Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “I’m Only Level Eleven... I’m Level Fifteen”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Ran prepares three Luckin Coffee drinks for Tang Ya, Beibei, and Huo Yuhao: one Iced Americano and two Raw Coconut Lattes.
• Tang Ya questions the quality of the coconut milk and learns that it comes from a ten-thousand-year-old Bobo Coconut Tree, making the drink extraordinarily valuable.
• Tang Ya and Beibei taste the Raw Coconut Latte and are astonished by its exceptional flavor, treating it almost like a precious treasure.
• Curious, Huo Yuhao drinks the Iced Americano despite its bitterness. Although he dislikes the taste, he forces himself to finish it because it is expensive.
• Sky Dream Ice Silkworm discovers that the coffee slightly increases Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power. While the effect is small, drinking one cup daily could provide significant long-term benefits.
• Huo Yuhao becomes excited, then discouraged when he realizes his limited allowance can only afford one cup per month.
• Huo Yuhao asks Bai Ran whether the coffee enhances spiritual power. Bai Ran explains that the effect may only work on people whose Soul Power Level is lower than his.
• Huo Yuhao reveals that he is already level eleven, prompting Bai Ran to casually state that he is level fifteen.
• Bai Ran’s revelation shocks Huo Yuhao, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, Beibei, and Tang Ya, since level fifteen is the threshold for Shrek Academy’s entrance examination.

Character Developments

• Bai Ran: Demonstrates his unusual wealth, access to rare resources, and remarkable cultivation talent. His level-five advantage over Huo Yuhao establishes him as an exceptionally gifted child despite his young age.
• Huo Yuhao: Shows his frugality and determination by swallowing the bitter coffee rather than wasting an expensive purchase. He also learns that the drink can strengthen spiritual power, giving him a potential path for growth, though his poverty limits access to it. Bai Ran’s level causes him to suffer a major blow to his confidence.
• Tang Ya: Displays her greedier, more playful side as she becomes possessive of the delicious Raw Coconut Latte. She also recognizes the rarity and value of Bai Ran’s ingredients.
• Beibei: Shares Tang Ya’s amazement at the coffee and reacts with genuine delight, highlighting how extraordinary Bai Ran’s products are.
• Sky Dream Ice Silkworm: Carefully detects the coffee’s hidden effect on Huo Yuhao’s spiritual sea and urges him to continue drinking it.

Significant Themes

• Talent and inequality: Bai Ran’s effortless cultivation progress contrasts sharply with Huo Yuhao’s slower advancement and limited resources.
• Poverty and opportunity: Huo Yuhao recognizes that a valuable chance to strengthen himself is available but financially out of reach.
• Hidden power in ordinary things: Coffee appears to be a simple beverage, yet Bai Ran’s products contain rare ingredients and cultivation-related effects.
• Comedy through contrast: The characters treat expensive, mystical ingredients as coffee additives, while Huo Yuhao’s serious reaction to the bitter Americano creates humor.
• Self-worth and competition: Bai Ran’s level fifteen challenges Huo Yuhao’s sense of progress and reminds him how far he must go to catch up.

Character Interactions

• Tang Ya and Beibei enthusiastically praise the Raw Coconut Latte, while Bai Ran casually explains its rare origin.
• Huo Yuhao’s internal dialogue with Sky Dream Ice Silkworm reveals the coffee’s spiritual benefits and his financial frustration.
• Huo Yuhao respectfully questions Bai Ran about the drink’s effects, leading to the surprising revelation of Bai Ran’s cultivation level.
• Bai Ran’s offhand statement leaves Huo Yuhao and the others stunned, ending the chapter on a humorous but discouraging note.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huo Yuhao suffers a major emotional setback after learning that, at six years old, he has only Soul Power Level 15 and a Food-type Martial Soul—an ability considered difficult to cultivate. He initially believes he is destined to be weak.
• The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm encourages Huo Yuhao not to lose hope, promising that he will soon help him change his fate. Motivated by this and by his desire for revenge against the White Tiger Duke, Huo Yuhao quickly regains his determination.
• At Bai Ran’s drink stall, Tang Ya attempts to comfort herself with Luckin Raw Coconut Lattes after the earlier setback. She asks for ten drinks, but Bai Ran refuses because of the three-cup limit and the physical strain of preparing them.
• Tang Ya settles for three cups, with Beibei paying. Huo Yuhao then requests another Raw Coconut Latte for his roommate, Wang Dong.
• Tang Ya teases Huo Yuhao by suggesting that Wang Dong might be his girlfriend. Huo Yuhao becomes embarrassed and insists that Wang Dong is only his roommate.
• Tang Ya and Beibei insist on paying for Huo Yuhao’s drink because they know he is poor and has not yet received his academy subsidy. Huo Yuhao refuses their charity, claiming Wang Dong will reimburse him.
• The chapter ends with humorous meta-commentary involving Tang San and Huo Yuhao’s imagined romantic implications with Wang Dong.

Character Developments

• Huo Yuhao: Recovers quickly from his crisis of confidence. His determination to become stronger and avenge his mother remains intact, while his pride and reluctance to accept financial help are emphasized. His concern for Wang Dong also hints at their growing closeness, even though he does not yet recognize Wang Dong’s true identity.
• Tang Ya: Shows a playful, teasing personality but is also considerate and protective toward Huo Yuhao. She tries to help him financially and worries about whether he can safely consume the powerful drink.
• Beibei: Acts as Tang Ya’s dependable partner and willingly agrees to pay for the drinks. His generosity highlights his care for their juniors.
• Bai Ran: Remains strict about his sales limits and honest about the physical cost of producing the drinks. His role as a child entrepreneur is contrasted with the absurdly powerful ingredients in his beverages.
• Sky Dream Ice Silkworm: Serves as Huo Yuhao’s emotional support, reinforcing his importance as a destined figure.
• Wang Dong: Though absent from most of the scene, he is important as the recipient of Huo Yuhao’s drink and the target of Tang Ya’s teasing.

Significant Themes

• Overcoming inferiority: Huo Yuhao briefly sees himself as “trash” but refuses to let a poor starting point destroy his ambition.
• Destiny versus effort: The narration humorously frames Huo Yuhao as a destined hero while emphasizing that he must still endure hardship and cultivate himself.
• Friendship and support: Tang Ya, Beibei, and Sky Dream all provide different forms of encouragement and assistance.
• Pride and self-reliance: Huo Yuhao’s refusal to let others pay for him reflects his dignity and desire to stand on his own.
• Comedy and parody: The chapter uses exaggerated commentary, fourth-wall jokes, modern drink-brand references, and romantic misunderstandings to undercut the dramatic tone.

