Recaps

Yue'er settled in as a shop assistant at Ruyi Zhai, while Xiao Cheng and Xiao Zhan discussed the mysterious item scheduled for auction. A steward from the Mitel Family visited the shop, recognized Yue'er as a princess, and left with new information to report to his family head.

• Yue'er told her guards she intended to work at Ruyi Zhai, and they left to report her decision to the palace.
• Yue'er and Xiao Zhan argued over whether sweet or savory Small Fried Dough Twists tasted better, while Xiao Cheng dodged choosing a side.
• Xiao Zhan asked Xiao Cheng about the mysterious auction item, guessed it might be Cream Cake, and bought savory Small Fried Dough Twists before leaving for the auction.
• A steward from the Mitel Family entered Ruyi Zhai, recognized Princess Yue'er, and was startled by the pastry prices.
• The steward bought several pastries and hurried away to report Yue'er's presence at the shop to his family head.

As powerful factions gathered at the Mittel Auction House, they speculated about the mysterious item and prepared to compete for it. The auction hall filled as a woman in a red qipao took the stage, signaling the auction’s start.

• Xiao Zhan arrived with Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er, and they entered a private room.
• Jia Lie Bi and Jia Lie'ao exchanged hostile words with Ao Ba Pa before going to their rooms.
• Ge Ye arrived representing the Misty Cloud Sect, and Xiao Yan vowed not to let the sect obtain the mysterious item.
• Xiao Zhan told Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er that the item was likely Ruyi Zhai's Cream Cake, but kept his reasoning to himself.
• A Jia Ma Imperial Family guard arrived, while the family’s important figure remained at Ruyi Zhai.
• A woman in a red qipao stepped onto the stage, and the crowded hall fell silent as the auction was about to begin.

At the Mittel Auction House, Xiao Yan declined to bid on Qi Gathering Powder while the auction continued. Meanwhile, Xiao Cheng outfitted Yue'er and Xiao Yi Xian in new uniforms and checked his shop quests, finding that only eleven jin of Small Fried Dough Twists remained to earn a Mysterious Scratch Card.

• Ya Fei opened the Mittel Auction House's Mysterious Items Auction, and Xiao Xun'er teased Xiao Yan about finding her pretty.
• Xiao Yan refused Xiao Zhan's offer to bid on Qi Gathering Powder, which sold for two thousand Gold Coins.
• Xiao Cheng collected two black Tang-style uniforms from the kitchen and gave them to Yue'er and Xiao Yi Xian to wear.
• Xiao Cheng checked his Personal Panel and saw that his Small Fried Dough Twist quest had reached 89 of 100 jin.
• Xiao Cheng hoped the Mysterious Scratch Card would give him a bodyguard to protect him while he was still weak.

Ya Fei revealed that the auction’s mysterious item was a Cream Cake from Ruyi Zhai, which could raise a cultivator’s realm but only worked three times per person. The auction began, with Ge Ye and others intent on winning it while the Xiao Clan chose not to bid.

• Jia Lie Bi told Jia Lie'ao that the Jia Lie Clan could not afford to provoke the Misty Cloud Sect, though they might investigate the Cream Cake’s supplier afterward.
• Ya Fei unveiled the Cream Cake, and Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan, and Xiao Xun'er recognized it and decided to buy one from Ruyi Zhai instead of bidding.
• Ge Ye recognized Ruyi Zhai’s packaging and resolved to win the Cream Cake, while Ao Ba Pa also wanted it to gain an advantage over Jia Lie Bi.
• Ya Fei announced that the Cream Cake could raise cultivation by up to two minor realms below Dou Master, but each person could use it only three times.
• The crowd began bidding while the people in the private rooms waited to join the competition later.

At the Mittel Auction House, the Misty Cloud Sect won the Cream Cake for 170,000 Gold Coins after outbidding the Mitel Family. Ya Fei announced that more Cream Cakes would appear at future auctions, and Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan, and Xiao Xun'er headed to Ruyi Zhai to reserve some.

