Recaps

As the Black Seal City auction approached, factions discussed Shop Owner Xiao’s pastries and their ties to him, while Sun Ming resolved to ask Xiao Cheng to take him as a combat disciple. The chapter left Yuan Yi and Mo Tianxing weighing their next moves as Xiao Cheng continued making drinks, unaware of their schemes.

• Xiao Yu and Xue Ni told Sun Ming that Xiao Cheng did not accept combat disciples, but Sun Ming remained determined to persuade him.
• Che Cheng secretly watched Sun Ming as he swept near the shop.
• Yuan Yi and Mu Jie confirmed that Xiao Cheng’s pastries would be the auction’s final item, and Yuan Yi decided to reveal a little about them to attract interest.
• Fan Lao speculated to Fan Ling that the Eight Sects Gate might offer Xiao Cheng’s pastries at the auction.
• Mo Tianxing learned that Shop Owner Xiao had connections to Jia Nan Academy and Rakshasa Gate, and decided the Black Emperor Sect should seek cooperation with Su Mei rather than destroy Rakshasa Gate.
• Mo Tianxing sent Qi Shan to attend the auction while Xiao Cheng focused on making drinks in his shop.

Xiao Cheng made fruit wine and backup pastries for Ruyi Zhai while Yun Shan and Wu Ying discussed waiting for an opportunity to act against the shop. Ge Ye visited Xiao Cheng after investigating the disappearances, leaving Xiao Cheng worried that the Misty Cloud Sect might be used by the Soul Hall.

• Xiao Cheng finished making fruit wine and new pastries, planning to sell the wine with Osmanthus Cake the next day.
• Gu He asked Xiao Cheng for help with a Rubik's Cube, then returned to work as Xiao Cheng rested.
• Wu Ying told Yun Shan that Protector Tie had been defeated by Xiao Cheng using a device that made him laugh uncontrollably, and they agreed to wait for an opportunity against Ruyi Zhai.
• Wang Tianfen and Qing Mang discussed Ruyi Zhai's mysterious new pastries and noted that Lord Bai Ya had not contacted them.
• Ge Ye visited Ruyi Zhai after investigating the disappearances, told Xiao Cheng that Yun Yun had sent him, and bought pastries before leaving.

While Xiao Cheng was away, Xiao Yu served pastries at Ruyi Zhai as Zi Yan ate and Fan Qian bought snacks. At the Black Seal City auction, factions learned that Ruyi Zhai pastries would be sold and began considering how to obtain them and trace their source.

• Xiao Yu told Zi Yan that Xiao Cheng had returned to the main shop, then gave her a tray filled with pastries.
• Fan Qian bought Honeyed Shortbread and Sticky Rice Strips before leaving to study his secret recipe.
• Che Cheng swept near Ruyi Zhai while keeping watch over Xiao Yu and the others.
• Wu Tie and Wu Qi discussed obtaining the pastries at auction and investigating their source for the Mad Lion Gang.
• Fan Lao and Fan Ling suspected Eight Sects Gate knew the pastries' effects and planned to visit Ruyi Zhai after the auction.

The auction’s three trays of Osmanthus Cake sparked fierce bidding, and Black Emperor Sect, Su Mei, and Black Skull Tomb each won one. After the auction, Xiao Cheng claimed his quest reward and received the Egg Roll recipe, then headed to the back kitchen to practice making it.

• Su Mei and the other major powers watched as the auctioneer presented Osmanthus Cake, advertised as a pastry that could temper the body.
• Black Emperor Sect won the first tray for 940,000 Gold Coins, and Su Mei won the second for 870,000 Gold Coins.
• Molhan of Black Skull Tomb won the final tray for 1,500,000 Gold Coins, while other factions ordered their subordinates to investigate the pastry’s source.
• Xiao Cheng claimed his special quest reward and received the Egg Roll recipe directly in his mind.
• Xiao Cheng asked the system about pastries that could nourish his brain, but it said his level was insufficient, so he went to the back kitchen to practice making Egg Rolls.

