Recaps

Jia Lie Bi and Yun Yun responded to threats involving Ruyi Zhai, while Xiao Cheng received a quest to gather materials for a second shop renovation. He planned to recruit help for the lumber and soil collection and have Ao Ba Pa buy magical beast bones.

• Jia Lie'ao reassured Jia Lie Bi that Mu She was likely investigating Xiao Cheng before taking action, and Jia Lie Bi agreed to wait for an opportunity to deal with Xiao Cheng.
• Yun Yun reprimanded Nalan Yanran for confronting Xiao Cheng and ordered her to apologize to him at Ruyi Zhai.
• Gu He considered improving the shop's pastries with medicinal herbs, but Xiao Cheng told him to focus on alchemy instead.
• Xiao Cheng worried that Ruyi Zhai was becoming crowded, and the system issued a quest requiring one hundred logs, one hundred jin of soil, and one hundred jin of magical beast bones.
• Xiao Cheng decided to ask Xiao Lu and the others to handle the lumberjacking and digging, and to have Ao Ba Pa purchase the bones in Qingshan Town.

Xiao Cheng gathered help to collect materials he needed, arranging for Xiao Clan disciples to chop wood and dig dirt and asking Ao Tuo to purchase Beast Bones. The preparations were settled, and Xiao Cheng praised Ao Tuo as a helpful person.

• Xiao Cheng met Xiao Mei and persuaded her to find Xiao Clan disciples to help with lumberjacking and digging after learning Captain Payne was away.
• Xiao Mei brought around a dozen Xiao Clan disciples, and Xiao Cheng promised each one a Mung Bean Cake for chopping one hundred trees and digging one hundred jin of dirt.
• Xiao Cheng asked Xiao Mei how to obtain one hundred jin of Beast Bones, and she suggested buying them in Qingshan Town.
• Xiao Cheng ran into Ao Tuo at Ruyi Zhai and asked him to send someone to purchase the Beast Bones.
• Ao Tuo agreed to arrange the purchase, and Xiao Cheng called him a helpful person.

Xiao Cheng learned that Ruyi Zhai’s All-in-One Package task was complete and its employees had received life-saving Protection Umbrellas, while Xiao Yan returned to the Xiao Clan and discussed the Jia Lie Family’s suspicious silence with Xiao Zhan. Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan headed to Ruyi Zhai, where Xiao Cheng received a new task to promote the shop in other regions.

• Xiao Cheng received an employee benefit, and Xiao Yi Xian, Yue'er, and Gu He each gained a Protection Umbrella that could withstand one full-force strike from a Dou Sheng-level expert.
• Xiao Yan encountered Xiao Family Disciples digging and lumberjacking for Xiao Cheng in exchange for Mung Bean Cakes, then learned that the Xiao Clan had allied with the Ao Ba Pa Family and the Jia Lie Family had remained unusually quiet.
• Xiao Yan returned to the Xiao Clan and told Xiao Zhan he suspected the Jia Lie Family was plotting something; Xiao Zhan agreed their silence was puzzling.
• Xiao Yan asked Xiao Zhan about Ruyi Zhai’s new pastries, and the two set off to visit the shop together.
• Xiao Cheng received a new system task to promote Ruyi Zhai in other regions and complained angrily to Xiao Dian.

Xiao Cheng prepared Ruyi Zhai for his absence and took Xiao Wu to the Tagor Desert to begin the system’s promotional quest. After reaching Desert City, he announced that he had come to find the Ice Emperor.

• Xiao Cheng learned that his staged quest required him to promote Ruyi Zhai among the Snake People Tribe and accepted the teleportation journey with Xiao Wu.
• Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan visited Ruyi Zhai, bought pastries, and heard Xiao Cheng explain that he would be away for a few days.
• Xiao Cheng prepared extra pastries, asked Gu He to manage the shop, and teleported with Xiao Wu to the Tagor Desert.
• Xiao Cheng consulted the system map and decided to visit the Ice Emperor before seeking out Xiao Yan’s elder brother, Xiao Ding.
• Xiao Cheng and Xiao Wu reached Desert City, passed the guards after Xiao Wu intimidated them, and Xiao Cheng declared that he had come for the Ice Emperor.