Character Interactions

• Huo Yuhao and Sky Dream: Sky Dream reassures Huo Yuhao after his setback, helping restore his confidence.
• Tang Ya and Beibei: Their playful exchanges show their familiarity, while Beibei quietly supports Tang Ya’s decisions.
• Tang Ya and Bai Ran: Tang Ya tries to exploit their senior-junior relationship to obtain a discount and more drinks, but Bai Ran firmly refuses.
• Tang Ya and Huo Yuhao: Tang Ya teases him about Wang Dong while also treating him like a younger disciple in need of protection.
• Huo Yuhao and Beibei: Beibei offers financial assistance, but Huo Yuhao politely rejects it.
• Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong: Huo Yuhao buys the drink as a thoughtful gesture for his roommate, though he becomes flustered when their relationship is interpreted romantically.

Chapter Summary: “Are There Any Hot Coffees?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Ran serves Tang Ya, Beibei, and Huo Yuhao his signature Raw Coconut Lattes. The drink consumes a significant amount of his Soul Power because it originates from his powerful ten-thousand-year Soul Ring.
• Tang Ya asks for takeaway containers and later wonders whether Bai Ran can serve hot or room-temperature coffee. Bai Ran admits that he currently can only produce iced drinks.
• Bai Ran considers expanding his business with Luckin Coffee takeaway bags and possibly developing hot coffee through a future Soul Ring with a fire attribute. However, he realizes that his current Iced Americano martial soul is closely aligned with Ultimate Ice and cannot naturally produce heat.
• Tang Ya, Beibei, and Huo Yuhao return to class. Huo Yuhao brings Wang Dong a Raw Coconut Latte, but she initially mistakes its shaken appearance for milk.
• Before Wang Dong can taste the drink, their strict homeroom teacher, Zhou Yi, arrives. The entire classroom immediately falls silent, and Wang Dong hides the coffee because Zhou Yi forbids even drinking water during class.

Character Developments

• Bai Ran: Shows practical business sense by considering takeaway packaging and future product expansion. He also begins thinking more seriously about the limitations and possibilities of his martial soul, particularly the conflict between its ice attribute and the idea of producing hot coffee.
• Tang Ya: Becomes an enthusiastic customer, buying multiple drinks and suggesting improvements to Bai Ran’s menu. Her playful teasing and casual familiarity with Bai Ran develop their friendly relationship.
• Huo Yuhao: Acts thoughtfully by bringing Wang Dong a coffee. He is also responsible enough to return to class on time because of his duties as class monitor.
• Wang Dong: Shows curiosity and growing openness toward Huo Yuhao’s gesture, despite initially suspecting the drink might be harmful before physical training. Her hidden identity as a girl remains known only to Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and the reader.
• Zhou Yi: Her intimidating reputation is reinforced. Her harsh teaching methods have already removed troublesome students from the class and make students afraid to break even minor rules.

Significant Themes

• Power and sacrifice: Bai Ran’s ten-thousand-year Soul Ring grants extraordinary abilities but requires immense Soul Power, emphasizing that strength always comes with a cost.
• Innovation and adaptation: Bai Ran treats his supernatural coffee-making ability like a business, thinking about packaging, new products, and ways to overcome technical limitations.
• Ice versus fire: The possibility of hot coffee introduces the broader question of whether Bai Ran’s ice-based martial soul can coexist with or obtain fire-based abilities.
• Friendship and everyday intimacy: Sharing coffee becomes a small but meaningful way for the characters to interact and show care for one another.
• Authority and discipline: Zhou Yi’s severe classroom standards create tension between the students’ relaxed social lives and the strict demands of academy training.

Character Interactions

• Tang Ya jokes with Bai Ran about takeaway containers, iced drinks, and when she cannot drink cold beverages. Bai Ran responds with teasing literalism, strengthening their playful rapport.
• Huo Yuhao joins Tang Ya and Beibei for coffee but leaves early to fulfill his class-monitor responsibilities.
• Huo Yuhao offers Wang Dong a Raw Coconut Latte as a friendly gesture. Their conversation reveals mutual familiarity, light suspicion, and growing camaraderie.
• The students’ relaxed mood ends instantly when Zhou Yi approaches, highlighting the power she holds over the class and setting up the tension of the upcoming lesson.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou Yi starts class early, pleased with her students' discipline compared to other classes.
• Wang Dong drinks Luckin Coffee in class, angering Zhou Yi. As punishment, she and Huo Yuhao must carry 50 jin each during physical training, instead of the usual 30 jin.
• Tang Ya returns to the dorm with Luckin Coffee for Jiang Nannan, who is upset and refuses to share what happened.

Character Developments

• Wang Dong shows her privileged upbringing and lack of concern for rules, dragging Huo Yuhao into her punishment.
• Zhou Yi demonstrates her stern teaching style and willingness to punish students for misbehavior.
• Tang Ya shows concern and care for Jiang Nannan, trying to help her but being rebuffed.
• Jiang Nannan remains aloof and independent, refusing to share her problems with Tang Ya.

Significant Themes

• Discipline and consequences (Zhou Yi punishing Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao for Wang Dong's actions).
• Friendship and support (Tang Ya's concern for Jiang Nannan).
• Independence and resilience (Jiang Nannan's refusal to share her problems).

Character Interactions

• Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao: Wang Dong's carelessness affects Huo Yuhao, showing their close friendship.
• Zhou Yi and Wang Dong/Huo Yuhao: Zhou Yi punishes Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao for Wang Dong's actions, showing her stern teaching style.
• Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan: Tang Ya tries to help Jiang Nannan, but Jiang Nannan remains distant, highlighting their close but unequal friendship.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Ran, after a slow day at his coffee shop, decides to explore Shrek Academy.
• He witnesses a class of new students, including Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, undergoing a grueling physical fitness training session under the sun.
• Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong struggle to keep up with the group due to the heavy weights they carry, with Wang Dong supporting Huo Yuhao.

Character Developments

• Bai Ran: He shows no concern for the slow business at his coffee shop, attributing it to the shop's newness. He expresses disdain for the traditional training methods used at Shrek Academy.
• Huo Yuhao: Despite his weakness, he shows concern for Wang Dong's well-being and tries to persuade her to run ahead without him.
• Wang Dong: She displays loyalty and determination to help Huo Yuhao, even when it means falling behind in the training session.

