The Ambition of the Golden Shovel, the God's Reward

Inside the Golden Spatula Pavilion, the air was filled with the lingering fragrance of tea.

Ning Fengzhi steadied his turbulent emotions and took another sip of tea, attempting to calm himself. Although the terrifying pressure from moments ago had dissipated, the shivering sensation of having stared directly into an abyss remained deeply branded into the depths of his soul.

A Limit Douluo.

The young man before him, who appeared to be no more than eighteen or nineteen, was actually a Limit Douluo standing at the very pinnacle of the Douluo Continent!

Moreover, judging by the aura he had released earlier, he was even slightly stronger than the Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Chen, had been in his prime!

Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath, set his teacup back on the table, and looked at Yi Chen with solemnity. "Mr. Yi Chen, forgive my bluntness. With your strength, you could walk across this continent unimpeded. Why go to such great lengths to promote this... Battle of the Golden Spatula?"

Yi Chen leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest as a meaningful smile played on his lips. "Does Sect Master Ning believe that what I have shown you of the Golden Spatula is its full face?"

Ning Fengzhi was slightly taken aback. "What do you mean, sir?"

Yi Chen did not answer directly; instead, he reached out and waved his hand gently through the air.

Hum.

A massive golden screen of light unfolded before the three of them. What appeared on the screen was no longer the single-player board Ning Rongrong had experienced, but a much grander and more complex interface.

Eight boards were arranged in a circle, each occupied by a different number of pieces.

Golden lines connected the boards, forming an intricate and complex network.

At the very top of the screen, a string of changing numbers pulsed, resembling some sort of countdown.

"Sect Master Ning, the Golden Spatula you saw before was merely its 'Infinite Mode'—a practice mode where one can quietly study team compositions and familiarize oneself with the pieces."

Yi Chen pointed to the eight-player board on the screen, his voice clear and resonant.

"The true Battle of the Golden Spatula is like this: eight players compete on the same stage, each fighting for themselves. By purchasing pieces, assembling compositions, and crafting equipment, they face off against the other seven players in turns until a single winner is decided."

"Eight players on one stage?" A flash of surprise crossed Ning Fengzhi's eyes. "Wouldn't that be several times more complex than the single-player mode?"

"Complex is an understatement." Yi Chen smiled. "An eight-player battle means you must not only consider your own composition but also constantly monitor your opponents' movements. If someone is playing an assassin composition, you must adjust your positioning to protect your backline; if someone is playing a mage composition, you must craft magic resistance gear in advance; if someone is on a fierce winning streak early on, you must decide whether to sacrifice your interest gold to start your momentum early..."

He paused, a profound light flashing in his eyes. "This is a dual game of intellect and psychology. Every decision can influence the final outcome. The joy of such a contest is far beyond what the single-player mode can offer."

Ning Fengzhi listened, utterly engrossed, as the scene of an eight-player battle involuntarily played out in his mind. As a sect master who had governed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for many years, he immediately realized the immense potential hidden behind this mode. It was not just entertainment; it was the ultimate training for strategic thinking, resource management, and on-the-spot adaptability.

"Furthermore," Yi Chen continued, his finger swiping lightly across the screen, "this is only the foundation of the Golden Spatula. In the future, even more modes and mechanics will be added."

"For example?"

"For example, 'Hextech Augments'." Yi Chen flipped his palm, and several icons radiating colorful light immediately appeared on the screen.

"At certain key points in a match, all players can choose one of three random enhancement effects. Some augments can grant you extra gold, some allow you to refresh the shop for free, and others can instantly upgrade your core pieces..."

"Or take the 'Carousel Round' for example." Yi Chen waved his hand again, and the image on the screen switched to a circular arena, with several pieces of equipment shimmering in various colors placed in the center.

"Every few rounds, all surviving players are transported to the carousel arena to pick their desired equipment or pieces in order of their remaining health, from lowest to highest. The player with the lowest health chooses first, which gives those at a disadvantage a chance to turn the tide."

The more Ning Fengzhi heard, the more astonished he became.

These mechanics were interlinked, containing both elements of luck and room for strategy. More importantly, it provided the weak with a possibility for a comeback!