Xiao Cheng confronted Haibodong in a map shop and won his agreement to serve as a bodyguard by proving that his pastry could loosen Queen Medusa’s seal. Xiao Cheng then set out with Haibodong and Xiao Wu for Stone Desert City, considering whether to recruit Qing Lin.

• Xiao Cheng and Xiao Wu found Haibodong at the Ancient Maps shop after asking for directions.
• Xiao Cheng revealed Haibodong’s identity and offered to help restore his strength, prompting Haibodong to attack him.
• Xiao Wu blocked Haibodong’s palm strike, and Xiao Cheng explained that he knew Queen Medusa had sealed Haibodong’s cultivation.
• Xiao Cheng gave Haibodong a Mung Bean Cake, which slightly loosened the seal and persuaded Haibodong to follow him until his cultivation was restored.
• Xiao Cheng, Xiao Wu, and Haibodong left for Stone Desert City while Xiao Cheng considered recruiting Qing Lin as a shop employee.

Xiao Cheng learned how Haibodong had been sealed by Queen Medusa and accepted the map fragment Haibodong had spent years studying. As they continued toward Stone Desert City, a system quest forced Xiao Cheng to hunt Yellow Sand Scorpions with a comically cute hammer.

• Haibodong explained that Queen Medusa had sealed his cultivation after he found a map fragment, and that he needed a sixth-grade pill to remove the seal.
• Haibodong revealed that Sand Mandala was the last ingredient he needed, and Xiao Cheng promised to help him obtain it.
• Haibodong gave Xiao Cheng the map fragment, which Xiao Cheng recognized as part of the map to the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame.
• Haibodong killed a Yellow Sand Scorpion hiding beneath the sand, and Xiao Cheng received a system quest to kill six before reaching Stone Desert City.
• Xiao Cheng asked Haibodong to help him find six Yellow Sand Scorpions, then took out the system's Meow Meow Hammer and followed him to hunt them.

While Xiao Cheng traveled through the Tagor Desert, Jia Lie'ao visited Ruyi Zhai and Gu He learned about the Jia Lie Family's hostility toward Xiao Cheng. Xiao Cheng completed his task, found a pastry recipe that might treat Haibodong's seal, and rescued Mo Tie Mercenary Group members from Snake People, leaving him with potential guides to Stone Desert City.

• Jia Lie'ao visited Ruyi Zhai, where Gu He refused his invitation and Xiao Yi Xian explained the Jia Lie Family's actions against Xiao Cheng.
• Xiao Cheng completed the task of defeating six Yellow Sand Scorpions and received a mysterious gift box containing the Horseshoe Pastry recipe.
• Xiao Cheng told Haibodong that the pastry might help treat his Serpent Seal Curse and promised to prepare it after returning to the shop.
• Haibodong and Xiao Wu rushed ahead to rescue the Mo Tie Mercenary Group from a Snake People attack and quickly defeated the attackers.
• Xiao Cheng arrived after the battle and realized the rescued mercenaries could guide him to Stone Desert City.

Xiao Cheng and his companions rescued members of the Mo Tie Mercenary Group and accompanied them to their base in Stone Desert City. He asked Xiao Li to shelter Haibodong while he went to the Snake People Tribe, and the chapter ended as Xiao Ding arrived.

• Haibodong and Xiao Wu defeated the Snake People, and Xiao Cheng introduced himself to Xue Lan as a friend of her leaders’ clan.
• Xiao Wu found the badly injured Dan Zai and brought him back, and Xiao Cheng helped him recover enough to travel.
• Xue Lan led Xiao Cheng and his companions to the Mo Tie Mercenary Group compound, where Xiao Li thanked Xiao Cheng for saving the group.
• Xiao Cheng told Xiao Li he planned to visit the Snake People Tribe and asked him to host Haibodong; Xiao Li and Haibodong warned him about Medusa, but Xiao Cheng insisted he would go with Xiao Wu.
• Xiao Cheng revealed that Haibodong was still a Dou Ling expert, and Xiao Ding entered the hall.