• Ge Ye decided to buy the Cream Cake for the Misty Cloud Sect rather than keep it for himself.
• Xiao Zhan bid 55,000 Gold Coins to provoke Jia Lie Bi, who raised the price to 60,000 Gold Coins.
• The Mitel Family and Misty Cloud Sect bid against each other until Ge Ye secured the Cream Cake for 170,000 Gold Coins.
• Ya Fei announced that the Mittel Auction House would auction more Cream Cakes in the future.
• Xiao Zhan told his group that Shop Owner Xiao at Ruyi Zhai supplied the pastries, and Xiao Yan suggested they go reserve some.

Xiao Cheng served Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan, and Xiao Xun'er at Ruyi Zhai while preparing their reserved Cream Cakes, and Ge Ye arrived to buy pastries for the Misty Cloud Sect. While working in the kitchen, Xiao Cheng claimed a quest reward and won a Dou Zong-realm Mechanical Puppet, which he stored for later.

• Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan, and Xiao Xun'er visited Ruyi Zhai, reserved all three Cream Cake slots, and ordered pastries from Xiao Yi Xian and Yue'er.
• Ge Ye entered the shop, faced the Xiao Clan's cold reception, bought pastries, and left after Xiao Cheng warned him not to cause trouble.
• Xiao Yan vowed that Nalan Yanran would regret breaking their engagement, and Xiao Xun'er comforted him as the three returned to the Xiao Clan.
• Xiao Cheng completed the Small Fried Dough Twist quest and claimed a Mysterious Scratch Card from Xiao Dian.
• Xiao Cheng scratched the card and received a Dou Zong-realm Mechanical Puppet, then left it in his inventory while he finished making the Cream Cakes.

Xiao Cheng finished making the Cream Cakes, received an invitation to visit the Mittel Family, and prepared new pastries for Ruyi Zhai. He brought the Mechanical Puppet to the shop as Xiao Wu, introducing him as a relative and making him the shop’s security guard.

• The Mittel Family’s steward invited Xiao Cheng to visit the family in the Imperial Capital, and Xiao Cheng said he might visit when he went there.
• Jia Lie Bi ordered Jia Lie'ao to investigate the source of the Cream Cakes and obtain more, warning him not to expose himself.
• Xiao Cheng prepared pastries and gave Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er the three Cream Cakes they had ordered.
• Xiao Cheng checked his Personal Panel and saw that his Honeyed Shortbread quest was still incomplete.
• Xiao Cheng named the Mechanical Puppet Xiao Wu and instructed him to pose as a relative seeking cultivation resources.
• Xiao Cheng introduced Xiao Wu to Xiao Yi Xian and the others, and Xiao Wu joined Ruyi Zhai as its security guard.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er shared Cream Cake with Xiao Zhan, and its energy advanced all three of them before Xiao Yan gave the last cake to Xiao Mei, who reached Two-star Dou Zhe. Meanwhile, Xiao Cheng received a seven-day candy-selling quest from Xiao Dian and complained about its timing and punishment.

• Xiao Yan, Xiao Xun'er, and Xiao Zhan divided the Cream Cakes, ate one together, and sent another to Xiao Mei.
• The Cream Cake's energy advanced Xiao Yan to One-Star Dou Zhe, Xiao Xun'er to Three-star Dou Zhe, and Xiao Zhan to Four-star Great Dou Master.
• Xiao Yan delivered the remaining Cream Cake to Xiao Mei, who ate it and advanced from Ninth Stage of Dou Qi to Two-star Dou Zhe.
• Xiao Cheng discovered Xiao Dian's quest to sell one hundred pieces of Sesame Candy or Melon Seed Candy within seven days, with Shino's Parasitic Insect Gift Pack as the failure penalty.
• Xiao Cheng accused Xiao Dian of releasing the quest late and asked for compensation, but Xiao Dian refused.

Xiao Cheng ran Ruyi Zhai with Xiao Wu guarding the shop while Yue'er quickly mastered Gomoku and defeated him. Back at the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Yun sampled Ruyi Zhai's pastries and decided the sect should form friendly relations with the shop, leaving her curious about Xiao Cheng.