Significant Themes

• Tradition vs Modernity: Bai Ran's criticism of the academy's training methods highlights the tension between traditional and modern approaches to cultivation.
• Loyalty and Friendship: Wang Dong's dedication to helping Huo Yuhao, even to her own detriment, underscores the importance of loyalty and friendship in the story.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ran and Huo Yuhao/Wang Dong: Though they don't interact directly, Bai Ran notices Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong during their training session. He feels a sense of superiority over their traditional training methods, contrasting with their struggles.
• Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong: Their interaction shows their mutual concern and support for each other, with Wang Dong determined to help Huo Yuhao despite the difficulties.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tang Ya confronts Xu Sanshi for bullying Jiang Nannan.
• Xu Sanshi and Beibei have a match; Xu Sanshi loses and has to give three Mysterious Water Pills as compensation.
• Jiang Nannan receives the Mysterious Water Pills from Tang Ya.

Character Developments

• Tang Ya: Shows her loyalty and protectiveness towards Jiang Nannan, demonstrating her courage and determination.
• Xu Sanshi: Reveals his persistence in pursuing Jiang Nannan, despite her disinterest. He also shows his stubbornness and unwillingness to admit defeat.
• Jiang Nannan: Shows her vulnerability and need for support, despite her usually aloof demeanor.

Significant Themes

• Friendship: Tang Ya's actions highlight the importance of standing up for friends in need.
• Persistence vs. Stubbornness: Xu Sanshi's relentless pursuit of Jiang Nannan raises questions about the line between persistence and stubbornness.

Character Interactions

• Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan: Their friendship is strengthened as Tang Ya stands up for Jiang Nannan.
• Xu Sanshi and Beibei: Xu Sanshi's loss to Beibei highlights the power dynamic between them, with Beibei showing dominance.
• Xu Sanshi and Jiang Nannan: Their dynamic remains tense, with Xu Sanshi's pursuit causing Jiang Nannan distress.

Chapter Summary: “Old Man by the Lake, I’m Waiting for Someone”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Ran visits the shore of Sea God Island, intending to explore Shrek Academy and think about improving his Luckin Coffee shop in the Outer Academy.
• He considers practical business ideas, including branded packaging, advertisements, and using his uncle’s influence to promote the shop, but rejects the last option because he does not want to become dependent on his uncle or be overworked.
• While waiting for Ye Tian, Bai Ran encounters an eccentric old man relaxing beside the lake. Bai Ran suspects he may be Elder Mu, but the man appears healthy and mobile, unlike the injured Mu En.
• The old man is revealed to be Tianyang Douluo, the strongest Title Douluo of the Dou Ling Empire, a level-97 Super Douluo.
• Ye Tian arrives to deliver an insulated box containing medicinal cuisine prepared for the Dou Ling Emperor, who is seeking help producing an heir.
• Tianyang Douluo respectfully accepts the gift and invites Ye Tian to visit Douling City, demonstrating the close relationship between Shrek Academy and the Dou Ling Empire.
• As Bai Ran and Ye Tian leave, Bai Ran learns that the food in the box was made from valuable Soul Beast ingredients and intended as a powerful fertility tonic.
• Ye Tian asks about Bai Ran’s coffee business and whether he is eating properly at the Outer Academy. Bai Ran admits internally that he has not even eaten at the cafeteria.

Character Developments

• Bai Ran continues adjusting to life at Shrek Academy and shows both entrepreneurial ambition and caution. He wants to develop his coffee shop but is wary of relying too heavily on family connections.
• His curiosity remains one of his defining traits. Despite recognizing that the old man may be dangerous or unusual, he continues questioning him.
• Ye Tian is portrayed as protective and highly respected. He quickly prevents Bai Ran from insulting Tianyang Douluo and handles diplomatic matters with great care.
• Ye Tian also demonstrates his expertise as a “divine chef,” preparing medicinal food powerful enough to be sought by an emperor.
• Tianyang Douluo appears informal and humorous while relaxing by the lake, but becomes dignified and respectful when dealing with Ye Tian. His conduct reflects both his immense strength and his diplomatic concern for maintaining ties with Shrek.
• Bai Ran and Ye Tian’s uncle-nephew relationship is affectionate and comedic, with Ye Tian worrying about Bai Ran’s meals and Bai Ran avoiding awkward questions about his habits.

Significant Themes

• Power and diplomacy: Even a Super Douluo must respect Shrek Academy’s rules, emphasizing the academy’s authority and influence.
• Family protection and dependence: Bai Ran wants to succeed independently, while Ye Tian continues to look after him.
• Entrepreneurship and adaptation: Bai Ran applies modern business thinking to his coffee shop, attempting to introduce branding and advertising to a fantasy setting.
• Food as power: The chapter reinforces the importance of medicinal cuisine and food-based abilities, showing that food can serve political, medical, and even reproductive purposes.
• Comedic contrast: Serious figures such as a Super Douluo and an imperial envoy are placed in absurdly mundane situations, such as sunbathing beside a lake or discussing bitter coffee and fertility food.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ran and the mysterious old man exchange playful questions while waiting for someone, with Bai Ran’s suspicion contrasting against the old man’s relaxed attitude.
• Ye Tian treats Tianyang Douluo with formal respect, while Tianyang responds warmly and invites him to Douling City.
• Ye Tian subtly protects Bai Ran from offending Tianyang by covering his mouth before he can use an insulting nickname.
• On the journey back, Bai Ran presses Ye Tian for information about the insulated box, while Ye Tian initially withholds the embarrassing truth.
• Ye Tian checks on Bai Ran’s coffee sales and meals, reinforcing his role as both a powerful figure and a caring uncle.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• In the Inner Academy cafeteria, Ye Tian tastes Bai Ran’s Luckin Raw Coconut Latte Coffee and is deeply impressed by its smooth flavor and satisfying aftertaste.
• The drink’s special effect is revealed: it clears heat and toxins while removing negative effects, including emotional distress. This explains why Jiang Nannan’s depression had lifted after drinking it.
• Ye Tian concludes that Bai Ran’s coffee business will succeed and encourages him. Bai Ran confidently agrees, certain of the drink’s quality.
• Concerned about Bai Ran’s safety and inconvenient travel between the Inner and Outer Academies, Ye Tian asks where he will stay. Bai Ran decides to remain in the academy dormitory overnight.
• In the Star Dou Great Forest, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion desperately searches for the taste of Raw Coconut Latte by chewing through numerous ten-thousand-year-old Bobo Coconut Trees. None of them satisfy her.
• King of Myriad Demons becomes frustrated because she has nearly destroyed the entire mature Bobo Coconut Tree population. When she cries, the other Great Beasts immediately rush to defend her.
• Di Tian eventually promises that Bai Ran will be brought before the Auspicious Beast the next time he visits the Star Dou Great Forest, though he views this mainly as a way to placate her.