Xiao Cheng bought an Egg Roll Machine and paid to expand the kitchen so it would fit, then prepared to make Egg Rolls. Wang Tianfen and Qing Mang visited Ruyi Zhai and bought pastries, while a new system notification interrupted Xiao Cheng as he started production.

• Xiao Cheng bought the Egg Roll Machine and expanded the kitchen after learning that it would not fit, spending 3.6 million Gold Coins in total.
• Wang Tianfen and Qing Mang entered Ruyi Zhai, noticed the new pastries, and joined the line to buy them.
• Qing Mang bought Five-worm Cake and two Ox-tongue Pastries, while Wang Tianfen bought the new 3,600-Gold-Coin set meal.
• Xiao Cheng entered the expanded kitchen, read the machine manual, and prepared batter for coconut milk, original, and Mango Flavor Egg Rolls.
• A system notification interrupted Xiao Cheng, who angrily cursed the system again.

Xiao Cheng prepared Egg Rolls for a new system quest while customers and faction spies gathered at Ruyi Zhai. In Rakshasa City, Zi Yan sent a man flying with one punch, scattering the people questioning Xiao Yu about the manager.

• The system gave Xiao Cheng a ten-day quest to sell two hundred Egg Rolls of each of three flavors, with a random reward and a bad-luck penalty for failure.
• Xiao Cheng made and packaged Coconut Milk Flavor and original Egg Rolls, then rested after exhausting himself with the machine.
• A crowd arrived at Xiao Cheng's shop, and Gu He told him they had gathered while he was working in the back kitchen.
• In Rakshasa City, Wang Chu of the Mad Lion Gang came looking for Xiao Cheng, bought pastries after learning he was away, and Che Cheng worried about Ruyi Zhai's growing reputation.
• Zi Yan approached the crowd, punched a disciple who shoved her into the air, and caused the onlookers, including Sun Ming, to flee.

Zi Yan beat Fan Qian repeatedly at Gomoku while several powerful sects investigated the Osmanthus Cake and Ruyi Zhai. The Black Emperor Sect sought a partnership with the shop, and the Earth Flame Sect began searching for the pastry’s maker.

• Zi Yan played Gomoku with Fan Qian and defeated him several times, keeping her occupied and away from the pastries.
• Qi Shan told Mo Tianxing that factions were investigating the new pastries, so Mo Tianxing sent him to Ruyi Zhai to propose a long-term partnership and warned him to avoid being followed.
• Mo Tianxing tasted the Osmanthus Cake, felt its body-tempering effect, and urged Qi Shan to bring back more.
• Yan of the Earth Flame Sect tasted the Osmanthus Cake, confirmed its effect, and ordered an elder to find its maker and recruit them.
• Yan wondered whether the Black Emperor Sect’s recent movements were connected to the Osmanthus Cake’s origin.

Xiao Cheng lost every Gomoku game he played while running Ruyi Zhai and agreed to give the Mitel Family a discount on bulk pastry purchases. After discovering the Osmanthus Cake was selling quickly, he went to rest, while Wu Ying decided to return to Central Continent and leave Protector Tie behind.

• Xiao Cheng lost more than twenty Gomoku games to Yue'er and Gu He, then quit in frustration.
• Mitel's Butler asked Xiao Cheng for a discount so the Mitel Family could buy pastries in bulk, and Xiao Cheng agreed.
• Xiao Cheng checked the Osmanthus Cake sales and found that fifty-three sets had sold in one day.
• Wu Ying watched Ruyi Zhai from the shadows and decided to return to Central Continent, leaving Protector Tie behind.

Xiao Cheng prepared the shop for his return to the Black Corner Region, made pastries and fruit wine, and learned he had reached Shopkeeper Level Five. He left Xiao Yi Xian in charge as he continued working toward the much higher experience requirement for the next level.

