Inside the Golden Spatula Pavilion, tea steamed gently.
Ning Fengzhi calmed his turbulent emotions, picked up his teacup again, and took a sip, trying to steady himself. Though the terrifying pressure from earlier had faded, the shiver of facing an abyss still lingered, branded deep in his soul.
Limit Douluo.
The young man before him looked no older than eighteen or nineteen, yet he was a Limit Douluo standing at the very peak of the Douluo Continent!
And judging from the aura he had just released, he was even a little stronger than Clear Sky Douluo Tang Chen had been in his prime!
Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath, set his teacup back on the table, and regarded Yi Chen solemnly. "Mr. Yi Chen, forgive my bluntness. With your strength, you could do whatever you pleased on the continent. Why go to such lengths to promote this... Teamfight Tactics?"
Yi Chen leaned back in his chair, lightly tapping the armrest with his fingers, a meaningful smile on his lips. "Sect Master Ning, do you think the Golden Spatula you've seen so far is all there is to it?"
Ning Fengzhi paused. "You mean..."
Yi Chen didn't answer directly. Instead, he raised a hand and gave a light wave in the air.
Buzz.
A massive golden screen unfurled before the three of them. What appeared on it was no longer the single-player board Ning Rongrong had tried, but a far grander and more complex interface.
Eight boards were arranged in a circle, each occupied by a different number of chess pieces.
Golden lines connected the boards, forming a tangled web.
At the very top of the screen, a string of changing numbers flickered, like some kind of countdown.
"Sect Master Ning, the Golden Spatula you saw earlier was only its 'Infinite Mode'—a practice mode where one person can quietly study compositions and get familiar with the pieces."
Yi Chen pointed to the eight-player boards on the screen, his voice clear.
"But the real Teamfight Tactics is like this: eight players compete at the same time, each fighting for themselves. They buy pieces, build compositions, combine items, and take turns battling the other seven players until only one winner remains."
"Eight players at once?" Surprise flashed in Ning Fengzhi's eyes. "Wouldn't that be several times more complicated than the single-player mode?"
"Much more than that." Yi Chen smiled. "In an eight-player match, you have to consider not only your own composition, but also keep a constant eye on your opponents' moves. If someone is playing Assassins, you have to adjust your positioning to protect your backline. If someone is playing mages, you need to combine magic resistance items in advance. If someone is dominating the early game with a winning streak, you have to consider whether to give up interest and spend your gold early..."
He paused, and a profound glint flashed in his eyes. "It's a battle of both wits and nerves. Every decision can affect the final outcome. The pleasure of this kind of contest is far beyond anything the single-player mode can offer."
Ning Fengzhi listened, engrossed, and couldn't help picturing an eight-player match. Having led the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for many years, he immediately recognized the immense potential behind this mode. It wasn't merely entertainment; it was an extreme test of strategic thinking, resource management, and adaptability.
"And that's not all," Yi Chen continued, lightly swiping a finger across the screen. "These are just the basic rules of the Golden Spatula. More modes and mechanics will be added in the future."
"Such as?"
"Such as Hextech Augments." Yi Chen flipped his hand, and several colorful icons appeared on the screen.
"At certain key points in a match, all players can choose one of three random augment effects. Some augments grant you extra gold, some let you refresh the shop for free, and some can immediately upgrade one of your core pieces..."
"And then there's the Carousel Round." Yi Chen waved again, and the display shifted to a circular arena. Several items gleaming with different colors lay at its center.
"Every few rounds, all surviving players are transported to the carousel. They take turns choosing the items or pieces they want, in order from lowest health to highest. The player with the least health picks first, giving those at a disadvantage a chance to turn things around."
The more Ning Fengzhi heard, the more alarmed he became.
These mechanics were intricately connected. They blended luck with room for strategy and, more importantly, gave the weak a chance to rise!
For ordinary Spirit Masters who lacked exceptional talent but had quick minds, this was practically a godsend!
"Mr. Yi Chen," Ning Fengzhi couldn't help asking, "can these modes... be played already?"
"Not yet." Yi Chen shook his head. "These advanced modes require a large enough player base to support them. The Golden Spatula has only just begun. We haven't even gathered enough beta testers yet. Opening multiplayer modes too soon would only lead to long matchmaking times and spoil the experience."
He looked at Ning Fengzhi, a faint smile in his eyes. "That's why I chose to work with forces like Spirit Hall and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Only when players of the Golden Spatula are spread across the entire continent can these advanced modes truly show their worth."
Ning Fengzhi nodded thoughtfully.
He understood.
Yi Chen wanted more than to promote a game. He wanted to build an entirely new ecosystem, a competitive system spanning the whole continent with the Golden Spatula at its heart.
Once that system was established, its influence would reach far beyond the game itself.
"There's one more thing I think I should tell you in advance, Sect Master Ning." Yi Chen suddenly spoke, his tone growing more serious.
"Please, go on."
Yi Chen extended a finger and lightly tapped the screen. The image abruptly changed. All the boards and chess pieces vanished, replaced by a round, chubby golden creature.
It was a little penguin.
It was golden all over, with round, shining eyes and an adorable, roly-poly body. A tiny crown sat on its head. Standing in the center of the screen, it tilted its head at Ning Fengzhi, as if greeting him.
"What is that...?" Ning Fengzhi froze.
"The god of Teamfight Tactics—the Little Legend." Yi Chen's voice turned solemn. "It's the incarnation of the Golden Spatula world's will, and it governs the victories, defeats, and rewards of all players."
"A god?" Sword Douluo Chen Xin's brow jerked upward.
He had spent most of his life cultivating and had encountered countless powerful people. He had even felt the aura of a demigod. Yet the word "god" still described an existence beyond reach 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 a chance to earn this god's favor and gifts."
"Gifts? What kind of gifts?" Ning Fengzhi pressed.
Yi Chen smiled faintly and slowly uttered a few words.
"Soul Power infusion, Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings, top-grade Soul Bones, and even... the favor of a deity."
Clatter!
The teacup slipped from Ning Fengzhi's hand and smashed to pieces on the floor.
But he didn't notice. He only stared fixedly at Yi Chen, eyes wide, his voice trembling. "What you said... is that true?"
"I never lie." Yi Chen picked up his own teacup and took a leisurely sip. "Of course, these rewards won't come easily. Only those who achieve outstanding results in advanced Golden Spatula matches and demonstrate exceptional strategic talent and competitive skill will have a chance to earn a god's recognition."
He set down his teacup and looked calmly at Ning Fengzhi. "But at least the path exists. For ordinary Spirit Masters without much talent or a good background, this may be their only chance to change their fate."
A long silence fell over the hall.
Ning Fengzhi lowered his head, both hands gripping the robe over his knees so tightly that his knuckles turned white. A violent storm was raging within him.
If Yi Chen was telling the truth...
If the Golden Spatula could truly bring Soul Rings, Soul Bones, and even gifts from deities...
Then the significance of this game would far exceed anything he could imagine!
It was more than a form of entertainment. It was an entirely new path to cultivation!
A fair path that didn't depend on innate talent or family background, but only on wisdom and hard work!
For a sect like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, whose members were primarily auxiliary Spirit Masters, the arrival of this path was like rain from the heavens!
"Mr. Yi Chen." Ning Fengzhi raised his head, his gaze more resolute than ever. "Please tell me: what must the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect do to gain the upper hand in this revolution?"
Yi Chen looked at him, a satisfied smile slowly curving his lips.
That was exactly what he had been waiting to hear.