Xiao Cheng rested at the Mo Tie Mercenary Group’s headquarters before continuing toward the Snake People Tribe, while Jia Lie Bi and Mu She made plans around Cream Cake and Xiao Cheng’s absence. The chapter left Mu She preparing to cultivate as Ruyi Zhai’s staff kept the shop running without its shopkeeper.

• Xiao Cheng told Xiao Ding and Xiao Li that he still intended to visit the Snake People Tribe, then accepted their offer to rest at the Mo Tie Mercenary Group’s headquarters and left Elder Hai in their care.
• Jia Lie Bi learned from Jia Lie'ao that Cream Cake could boost cultivation and ordered him to buy another one so he could advance to Five-star Great Dou Master.
• Mu She learned that Xiao Cheng had disappeared from the shop and that Jia Lie Bi had reached Four-star Great Dou Master, then told Mu Li to monitor Xiao Cheng and Ruyi Zhai while he went into seclusion.
• At Ruyi Zhai, Yue'er returned to work after Little Zhen refused to play with her, while Xiao Yi Xian and Gu He continued serving customers.

Xiao Cheng left Stone Desert City with Xiao Wu to seek the Snake People Tribe, clashing with Sand Mercenary Group members along the way. After Xiao Wu subdued Yue Mei and her companions, Xiao Cheng asked them to guide him to the tribe and began using a feather on Yue Mei when she refused.

• Xiao Cheng told Xiao Ding to entertain Haibodong, then left Stone Desert City with Xiao Wu.
• Mo Xing and the Sand Mercenary Group mocked Xiao Cheng, but Xiao Wu seized Mo Xing while Xiao Cheng's pressure stopped the others from attacking.
• Xiao Cheng realized he did not know the Snake People Tribe's location, and Yue Mei approached him with several snake girls.
• Yue Mei and the snake girls attacked Xiao Cheng, but Xiao Wu quickly tied them up.
• Xiao Cheng introduced himself and asked Yue Mei to take him to the Snake People Tribe, then approached her with a feather when she refused.

Xiao Cheng used tickling to make the captured Yue Mei agree to lead him and Xiao Wu toward the Snake People Tribe, then showed her the strengthening effect of his pastries. Yue Mei accepted his offer of cooperation and promised to take him to Queen Medusa, leaving the group to rest before setting out in the morning.

• Xiao Cheng tickled the bound Yue Mei until she agreed to lead him, while Xiao Wu watched over them.
• Xiao Cheng stopped for the night and offered Yue Mei Honeyed Shortbread, which she found delicious and felt slightly strengthened her body.
• Xiao Cheng explained that he wanted to supply miraculous pastries to the Snake People Tribe, and Yue Mei grew less hostile toward him.
• Yue Mei promised to take Xiao Cheng to Queen Medusa and said he would be an honored guest if he could provide the pastries.
• Xiao Cheng had Xiao Wu untie Yue Mei, and the group rested while Xiao Wu kept watch.

Xiao Cheng traveled deeper into the Tagor Desert with Yue Mei and Xiao Wu, promoting his miraculous pastries to the Snake People Tribe. After Mo Du tried a Peanut Nougat and let them pass, an unexpected situation arose near Snake People City.

• Xiao Wu unsealed Yue Mei’s cultivation, and the three set off through the Tagor Desert toward Queen Medusa.
• Xiao Cheng promoted his pastries to passing snake people, while Yue Mei warned him not to provoke the other tribal leaders.
• Mo Du confronted Yue Mei and questioned why she was bringing humans through his tribe.
• Xiao Cheng offered Mo Du a Peanut Nougat, and Mo Du’s cultivation improved after he ate it.
• Mo Du let Xiao Cheng, Yue Mei, and Xiao Wu pass, and Yue Mei led them near Snake People City, where an unexpected situation arose.

Xiao Cheng arrived at Snake People City with Yue Mei and demonstrated how his Peanut Nougat could increase Snake People’s Dou Qi. Hua She Er agreed to escort him to Snake People Temple to meet Queen Medusa.