• In Rakshasa City, Xiao Yu closed the pastry cart with Zi Yan while Che Cheng secretly sent a letter about the day's events to the Black Emperor Sect.
• Xiao Cheng remembered he was returning to the Black Corner Region and told Xiao Yi Xian how to price the new Egg Rolls and the remaining Osmanthus Cake and fruit wine.
• Xiao Cheng spent the morning making Egg Rolls, other pastries, Osmanthus Cake, and fruit wine, and asked Xiao Yi Xian to manage the shop while he was away.
• Xiao Cheng checked the Osmanthus Cake quest and found that more than ninety sets had sold, then received the system notification that he had become a Level Five Shopkeeper.
• Xiao Cheng saw that reaching level six required 24,300 experience points and resolved to keep running the shop and selling pastries.

Xiao Cheng returned to Rakshasa City after learning that he had become famous across the Black Corner Region following the auction. He met Qi Shan, who filled him in on the region’s situation, and prepared to deal with the attention from its major sects.

• Xiao Cheng left his shop and teleported back to Rakshasa City.
• At the pastry cart, Zi Yan made Sun Ming play Gomoku with her while Xiao Yu and Xue Ni watched.
• Qi Shan arrived at the cart with members of the Black Emperor Sect as Xiao Cheng returned.
• Qi Shan greeted Xiao Cheng and credited his pastries for his improved strength.
• Zi Yan asked Xiao Cheng to make her pastries, and he promised to do so after speaking with Qi Shan.
• Xiao Cheng learned from Qi Shan that the auction had made him famous throughout the Black Corner Region and asked about its major sects.

Xiao Cheng sold Osmanthus Cake sets to Qi Shan and Su Mei while restocking his other pastries, which Zi Yan had nearly eaten. After Wang Chu reported that Xiao Cheng’s pastries strengthened the body, Wu Tie ordered him to buy every kind, as factions across the region continued searching for Xiao Cheng.

• Qi Shan bought fifteen Osmanthus Cake sets after learning the fruit wine was said to benefit the meridians.
• Su Mei visited Xiao Cheng’s cart, learned he had a main shop elsewhere, and waited while he restocked pastries that Zi Yan had eaten.
• Xiao Cheng sold Qi Shan fifteen sets and Su Mei ten, then accepted her warning that hostile factions were looking for him.
• Wang Chu reported to Wu Tie that Xiao Cheng’s shop sold many pastries and brought him Honeyed Shortbread.
• Wu Tie tasted the shortbread, realized it strengthened the body, and sent Wang Chu to buy every kind of pastry while treating Xiao Cheng respectfully.

Xiao Yi Xian introduced Egg Rolls at Ruyi Zhai, where Xiao Zhan, Ao Ba Pa, and other customers bought them and Osmanthus Cake Sets. In Rakshasa City, Xiao Cheng checked sales, prepared food for Zi Yan, and heard Bai Shan explain how Hu Jia had forced him to come buy pastries.

• Xiao Yi Xian put Egg Rolls in Ruyi Zhai’s shop and listed their flavors and prices, while Yue'er secretly sampled one.
• Xiao Zhan bought an original Egg Roll box and two Osmanthus Cake Sets, then Ao Ba Pa bought ten sets and five boxes of Egg Rolls.
• Mitel Tengshan and Nalan Jie sent people to buy the new pastries after hearing about them.
• Xiao Cheng checked the mission list and found that more than 140 Osmanthus Cake Sets and six boxes of original Egg Rolls had sold.
• Zi Yan told Xiao Cheng she was hungry, so he went to make her something to eat.
• Bai Shan arrived and told Xiao Yu and the others that Hu Jia had forced him to come buy pastries.

Xiao Cheng restocked his pastries and fruit wine, sold Mu Jie a large order, and settled in for a nap. Meanwhile, Wang Chu’s Mad Lion Gang and the Earth Flame Sect clashed near Rakshasa City while searching for him, leaving the confrontation at a stalemate.

