. A Crown Prince who can stand firm in the Heaven Dou Empire's court while maintaining an open attitude toward emerging trends is a rare sight across the entire continent."

Xue Qinghe's gaze lingered on Yi Chen's face for a few moments. He seemed to be weighing the gravity of Yi Chen's words, or perhaps pondering whether there was a hidden meaning behind that remark about being "personally interested."

Then he smiled, a smile with a touch more genuine warmth than before. "The Elder is truly as legendary as they say. In that case, I shall accept this task. I will personally oversee the affairs of the Battle of the Golden Spatula within the Heaven Dou Empire."

Yi Chen nodded and stood up. "Then I shall leave it to you, Your Highness. The specific coordination procedures will be delivered to the Crown Prince's Mansion tomorrow."

He turned to walk toward the door, but paused at the threshold. He glanced back, his gaze resting on Xue Qinghe with a look of profound scrutiny.

His eyes lingered on the contours of Xue Qinghe's face for two seconds, then shifted down to his throat, before returning to his eyes.

"By the way, Your Highness," Yi Chen's voice carried a faint, elusive smile, "you are disguised very well. Truly, very well. Your posture, your voice, your mannerisms—they are almost flawless."

Xue Qinghe's smile faltered slightly.

"But next time you see me, there is no need to go to such lengths." Yi Chen's tone was flat, as if stating an insignificant fact. "I harbor no malice toward Your Highness; on the contrary, I am quite interested in you as a person. Meeting in your true form will make our future cooperation much more convenient."

Without waiting for a response, he stepped over the threshold and disappeared outside the Crown Prince's Mansion along the bluestone path he had arrived on.

Inside the study, Xue Qinghe sat behind the desk, the smile on his face completely vanished. His gaze rested on the direction where Yi Chen had disappeared, his fingers tapping the desk twice before stopping.

He did not deny it.

Because denial was meaningless. The fact that the other party could say such a thing meant he already possessed conclusive evidence; further quibbling would only make him look ridiculous.

Xue Qinghe—or rather, Qian Renxue—picked up the cup of tea that had gone cold, glanced down at it, and drained it in one gulp.

"Interesting." She whispered to herself, her voice no longer the gentle, masculine tone from before, but restored to its original timbre—cold, clear, and edged with sharpness. "This Yi Chen is far more intriguing than I imagined."

She set the cup down, her fingertips tracing the rim, a meaningful curve touching her lips.

"Meeting in my true form, is it... that is not entirely out of the question."

She looked up, her gaze piercing through the study window toward the direction outside the Crown Prince's Mansion, her eyes flashing with the light of a hunter encountering prey.

"Then let me see exactly what you are made of."