Character developments

• Bai Ran displays strong confidence in his coffee and in his future as a Food-type Soul Master, refusing to be modest about the product’s appeal.
• Ye Tian shifts from worrying that Bai Ran’s shop might fail to believing that the coffee will attract many customers. He also shows a protective, fatherly concern for Bai Ran’s safety.
• Jiang Nannan’s earlier depression is shown to have been alleviated by the coffee’s cleansing effect.
• The Three-Eyed Golden Lion becomes intensely fixated on Raw Coconut Latte, behaving like a spoiled child and using tears to get her way.
• Di Tian is shown as both authoritative and quietly indulgent toward the Auspicious Beast, while also remaining cautious about provoking Shrek Academy.
• King of Myriad Demons is portrayed as long-suffering and frustrated, yet unable to resist the political and practical importance of the Auspicious Beast.

Significant themes

• Food and soul skills as extraordinary powers: Bai Ran’s coffee is not merely enjoyable; it can cleanse the body and mind, making ordinary food into a powerful support ability.
• Emotional healing: The chapter emphasizes how removing negative effects can restore calm and happiness, rather than relying solely on flavor or physical stimulation.
• Protection and status: The Great Beasts tolerate the Three-Eyed Golden Lion’s destructive behavior because of her vital role in the Star Dou Great Forest.
• Cultural and comedic contrast: Modern coffee culture is transplanted into the Douluo world, producing humorous misunderstandings and unusual cravings.
• Political tension: Di Tian’s reluctance to approach Shrek Academy reveals the danger of open conflict between the academy and the Star Dou Great Forest.

Character interactions

• Ye Tian praises Bai Ran’s coffee while Bai Ran confidently promotes it, creating a warm uncle-nephew exchange.
• Ye Tian’s concern over Bai Ran’s overnight arrangements reinforces their close family relationship.
• The Three-Eyed Golden Lion’s obsession brings her into conflict with King of Myriad Demons, while Scarlet King, Zi Ji, Xiong Jun, and Di Tian instinctively rally around her.
• Di Tian ultimately negotiates with the crying Auspicious Beast, promising access to Bai Ran and his coffee despite recognizing the risks involved.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Ran and his uncle, Ye Tian, find an eighty-thousand-year Purple Lightning Python-Snake corpse in the Inner Academy cafeteria kitchen.
• Xuan Zi, a senior academy member, reveals he sent the soul beast for processing by Ye Tian to benefit his martial soul.
• Ye Tian asks Xuan Zi to look after Bai Ran in the afternoon while he processes the soul beast.
• Xuan Zi offers Bai Ran a steamed bun, which he declines due to its high price and Xuan Zi's questionable hygiene.
• Xuan Zi exhibits uncivilized behavior, picking at his feet while eating, which disgusts Bai Ran.

Character Developments

• Bai Ran: Shows disinterest in expensive food and maintains his composure despite Xuan Zi's unhygienic behavior.
• Xuan Zi: Reveals his gluttonous nature and lack of personal hygiene, but is still reliable enough to look after Bai Ran within the academy.

Significant Themes

• The value of soul beasts and their parts in the current era.
• The contrast between Bai Ran's refined behavior and Xuan Zi's uncivilized habits.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ran and Ye Tian: Uncle and nephew, with Ye Tian caring for Bai Ran's well-being.
• Bai Ran and Xuan Zi: Initially cautious, Bai Ran becomes disgusted by Xuan Zi's behavior but maintains respect for his role as a senior academy member.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xuan Zi, a Titled Douluo, tastes Bai Ran's iced Americano and is impressed by its effect on mental fatigue, despite its bitter taste.
• Xuan Zi offers to study the coffee's longevity in exchange for another cup, but Bai Ran asks for 9.9 Gold Soul Coins.
• Xuan Zi tries to take Bai Ran as his disciple but is rejected. He then takes Bai Ran back to the outer courtyard cafeteria.
• Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan discuss the Raw Coconut Latte, and Tang Ya decides to take Jiang Nannan to buy more.

Character Developments

• Bai Ran: Shows business acumen by charging Xuan Zi for the coffee and stands up to the powerful elder.
• Xuan Zi: Reveals his interest in Bai Ran's coffee and his desire to take him as a disciple, hinting at his loneliness and desire for companionship.
• Tang Ya: Shows concern for Jiang Nannan's well-being and tries to cheer her up by taking her to buy more Raw Coconut Latte.
• Jiang Nannan: Opens up to Tang Ya about her feelings and shows interest in the Raw Coconut Latte, indicating a return to normalcy after her traumatic experience.

Significant Themes

• Friendship and Support: Tang Ya's concern for Jiang Nannan and her efforts to help her recover from her ordeal.
• Business Acumen: Bai Ran's understanding of the value of his product and his willingness to charge a powerful elder for it.
• Loneliness and Desire for Companionship: Xuan Zi's attempts to take Bai Ran as a disciple, hinting at his desire for a connection with someone.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ran and Xuan Zi: Their interaction shows Bai Ran's confidence and Xuan Zi's interest in Bai Ran's coffee and potential as a disciple.
• Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan: Their conversation reveals their close friendship and Jiang Nannan's openness with Tang Ya.
• Tang Ya and Bai Ran: Their interaction is not directly shown in this chapter, but Tang Ya's mention of "Junior" implies her awareness of Bai Ran's coffee shop and her intention to visit him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Ran's Luckin Coffee stall continues to struggle with no customers.
• Bai Ran orders a duck leg rice bowl, and learns it's a century-old duck leg.
• Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan visit the stall. Tang Ya orders a Raw Coconut Latte, while Jiang Nannan orders an Iced Americano out of curiosity.

Character Developments

• Bai Ran: Shows curiosity and a bit of mischief, asking about the duck's age.
• Jiang Nannan: Displayed her icy demeanor but was not overly cold to Bai Ran. She shows curiosity and determination to try the Iced Americano despite Tang Ya's warning.