• Xiao Cheng asked Fan Qian to gather wild fruits in exchange for Egg Rolls, and Fan Qian hurried off after negotiating for three boxes.
• Mu Jie delivered the pastry auction proceeds in a Purple Gold VIP Card and bought thirty Osmanthus Cake sets plus three boxes of each Egg Roll flavor.
• Xiao Cheng considered holding a pastry promotion but decided to wait for a better opportunity.
• Xiao Cheng questioned the system, received an insufficient-authority reply, and fell asleep in his chair.
• Wang Chu’s Mad Lion Gang and a group from the Earth Flame Sect confronted each other near Rakshasa City as both sides searched for Xiao Cheng.

Wang Chu of the Mad Lion Gang and Liu Qing of the Earth Flame Sect both approached Xiao Cheng at Ruyi Zhai, each seeking pastries while concealing their own purposes. Their rivalry sharpened when Fan Qian returned with Osmanthus Cake, and the two leaders began plotting while Xiao Cheng went to make fruit wine.

• Wang Chu and Liu Qing met on the road to Rakshasa City, exchanged cautious introductions, and continued separately with their groups.
• Wang Chu asked Xiao Cheng to cooperate with the Mad Lion Gang by supplying pastries in bulk, but Liu Qing arrived before Xiao Cheng could answer.
• Liu Qing introduced himself as an Earth Flame Sect elder and said he had come to investigate the shop’s cultivation-improving goods.
• Xiao Cheng brought Wang Chu and Liu Qing aside, explained the pastries, and gave them samples while the two remained wary of each other.
• Fan Qian returned with wild fruits, and Xiao Cheng rewarded him with an Osmanthus Cake combo, catching both visitors’ attention.
• Xiao Cheng went to make fruit wine, leaving Wang Chu and Liu Qing to calculate their plans and watch one another.

Ruyi Zhai’s new pastries drew steady crowds, and Wang Tianfen and Qing Mang noticed the shop’s unusual interior space. Xiao Cheng completed his special quest and claimed a Dragon Pattern Rolling Pin as his exclusive weapon, leaving him disgruntled despite its pastry-enhancing effect.

• The Mitel Family and Nalan Family stewards bought new pastries at Ruyi Zhai, with Xiao Yi Xian giving the Nalan steward only a vague account of the Mitel steward’s purchase.
• Wang Tianfen pointed out to Qing Mang that Ruyi Zhai was far larger inside than it appeared from the outside, and Qing Mang suggested they enter to buy pastries.
• Xiao Cheng received notice that he had completed the special quest and claimed its reward.
• Xiao Cheng pulled the system’s slot-machine lever and drew a Dragon Pattern Rolling Pin, which the system placed in his inventory.
• Xiao Cheng read that the rolling pin could serve as a weapon and enhance pastries, then complained to the system and resumed making fruit wine.

Wang Chu and Liu Qing competed while buying pastries at Ruyi Zhai, and Xiao Cheng dealt with Zi Yan’s strange behavior. The chapter ended with a sinister group arriving, giving Xiao Cheng a chance to test his Rolling Pin.

• Liu Qing tried to trick Wang Chu into buying pastries by touting the Five-worm Cake, but its restorative effect interested Wang Chu because the Mad Lion Gang often had injured disciples.
• Xiao Cheng came out and let Wang Chu and Liu Qing choose pastries from the cart.
• Wang Chu bought ten boxes of original Egg Rolls, thirty boxes of Osmanthus Cake, and ten bottles of fruit wine at the restored prices.
• Zi Yan asked Xiao Cheng a riddle about choosing between Five-worm Cake and Osmanthus Cake, then shouted that she would destroy him on behalf of Dou Di, so Xiao Cheng tried to correct her childish behavior.
• Wang Chu and Liu Qing left with their conflict unresolved, and a sinister group in Black Robes arrived at Ruyi Zhai.
• Xiao Cheng eyed the newcomers and thought he could finally test his Rolling Pin.

After Xiao Cheng returned to the Black Corner Region, the Black Skull Tomb tried to recruit him and attacked after he refused. Zi Yan knocked down the two attackers, and Mo Ye prepared to fight as the system activated its defense mode.

