Chapter Summaries

Xiao Cheng returned to Jia Nan City and helped Xiao Yu and Xue Ni manage their wildly popular pastry stall, where they sold enough to complete his quest. After closing the stall, he rewarded the two girls and returned to the instructors' dormitory, leaving the story with him asleep for the night.

• Xiao Cheng returned to Jia Nan City and hurried to Jia Nan Academy, where he found Xiao Yu and Xue Ni surrounded by customers and running low on pastries.
• Xiao Cheng brought pastries and drinks from his personal backpack, restocked the stall, and told the girls to advertise the drinks' prices and effects.
• Xiao Cheng learned that more than 320 servings had sold and completed the Black Corner Region quest, leaving the reward in his personal backpack.
• Xiao Cheng closed the stall despite students' protests, warned that rule-breakers would be blacklisted, and gave Xiao Yu and Xue Ni drinks as a reward.
• Xiao Cheng gave Huo De a cup of Ruyi Juice, returned to his room, and fell asleep.

Xiao Cheng inspected his new Pastry Cart, learned that its energy cost 100,000 Gold Coins, and drove it to meet Xiao Yu and Xue Ni. The cart caused a stir at the teaching building after students and instructors mistook it for a mysterious mount.

• Xiao Cheng took out the Pastry Cart and inspected its pastry counter, kitchen, storage space, and bathroom.
• The system told Xiao Cheng that replenishing the cart's energy cost 100,000 Gold Coins and that its energy could destroy a fifty-ton meteorite if mishandled.
• After the system reassured him that the energy was safely contained, Xiao Cheng agreed to pay and remembered that Xiao Yu and Xue Ni were waiting for him.
• Xiao Cheng started the silent Pastry Cart and drove toward the teaching building, where Xiao Yu and Xue Ni recognized him.
• Instructor Huo De and other students were startled by the cart, and news of the supposed mysterious mount spread throughout the Outer Academy.
• Dean Hu Gan sent his granddaughter to investigate Xiao Cheng's new contraption.

Xiao Cheng opened his Pastry Cart at the academy, where a huge crowd of students kept him and his employees busy. Instructor Huo De discovered that Ruyi Juice restored his energy and made him look decades younger, while Old Man Huo arrived to help Xiao Cheng.

• Xiao Cheng introduced the Pastry Cart to Xiao Yu, Xue Ni, and the curious students, then showed his employees how to arrange the pastries and drinks.
• Xiao Yu and Xue Ni began selling pastries, but the crowd grew so large that Xiao Cheng had to help them serve customers.
• Instructor Ruolin recognized Xiao Cheng as the owner of Wutan City's Ruyi Zhai and told Huo De that his drink was good; after drinking it, Huo De felt refreshed and looked much younger.
• Hu Jia wondered why her grandfather and teacher wanted her to find Xiao Cheng and considered extorting pastries from him.
• Old Man Huo arrived at the crowded cart, saying he had come to help Xiao Cheng, who noticed a pitch-black object in his hand.

The Mo Family decided to leave Ruyi Zhai and the Heavenly Snake Mansion matter to the Misty Cloud Sect, while Qing Mang and Lü Man continued gathering information for their plan. At Jia Nan Academy, Old Man Huo joined Xiao Cheng’s pastry-selling effort after his experiments with the pastries failed.

• Mo Cheng told the Mo Family elders that the Misty Cloud Sect had ordered them not to clash with the Heavenly Snake Mansion, and the family agreed to stay out of the dispute around Ruyi Zhai.
• Lü Man reported that repeated minor mishaps had prevented her from isolating a Ruyi Zhai employee, so she and Qing Mang exchanged intelligence and switched roles.
• Qing Mang visited Ruyi Zhai, where Little Zhen attracted customers, Gu He answered Gu Ni’s alchemy questions, and Payne arrived to buy pastries for the Xiao Clan.
• Payne told Gu He that his cultivation had risen from Six-star Dou Zhe to One-star Great Dou Master while he helped Xiao Zhan with association matters.
• Old Man Huo told Xiao Cheng that his attempts to use the pastries in Elixir Formulas had caused failed reactions and furnace explosions, then agreed to wash up and help Xiao Yu sell pastries.

