Recaps

Xiao Cheng received a mandatory quest to make and sell one hundred portions of candy, then learned that news of his new Durian Cake had spread across the Black Corner Region. As factions gathered at Ruyi Zhai to buy it, a conspiracy quietly began to brew.

• Su Qian saw that Qi Tianchi's medicinal garden had lost many herbs and felt that something major was about to happen.
• Xiao Cheng received a mandatory quest to sell one hundred portions of candy for a Pastry Cart upgrade opportunity, with a penalty of 1,000 experience points and 500,000 Gold Coins for failure.
• Fan Ling arrived with wild fruits for Egg Rolls and asked Xiao Cheng for free Durian Cake, but Xiao Cheng refused.
• Xiao Cheng began making Egg Rolls while Fan Ling joined the Durian Cake queue.
• Mu Jie, Qi Shan, and Wang Chu hurried to Ruyi Zhai after their factions learned about the new pastry, drawing customers from across the Black Corner Region as a conspiracy brewed.

Xiao Cheng dealt with a broken Egg Roll Machine and received a free packaging machine from the system, then finished Fan Ling’s order and sold him ten boxes of Durian Cakes. As Wang Chu arrived, Xiao Cheng left the customer to Xiao Yu and went back to making pastries, hoping to rest.

• The Egg Roll Machine broke, so Xiao Cheng pressured the system into repairing it and giving him a Fully Automatic Pastry Packaging Machine as compensation.
• Xiao Cheng discovered the packaging machine charged a fee for each operation, then tested it by packaging Egg Rolls into boxes of ten.
• Xiao Cheng finished Fan Ling’s Egg Rolls, and Fan Ling bought ten boxes of Durian Cakes after failing to negotiate a discount.
• After Fan Ling left, Xiao Cheng noticed Zi Yan was absent and reluctantly headed to the kitchen when Xiao Yu said the shop was running low on pastries.
• Xiao Cheng spotted Wang Chu from the Mad Lion Gang arriving, but left Xiao Yu to handle him and focused on making pastries.

Wu Ying persuaded the Black Skull Tomb Master to cooperate against Xiao Cheng, while Xiao Cheng bought a candy-making guide from the system and returned to work at Ruyi Zhai. Qi Shan arrived to buy Durian Cake, bringing Xiao Cheng closer to completing his task.

• Wu Ying offered to help the Black Skull Tomb Master grow stronger in exchange for cooperation, and the Tomb Master agreed to trust him.
• Wang Chu arrived at the shop and ordered as much Durian Cake as he could to keep other factions from buying it all.
• Xiao Cheng asked the system for candy-making instructions, paid 10,000 Gold Coins, and received the guide.
• Xiao Yu told Xiao Cheng that the pastries were running low, so he went to make more.
• Qi Shan arrived at the shop and joined the queue to buy Durian Cake, prompting Xiao Cheng to hope his task would soon be complete.

Wang Tianfen visited Ruyi Zhai on behalf of Heavenly Snake Mansion and quickly reached an initial cooperation agreement with Xiao Yi Xian. He reported the news to Heavenly Snake Mansion and awaited Bai Ya’s response.

• Qing Mang and Wang Tianfen discussed Heavenly Snake Mansion’s order to establish cooperation with Ruyi Zhai and decided they should bring a gift.
• Gu He accidentally fell asleep while working, and Haibodong woke him with a gust of ice-attributed Dou Qi.
• Wang Tianfen arrived without a gift to discuss cooperation, and Gu He mistook his wary behavior for suspicious intent before learning who he was.
• Xiao Yi Xian heard Wang Tianfen’s proposal and agreed that Heavenly Snake Mansion would send people to collect pastries and pay for them.
• A Mittel Auction House representative bought Egg Roll and juice, while Xiao Yi Xian and Yue'er remarked on the shop owner's growing reputation.
• Wang Tianfen sent news of the agreement to Heavenly Snake Mansion and waited for a response.

Zi Yan visited Hu Jia at Jia Nan Academy while Bai Shan, Qin Zhen, and Wu Hao headed to Ruyi Zhai for the new Durian Cake. Back at the shop, Xiao Cheng bought the system’s Maltose ingredients and tools so he could experiment with making fruit-flavored candy.