• Xiao Cheng introduced Xiao Wu as the shop's quiet guard to Payne and Xiao Lu, who bought Sesame Candy and Honeyed Shortbread before leaving.
• Xiao Cheng lost more than ten Gomoku games to Yue'er and retreated to the back kitchen while Yue'er began teaching Xiao Yi Xian.
• Ge Ye returned to the Misty Cloud Sect and presented Yun Yun with the Cream Cake he had won at auction, explaining its cultivation effects and limits.
• Ge Ye gave Yun Yun Peach Pastry, Peanut Candy, and Small Fried Dough Twists from Ruyi Zhai, and she sensed their effects on her Dou Qi.
• Yun Yun told Ge Ye that the Misty Cloud Sect should befriend Ruyi Zhai's owner, then continued tasting the pastries and wondering what Xiao Cheng was like.

Xiao Cheng received a quest to design new shop assistant uniforms for Ruyi Zhai after arguing with Xiao Dian about the current outfits. At the Mittel Family, Mitel Tengshan learned that Ruyi Zhai’s pastries could boost cultivation and decided to befriend Xiao Cheng.

• Xiao Mei visited Ruyi Zhai, bought Sesame Candy and Melon Seed Candy, and asked whether the shop sold Cream Cake.
• Xiao Cheng complained to Xiao Dian about Yue'er and Xiao Yi Xian’s uniforms, triggering a quest to design suitable replacements within two days.
• Xiao Cheng read that failing the quest would force him to wear a penguin mascot costume and sell pastries for a day.
• The steward reported to Mitel Tengshan that the family had failed to obtain Cream Cake at auction, then introduced him to Ruyi Zhai’s cultivation-enhancing pastries.
• Mitel Tengshan sampled the pastries, noticed their effects, and told the steward to try to befriend Xiao Cheng.

Xiao Cheng chose light-cyan Qipaos for Ruyi Zhai’s staff and claimed his side-quest reward, bringing his shopkeeper experience close to the next level. Xiao Ning visited to buy Honeyed Shortbread, but Xiao Wu restrained him after he pointed at the guard, leaving Xiao Ning intimidated as he departed.

• Xiao Cheng asked Xiao Yi Xian and Yue'er about uniform colors, chose light-cyan Qipaos, and paid Xiao Dian to make two.
• Xiao Cheng claimed the completed side-quest reward and saw that his shopkeeper experience had reached 221/300 while his Honeyed Shortbread sales stood at 67/100.
• Xiao Ning arrived at Ruyi Zhai and was immediately pinned by Xiao Wu after pointing at him.
• Xiao Cheng ordered Xiao Wu to release Xiao Ning and explained that Xiao Wu was the shop's guard.
• Xiao Ning bought ten jin of Honeyed Shortbread from Xiao Yi Xian and left wary of Xiao Wu.

Xiao Yan continued cultivating while Old Yao told him he would need six more days before he could learn Eight Extremes Collapse. Xiao Cheng then agreed to cooperate with Ao Ba Pa, leaving Ruyi Zhai with a signed contract and a warning to watch Jia Lie Bi.

• Xiao Mei asked Xiao Ning why he looked unwell, and he blamed his bad mood while his arm still hurt from Xiao Wu's lesson.
• Xiao Yan reached One-Star Dou Zhe and asked Old Yao to teach him Eight Extremes Collapse, but Old Yao said he needed six more days of training first.
• Xiao Cheng considered getting a mascot for Ruyi Zhai, then decided his priority was building the shop's reputation and gauging the Misty Cloud Sect's response.
• Ao Ba Pa offered to send his family's younger members to buy pastries in exchange for advance notice of new releases, and Xiao Cheng accepted.
• Ao Ba Pa and Xiao Cheng signed matching contracts, and Xiao Cheng warned Ao Ba Pa to keep an eye on Jia Lie Bi.

Ao Ba Pa partnered with Ruyi Zhai, prompting the Xiao Clan to consider an alliance with him while Jia Lie Bi plotted to exploit the families’ rivalry. After Xiao Cheng was repeatedly beaten at Gomoku, Xiao Dian gave him a quest to teach Dou Dizhu and win, leaving him planning how to restore his reputation.

