Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yi Xian joined Ruyi Zhai as a clerk, hoping the shop could help suppress her Calamity Poison Body. After learning her duties and tasting the pastries, she began work while Xiao Cheng prepared to visit the Xiao Clan.

• Xiao Yi Xian asked Xiao Cheng to let her work at Ruyi Zhai so she could suppress her illness, and he hired her as a clerk with a room upstairs and pastries as a perk.
• Xiao Cheng showed Xiao Yi Xian her room and explained her duties, the pastry prices, and the Xiao Clan discount.
• Xiao Dian told Xiao Cheng that Xiao Yi Xian was registered with the system, protected, and due to receive a system-selected clerk uniform.
• The next morning, Xiao Yi Xian cleaned the shop before Xiao Cheng explained that a cleaner handled the work and sent her to open the doors.
• Xiao Cheng prepared Peach Pastry, Peanut Candy, and Honeyed Shortbread, and Xiao Yi Xian sampled the pastries before taking charge of sales while he tidied the kitchen.

Xiao Cheng visited the Xiao Clan, delivered reserved Cream Cakes to Xiao Ning, and set out to deliver another to Xiao Xun'er. Meanwhile, Xiao Yi Xian served customers at Ruyi Zhai and grew pensive after speaking with Xiao Lu.

• Xiao Zhan welcomed Xiao Cheng to the Xiao Clan, praised the clan's progress, and discussed the threat from Jia Lie Bi and Ao Ba Pa with him.
• Xiao Zhan told Xiao Cheng that Xiao Yan had reached the seventh stage of Dou Qi and was close to becoming a Dou Zhe.
• Xiao Cheng delivered Xiao Ning's Cream Cake and stopped him from taking Xiao Xun'er's box to her himself.
• Xiao Ning told Xiao Cheng where Xiao Xun'er lived, and Xiao Cheng went to find her on his own.
• Xiao Yi Xian sold pastries to Xiao Lu at Ruyi Zhai, then gazed at the street and became faintly saddened by her memories.

Xiao Cheng visited Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Yan at the Xiao Clan, then triggered a timed quest requiring him to enter the Dou Skill Hall before leaving. The quest threatened a severe loss of Xiao Zhan's favorability if he failed, so Xiao Cheng decided to discuss it with Xiao Zhan.

• Xiao Cheng gave Xiao Xun'er Cream Cake and asked her where Xiao Yan lived.
• Xiao Cheng visited Xiao Yan, noticed signs of his Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid cultivation, and exchanged guarded remarks with him.
• Xiao Xun'er joined Xiao Yan and shared the Cream Cake with him, recalling how he had cared for her as a child.
• Xiao Cheng triggered a timed quest to stay in the Xiao Clan's Dou Skill Hall for three minutes, with failure costing him 99999 favorability with Xiao Zhan.
• Xiao Cheng complained to Xiao Dian about the quest and decided to speak with Xiao Zhan.

Xiao Cheng completed the system’s timed quest at the Xiao Clan’s Dou Skill Hall and received a Festival Quest Card, while Xiao Yi Xian ran Ruyi Zhai and Gu Ni collected the Cream Cake. The Mittel Auction House announced an auction for a pastry said to raise cultivation without side effects, drawing attention to Wutan City.

• Xiao Yi Xian sold pastries at Ruyi Zhai, handed Gu Ni the Cream Cake for the agreed one thousand Gold Coins, and politely turned away customers who tried to pursue her.
• Xiao Cheng asked Xiao Zhan for permission to visit the Xiao Clan’s Dou Skill Hall, and Xiao Zhan allowed him to view the area outside it.
• Xiao Cheng stayed at the Dou Skill Hall for three minutes, completed the timed quest, and received a Festival Quest Card from the system.
• Xiao Cheng opened the card at Ruyi Zhai, learned it would grant a festival quest, and checked that his Honeyed Shortbread and Small Fried Dough Twists quests were still unfinished.
• The Mittel Auction House publicized its upcoming auction of a pastry said to raise cultivation without side effects, attracting the Jia Lie Family, the Xiao Clan, the Ao Ba Pa Family, people from around Qingshan Town, and Mitel Tengshan’s attention.

Xiao Ning, Xiao Yan, and Xiao Xun'er ate Cream Cake and gained major cultivation breakthroughs, leading Xiao Yan and Xun'er to tell Xiao Zhan about its effects. Xiao Zhan suspected the cake was the mysterious item advertised by the Mittel Auction House, and the Xiao Clan prepared to attend the auction alongside rival families seeking to obtain it.

• Xiao Ning ate an entire Cream Cake, absorbed its energy, and advanced to Two-star Dou Zhe.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er shared a Cream Cake; Xiao Yan reached the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi, while Xun'er advanced to Three-star Dou Zhe.
• Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er told Xiao Zhan that the Cream Cake raised their cultivation without destabilizing their foundations.
• Xiao Zhan invited Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er to accompany him to the Mittel Auction House, suspecting its mysterious cultivation-raising item was Cream Cake.
• The Jia Lie Family and the Ao Ba Pa Family also received auction invitations and set their sights on winning the mysterious item.