Significant Themes

• The struggle of a new business (Bai Ran's coffee stall).
• Curiosity and determination (Jiang Nannan's decision to try the Iced Americano).
• Gossip and information sharing (Tang Ya's hints about Bai Ran's background).

Character Interactions

• Bai Ran and the Cafeteria Auntie: A brief exchange about the duck leg's age.
• Bai Ran, Tang Ya, and Jiang Nannan: Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan visit the stall, with Jiang Nannan ordering an Iced Americano despite Tang Ya's warning.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Nannan tries and dislikes Bai Ran's Iced Americano, finding it too bitter.
• She then tries and enjoys his Raw Coconut Latte, asking for another.
• Bai Ran explains that coffee refreshes the mind and clears the head, but adding too much sugar reduces its effect.

Character Developments

• Jiang Nannan: Shows stubbornness in trying to like the Iced Americano, but ultimately prefers the sweeter Raw Coconut Latte.
• Bai Ran: Maintains his calm and professional demeanor while serving customers, explaining the effects of his coffee.

Significant Themes

• The contrast between the bitterness of Iced Americano and the sweetness of Raw Coconut Latte represents the different experiences and perspectives of Jiang Nannan and Bai Ran.
• The theme of tolerance is explored through Bai Ran's explanation of his "tolerance" for the bitterness of coffee.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya: They are close friends, with Jiang Nannan being more assertive and Tang Ya more reserved. They tease each other playfully.
• Bai Ran and Jiang Nannan: They have a professional customer-service relationship, with Jiang Nannan being a critical customer and Bai Ran patiently explaining his products.
• Bai Ran's internal monologue: He observes the interaction between Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya, finding it somewhat ambiguous and unexpected in a world he perceives as "Romance Continent."

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Ran is approached by Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan, seeking help for Jiang Nannan's job situation.
• Bai Ran checks Jiang Nannan's records using a Communication Talisman, causing Tang Ya to exclaim, "You pulled her records?"
• Bai Ran offers Jiang Nannan a job as his uncle's assistant in the Inner Academy cafeteria.

Character Developments

• Bai Ran: Shows maturity beyond his age, considering the consequences before acting. He's not swayed by Jiang Nannan's situation and instead thinks practically about the benefits for his uncle.
• Jiang Nannan: Reveals her past and current predicament. She's initially upset when Bai Ran checks her records but later accepts the job offer.
• Ye Tian (Bai Ran's uncle): Not directly present but mentioned. He's a respected figure in the Inner Academy, and Bai Ran believes he would appreciate Jiang Nannan's cooking skills.

Significant Themes

• Practicality vs Emotion: Bai Ran prioritizes practical considerations over emotional appeals, unlike Tang Ya who tries to guilt-trip him into helping Jiang Nannan.
• Power Dynamics: Bai Ran is aware of the power dynamics at play, knowing that the Mysterious Underworld Sect, while influential, is not invincible within Shrek Academy's hierarchy.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ran and Jiang Nannan: Their interaction is initially tense due to Bai Ran's direct approach, but it ends cordially with Jiang Nannan accepting the job offer.
• Bai Ran and Tang Ya: Tang Ya tries to appeal to Bai Ran's sympathy, but he remains unmoved until he sees a benefit for his uncle.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fan Yu, a soul engineer, visits the academy cafeteria and discovers a new stall selling coffee.
• He orders two Luckin Iced Americanos, one for himself and one for his disciple, He Caitou.
• He Caitou, unaware of the drink's nature, takes a sip and spits it out, mistaking it for spoiled sour plum soup.

Character Developments

• Fan Yu: Shows concern for his disciple's well-being and is willing to try new things.
• He Caitou: Demonstrates a strong work ethic and is dedicated to his research. He also shows a naive and innocent side when it comes to food.

Significant Themes

• The theme of trying new things, as seen through Fan Yu's willingness to try coffee.
• The theme of dedication and hard work, as seen through He Caitou's commitment to his research.

Character Interactions

• Fan Yu and He Caitou: Their interaction shows a caring and mentor-mentee relationship, with Fan Yu showing concern for He Caitou's health and He Caitou respecting and trusting his teacher.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fan Yu, a teacher, struggles to drink coffee due to its bad taste but finds it refreshing and decides to buy more.
• Zhou Yi, another teacher, is angry and arrives early to class, intimidating her students.
• Bai Ran, a coffee shop employee, prioritizes making coffee over breakfast and is surprised to find his coffee still icy after a day.

Character Developments

• Fan Yu discovers the refreshing effect of coffee despite its taste.
• Zhou Yi is shown to have a temper and can be intimidating.
• Bai Ran maintains his coffee-making habits but learns to value a proper breakfast.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between taste and functionality (Fan Yu with coffee).
• The importance of a good night's sleep and proper breakfast (Bai Ran's realization).

Character Interactions

• Fan Yu and He Caitou discuss the coffee's effect.
• Zhou Yi's stern demeanor affects Wang Dong's behavior.
• Bai Ran interacts with his coffee and breakfast, reflecting on his habits.

Chapter Summary: “Heading Out and Getting Hit by a Big Rig”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dissatisfied with the Outer Academy cafeteria food, Bai Ran decides to travel to the Inner Academy so his uncle, Ye Tian, can cook him fried rice noodles.
• While walking beside Sea God Lake, Bai Ran notices a flaming figure racing toward him across the lake.
• The figure is Ma Xiaotao, whose evil fire has apparently erupted. Unable to dodge, Bai Ran is struck with tremendous force.
• Ye Tian’s seventh-rank defensive Soul Tool activates automatically, protecting Bai Ran from what would otherwise have been a fatal impact.
• Ma Xiaotao repeatedly attacks the shield, quickly pushing it toward destruction. Bai Ran is trapped inside the shield and unable to escape without exposing himself to her flames.
• As the shield begins to crack, Bai Ran throws a cup of Luckin Iced Americano at Ma Xiaotao. The coffee’s extremely cold ice suppresses her flames and briefly restores her consciousness.
• Ma Xiaotao unexpectedly reacts positively, asking Bai Ran to splash her again. Bai Ran uses two more cups of iced coffee, cooling her enough to calm the situation.
• Yan Shaozhe, dean of Shrek Academy’s Martial Soul Department and Ma Xiaotao’s master, finally arrives after the immediate danger has passed.
• Yan Shaozhe praises Bai Ran and assumes he is an Outer Academy student from a powerful family, but Bai Ran reveals that he is not a student.
• Yan Shaozhe begins questioning whether Bai Ran might be an Inner Academy student when a familiar voice addresses him, leaving the chapter on a cliffhanger.