• Ao Ba Pa announced his partnership with Ruyi Zhai, delighting his family, while Jia Lie Bi learned of the deal and plotted to use it against the Xiao and Ao Ba Pa families.
• Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders discussed Ao Ba Pa’s partnership and decided to seek cooperation among the Xiao Clan, Ao Ba Pa, and Xiao Cheng to restrain Jia Lie Bi.
• Yue'er coaxed Xiao Cheng into playing Gomoku against Xiao Yi Xian, who beat him in five of their seven rounds.
• Xiao Dian offered Xiao Cheng a quest to teach his employees Dou Dizhu and prove his skill, with a pet card as the reward and a permanent losing-at-games buff as the failure penalty.
• Xiao Cheng learned that Xiao Dian would provide the cards and began considering how to use Dou Dizhu to regain his reputation.

Xiao Cheng introduced Dou Dizhu to Xiao Yi Xian and Yue'er, but Yue'er won their first round before Gu Ni arrived with an invitation from Mitel Tengshan. Xiao Cheng declined to visit the Mittel Family for now and checked that he had sold 80 of the 100 jin of Honeyed Shortbread required for his quest.

• Xiao Cheng struggled to beat Xiao Yi Xian at Gomoku until she suggested they try another game.
• Xiao Cheng taught Xiao Yi Xian and Yue'er the rules of Dou Dizhu, and Yue'er won their first round.
• Gu Ni arrived to buy pastries on Mitel Tengshan's orders and invited Xiao Cheng to the Mittel Family to discuss further cooperation.
• Xiao Cheng declined the invitation for now, and Gu Ni bought pastries before leaving the shop.
• Xiao Cheng checked his Personal Panel and saw that his Honeyed Shortbread quest had reached 80/100 jin.

Xiao Cheng managed a sudden rush of customers at Ruyi Zhai and completed his Main Quest, earning the recipe for God-tier Mung Bean Cakes. He bought peeled mung beans and went to the kitchen to make the cakes and restock the pastries.

• Ao Di visited Ruyi Zhai, bought pastries, and left before a large crowd poured into the shop.
• Xiao Cheng quieted the noisy crowd and had the customers line up while he, Xiao Yi Xian, and Yue'er served them.
• After the customers left, Xiao Cheng checked his quest progress and claimed the Main Quest reward, receiving the God-tier Mung Bean Cakes recipe.
• Xiao Cheng bought peeled mung beans from Xiao Dian and reviewed his Personal Panel, including his ongoing side quests and shopkeeper experience.
• Xiao Cheng instructed Xiao Yi Xian and headed to the back kitchen to prepare Mung Bean Cakes and replenish the pastries.

Xiao Cheng made Mung Bean Cakes that eased Xiao Yi Xian’s Calamity Poison Body and improved Yue’er’s health, then refused Ge Ye’s invitation to cooperate with the Misty Cloud Sect. He returned to Ruyi Zhai and considered how to strengthen his shop assistants.

• Xiao Cheng prepared Mung Bean Cakes and shared them with Xiao Yi Xian and Yue’er, who both noticed their bodies felt lighter after eating them.
• Xiao Cheng explained that Mung Bean Cakes could gradually remove toxins, and Xiao Yi Xian quietly seemed to make a decision.
• Ge Ye visited Ruyi Zhai on the Misty Cloud Sect leader’s orders and invited Xiao Cheng to discuss cooperation.
• Xiao Cheng tactfully refused Ge Ye’s invitation, privately thinking he would visit the Misty Cloud Sect only when Xiao Yan went there.
• After Ge Ye left, Xiao Cheng wondered how to improve his shop assistants’ strength and decided he might need to ask Xiao Dian for help.

Xiao Cheng played Dou Dizhu with Xiao Yi Xian and Yue'er, then claimed a Random Pet Card after completing a side quest. The next morning, he made Mung Bean Cakes and received a quest to sell one hundred of them within seven days.

