Chapter Summaries

Jiang Yao shared Buddha Jumps Over the Wall with Jingliu and Himeko while the Astral Express Crew mourned him, believing he had died. The crew followed the enticing aroma to Cloudford and discovered Jiang Yao alive.

• Jiang Yao sensed Himeko approaching and served her Buddha Jumps Over the Wall to keep her from offering him coffee.
• Himeko arrived, found Jingliu moaning strangely, and joined Jiang Yao for a meal made from the Bell-Ringing Turtle.
• Himeko savored the turtle meat and felt that her strength had increased.
• March 7th, Stelle, Dan Heng, and Welt followed the aroma through Cloudford while grieving for Jiang Yao.
• The Astral Express Crew found Jiang Yao alive and wondered how he had survived.

Jiang Yao reunited with the Astral Express crew after defeating Phantylia, then explained that he had known Tingyun was Phantylia because she damaged his cooking ingredients. He credited Jingliu with being strong, and she left after thanking him and sharing a tense look with Dan Heng.

• March 7th, Welt, Stelle, and Dan Heng were stunned to find Jiang Yao alive and eating Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.
• The crew confronted Himeko for focusing on the food while they had worried about Jiang Yao, and Himeko said she had tried to tell them he was safe.
• Welt asked Jiang Yao whether he had known Tingyun was Phantylia, and Jiang Yao said Phantylia had damaged his ingredients, forcing him to cook them immediately.
• Jiang Yao insisted he was not good at fighting and pointed to Jingliu as the strong one who had helped him.
• Dan Heng warned Jingliu that Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan would arrive soon, and Jingliu accepted turtle meat from Jiang Yao before leaving after giving Dan Heng a complicated look.

Jiang Yao shared Buddha Jumps Over the Wall with the Astral Express Crew, while Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan arrived to find him alive and joined the meal. As they ate, Jiang Yao’s Path Power suddenly surged, leaving him wondering what had caused the increase.

• The Astral Express Crew ate Jiang Yao’s Buddha Jumps Over the Wall while Dan Heng felt uneasy under Jingliu’s gaze and Jiang Yao speculated about what foods might boost his Path Power.
• Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan arrived and blurted out that they had thought Jiang Yao was dead, then apologized when his expression darkened.
• Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan prepared to return to their duties, but Jiang Yao pointed them toward the stew and told them to eat.
• Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan eagerly accepted, and Jiang Yao let them eat as much as they could without wasting any.
• Jiang Yao felt his Path Power advance by an amount comparable to Jingliu’s boost and looked suspiciously at Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan.

Jiang Yao suspected that either Ruan Mei or Firefly had eaten the Swarm Pupae in the Light Cones he sent and resolved to feed whoever it was more. Kafka delivered Firefly a Light Cone called “The Meaning of Life,” and Firefly discovered it contained a True Sting Pupa that smelled delicious to her.

• Fu Xuan and Jing Yuan ate Jiang Yao’s Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, which eased their exhaustion and mara-struck conditions.
• Jiang Yao guessed that Ruan Mei or Firefly might have eaten the prepared Swarm Pupae in the Light Cones he sent.
• Kafka returned to the Stellaron Hunters and gave Firefly a Light Cone as thanks for a meal she had supposedly provided.
• Firefly learned the Light Cone was called “The Meaning of Life” and found a True Sting Pupa inside it.
• Firefly noticed the pupa smelled delicious and realized she wanted to eat it, despite having struggled to eat for a long time.

Firefly, whose Entropy Loss Syndrome made eating difficult, tasted a True Sting Pupa prepared by Jiang Yao and found it astonishingly delicious. After she devoured it and cried out, Silver Wolf rushed over and shouted that Kafka’s kid had broken.

• Firefly examined the True Sting Pupa and debated whether her body could handle eating it.
• Firefly took a bite and discovered that the pupa tasted better than anything she had ever eaten.
• Firefly’s Entropy Loss Syndrome made the pleasure of eating painful as her body craved more.
• Firefly ate the rest of the pupa and reacted intensely to its layered textures and flavors.
• Silver Wolf came out after hearing Firefly and screamed that Kafka’s kid had broken.