Character Developments

• Bai Ran: Demonstrates quick thinking and a strong instinct for survival. Although vastly weaker than Ma Xiaotao, he uses his unusual ice-related coffee ability creatively to save himself. He also realizes that his transmigration may have altered the original story’s events.
• Ma Xiaotao: Is shown losing control because of her evil fire. Her normally dangerous and destructive behavior becomes temporarily manageable when exposed to Bai Ran’s extreme cold. Her strange, breathy request for more iced coffee adds a comedic and unexpected side to her character.
• Yan Shaozhe: Is introduced as Ma Xiaotao’s master and a major authority within Shrek Academy. His late arrival highlights his failure to monitor Ma Xiaotao’s condition, though he recognizes Bai Ran’s importance and probable background.
• Ye Tian: Though absent from the scene, his concern for Bai Ran is shown through the powerful defensive Soul Tool he gave him, which saves Bai Ran’s life.

Significant Themes

• Survival through ingenuity: Bai Ran cannot defeat Ma Xiaotao through strength, so he relies on improvisation and the unusual properties of his abilities.
• The dangers of uncontrolled power: Ma Xiaotao’s evil fire makes her a threat even to allies and students, emphasizing the risks of unstable martial souls and overwhelming strength.
• Changes to fate and the original plot: Bai Ran recognizes that his presence may have redirected events that originally involved Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong.
• Comedy amid danger: The near-death encounter is mixed with absurd humor, especially Bai Ran’s complaints about being attacked immediately after leaving for food and Ma Xiaotao’s unexpected response to the coffee.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ran’s internal reactions contrast his fear with sarcastic humor as he faces Ma Xiaotao’s attacks.
• Ma Xiaotao initially treats Bai Ran as an obstacle, but after being cooled by the iced coffee, she becomes cooperative and asks him to continue.
• Bai Ran and Ma Xiaotao’s interaction shifts from violent confrontation to an unusual temporary partnership based on his ability to suppress her flames.
• Yan Shaozhe arrives and speaks to Bai Ran as a rescued child, misjudging his identity and background.
• The chapter ends with an unidentified familiar speaker addressing Yan Shaozhe, setting up the next scene.

Chapter Summary: “Uncle’s Here: Ma Xiaotao Tormented by Evil Fire”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Tian, Shrek Academy’s only Soul Douluo-level Food-type Soul Master, arrives at the scene and is greeted by Yan Shaozhe.
• Bai Ran immediately runs to Ye Tian and hides behind him, revealing that Ye Tian is his uncle and protector.
• Yan Shaozhe becomes nervous because his disciple, Ma Xiaotao, nearly killed Bai Ran during her Evil Fire outbreak. Fearing Ye Tian’s displeasure—and the loss of his delicious cooking—he secretly bargains with Bai Ran, offering him up to three favors in exchange for silence.
• Bai Ran asks only for Ye Tian’s egg fried rice. Ye Tian notices the destroyed defensive barrier but chooses not to investigate further because Bai Ran is unharmed and the other party is Yan Shaozhe, an important academy figure.
• After Ye Tian and Bai Ran leave, Yan Shaozhe examines Ma Xiaotao and discovers that her Evil Fire has been partially suppressed, apparently by the ice-based attack Bai Ran used.
• Ma Xiaotao regains consciousness and immediately asks about Bai Ran, disappointed to learn that he is gone.
• Yan Shaozhe reprimands her for losing control but acknowledges that her Evil Fire is becoming increasingly dangerous. If untreated, it may prevent her from advancing beyond the Soul Emperor rank.
• Yan Shaozhe suggests that she find a compatible male partner as a possible way to relieve the Evil Fire, referencing the method once used by Ma Xiaotao’s ancestor, Ma Hongjun.
• Ma Xiaotao refuses, believing that none of the academy’s male disciples are strong enough to interest her.
• She becomes curious about the ice that suppressed her flames. When Yan Shaozhe warns her that Bai Ran is Ye Tian’s grandnephew, she immediately abandons any thought of confronting him, unwilling to risk losing access to Ye Tian’s cooking.

Character Developments

• Ye Tian: Shown as deeply protective of Bai Ran and cautious about political relationships. Though lacking combat strength, he has excellent defensive and escape abilities. He also quietly decides not to challenge Yan Shaozhe over the incident.
• Bai Ran: Demonstrates dependence on and trust in his uncle. He is also clever enough to remain silent about nearly being killed, choosing food as his reward instead.
• Yan Shaozhe: Revealed to be both intimidated by Ye Tian and protective of his own interests. Despite reprimanding Ma Xiaotao, he seriously considers possible cures for her condition and worries about the danger her Evil Fire poses.
• Ma Xiaotao: Her condition is worsening as her cultivation increases. She remains proud, strong-willed, and unwilling to settle for an ordinary partner, but she also shows immediate interest in Bai Ran after experiencing the relief his ice provided.

Significant Themes

• The danger of uncontrolled power: Ma Xiaotao’s increasing strength is accompanied by worsening instability, making her cultivation both an advantage and a threat.
• Food and healing: Ye Tian’s cooking is treated as an extraordinary resource, while his Food-type abilities may eventually help cure Ma Xiaotao’s Evil Fire.
• Power and social influence: Despite being a noncombatant, Ye Tian commands respect because of his rare abilities and importance to the academy.
• Humor amid danger: Yan Shaozhe’s fear of losing access to Ye Tian’s food contrasts comically with the seriousness of Bai Ran’s near-death experience.
• Unresolved attraction and destiny: Ma Xiaotao’s interest in Bai Ran begins after he suppresses her Evil Fire, setting up a potential relationship or future conflict.

Character Interactions

• Yan Shaozhe and Ye Tian: Their polite exchange masks Yan Shaozhe’s anxiety about offending Ye Tian.
• Yan Shaozhe and Bai Ran: Yan Shaozhe secretly bargains with Bai Ran to prevent him from revealing what happened.
• Ye Tian and Bai Ran: Their uncle-nephew relationship is affectionate, with Ye Tian immediately taking Bai Ran away to feed him.
• Yan Shaozhe and Ma Xiaotao: Their teacher-student relationship combines concern, frustration, and discipline as Yan Shaozhe tries to help her control the Evil Fire.
• Ma Xiaotao and Bai Ran: Although they interact only briefly, Bai Ran’s ice greatly relieves Ma Xiaotao’s condition, causing her to become curious about him.