For those ordinary Spirit Masters who lacked outstanding talent but possessed agile minds, this was nothing short of a godsend!

"Mr. Yi Chen," Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but ask, "can these modes... be played now?"

"Not yet." Yi Chen shook his head. "These high-level modes require a sufficient player base to support them. The Golden Spatula is just getting started; we haven't even gathered enough beta testers yet. Opening multiplayer modes rashly would only lead to long matchmaking times, which would negatively impact the experience."

He looked at Ning Fengzhi with a hint of a smile in his eyes. "That is why I chose to cooperate with powers like the Spirit Hall and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Only when Golden Spatula players are spread across every corner of the continent can these high-level modes truly realize their value."

Ning Fengzhi nodded thoughtfully.

He understood.

What Yi Chen wanted was not as simple as just promoting a game. He wanted to build an entirely new ecosystem—a competitive system covering the whole continent with the Golden Spatula at its core.

Once this system was established, the influence it would bring would far exceed that of a mere game.

"There is one more thing I feel it is necessary to tell you in advance, Sect Master Ning." Yi Chen suddenly spoke, his tone becoming a bit more serious.

"Please, go ahead, sir."

Yi Chen reached out and tapped the screen lightly. The image on the screen shifted abruptly; all the boards and pieces vanished, replaced by a round, chubby little golden creature.

It was a Little Legend.

Entirely golden, with large, round eyes and a charmingly naive appearance, it even wore a tiny crown on its head. It stood in the center of the screen, tilting its head as it looked at Ning Fengzhi, as if greeting him.

"This is..." Ning Fengzhi was stunned.

"The deity of the Battle of the Golden Spatula, a Little Legend." Yi Chen's voice grew more solemn. "It is the embodiment of the will of the Golden Spatula world, governing the victories, defeats, and rewards of all players."

"A deity?" Sword Douluo Chen Xin's brows twitched violently.

He had spent most of his life cultivating, had seen countless powerhouses, and had even felt the aura of semi-god-level beings. But the word "deity" remained an unreachable existence on the Douluo Continent.

"That's right." Yi Chen nodded. "The Golden Spatula is more than just a game. In the near future, players who achieve outstanding results in the Golden Spatula will have the opportunity to receive the favor and gifts of this deity."

"Gifts? What kind of gifts?" Ning Fengzhi pressed.

Yi Chen smiled faintly and slowly uttered a few words:

"Spirit power infusion, ten-thousand-year spirit rings, top-tier spirit bones, and even... the favor of the gods."

Clang!

The teacup in Ning Fengzhi's hand slipped and shattered against the floor.

Yet, he remained oblivious, his eyes wide as he stared fixedly at Yi Chen, his voice trembling slightly. "Is what you say... truly the truth?"

"I never lie." Yi Chen picked up his own teacup and took a slow, leisurely sip. "Of course, these rewards are not easily obtained. Only by achieving excellent results in high-level matches of the Golden Spatula, and by demonstrating exceptional strategic talent and competitive skill, does one have the chance to earn the recognition of the gods."

He set down his cup and looked at Ning Fengzhi with a calm gaze. "But at the very least, this path exists. For those ordinary spirit masters who lack talent or a prestigious background, this may be their only chance to change their fate."

A long silence descended upon the hall.

Ning Fengzhi kept his head lowered, his hands gripping the robes over his knees so tightly that his knuckles turned white. A violent storm was raging within his heart.

If what Yi Chen said was true...

If the Golden Spatula could truly bring spirit rings, spirit bones, or even the gifts of the gods...

Then the significance of this game would far exceed anything he had imagined!

It was not merely a form of entertainment, but an entirely new path of cultivation!

A fair path that relied not on innate talent or family background, but solely on wisdom and effort!

And for a sect like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, which consisted primarily of support-type spirit masters, the emergence of this path was nothing short of rain from the heavens!

"Mr. Yi Chen." Ning Fengzhi looked up, his eyes filled with unprecedented resolve. "Please tell me, what must the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect do to seize the initiative in this transformation?"

Yi Chen watched him, a satisfied smile slowly curling the corners of his lips.

This was exactly what he had been waiting for.