Xiao Cheng considered possible partners for promoting his pastries while Wu Hao, Bai Shan, and other students reported cultivation breakthroughs after eating them. In the Inner Academy, Qi Tianchi told Su Qian about the pastries, and Su Qian set out to meet Xiao Cheng and test them.

• Xiao Cheng received a quest to choose a Black Corner Region faction and establish a partnership, and considered gathering information about the Rakshasa Gate.
• Wu Hao, Bai Shan, and several others visited the Pastry Cart, and Bai Shan and the others described how their cultivation had improved after eating the pastries.
• Qi Tianchi told Su Qian that Xiao Cheng's pastries supposedly boosted cultivation and had several other remarkable effects.
• Su Qian decided to visit the Outer Academy and test the pastries, while Xiao Cheng remained unaware that he had drawn the Inner Academy First Elder's attention.

At Ruyi Zhai, Gu He grew suspicious of Qing Mang while Lü Man investigated the shop’s workers. At Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Cheng learned that the Inner Academy’s First Elder was coming to see him, then received a new task from the system after Huo De hurried over to buy Ruyi Juice.

• Gu He watched Qing Mang linger at Ruyi Zhai and decided to tell Xiao Yi Xian about his suspicious behavior.
• Lü Man uncovered that one of Ruyi Zhai’s workers was a princess, while Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin had ties to Qingshan Town and the Mo Tie Mercenary Group.
• Hu Jia told Xiao Cheng that Hu Gan had informed the Inner Academy Headmaster about his pastries and that the First Elder was coming to visit.
• Hu Jia teased Xiao Cheng by asking for free pastries, then admitted she had come to buy some.
• Huo De rushed to Xiao Cheng’s cart to buy ten cups of Ruyi Juice, and Xiao Cheng learned that the system had assigned him another task.

Xiao Cheng tried to make Su Qian eat the system’s Bitter Gourd Cake after the First Elder arrived and sampled his pastries. Meanwhile, a mysterious Black Mist warned the Heavenly Snake Mansion not to covet Ruyi Zhai, leaving Qing Mang and Lü Man alarmed.

• Xiao Cheng learned the Bitter Gourd Cake quest had to be completed that day and waited for Su Qian to arrive.
• Old Man Huo left to handle unfinished business, and Su Qian appeared beside Xiao Cheng’s cart and introduced himself as the Inner Academy’s First Elder.
• Xiao Cheng offered Su Qian pastries, and Su Qian discovered that they improved cultivation, Spiritual Power, and Dou Technique comprehension.
• A Black Mist appeared before Qing Mang and Lü Man, claimed Ruyi Zhai belonged to Soul Hall, and warned the Heavenly Snake Mansion to stay away.
• Lü Man left to report the warning to Lord Bai Ya, while Qing Mang stayed behind, troubled by the Black Mist.

Xiao Cheng tricked Su Qian into tasting his bitter Bitter Gourd Cake, then agreed to cooperate with the Inner Academy after Su Qian offered. After Su Qian left with pastries and drinks, Xiao Cheng began preparing to test the system’s newly awarded Five-worm Cake recipe.

• Xiao Cheng offered Su Qian a Bitter Gourd Cake, and Su Qian forced himself to finish it despite its overwhelming bitterness.
• Xiao Cheng received the Five-worm Cake recipe from the system and learned it used bamboo worms, sandworms, locusts, cicadas, and bee pupae.
• Su Qian proposed cooperation with the Inner Academy, and Xiao Cheng agreed to visit with the new students after the Freshman Selection Tournament.
• Xiao Cheng gave Su Qian pastries and drinks, then told Xiao Yu that Su Qian was the Inner Academy’s First Elder and a two-star Dou Zong.
• Xiao Yu went to help Xue Ni serve customers while Xiao Cheng studied the Five-worm Cake recipe and bought ingredients to try making it.