• Xiao Cheng heard Yan Ci fighting Hua She Wang, then accidentally called Yan Ci a big brute and was challenged to fight.
• Yue Mei stopped Yan Ci from attacking Xiao Cheng and explained the miraculous effects of his pastry to Yan Ci and Hua She Wang.
• Xiao Cheng gave Yan Ci and Hua She Wang Peanut Nougat, and both experienced a surge in Dou Qi.
• Snake People guards initially barred Xiao Cheng from entering Snake People City, but Hua She Er tasted his pastry and saw its effects for herself.
• Hua She Er agreed to take Xiao Cheng to meet Queen Medusa, and he entered the city with Yue Mei and Xiao Wu.

Xiao Cheng and Xiao Wu arrived at the Snake People Temple, where Queen Medusa summoned them inside despite Mo Ba Si's objections. Xiao Cheng finally saw Queen Medusa, but something happened outside the temple before he could introduce himself.

• Gu He warned Jia Lie'ao not to cause trouble at Ruyi Zhai, and Jia Lie'ao returned to tell Jia Lie Bi that Misty Cloud Sect members were still there.
• Jia Lie Bi decided the Jia Lie Family should avoid acting against the shop while Misty Cloud Sect members were present, and dismissed Jia Lie'ao's concerns about Mu She.
• Xiao Family disciples finished digging soil and cutting wood for Xiao Cheng, while Ao Ba Pa kept the purchased Beast Bones until Xiao Cheng returned.
• Hua She Er led Xiao Cheng and Xiao Wu toward the Snake People Temple, where Mo Ba Si challenged them for bringing humans there.
• Queen Medusa invited everyone, including Xiao Cheng and Xiao Wu, into the temple, and Xiao Cheng saw her for the first time before something happened outside.

Xiao Cheng used his pastries to cure poisoned snake people and helped Medusa break through to Dou Zong. Medusa publicly named him an honored guest of the Snake People Tribe, leaving Xiao Cheng worried that her announcement would draw unwanted gossip.

• Snake people guards reported that more than a dozen snake people had been poisoned, and Xiao Cheng gave them Mung Bean Cakes to distribute as a cure.
• Xiao Cheng introduced himself to Medusa as a pastry master, and Yue Mei confirmed that his pastries had powerful effects.
• Medusa ate Xiao Cheng's Peanut Nougat and felt her Nine-star Dou Huang cultivation approach a breakthrough.
• Medusa ate the Shredded Pork Floss Pastry, absorbed its energy, and broke through to One-star Dou Zong.
• Medusa declared Xiao Cheng an honored guest of the Snake People Tribe and credited him with helping her break through, while Xiao Cheng feared the announcement would make him a target of gossip.

After Medusa accepted Xiao Cheng as an honored guest and agreed to promote his cakes, he settled in the Snake People Tribe and pondered how to expand their sales. Meanwhile, the Sand Mercenary Group confronted the Mo Tie Mercenary Group in Stone Desert City, and Xiao Ding arrived as Haibodong secretly moved to intervene.

• Medusa asked Xiao Cheng about his cakes, agreed to support their promotion, and declared him an honored guest of the Snake People Tribe after learning the poisoned snake people had recovered.
• Hua She Er brought Xiao Cheng to a guarded room, where he wondered how to promote the cakes before deciding to rest.
• Mo Xing persuaded Luobu that the Mo Tie Mercenary Group might have acquired treasure, so Luobu sent Sha Luo to demand it under the guise of a friendly exchange.
• Sha Luo confronted the Mo Tie Mercenary Group while Xiao Ding and Xiao Li prepared to face him, and Haibodong left his room after growing irritated by the commotion.
• Xiao Ding arrived at the training grounds and challenged Sha Luo for daring to cause trouble at the Mo Tie Mercenary Group.

Haibodong punished Sha Luo and the Sand Mercenary Group for interrupting his cultivation by freezing them into ice sculptures. Luobu received the grim delivery and began to suspect his men had provoked a powerful expert.

• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li confronted Sha Luo, who accused the Mo Tie Mercenary Group of obtaining treasure.
• Haibodong appeared and demanded that Sha Luo's group each cripple one hand or be frozen.
• When Sha Luo refused and tried to resist, Haibodong froze him and his men into ice sculptures.
• Xiao Ding warned Haibodong that Luobu might retaliate, but Haibodong dismissed the Sand Mercenary Group as a rabble.
• Xiao Li took the ice sculptures to Luobu, who first blamed Xiao Ding, then suspected an expert was responsible and hurried out to investigate.