• The prices of Osmanthus Cake and fruit wine returned to normal, and Ruyi Zhai remained busy with customers.
• Yao Ye visited Ruyi Zhai, bought pastries and fruit wine, and chatted with Yue'er before leaving.
• Mo Ye of the Black Skull Tomb offered Xiao Cheng a place in the organization and threatened him when he refused.
• Two Black Skull Tomb disciples attacked Xiao Cheng, but Zi Yan struck them down with a fist each.
• Mo Ye erupted with Dou Qi and threatened Xiao Cheng and Zi Yan, while the system activated its defense mode.

Xiao Cheng shocked Mo Ye with lightning and sent the Black Skull Tomb elder and his men away, then welcomed Han Luo of the Blood Sect and sold him pastries at a discount. Mo Ye recovered and set out to seek revenge by reporting Xiao Cheng to the Tomb Master.

• Mo Ye attacked Xiao Cheng, who struck him with lightning until he fainted, then had Fan Qian's men throw him and his disciples away.
• Xiao Cheng played Gomoku with Zi Yan until Han Luo arrived to buy pastries on the Blood Sect sect master's orders.
• Xiao Cheng offered Han Luo a discount, and Han Luo bought ten boxes of Mango Flavor and original Egg Rolls after learning about the pastries' effects.
• Han Luo left, and Xiao Cheng resumed playing Train Game with Zi Yan.
• Mo Ye woke beside his dead disciples, vowed revenge on Xiao Cheng, and headed back to Black Skull Tomb to report him to the Tomb Master.

Mo Tianxing and Fan Lao learned that several factions had found Ruyi Zhai and considered using trouble from the Black Skull Tomb to earn Xiao Cheng’s favor. Xiao Cheng remained unaware of the brewing danger and was driven to exasperation by Zi Yan’s cheating at Train Game.

• Qi Shan told Mo Tianxing that the Earth Flame Sect, Black Skull Tomb, and Mad Lion Gang had visited Ruyi Zhai, and suggested helping its assistants to gain Xiao Cheng’s favor.
• Mo Tianxing agreed to watch for a chance to help Ruyi Zhai and sent Qi Shan to buy its new pastries.
• Fan Ling reported that the Mad Lion Gang, Kui Lang Gang, Black Skull Tomb, and Earth Flame Sect had found Ruyi Zhai, while Demonic Flame Valley was still searching for it.
• Fan Ling told Fan Lao that Xiao Cheng had severely injured Mo Ye and killed his two disciples, prompting them to consider helping Ruyi Zhai when Molhan retaliated.
• Xiao Cheng continued relaxing beside Ruyi Zhai’s little cart while Zi Yan cheated at Train Game and frustrated him.

Xiao Cheng and the Ruyi Zhai staff endured busy days in Rakshasa City and Wutan City as customers rushed to buy discounted pastries. Meanwhile, Molhan secretly left the Black Skull Tomb headquarters to seek revenge on Xiao Cheng, setting out for Rakshasa City.

• Zi Yan bewildered Xiao Cheng with her approach to Train Game, and Xiao Cheng escaped to make pastries when Xiao Yu called him.
• Customers crowded Ruyi Zhai in Wutan City for discounted Osmanthus Cake and fruit wine, tiring Yue'er, Qing Lin, and Xiao Yi Xian.
• Gu Ni arrived looking for Xiao Cheng, learned that the Shop Owner had left, then bought pastries after Gu He explained their effects.
• The Wutan City staff closed the shop and went to rest, while Xiao Cheng finished work in Rakshasa City and prepared to leave with Xiao Yu.
• Molhan ignored the Tomb Master's order to stay away from Ruyi Zhai and secretly headed toward Rakshasa City to take revenge on Xiao Cheng.

After Protector Tie threatened Ruyi Zhai and headed for the Black Corner Region, Xiao Cheng opened the shop with a bruised eye and bought an expensive medicinal Suck-Suck Freeze from the system to heal it. The swelling went down, and he returned to making pastries.