Bai Ya and Yun Shan ordered surveillance of Ruyi Zhai to continue, while Yun Yun learned that several Misty Cloud Sect disciples had gone missing and sent Ge Ye to investigate. Xiao Cheng prepared more pastries at Ruyi Zhai as Su Qian reported what had happened to Qi Tianchi, shocking the Half-Saint.

• At Ruyi Zhai, Gu He learned from Ao Tuo that Ao Di had become absorbed in researching Gomoku after the manager taught him the game.
• Bai Ya ordered Qing Mang to keep watching Ruyi Zhai from Wutan City but forbade him from taking action.
• Yun Shan instructed Mo Cheng's Mo Family to continue monitoring Ruyi Zhai, while Yun Yun worried about the sect's instability and her master's disturbing behavior.
• After several Misty Cloud Sect disciples disappeared without leaving clues, Yun Yun summoned Ge Ye and ordered him to investigate discreetly.
• Xiao Cheng began making more pastries and let Xiao Yu and Xue Ni watch, while Su Qian recounted her experience to Qi Tianchi and shocked the Half-Saint.

Qi Tianchi introduced Zi Yan to Xiao Cheng’s pastries, and she eagerly ate them before learning where to find more. Meanwhile, Xiao Cheng planned to promote his pastries and make Five-worm Cake, unaware that Zi Yan was on her way to Ruyi Zhai.

• Su Qian asked Qi Tianchi about Xiao Cheng, and Qi Tianchi said Xiao Cheng would attend the freshman selection tournament.
• Zi Yan appeared asking Qi Tianchi for medicinal pills, and he offered her pastries instead.
• Zi Yan ate the pastries and learned about Xiao Cheng’s Ruyi Zhai from Qi Tianchi.
• Xiao Cheng closed the Pastry Cart early, checked his Personal Panel, and decided to make Five-worm Cake the next morning.
• Qi Tianchi watched Zi Yan leave and anticipated that she would soon visit Xiao Cheng.

Xiao Cheng prepared Five-worm Cake for his pastry cart and set its price at 2,000 Gold Coins each. The system then gave him a difficult quest to sell 120 cakes within 168 hours, rewarding him with a Dragon Toy that made him suspect something was about to happen.

• Xiao Cheng baked Five-worm Cake and prepared more pastries before driving his cart to the teaching building.
• Xiao Yu and Xue Ni waited for Xiao Cheng, then helped him open the cart and arrange the pastries.
• Xiao Cheng asked the system for the Five-worm Cake's price and told Xue Ni to list each cake for 2,000 Gold Coins.
• The system assigned Xiao Cheng a quest to sell 120 Five-worm Cakes in 168 hours, with a Dragon Toy as the reward and a painful punishment for failure.
• Xiao Cheng wondered whether the Dragon Toy foretold an upcoming event, but the system did not answer.

Gu He took Haibodong’s place selling pastries at Ruyi Zhai, while Xiao Cheng sold pastries at Jia Nan Academy and drew interest in the new Five-worm Cake. Old Man Huo asked to meet the alchemist at Xiao Cheng’s shop, and Xiao Cheng agreed before teaching him Gomoku.

• Gu He switched jobs with Haibodong and helped Xiao Yi Xian sell pastries at Ruyi Zhai.
• Xiao Zhan visited Ruyi Zhai, bought drinks and pastries, and left as business picked up.
• Ruolin visited Xiao Cheng’s pastry cart after learning about it from Huo De and bought a drink.
• Students gathered to discuss the expensive Five-worm Cake, though none bought it.
• Old Man Huo asked Xiao Cheng to take him to meet the alchemist at Ruyi Zhai, and Xiao Cheng agreed.
• Xiao Cheng taught Old Man Huo Gomoku while they passed the time.