• Zi Yan met Hu Jia at the Outer Academy, and Hu Jia took her around to play.
• Bai Shan, Qin Zhen, and Wu Hao decided to buy Durian Cake at Ruyi Zhai, and Hu Jia made Bai Shan include her share.
• Xiao Cheng restocked pastries at Ruyi Zhai and sold Qi Shan ten boxes of Durian Cake after refusing to discount the new pastry.
• Xiao Cheng asked the system about making candy and bought the Maltose ingredients and tools for 10,000 Gold Coins.
• Xiao Cheng planned to mix wild fruits into the Maltose and make fruit-flavored candy.

Yuan Yi discovered that Durian Cake refined fighting techniques, prompting several factions to seek more. Meanwhile, Xiao Cheng made and launched Fruity Malt Candy, which he planned to start selling the next morning.

• Mu Jie brought Durian Cake to Yuan Yi, who endured its strange taste and found that it improved his fighting techniques.
• Yuan Yi ordered Mu Jie to buy more Durian Cake and considered giving the remaining pieces to Eight Sects Gate elders or disciples.
• Fan Lao learned that Durian Cake had been released and sent Fan Ling back to Ruyi Zhai to buy some.
• Xiao Cheng prepared Fruity Malt Candy, packaged it in boxes, and set its price at 2,188 Gold Coins per box.
• Xiao Cheng launched Fruity Malt Candy and decided to begin selling it the next morning.

Wu Tie discovered that Durian Cake improved combat-skill mastery despite its awful taste, and ordered Wang Chu to buy more as other factions sought it out. The next morning, Xiao Cheng’s stall drew Su Mei and Liu Qing, while he busied himself making more pastries and preparing to brew fruit wine.

• Wang Chu told Wu Tie that Mu Jie of the Eight Sects Gate had visited Ruyi Zhai, then handed over the Durian Cake he had bought.
• Wu Tie ate a piece of Durian Cake and experienced a phantom demonstrating his combat skills, which became more refined; he praised the cake’s effect and ordered Wang Chu to return with more pastries.
• Xiao Cheng and his companions reopened their stall, where Su Mei requested a discount and bought ten boxes of Durian Cake.
• Liu Qing of the Earth Flame Sect arrived to buy pastries and purchased fifteen boxes of Durian Cake.
• After Liu Qing left, Xiao Cheng finished making pastries and prepared to stock candy and make fruit wine.

At Ruyi Zhai in Wutan City, Xiao Yi Xian and the others sold pastries to visitors from the Heavenly Snake Mansion and Misty Cloud Sect, while hearing that Yun Shan might come to the shop. In Rakshasa City, Xiao Cheng put Fruity Malt Candy on sale and received Fan Ling and three disheveled visitors from Jia Nan Academy as the Black Skull Tomb began making moves.

• Elder Qing visited Ruyi Zhai to discuss cooperation, bought pastries and fruit wine, and left without causing trouble.
• Ao Tuo hurried into Ruyi Zhai to buy Egg Rolls, while Gu He grumbled and Haibodong gave him a cold look.
• Ge Ye bought pastries and told Xiao Yi Xian that Yun Shan might come to Ruyi Zhai.
• Xiao Cheng checked the wine-making machine, put Fruity Malt Candy on sale for 2,188 Gold Coins per box, and promised Fan Ling more new food.
• Bai Shan, Qin Zhen, and Wu Hao arrived to see Xiao Cheng looking disheveled, as the Black Skull Tomb began making small moves.

Xiao Cheng served Steamed Soup Dumplings to Fan Ling and Bai Shan, Qin Zhen, and Wu Hao, whose cultivation improved after eating them. He accepted the system’s Combat Trial Mission and entered its virtual space, where the mission prompt made him furious.