Chapter Summary: Xiao Yuhao, Stay Away from That Woman

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ma Xiaotao remains wary of Bai Ran after he helped calm her evil fire with an Iced Americano. She secretly follows him when he returns to the Outer Academy, puzzled that he goes to the cafeteria instead of the teaching building.
• Bai Ran focuses on selling more Coffee. After selling fewer than fifteen cups the previous day, he hopes to sell at least twenty-five today so he can increase his Soul Power to Level sixteen.
• Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong finish Zhou Yi’s brutal morning physical training. Both are exhausted, but Wang Dong is too tired to get lunch herself and asks Huo Yuhao to buy food.
• Wang Dong gives Huo Yuhao access to her Gold Soul Coin card, allowing him to purchase lunch and another Raw Coconut Latte. Huo Yuhao hesitates because the Coffee costs 9.9 Gold Soul Coins per cup, while Sky Dream Ice Silkworm encourages him to buy Iced Americanos for their spiritual-power benefits.
• Huo Yuhao encounters Tang Ya and Beibei on the way to the cafeteria. They invite him to eat with them at a newly opened braised-chicken shop.
• Ma Xiaotao enters the cafeteria, causing the older students to immediately make way for her. Tang Ya warns Huo Yuhao to stay far away from her, explaining her reputation as the dangerous “Flame Maniac.”
• Yan Shaozhe secretly follows Ma Xiaotao, concerned that her evil fire may not be fully under control and prepared to intervene if necessary.

Character Developments

• Bai Ran remains ambitious and commercially driven, treating Coffee sales as a means to improve his cultivation. His earlier kindness toward Ma Xiaotao has unintentionally drawn her attention.
• Ma Xiaotao becomes increasingly interested in Bai Ran, following him despite her normally intimidating and aggressive nature. Her unstable evil fire remains a major threat.
• Huo Yuhao shows honesty and restraint by refusing to spend Wang Dong’s money carelessly. He also remains physically resilient despite Zhou Yi’s punishing training.
• Wang Dong demonstrates growing concern for Huo Yuhao’s difficult financial situation, willingly sharing her wealth and treating him as a close companion.
• Tang Ya and Beibei continue acting protectively toward Huo Yuhao, while Tang Ya shows particular concern about his possible encounter with Ma Xiaotao.
• Yan Shaozhe acts as a cautious mentor, monitoring Ma Xiaotao to prevent another dangerous loss of control.

Significant Themes

• Power and danger: Ma Xiaotao’s immense strength makes her feared throughout the academy, but her inability to control the evil fire within her makes that power dangerous.
• Friendship and support: Wang Dong’s generosity and Tang Ya and Beibei’s invitation highlight the bonds forming around Huo Yuhao.
• Poverty versus privilege: Huo Yuhao’s financial limitations contrast sharply with Wang Dong’s wealth, though their friendship allows them to bridge that difference.
• Cultivation through unconventional means: Coffee serves both as a commercial product and as a source of physical or spiritual benefits, linking ordinary daily life with cultivation.
• Hidden attention and misunderstandings: Ma Xiaotao’s secret pursuit of Bai Ran and Huo Yuhao’s mistaken assumptions create tension and foreshadow a possible confrontation.

Important Character Interactions

• Ma Xiaotao and Bai Ran: Her gratitude and curiosity toward him lead her to secretly follow him.
• Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong: Wang Dong asks him to buy lunch, then lends him her card after recognizing his lack of money. Their close bond is emphasized through their casual, sibling-like exchange.
• Huo Yuhao and Sky Dream Ice Silkworm: Sky Dream urges him to buy more Iced Americanos to increase his spiritual power, while Huo Yuhao insists on respecting Wang Dong’s money.
• Huo Yuhao, Tang Ya, and Beibei: They meet on the way to lunch, and Tang Ya and Beibei bring him along to eat.
• Tang Ya and Huo Yuhao: Tang Ya warns him emphatically to avoid Ma Xiaotao after explaining her violent reputation.
• Ma Xiaotao and Yan Shaozhe: Yan follows his disciple to monitor her condition, anticipating that her search for Bai Ran could lead to trouble.

Chapter Summary: “So, You’re Here to Buy Coffee?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Ran opens his coffee stall at Shrek Academy but panics when he sees Ma Xiaotao approaching, remembering how dangerous her evil fire is.
• Ma Xiaotao apologizes for the incident earlier that day and introduces herself more gently than expected. Bai Ran remains wary, fearing she may try to use him to suppress her evil fire.
• Bai Ran learns that Yan Shaozhe has already compensated him with a Level 8 defensive Soul Tool, though its practical quality is comparable to a Level 7 item because it was made by a Shrek Soul Engineer.
• Ma Xiaotao reveals her real reason for visiting: she wants Bai Ran to provide her with some of the extremely cold ice produced during their earlier encounter. She plans to store it for emergencies and use it to reduce the risk of losing control during cultivation.
• After realizing Ma Xiaotao is interested in buying coffee rather than abducting or harming him, Bai Ran relaxes and explains that the stall is his Luckin Coffee Shop.
• Ma Xiaotao orders both an Iced Americano and a Raw Coconut Latte. Bai Ran prepares them while other students, including Tang Ya, Huo Yuhao, and their companions, avoid the stall because Ma Xiaotao’s presence intimidates them.
• When the drinks are delivered, Ma Xiaotao questions why the cups are not as cold as the ice inside. Bai Ran explains that the cups are made from insulating material to protect customers’ hands.

Character Developments

• Bai Ran: Remains cautious and somewhat comically fearful around Ma Xiaotao, especially because he knows the danger posed by her evil fire. However, he becomes more confident when acting as a shopkeeper and is reassured that Ma Xiaotao only wants his ice and coffee.
• Ma Xiaotao: Shows an unexpectedly gentle and apologetic side. She is interested in Bai Ran both personally and because his Ultimate Ice-like coldness could help stabilize her cultivation. Rather than forcefully taking him, she devises a practical plan to obtain ice from him regularly.
• Huo Yuhao: Continues to observe events with dry, humorous internal commentary, particularly when Tang Ya suggests eating leftover food.
• Tang Ya and the other students: Demonstrate how intimidating Ma Xiaotao’s reputation is by avoiding the coffee stall while she is there.