Xiao Li returned Sha Luo and Mo Xing, frozen as ice sculptures, to Luobu and secured compensation from the Sand Mercenary Group. Xiao Cheng sold Hua She Er a pastry, then opened a roadside stall in a snake-person settlement, unaware that people had begun targeting him.

• Xiao Li told Luobu that Sha Luo and Mo Xing had angered a powerful senior, and Luobu offered twenty percent of the Sand Mercenary Group’s resources as compensation.
• Xiao Li rejected Luobu’s additional offering and left the frozen mercenaries with him, while Luobu secretly vowed revenge on Xiao Ding.
• Hua She Er asked Xiao Cheng for pastries so she could grow stronger and help the Queen, and Xiao Cheng sold her a Shredded Pork Floss Pastry for 300 Gold Coins.
• Xiao Cheng set up a pastry stall in a snake-person settlement and advertised his goods to a skeptical young snake person.
• The young snake person bought a pound of Honeyed Shortbread for 100 Gold Coins, while Xiao Cheng expected his stall to soon become famous and remained unaware that others had targeted him.

A Snake Person discovered that Xiao Cheng’s Honeyed Shortbread strengthened the body, while Mo Ba Si bought pastries from him in the desert. Meanwhile, Xiao Yan advanced toward Three-star Dou Zhe, and Yun Shan agreed to help Protector Wu search for Yao Chen’s soul as the Soul Hall planned to seize Xiao Cheng’s pastries.

• A young Snake Person ate Xiao Cheng’s Honeyed Shortbread and found that it had significantly strengthened his body, so he decided to visit Xiao Cheng again.
• Mo Ba Si found Xiao Cheng through Hua She Er, bought Honeyed Shortbread and Peanut Nougat, and agreed to spread the word about the pastries.
• Xiao Yan reached Two-star Dou Zhe and neared Three-star Dou Zhe with the help of pastries from Ruyi Zhai, while Old Yao urged him not to become complacent.
• Protector Wu asked Yun Shan whether he had found Yao Chen’s soul, and Yun Shan promised to search for it.
• Protector Wu dismissed concerns about Ruyi Zhai’s protectors and proposed that the Soul Hall seize Xiao Cheng’s pastries, while Yun Shan resented his dependence on the Soul Hall.

Xiao Cheng sold pastries in Snake People City and reflected on his plans and growing unease about the future. In Wutan City, Jia Lie Bi hired Liu Xi to make medicine to compete with the Xiao Clan, agreeing to Liu Xi’s demands despite resenting him.

• Yin Shi visited Xiao Cheng’s stall, bought a packet of Peanut Nougat, and left after joking about its price.
• Xiao Cheng remembered that he had left Qing Lin in Stone Desert City and considered the risks to Ruyi Zhai from the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Xiao Cheng decided to focus on completing his system mission and improving his cultivation rather than worrying about future troubles.
• Jia Lie Bi asked Liu Xi to refine healing medicine to suppress the Xiao Clan’s market sales.
• Liu Xi demanded that Jia Lie Bi arrange time with Ya Fei and give him half the medicine’s profits, and Jia Lie Bi reluctantly agreed.
• After Liu Xi left with two women, Jia Lie Bi privately called him a useless lecher and vowed to deal with him later.

After Jia Lie Market began selling Spring Return Powder, Xiao Yan asked Old Yao to assess it and help the Xiao Clan compete. Old Yao offered the superior Blood Coagulating Powder and revealed that Xiao Yan could become an alchemist, while Xiao Zhan and the elders considered seeking help from Ruyi Zhai.

• Payne told Xiao Zhan that Jia Lie Market had hired a First-grade Alchemist to make Spring Return Powder, drawing customers away from the Xiao Family Market.
• Xiao Yan obtained samples of both clans' healing medicines, and Old Yao dismissed Spring Return Powder as a crude medicinal paste.
• Old Yao offered Xiao Yan the Blood Coagulating Powder formula and explained that he could train Xiao Yan to become an alchemist.
• Xiao Yan agreed to gather the ingredients and disguise himself as an expert to help his clan.
• Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders discussed the threat and decided to ask Xiao Yi Xian at Ruyi Zhai for help while planning how to reduce their market losses.