• Xiao Dian told Xiao Cheng that reaching Shopkeeper Level Two would bring unexpected surprises, and Xiao Cheng decided to work toward leveling up.
• Xiao Cheng played several rounds of Dou Dizhu with Xiao Yi Xian and Yue'er, winning most of them before they closed the shop for the night.
• Xiao Cheng claimed the completed side quest's Random Pet Card and stored it in his inventory without inspecting it.
• Xiao Cheng prepared one hundred Mung Bean Cakes the next morning, and Xiao Dian set their price at 128 Gold Coins each.
• Xiao Dian gave Xiao Cheng a seven-day quest to sell one hundred Mung Bean Cakes, with a reward of two minor realms and a mung-bean-flavor punishment for failure.

Xiao Cheng sold Xiao Xun'er three Mung Bean Cakes, then used a Random Pet Card to obtain a kitten he named Bai Suzhen. After Old Yao discovered that Xiao Yan had been poisoned by a contaminated herb, Xiao Yan set off for Ruyi Zhai to ask Xiao Cheng for help.

• Xiao Xun'er hurried to Ruyi Zhai, bought three Mung Bean Cakes for their detoxifying effect, and left in a hurry.
• Xiao Cheng used a Random Pet Card and received an ordinary female kitten, whom he named Bai Suzhen.
• Bai Suzhen cuddled up to Xiao Cheng and rejected Yue'er when she tried to pet her.
• Old Yao discovered toxins in Xiao Yan that could slow his cultivation, and Xiao Yan traced them to magical beast venom in one of his herbs.
• Old Yao suggested that Xiao Yan ask Shop Owner Xiao for help, so Xiao Yan headed to Ruyi Zhai.

Xiao Cheng sold Mung Bean Cakes at Ruyi Zhai, and Xiao Yan bought some to clear toxins from his body. After Old Yao confirmed the cakes were working, he planned for Xiao Yan to train in the Monster Mountain Range and cultivate Eight Extremes Collapse.

• Xiao Yan hurried to Ruyi Zhai and asked Xiao Cheng for help clearing toxins from his body.
• Xiao Cheng offered Xiao Yan Mung Bean Cakes, and Xiao Yan reduced his order from five to two after learning each cost 128 Gold Coins.
• Xiao Yi Xian introduced the Mung Bean Cakes to customers, and Xiao Cheng's quest panel showed that nineteen had been sold.
• Xiao Yan ate a Mung Bean Cake at home, and Old Yao confirmed that it had removed most of the toxins from his body.
• Old Yao told Xiao Yan to buy enough pastries for three days and prepare to train in the Monster Mountain Range while learning Eight Extremes Collapse.
• Xiao Yan agreed to speak with his father before leaving and vowed to prove Nalan Yanran and the Misty Cloud Sect wrong.

Jia Lie Bi’s trade blockade pushed Ao Ba Pa to seek an alliance with the Xiao Clan, whose leaders agreed to discuss cooperation with Shop Owner Xiao. Meanwhile, Xiao Cheng received a timed quest to make mascot food for Little Zhen and began preparing fish cookies.

• Jia Lie Bi ordered every shop in his market to cut off business with Ao Ba Pa Market.
• Ao Ba Pa dismissed the blockade and contacted the Xiao Clan to arrange cooperation.
• Xiao Zhan consulted the Three Elders, and they agreed to discuss a three-party partnership with Shop Owner Xiao.
• Little Zhen clung to Xiao Cheng while Yue'er watched jealously.
• Xiao Cheng received a three-hour quest to make an exclusive ration for Bai Suzhen, with a Mascot House as the reward and becoming a cat person for three days as the penalty.
• Xiao Cheng decided to make fish-flavored cookies and carried Little Zhen to the back kitchen.

Xiao Cheng made Little Fish Biscuits for Little Zhen and claimed a quest reward that provided her with a luxurious cat house. Meanwhile, Ao Ba Pa negotiated with Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Family elders, then joined Xiao Zhan in going to Ruyi Zhai to discuss a three-way cooperation with Xiao Cheng.

• Xiao Cheng baked Little Fish Biscuits, and Little Zhen eagerly ate several once they had cooled.
• Xiao Cheng claimed the completed quest reward, receiving a fully equipped cat house for Little Zhen.
• Xiao Cheng showed Little Zhen her new home, and Xiao Yi Xian and Yue'er reacted to the cat house.
• Ao Ba Pa proposed that the Xiao Family, Ruyi Zhai, and he cooperate, offering Xiao Family merchants access and preferential treatment in his market.
• Xiao Zhan agreed to discuss the final arrangement with Xiao Cheng, and he and Ao Ba Pa headed to Ruyi Zhai.