Zi Yan charged into Xiao Cheng’s Pastry Cart and claimed its pastries, forcing him to stop her from disrupting his business. After learning she came from the Inner Academy, Xiao Cheng made her a huge batch of pastries, which she devoured in front of a stunned crowd.

• Zi Yan followed the scent of pastries to Xiao Cheng’s cart and knocked students aside as she rushed to eat them.
• Zi Yan ate a Mung Bean Cake and threatened anyone who tried to approach the pastries, so Xiao Cheng confronted her.
• Xiao Cheng introduced himself as the pastry maker, and Zi Yan said her name was Zi Yan and that she had come from the Inner Academy.
• Xiao Cheng suspected Qi Tianchi had sent Zi Yan to him and persuaded her to wait aside so he could keep serving customers.
• Xiao Cheng prepared a large tray of pastries for Zi Yan, who devoured them while Xiao Cheng, Old Man Huo, and the students watched in shock.

After Zi Yan ate Xiao Cheng’s pastries, she decided to stay at Ruyi Zhai, so Xiao Cheng hired her as a bodyguard in exchange for two trays of pastries a day. Meanwhile, an unexplained stream of black qi entered Qing Mang’s body without his noticing.

• Qin Zhen asked Xiao Cheng about Zi Yan, and Xiao Cheng warned him not to provoke her or take her food.
• Zi Yan finished the pastries and announced she would stay with Xiao Cheng because he had plenty of delicious food.
• Xiao Cheng offered Zi Yan daily pastries in exchange for protecting the pastry cart and Xiao Yu and the other woman, and she agreed to two trays a day.
• Xiao Cheng made Zi Yan an official employee, and she went to play with Xiao Yu and the other woman while Old Man Huo asked about her background.
• Black qi entered Qing Mang’s body as he cultivated, and a mass of black mist appeared nearby before vanishing with an eerie cackle.

Qing Mang and Lü Man investigated the Misty Cloud Sect’s arrival in Wutan City while Ge Ye visited Ruyi Zhai but left before Qing Mang arrived. At Jia Nan Academy, Zi Yan ate more pastries and played Gomoku with Old Man Huo as Hu Jia came to see what was happening.

• Lü Man told Qing Mang that Bai Ya ordered him to keep monitoring the situation without taking further action, and she reported that Bai Ya seemed angry.
• Qing Mang told Lü Man he had seen someone from the Misty Cloud Sect in Wutan City, so she went to investigate while he decided to visit Ruyi Zhai.
• Gu He recognized Ge Ye outside Ruyi Zhai, but Ge Ye left before Qing Mang arrived and entered the shop for a drink.
• Zi Yan asked Xiao Cheng for more pastries, and he prepared a fresh batch while she played Gomoku with Old Man Huo.
• Xiao Cheng served Zi Yan the pastries, then noticed Hu Jia approaching the cart.

Xiao Cheng sold Hu Jia an expensive Five-worm Cake and tricked Zi Yan into fetching medicinal herbs for him. Meanwhile, Wu Ying turned his attention to Qing Mang, and the Xiao brothers sent Xue Lan to seek Xiao Cheng’s help with a problem in Stone Desert City, unaware he had left Wutan City.

• Hu Jia bought a piece of Five-worm Cake from Xiao Cheng for two thousand Gold Coins, and Xiao Cheng revealed to Old Man Huo that it was made from five kinds of bugs.
• After Zi Yan finished eating a huge tray of pastries, Xiao Cheng persuaded her to fetch medicinal herbs from the dean by claiming they would make her snacks tastier.
• Wu Ying’s black-mist eye tried to spy through Qing Mang, but the system erased it, so Wu Ying decided to use Qing Mang as a pawn to investigate Ruyi Zhai.
• Xiao Li sent Xue Lan to Wutan City to ask Xiao Cheng for help with a problem affecting the Mo Tie Mercenary Group’s future, not knowing Xiao Cheng had gone to the Black Corner Region.