• Bai Shan, Qin Zhen, and Wu Hao visited Xiao Cheng’s shop, met Fan Ling, and asked about the new pastries.
• Xiao Cheng prepared Steamed Soup Dumplings, and everyone ate them eagerly before discovering they had increased their cultivation.
• Bai Shan, Qin Zhen, and Wu Hao bought pastries and left, while Fan Ling stayed behind.
• Xiao Cheng checked his mission progress, saw that around fifty boxes of Durian Cake had sold, and reviewed his Personal Panel.
• The system offered Xiao Cheng a Combat Trial Mission, and he accepted after learning it took place in a virtual space through mental power.
• Xiao Cheng entered the starry virtual space and cursed the system after reading the mission prompt.

Xiao Cheng hunted Void Spirits in the system’s virtual space to complete his combat trial. After killing one Basic and one Advanced Void Spirit, he continued searching, unaware that the system had prepared a dangerous surprise for him in the Void Spirit Tower.

• Xiao Cheng learned that Basic Void Spirits drained mental energy while Advanced Void Spirits could damage his soul, then killed a Basic Void Spirit with his lightning-infused palm.
• Xiao Cheng encountered a red Advanced Void Spirit, dodged its attacks, and discovered he could bring the Dragon Pattern Rolling Pin into the virtual space.
• Xiao Cheng learned from the system that an Advanced Void Spirit could only be killed by destroying its Spirit Core.
• Xiao Cheng spotted the Advanced Void Spirit’s Spirit Core on its left chest and shattered it with the Rolling Pin, killing the creature.
• Xiao Cheng resumed searching for Void Spirits, while the system’s prepared surprise awaited him in the Void Spirit Tower.

Xiao Cheng hunted Void Spirits in the virtual space and learned that physical attacks could not harm a yellow-grade advanced Void Spirit. As Mo Ya headed for Rakshasa City and Ruyi Zhai drew crowds for its new pastries, Xiao Cheng was left searching for another way to defeat the spirit.

• Crowds gathered at Ruyi Zhai to buy Xiao Cheng's new candy, and Su Mei joined the line while Xiao Yu and Xue Ni admired his food.
• Mo Ya escaped the Black Emperor Sect, and Mo Tianxing let him go, expecting him to visit Xiao Cheng in Rakshasa City.
• Xiao Cheng killed several Void Spirits, learned that advanced spirits had color-coded grades, and found two beginner spirits to bring their kill count to the required number.
• Xiao Cheng decided to seek the Void Spirit Tower, but first found a yellow-grade advanced Void Spirit whose attacks passed through him.
• The system told Xiao Cheng that physical attacks were ineffective, leaving him cursing the system and searching for another method.

Xiao Cheng accidentally triggered the Void Spirit Tower’s Hell Mode trial after entering without choosing a difficulty, while Liu Qing reported on Ruyi Zhai’s pastries to Yan. Xiao Cheng began facing the tower’s challenge, and Yan sent Liu Qing to buy more pastries and candy.

• Xiao Cheng defeated a high-level Void Spirit, then found more than thirty Void Spirits guarding the tower and fought his way through them.
• Xiao Cheng entered the Void Spirit Tower without using the difficulty-selection screen and learned that the tower had automatically started him on Hell Mode.
• The system told Xiao Cheng that leaving the tower would count as quest failure, so he accepted the trial and began fighting inside.
• Liu Qing told Yan that rival forces were buying Xiao Cheng’s Durian Cake, and Yan tasted it and experienced its effects.
• Yan told Liu Qing to return to Ruyi Zhai for more Durian Cake and Fruity Malt Candy, then stored the candy in his Cosmic Ring.
• Xiao Cheng asked the system how many floors the tower had and learned it had twelve.

Xiao Cheng cleared the Void Spirit Tower’s final floor, defeating two light-blue Void Spirits and a blue one to complete the Combat Trial Mission. The system awarded him 10,000 Experience Points, and he left the virtual space excited to celebrate with a meal.

• Xiao Cheng fought through the Void Spirit Tower’s floors, reaching the twelfth and final floor.
• Three high-grade Void Spirits appeared, and Xiao Cheng targeted the two light-blue ones while dodging the blue one’s coordinated attacks.
• Xiao Cheng destroyed the first light-blue Void Spirit’s Spirit Core, then killed the second after spotting its weakness.
• Xiao Cheng provoked the blue Void Spirit as it began showing signs of turning purple, then beat it before destroying its Spirit Core.
• The system awarded Xiao Cheng 10,000 Experience Points for completing the Combat Trial Mission, and he exited the virtual space.
• Xiao Cheng woke in the afternoon, remembered his reward, and decided to cook a delicious meal before checking his Personal Panel.