Xiao Cheng agreed to a partnership between the Xiao and Ao Ba Pa clans, then met Gu He, who came to investigate Ruyi Zhai’s miraculous pastries. After tasting them, Gu He accepted Xiao Cheng’s invitation to stay at the shop and exchange alchemy insights.

• Ao Ba Pa proposed a three-way partnership with Xiao Cheng and the Xiao Clan to counter Jia Lie Bi’s pressure on his marketplace, and Xiao Cheng agreed to offer their disciples discounts.
• Xiao Zhan and Ao Ba Pa signed duplicate contracts with Xiao Cheng and left to announce the alliance.
• Gu He, an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, visited Ruyi Zhai and asked Xiao Cheng to exchange alchemy insights.
• Yue'er greeted Gu He, and Xiao Cheng offered him pastries to sample; Gu He praised their effects and asked how ordinary mung beans could produce detoxifying Mung Bean Cakes.
• Xiao Cheng invited Gu He to stay at the shop, and Gu He accepted so they could discuss alchemy.

Gu He stayed at Ruyi Zhai, while Xiao Cheng assessed the shop’s quests and the growing interest in its pastries. At the Xiao family residence, Xiao Ning challenged Xiao Yan to a spar, and their fight ended when Xiao Xun'er arrived.

• Xiao Cheng reviewed his Personal Panel and noted that his pastry quests were progressing slowly as Gu He remained at Ruyi Zhai.
• Ao Ba Pa and Xiao Zhan told their families about their cooperation with Xiao Cheng, prompting family members to hurry to Ruyi Zhai for discounted pastries.
• Xiao Ning visited Xiao Yan and challenged him to spar, revealing that he had reached Two-star Dou Zhe while Xiao Yan had reached One-Star Dou Zhe.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Ning exchanged fierce blows, with Xiao Yan holding his own but suffering a slight injury before Xiao Ning left.
• Xiao Xun'er arrived to see Xiao Yan, and Xiao Ning departed with his resentment toward Xiao Yan deepened.

Xiao Yan recovered from his spar with Xiao Ning, bought pastries from Ruyi Zhai, and set out for the Monster Mountain Range to train. Xiao Cheng continued running the shop and noticed business improving as Princess Yao Ye arrived outside Wutan City.

• Xiao Xun'er visited Xiao Yan, learned that Xiao Ning had challenged him, and asked to go buy pastries with him before he explained that he would be training the next day.
• Xiao Cheng regretted promising Gu He a look at the mung bean cake process, then gave him mung beans to study instead.
• Xiao Yan bought two mung bean cakes from Xiao Cheng as supplies for his trip and left for the Monster Mountain Range.
• Xiao Cheng noticed customers from several families coming to Ruyi Zhai and rejoiced that the shop's task progress was advancing.
• Princess Yao Ye, the eldest princess of the Jia Ma Imperial Family, arrived outside Wutan City.

Yao Ye visited Ruyi Zhai, reunited with Yue'er, and bought a large quantity of pastries, greatly boosting Xiao Cheng's shop progress. Xiao Cheng checked his panel and found he needed only twelve more experience points to reach Level Two Shopkeeper.

• Yao Ye arrived at Ruyi Zhai and explained that she had come on behalf of Jia Xing Tian and to see the shop, not to take Yue'er home.
• Yao Ye thanked Xiao Yi Xian for caring for Yue'er, then asked Xiao Cheng about the Mung Bean Cakes after hearing customers discuss their detoxifying effects.
• Yao Ye bought ten Mung Bean Cakes and a large assortment of other pastries, leaving the shop's customers astonished.
• Yao Ye noticed Gu He in the shop, and Xiao Cheng explained why the Sixth-grade Alchemist was there before Yao Ye left after speaking with Yue'er.
• Xiao Cheng checked his Personal Panel and saw that his shopkeeper experience had reached 288/300, while his candy and Mung Bean Cake quests had also advanced.