• Protector Tie appeared as Black Mist near Ruyi Zhai, revealed that his cultivation had risen to six-star Dou Zong, and vowed to cause trouble in the Black Corner Region.
• Wang Tianfen witnessed Protector Tie's Black Mist disappear and decided to ask Qing Mang about it.
• Zi Yan accidentally punched Xiao Cheng in the eye while sleepwalking, leaving him with a bruise the next morning.
• Xiao Cheng asked the system for medicine and bought a strawberry-flavored Healing Suck-Suck Freeze for 188,888 Gold Coins.
• Xiao Cheng drank the Healing Suck-Suck Freeze, watched the swelling go down, and began replenishing the pastries.

Xiao Cheng refused Yuan Yi’s proposal to auction his pastries again, then learned that Molhan of the Black Skull Tomb had left to seek revenge against him. Confident that his four-star Dou Ling cultivation and new weapon could handle the threat, Xiao Cheng considered the coming encounter.

• Xiao Cheng told Mu Jie that he would not cooperate in another pastry auction, but sold him five boxes of Original Flavor Egg Rolls.
• Xiao Cheng made Zi Yan’s pastries, and Xue Ni noticed Zi Yan secretly glancing at him as if she wanted to apologize.
• Sun Ming hurried to Xiao Cheng and warned him that Molhan of the Black Skull Tomb had left to seek revenge.
• Xiao Cheng learned Molhan was likely a one- or two-star Dou Ling and declared that he could easily defeat him.

At Ruyi Zhai, Gu He failed to recruit Ao Tuo for a game of chess. In Rakshasa City, Molhan confronted Xiao Cheng to avenge his younger brother, but the system’s defenses struck him with lightning while Xiao Cheng and Zi Yan watched.

• Gu He asked Haibodong to teach him chess, but Haibodong said Gu He would never grasp the game.
• Ao Tuo bought fruit wine and Egg Roll, then declined Gu He’s invitation to play chess.
• Xiao Cheng realized Molhan might come seeking revenge and decided to wait for him in Rakshasa City.
• Molhan found Xiao Cheng and accused him of injuring his younger brother, Mo Ye.
• Molhan attacked Xiao Cheng inside Ruyi Zhai, triggering the system’s defensive lightning.
• Xiao Cheng and Zi Yan watched Molhan dodge the lightning as it continued to strike him.

Xiao Cheng fought Molhan outside the protection of Ruyi Zhai and severely injured him, but Molhan escaped using a secret technique. After the battle, Xiao Cheng returned to the shop to rest.

• Xiao Cheng challenged Molhan with the Dragon Pattern Rolling Pin and gained the upper hand in their first clash.
• Molhan swallowed a red medicinal pill that raised his cultivation to Four-star Dou Ling and attacked Xiao Cheng.
• Xiao Cheng powered up with lightning armor and clashed with Molhan while Che Cheng, Xiao Yu, and Xue Ni watched.
• Xiao Cheng struck Molhan with the Rolling Pin, leaving him seriously injured and spitting blood.
• Molhan used a secret technique to flee, and Xiao Cheng returned to his chair at Ruyi Zhai to rest.

After Xiao Cheng injured Molhan, the Rakshasa Gate and Black Emperor Sect assessed Ruyi Zhai’s growing importance. Mo Tianxing sent his son Mo Ya to work at the shop and report back, leaving the young sect master on his way to Ruyi Zhai.

• Xiao Cheng asked the system about a cultivation room, but it said he lacked permission to access the information.
• Su Mei heard that Xiao Cheng had seriously injured Molhan and told Sun Ming to strengthen his ties with Xiao Cheng and Ruyi Zhai.
• Mo Tianxing learned of Xiao Cheng’s strength and the strange lightning that had struck Molhan, and he decided Ruyi Zhai needed to be reassessed.
• Mo Tianxing summoned Mo Ya, explained Ruyi Zhai’s benefits and the report from Che Cheng, and ordered him to replace Che Cheng as a shop assistant and send the Black Emperor Sect news.
• Mo Ya accepted his father’s order and immediately set out for Ruyi Zhai.