Xiao Cheng planned to take Xiao Yu and Xue Ni to Rakshasa City to seek cooperation with Su Mei, while the people at Ruyi Zhai noticed they were being watched. Wu Ying used a controlled Lü Man to attack the shop, but the system’s protection destroyed her; Xiao Cheng reviewed the recording the next morning and prepared to move the shop and its assistants elsewhere.

• Xiao Cheng told Xiao Yu and Xue Ni to inform Hu Gan that they would accompany him to Rakshasa City to sell pastries and seek cooperation with Su Mei.
• Xiao Yi Xian and Gu He discussed a strange old man watching Ruyi Zhai, and Haibodong and Gu He advised waiting to see what happened.
• Wu Ying sent the controlled Lü Man to attack Ruyi Zhai, but the system’s protection blocked her strike and a lightning bolt killed her.
• Wu Ying fled after witnessing the shop’s defenses, while the people inside remained unaware of the attack.
• Xiao Cheng watched the system’s recording, recognized that Lü Man appeared to be controlled, and began preparing to relocate with the shop assistants.

Xiao Cheng drove his Pastry Cart with Xiao Yu and Xue Ni toward Rakshasa City to sell pastries, but Fan Ling of the Blood Sect tried to take the cart. After Wang Ming provoked Xiao Cheng and lied to Fan Ling, Fan Ling led his group toward them, setting up a confrontation.

• Hu Gan agreed to let Xiao Yu and Xue Ni accompany Xiao Cheng to Rakshasa City and warned them to be careful.
• Xiao Cheng set out from Jia Nan Academy with Xiao Yu and Xue Ni in the Pastry Cart.
• Fan Ling, the Blood Sect leader's son, ordered Wang Ming to demand that Xiao Cheng hand over the cart.
• Xiao Cheng drove toward Wang Ming, who fled, and Xiao Cheng, Xiao Yu, and Xue Ni laughed at him.
• Wang Ming falsely claimed Xiao Cheng had insulted Fan Ling, so Fan Ling led his group toward the cart.
• Xue Ni worried about the approaching Blood Sect group, but Xiao Cheng assured her he could handle them.

Xue Lan told Ruyi Zhai that Xiao Ding’s people had been imprisoned by the Snake People, so Xiao Yi Xian and Haibodong set out with her to negotiate. Wu Ying spotted their departure and conspired with Yun Shan to ambush them and use Xiao Yi Xian to seize Ruyi Zhai.

• Haibodong told Gu He that he wanted to return to the Mitel Family, and Gu He advised him to ask Xiao Yi Xian.
• Xue Lan arrived from Stone Desert City and explained that the Snake People had imprisoned Xiao Ding’s people after a conflict over water.
• Xiao Yi Xian volunteered to negotiate with the Snake People, and Haibodong agreed to guard her on the journey with Xue Lan.
• Wu Ying watched the three leave and decided to inform Yun Shan that Xiao Yi Xian could be captured and used to threaten Xiao Cheng.
• Wu Ying and Yun Shan plotted to ambush the travelers, while Yun Shan privately resented Soul Hall’s hold over him.

Xiao Cheng defeated Fan Ling’s men after refusing to hand over the Pastry Cart, then let Fan Ling go. As the cart continued toward the Black Corner Region, Xiao Cheng boasted about his strength before finding several more people blocking the road.

• Fan Ling introduced himself as the Blood Sect’s young sect master and offered Xiao Cheng a place in the sect in exchange for the Pastry Cart, but Xiao Cheng refused.
• Wang Ming and Fan Ling’s other followers attacked Xiao Cheng, who quickly defeated them with lightning-charged strikes.
• Fan Ling apologized and let Xiao Cheng leave, then ordered Wang Ming to investigate Xiao Cheng and make him pay.
• Xiao Yu praised Xiao Cheng’s strength aboard the Pastry Cart, and Xiao Cheng boasted that no one could block his path.
• Xiao Cheng saw several people blocking the road ahead and decided they needed to be dealt with.