Xiao Cheng prepared Ruyi Zhai for the crowds drawn to Wutan City by the Mittel Auction House’s Cream Cake auction, while Xiao Yan continued cultivating. News that Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Ning had reached Dou Zhe after eating Ruyi Zhai pastries brought a new wave of customers to the shop.

• Xiao Yi Xian told Xiao Cheng that the Mittel Auction House had announced an auction for a mysterious item that could raise cultivation without side effects, drawing prominent factions to Wutan City.
• Xiao Lu visited Ruyi Zhai, bought pastries, and told Xiao Cheng the auction would take place the next day; Xiao Cheng decided to focus on his shop rather than attend.
• Ya Fei refused the Mittel Family steward’s demand to inspect the mysterious item, warning that its owner, the Proxy Bidder, was not someone they could offend.
• Xiao Yan returned to his room to cultivate after Old Yao praised his progress to the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi and discussed the effects of Cream Cake and Honeyed Shortbread.
• Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Ning’s breakthroughs to Dou Zhe became known among the Xiao Family Disciples, who learned they had eaten Ruyi Zhai pastries and began visiting the shop.

The Jia Lie and Ao families tried to uncover the mysterious item set for auction, while Xiao Cheng made Sesame Candy and Melon Seed Candy for Xiao Yi Xian. Completing the system quest raised Xiao Cheng to Two-star Dou Zhe, and the new candies went on sale at Ruyi Zhai.

• Jia Lie Bi ordered Jia Lie Te to keep investigating the mysterious auction item and declared that the Jia Lie Family had to win it before the Xiao Clan or another rival could.
• Ao Ba Pa sent Ao Di to seek information at the Mittel Auction House, while Xiao Zhan remained confident that the item was Cream Cake and planned to reserve some from Shop Owner Xiao.
• Xiao Cheng decided to make Sesame Candy and Melon Seed Candy for Xiao Yi Xian, triggering a side quest that required him to prepare both kinds.
• Xiao Cheng made the candies, learned they would each cost 66 gold coins, and completed the quest to advance from One-Star Dou Zhe to Two-star Dou Zhe.
• Xiao Cheng put the new candies on display, and Xiao Yi Xian sampled a piece of Sesame Candy.

As Wutan City prepared for the Mittel Auction House, Ge Ye visited Ruyi Zhai and met its owner, Xiao Cheng, who recognized his connection to Xiao Yan. Princess Yue'er later visited the shop and bought a large selection of pastries, while Xiao Cheng anticipated that the next day would be lively.

• Ge Ye arrived in Wutan City for the auction and visited Ruyi Zhai after spotting its sign.
• Xiao Cheng recognized Ge Ye as the Misty Cloud Sect elder involved in breaking off Xiao Yan's engagement but chose not to confront him.
• Ge Ye bought several pastries and left after Xiao Cheng asked whether he had visited the Xiao Clan.
• Ge Ye greeted Princess Yue'er, who noticed the paper package he carried and then headed toward Ruyi Zhai.
• Yue'er introduced herself to Xiao Cheng, bought many pastries, and left with her guards.
• Xiao Cheng closed the shop and remarked that the following day would be lively.

Xiao Ning visited Ruyi Zhai to show Xiao Cheng that he had reached two-star Dou Zhe after eating Cream Cake, then bought several snacks. After discovering that the shop’s pastries enhanced Dou Qi, Ge Ye hurried back to buy more, leaving Xiao Cheng eager to obtain the shop-guard reward from his quest.

• Xiao Ning told Xiao Cheng that Cream Cake had helped him advance to two-star Dou Zhe, and Xiao Cheng explained that its effects diminished after repeated use.
• Xiao Ning asked Xiao Cheng about the Mittel Auction House auction, then bought Small Fried Dough Twists, Sesame Candy, and Melon Seed Candy from Xiao Yi Xian.
• Xiao Cheng checked his quests, worried about the Misty Cloud Sect, and learned from Xiao Dian that a Mysterious Gift Pack could contain a shop guard.
• Ge Ye tested the pastries he had bought and found that most increased Dou Qi, while Small Fried Dough Twists restored mental energy and Peanut Candy doubled cultivation speed.
• Ge Ye hurried back to Ruyi Zhai to buy and test pastries he had not yet sampled.

Ge Ye bought pastries from Ruyi Zhai after learning of their effects, while Princess Yue'er arrived and insisted on becoming a shop assistant. Xiao Cheng agreed to let her work at the shop and pressed Xiao Dian to finish the assistants’ uniforms.

• Ge Ye bought five jin each of Honeyed Shortbread and Small Fried Dough Twist, planning to report their effects to Yun Yun and the Misty Cloud Sect.
• Xiao Cheng worried that the Misty Cloud Sect might come to Ruyi Zhai and hoped to obtain guards through a mission and a draw.
• Princess Yue'er headed to Ruyi Zhai to investigate the shop, while Ya Fei and Gu Ni discussed the auction’s arriving factions and preparations.
• Yue'er greeted Xiao Cheng and Xiao Yi Xian, then insisted on working as a shop assistant; Xiao Cheng agreed and offered her a room beside Xiao Yi Xian’s.
• Xiao Cheng confronted Xiao Dian about the delayed uniforms, and Xiao Dian promised to complete two uniforms within thirty minutes.

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.