Xiao Cheng moved his pastry stall to Snake People City’s main street, where Queen Medusa summoned him after realizing the pastries could strengthen her people. He declined her offer to open a shop and instead agreed to sell from an officially approved stall, with Hua She Er handling the arrangements.

• Yue Mei bought pastries from Xiao Cheng and suggested that he promote them on the main street, prompting him to pack up his stall.
• Yan Ci found Xiao Cheng, bought several pastries, and left to spar with Mo Ba Si.
• Queen Medusa reflected on her stable breakthrough to Dou Zong and summoned Hua She Er to bring Xiao Cheng to the temple.
• After a customer balked at the prices on the main street, Hua She Er brought Xiao Cheng to meet Medusa.
• Medusa offered Xiao Cheng a shop so he could sell pastries throughout Snake People City, but he declined and asked for a place to set up a stall.
• Medusa approved Xiao Cheng’s request and assigned Hua She Er to arrange his stall.

Xiao Zhan asked Gu He to help the Xiao Clan counter the healing medicine competing with their shops, only for Gu He to learn his disciple Liu Xi was behind it and head to the Jia Lie Family to discipline him. Meanwhile, Xiao Cheng’s pastry stall in Snake People City drew a crowd after a customer broke through in cultivation by eating Peanut Nougat, leaving Xiao Cheng hopeful that he would complete his mission soon.

• Xiao Zhan told Gu He that the Xiao Clan’s medicine shops were losing business and asked him to refine a better healing medicine.
• Xiao Zhan revealed that Liu Xi, Gu He’s disciple, was the alchemist working for the opposing side, and Gu He promised to bring him back and discipline him.
• Gu He left Ruyi Zhai for the Jia Lie Family, angry that Liu Xi had involved himself in a clan dispute.
• Xiao Cheng set up a pastry stall in Snake People City, where passersby mocked his high prices and claims that his pastries could raise cultivation.
• A plump snake person bought Peanut Nougat, ate it, and broke through in cultivation, prompting the surrounding snake people to line up and buy Xiao Cheng’s pastries.

Xiao Cheng sold out his pastries in Snake People City, struck a supply deal with Medusa, and named her Cai Lin before leaving with Xiao Wu for Stone Desert City. Meanwhile, a mysterious figure in Black Mist began plotting to steal Ruyi Zhai’s formula.

• Xiao Cheng sold all his pastries, completed his promotion quest, and decided to claim its reward after leaving Snake People City.
• Hua She Er brought Xiao Cheng to Medusa, who agreed to buy pastries from him at seventy percent of the original price.
• Xiao Cheng named Medusa Cai Lin, and she promised to send someone to Wutan City to discuss the pastry supply.
• Xiao Cheng left Snake People City with Xiao Wu and headed for Stone Desert City to find Haibodong, while Cai Lin watched him depart and returned to cultivating.
• A figure in Black Mist watched Ruyi Zhai and planned to steal its formula to increase its strength and status.

Gu He expelled Liu Xi from his tutelage after finding him indulging himself at the Jia Lie Family, prompting Jia Lie Bi to end the family’s suppression of the Xiao Clan. After Xiao Zhan learned the crisis was resolved, Protector Wu possessed Liu Xi and sent him to attack Ruyi Zhai.

• Gu He arrived at the Jia Lie Family, where Jia Lie'ao recognized him and led him to Liu Xi.
• Gu He found Liu Xi with two women, expelled him from his tutelage, and left the Jia Lie Family.
• Jia Lie Bi ordered Jia Lie'ao to stop the suppression of the Xiao Clan and arrange an apology to Gu He.
• Gu He told Xiao Zhan that the Xiao Clan’s crisis was over, and Xiao Zhan left Ruyi Zhai.
• Protector Wu possessed the abandoned Liu Xi and ordered him to attack Ruyi Zhai.