Significant Themes

• Danger beneath ordinary interactions: A simple coffee purchase is complicated by Ma Xiaotao’s unstable evil fire and Bai Ran’s fear of being used as a cultivation aid.
• Commerce and cultivation: Bai Ran’s coffee business turns rare, powerful ice into an everyday product, blending modern-style commerce with the supernatural world of Soul Masters.
• Reputation and intimidation: Ma Xiaotao’s strength and volatile nature cause other students to avoid her, even when she is behaving calmly.
• Practical cooperation over conflict: Ma Xiaotao chooses to negotiate for Bai Ran’s ice instead of taking it by force, creating the possibility of a recurring business relationship.
• Humor through contrast: Ma Xiaotao is a terrifying Soul Master but acts like a friendly older sister, while Bai Ran treats her ordinary request as a potential life-threatening danger.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ran and Ma Xiaotao: Their conversation shifts from Bai Ran’s fear and defensiveness to a tentative customer-and-vendor relationship. Ma Xiaotao apologizes, asks for his name, requests his ice, and buys two coffees.
• Ma Xiaotao and the surrounding students: Her presence effectively clears the area, showing that students regard her as a dangerous “calamity.”
• Bai Ran and Tang Ya’s group: Although they do not directly interact, the group’s decision to avoid the shop highlights the effect of Ma Xiaotao’s reputation.
• Bai Ran and his business: He displays professionalism by preparing the drinks and explaining the special temperature-insulating cups, establishing the coffee stall as a serious enterprise rather than a novelty.

Chapter Summary: “Coffee Really Is Addictive”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ma Xiaotao visits Bai Ran’s coffee stand and tests the coffee’s special ice cubes, which possess an effect close to the Ultimate Ice attribute.
• She dislikes the bitter Iced Americano but discovers that the Raw Coconut Latte is exceptionally delicious. She quickly drinks two cups and attempts to order more, only to be stopped by Bai Ran’s three-cup daily limit.
• Ma Xiaotao stores the remaining ice cubes for use during cultivation, believing they help suppress the evil fire inside her.
• Tang Ya, Beibei, and Huo Yuhao also purchase coffee. Huo Yuhao benefits from Beibei’s support and can effectively drink coffee for free, though he will not achieve complete “coffee freedom” until becoming a core disciple.
• Bai Ran worries that his coffee business may unintentionally alter Huo Yuhao’s future and the outcome of the upcoming Freshman Competition.
• Over the next two months, Ma Xiaotao repeatedly uses Bai Ran’s ice cubes while cultivating. Her evil-fire backlash lessens, and her stagnant Soul Power begins advancing again.
• She starts waiting for Bai Ran by Sea God Lake whenever he travels toward the Inner Academy. Bai Ran concludes that her enthusiasm for the coffee has made it addictive, though he remains wary of her potentially erupting evil fire.
• The annual Freshman Competition approaches. The event determines whether new students are strong enough to remain at Shrek Academy and offers outstanding students promotion to core disciples, better allowances, help obtaining Soul Rings, and possibly soul bones.
• Bai Ran sells more than four hundred cups over the two-month period and finally reaches Soul Power Level 20.
• Xuan Zi fulfills his earlier promise by obtaining a suitable fruit-type Soul Beast from the Star Dou Great Forest, intended to provide Bai Ran’s second Soul Ring.
• Bai Ran’s coffee is revealed to have an unusually long lifespan: as long as the ice remains, it can persist for up to ninety-nine hours. Once the ice melts, the coffee disappears, avoiding the problem of spoiled coffee.

Character Developments

• Ma Xiaotao: Becomes highly attached to Bai Ran’s coffee, especially the Raw Coconut Latte and its ice cubes. The ice appears to stabilize her evil fire and restore her cultivation progress, making her more dependent on Bai Ran’s products. Her intimidating “Flame Maniac” reputation is also emphasized through her ability to pressure junior disciples into helping her buy coffee.
• Bai Ran: Continues developing his coffee business while carefully managing his limited Soul Power through purchase restrictions. He reaches Level 20 and becomes increasingly conscious that even a simple business could disrupt the original course of events, especially Huo Yuhao’s Freshman Competition. He remains cautious and fearful around Ma Xiaotao.
• Huo Yuhao: Gains regular access to coffee through Beibei’s support. His circumstances are subtly improved by Bai Ran’s presence, raising uncertainty about whether his future partnership with Wang Dong and their victory in the Freshman Competition will remain unchanged.
• Xuan Zi: Keeps his agreement with Bai Ran and obtains the Soul Beast needed for Bai Ran’s second Soul Ring, while also investigating the coffee’s unusual durability.

Significant Themes

• Addiction and dependence: Ma Xiaotao’s repeated cravings for coffee turn the title into both a joke and a reflection of her growing reliance on Bai Ran’s ice cubes for cultivation.
• Unexpected consequences: Bai Ran believes he is merely selling coffee, but his products are already affecting major characters and possibly changing the established storyline.
• Power through ordinary means: Coffee, normally an everyday drink, becomes a cultivation aid with effects comparable to rare elemental abilities.
• Academy competition and merit: The Freshman Competition reinforces Shrek Academy’s belief that only exceptionally talented students deserve to remain and receive special resources.
• Comedic contrast: The chapter contrasts Bai Ran’s cautious, practical business concerns with the exaggerated behavior of powerful soul masters, particularly Ma Xiaotao’s intimidating demands and Xuan Zi’s absurdly long-lasting coffee test.

Character Interactions

• Ma Xiaotao negotiates with Bai Ran over the coffee’s ingredients, attempts to customize her drink, and repeatedly orders more despite the purchase limit.
• Bai Ran silently fears Ma Xiaotao’s temper and evil-fire condition, while she treats him as a convenient and increasingly valuable source of coffee and ice.
• Tang Ya and Beibei purchase drinks, with Beibei indirectly supporting Huo Yuhao’s access to free coffee.
• Bai Ran reflects on Huo Yuhao’s relationship with Wang Dong and wonders whether his interference will affect their performance in the Freshman Competition.
• Xuan Zi and Bai Ran’s earlier agreement finally bears fruit when Xuan Zi returns with a suitable Soul Beast, while his testing of the coffee’s shelf life reveals another unusual property of Bai Ran’s martial soul.