Wang Tianfen and Qing Mang arranged a monthly pastry order with Xiao Yi Xian for the Heavenly Snake Mansion, while Xiao Cheng celebrated new system rewards and learned he was close to reaching Level 6. When Mo Ya appeared at the cart kitchen, Xiao Cheng asked him to tell his story but focused instead on the experience points he was earning.

• Wang Tianfen asked Xiao Yi Xian to supply the Heavenly Snake Mansion with pastries each month, and she agreed as long as they could substitute other pastries when needed.
• Wang Tianfen told Qing Mang that Xiao Yi Xian seemed unusual, then chased him after asking him to repay the Gold Coins he had borrowed.
• Xiao Cheng made Ramen and received a Crispy Rice recipe from the system after completing a quest.
• Xiao Cheng checked his Personal Panel and saw that he needed nine more experience points to advance to Level 6 Shopkeeper.
• Xiao Yu spotted Mo Ya, and Xiao Cheng invited him to sit down and tell the story of his confinement while watching his experience points.

Xiao Cheng took Mo Ya back with him, then learned that he had reached Level 6 Shopkeeper and unlocked a paid pastry auto-restocking function. The next morning, he opened for business and reluctantly went to make Mo Ya some small Wontons.

• Xiao Cheng invited Mo Ya to stay with his group, and Mo Ya noticed the wine-making machine and Egg Roll Machine as they packed up for the night.
• Mu Jie told Yuan Yi that Earth Flame Sect members had bought pastries and that Xiao Cheng had introduced candy, so Yuan Yi sent a disciple to buy as much as possible.
• Mo Ya woke Xiao Cheng early, then refused to help set up the shop and called himself a salted fish.
• The system announced Xiao Cheng had reached Level 6 Shopkeeper and unlocked paid auto-restocking for pastries he had made before, but not for wine or Egg Rolls.
• Xiao Cheng inspected his panel, saw he needed far more experience to advance, and eventually paid fifty thousand Gold Coins to permanently unlock auto-restocking.
• Mo Ya asked for small Wontons, and Xiao Cheng went to make them despite his frustration.

At Ruyi Zhai, Mitel Tengshan visited to sample the pastries and asked when Xiao Cheng would return, while Xiao Cheng hired Mo Ya and welcomed Zi Yan back after she completed the herb-gathering task. The chapter ended with Tengshan visiting Xiao Cheng at the cart and asking about his new pastries.

• Mitel Tengshan visited Ruyi Zhai, bought pastries, and asked Xiao Yi Xian when Xiao Cheng would return; Haibodong found his behavior suspicious.
• Xiao Cheng prepared little wontons for Mo Ya, Xiao Yu, and the others, then offered Mo Ya a job with one kind of pastry as monthly wages.
• Mo Ya agreed, signed an internship contract, and became Ruyi Zhai's second Intern Employee, assigned to odd jobs.
• Zi Yan returned and told Xiao Cheng she had emptied the herb garden while Su Qian was away.
• Xiao Cheng praised Zi Yan's luck and went to make pastries for her as a reward.
• Mitel Tengshan visited Xiao Cheng at the cart and asked about the newly added pastries.

Mo Ya settled into his work at Ruyi Zhai, where Zi Yan overwhelmed him in a game of Train Game before an Eight Sects Gate disciple bought candy. Xiao Cheng then trained Mo Ya to make drinks and Egg Roll, discovering that he was naturally skilled with the machines.

• Mo Ya fetched wild fruits for Xiao Cheng, met Zi Yan, and watched her eat an entire plate of pastries.
• Zi Yan taught Mo Ya Train Game, then began cheating until he gave up playing.
• An elite disciple from the Eight Sects Gate arrived and bought twenty boxes of candy from Xiao Cheng.
• Xiao Cheng offered to teach Mo Ya to make drinks and Egg Roll, warning that any broken machines would be paid for out of his pastry wages.
• Mo Ya studied the machine manuals and proved surprisingly skilled at operating the machines.

Xiao Cheng hosted Fan Ling, learned that Zi Yan’s herbs left him two short of the amount needed for a recipe, and received a deadline to improve Sticky Rice Strips. Meanwhile, Su Qian searched Jia Nan Academy for the person he believed had raided the herb garden, unaware that Zi Yan was responsible.

• Xiao Cheng had Mo Ya make fruit wine, then sold Fan Ling boxes of egg rolls, Osmanthus Cake, and candy when he visited Ruyi Zhai.
• Fan Ling and Mo Ya recognized each other and chatted after Fan Ling discovered Mo Ya was working at Ruyi Zhai.
• Xiao Cheng learned from the System that Zi Yan had brought back only thirty-two spiritual herbs, leaving him two short of the recipe requirement.
• Xiao Cheng checked his dessert sales, questioned why the Crispy Rice recipe lacked a sweet flavor, and received a notification to improve Sticky Rice Strips by the end of the day.
• Su Qian found the herb garden at Jia Nan Academy raided again and searched for the culprit, unaware Zi Yan had stolen the herbs.

The Tomb Master and Wu Ying plotted to disguise their identities and steal pastries from Ruyi Zhai customers, while Xiao Cheng declined two sects’ requests for cooperation and offered them discounts instead. Xiao Cheng left Mo Ya to play Gomoku with Zi Yan, where Mo Ya discovered that she cheated just as relentlessly as she had against Xiao Cheng.

• The Tomb Master revealed his plan to rob people who had bought Ruyi Zhai pastries, and Wu Ying agreed to help disguise the thieves’ identities.
• After Wu Ying left, the Tomb Master privately resolved to keep using Soul Hall’s resources while hiding his distrust of Wu Ying.
• Xiao Cheng turned down cooperation with the Beast Taming Sect and Magic Saber Sect, but offered both sects a twenty percent discount on bulk purchases.
• Mo Ya worked on making Egg Roll and fruit wine, then told Xiao Yu and Xue Ni that he hoped Xiao Cheng would accept him as a disciple.
• Xiao Cheng handed Mo Ya over to Zi Yan for Gomoku after she cheated and threw a tantrum during their game.
• Zi Yan taught Mo Ya Gomoku and continued cheating, leaving him unable to challenge her and silently appealing to Xiao Cheng for help.

Hu Gan visited Xiao Cheng’s pastry shop, where he watched Zi Yan bully Mo Ya at chess and asked for pastries and fruit wine. Meanwhile, Yun Shan decided to visit Ruyi Zhai in Wutan City, and Bai Ya gathered the Heavenly Snake Mansion’s elders after the pastries helped many of them grow stronger.

• Hu Gan arrived at Xiao Cheng’s shop, and Xiao Cheng suspected he had come because of Zi Yan and Su Qian.
• Hu Gan praised the shop and asked Xiao Cheng for pastries and fruit wine, then watched Zi Yan steer Mo Ya toward defeat at chess.
• Yun Shan learned that the Misty Cloud Sect’s cooperation with Ruyi Zhai had been accepted and decided to visit the shop in Wutan City.
• Bai Ya’s strength and the Heavenly Snake Mansion’s overall power increased after they obtained Ruyi Zhai’s pastries.
• Bai Ya gathered the Heavenly Snake Mansion’s elders and senior members to discuss something.

Bai Ya decided to visit Ruyi Zhai in Wutan City personally to discuss closer cooperation after learning how valuable its pastries were. At the shop, Xiao Cheng served Headmaster Hu Gan ten bottles of fruit wine, and Hu Gan left after declaring his personal business finished.

• Bai Ya told the Heavenly Snake Mansion’s elders and disciples that he would visit Ruyi Zhai and left the First Elder in charge while he was away.
• Elder Qing broke through a minor realm after eating Ruyi Zhai pastries, and Wang Tianfen told him about pastries that could also enhance the soul and nourish meridians.
• Elder Qing received word that Bai Ya was coming to Wutan City, surprising him and Qing Mang.
• Gu He dismantled a Rubik’s Cube after failing to repair it, then sat in frustration while Haibodong mocked him.
• Xiao Cheng arranged for Mo Ya to bring Headmaster Hu Gan ten bottles of fruit wine, and Hu Gan stored them in his Cosmic Ring and left.
• Xiao Cheng suspected that Hu Gan’s personal business had only been an excuse to obtain wine.

Xiao Cheng prepared to make Crispy Rice, accepted a spiritual medicine gift, and sold new Fruity Malt Candy to visitors from the Eight Sects Gate and Earth Flame Sect. Meanwhile, Wu Tie discovered that the candy strengthened Dou Qi and the body, prompting him to order more.

• Xiao Cheng decided to try every ingredient for Crispy Rice as Mo Ya begged him for help while Zi Yan beat him.
• An Eight Sects Gate disciple gave Xiao Cheng two Mysterious Tier Spiritual Medicines, allowing him to complete a quest, and Xiao Cheng accepted the gift.
• Xiao Cheng declined the Earth Flame Sect Sect Master's invitation, then sold Fruity Malt Candy and other pastries to the Eight Sects Gate disciple and Elder Zhang.
• Xiao Cheng learned that shared shop access would unlock at Shopkeeper Level Seven, then watched Mo Ya recover from Zi Yan's beating.
• Wu Tie ate Fruity Malt Candy, found that it increased and purified his Dou Qi while strengthening his body, and sent Wang Chu to order more.

Xiao Cheng complained about the system and triggered a new task requiring him to upgrade three existing pastries, while Yuan Yi credited Ruyi Zhai’s pastries for his breakthrough and sought closer ties with the shop. As Xiao Cheng went to restock pastries, a grumpy Zi Yan spotted Mo Ya approaching.

• Yuan Yi broke through from the peak of the two-star Dou Huang realm to the four-star Dou Huang realm after eating pastries from Ruyi Zhai, and told Mu Jie that the Eight Sects Gate should strengthen its relationship with the shop.
• The next morning, Xiao Cheng found that Zi Yan had drooled on his shoulder during the night and opened the shop with Xiao Yu and the others.
• Xiao Cheng checked the task list, complained that the existing pastries needed upgrades, and triggered the Pastry Upgrade Battle task.
• The system required Xiao Cheng to upgrade three types of existing pastries, warning that failure would cost him three pastry types; Xiao Cheng chose which ones to improve.
• Xiao Yu called Xiao Cheng to restock the pastries, while a grumpy Zi Yan noticed Mo Ya strolling toward the shop.

Xiao Yi Xian received a cooperation proposal from Bai Ya of the Heavenly Snake Mansion and asked him to wait for Xiao Cheng to return. Meanwhile, Xiao Cheng created two upgraded pastries and put them on sale, while Yan sent Elder Zhang to monitor Ruyi Zhai near Rakshasa City.

• Bai Ya introduced himself to Xiao Yi Xian as a representative of the Heavenly Snake Mansion and proposed trading pastries for the faction's help and resources.
• Xiao Yi Xian declined to decide on the cooperation herself, so Bai Ya agreed to wait in Wutan City for Xiao Cheng's return.
• Xiao Cheng made Nut Mixed Candy and Peanut Stuffed Date Cake, set each pastry's price at 132 Gold Coins, and had Xiao Yu announce them as upgraded versions.
• Yan learned that the Eight Sects Gate had also bought pastries and ordered Elder Zhang to monitor Ruyi Zhai's movements near Rakshasa City.

Xiao Cheng considered how to help Su Mei improve the talent of Rakshasa Gate's new disciples and decided to explore upgrading Sticky Rice Strips. The chapter left him pondering what direction the upgrade should take.

• Zi Yan spotted the new pastries and left her chess game with Mo Ya to ask Xiao Yu for some.
• The system told Xiao Cheng that 123 boxes of Durian Cake had sold and offered him a quest reward, but he chose not to claim it yet.
• Fan Qian visited Xiao Cheng and asked whether Honeyed Shortbread could help his unhealthy friend.
• Su Mei told Xiao Cheng that Rakshasa Gate needed a way to improve its new disciples' uneven talent, and Xiao Cheng promised to find a solution.
• After Su Mei left, Xiao Cheng regretted agreeing and considered upgrading Sticky Rice Strips to improve talent.