Firefly’s reaction to eating food sealed in a Light Cone baffled Silver Wolf and Kafka, especially when Firefly said she wanted more despite her condition. Kafka received Elio’s new script ordering the Stellaron Hunters to go to Penacony and eat Jiang Yao’s cooking.

• Firefly happily ate food sealed in a Light Cone, but Silver Wolf recoiled at her intense reaction.
• Kafka learned the food had made Firefly crave more, and wondered how Jiang Yao was connected to it.
• Firefly and Silver Wolf both denied knowing Jiang Yao, despite his claim that Firefly had treated him to a meal.
• Kafka received Elio’s message telling everyone, including Blade, to go to Penacony, find Jiang Yao, and eat.
• Kafka suspected Jiang Yao was behind Firefly’s unusual reaction and noted that Penacony’s grand celebration was about to begin.

Yukong struggled to manage the Luofu while Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan stayed with Jiang Yao and ate his Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. Jiang Yao agreed to distribute the food to the Xianzhou under conditions, and Jing Yuan invited the Astral Express crew to explore the Luofu, leaving his matchmaking intentions suspected but unstated.

• Yukong oversaw the Luofu’s affairs and worried over the crisis, Tingyun’s unknown fate, and the exhausted supply of Jiang Yao’s snacks.
• Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan praised Jiang Yao’s Buddha Jumps Over the Wall and begged for more, saying its effects had left them feeling stronger and clearer-minded.
• Jiang Yao agreed to share the remaining food with the Xianzhou if the Alliance provided money and supplies and ensured recipients had clean records.
• Jing Yuan asked Fu Xuan whether she was getting on in years, then invited the Astral Express crew to spend time exploring the Luofu.
• Himeko and Welt grew wary that Jing Yuan was trying to recruit Fu Xuan, while Jing Yuan privately considered other possibilities.

Jing Yuan arranged for Himeko and the Astral Express crew to stay on the Luofu for a few more days, with Fu Xuan guiding them, while Jiang Yao reminded Himeko to return to the Express. Meanwhile, Jingliu reunited with Luocha on the Luofu, appearing visibly unsettled.

• Jing Yuan agreed to lift the Luofu's ban on Dan Heng once the local matters were settled.
• Stelle, March 7th, and Jiang Yao agreed to follow Himeko and Welt's decision, and Himeko chose to remain on the Luofu for a few more days.
• Jing Yuan assigned Fu Xuan to show the Astral Express crew around the Xianzhou and approved her leave.
• Jiang Yao reminded Himeko that Pom-Pom was still aboard the Express, so Himeko agreed to see the group off and handle Asta's delivery.
• Jingliu met Luocha in a secluded place on the Luofu, and Luocha realized that something had happened to her.

Jingliu struggled with the consequences of Jiang Yao’s arrival and resolved to accept whatever he wanted from her as atonement. Meanwhile, Fu Xuan introduced Jiang Yao and Dan Heng to Yukong, then prepared to take the Astral Express crew out while Jiang Yao planned to visit the Prison of Deep Seclusion.

• Jingliu told Luocha that plans had changed, asked him to leave, and meditated while resolving to satisfy Jiang Yao as atonement for her past sins.
• Luocha left Jingliu, intending to betray her to earn the Luofu general’s trust and help bring about Abundance’s demise.
• Fu Xuan brought the Astral Express crew to the Palace of Astrum and introduced Dan Heng as the reincarnation of Imbibitor Lunae and Jiang Yao as the crew’s head chef.
• Yukong reacted in shock that Jiang Yao was alive, apologized for her outburst, and Fu Xuan smoothed over the awkward introduction.
• Fu Xuan suggested the group enjoy the Luofu’s nightlife, while Jiang Yao declined and said he wanted to rest and visit the Prison of Deep Seclusion.

Jing Yuan worried about the Luofu’s political future and Yanqing’s need for a trial, while Jiang Yao went to find Jingliu and discovered her training Yanqing. Jiang Yao took Jingliu away, leaving their unsettling encounter unresolved.

• Jing Yuan prepared two reports about Phantylia’s escape, keeping Jiang Yao’s unusual nature secret from the official account and reporting it separately to Marshal Hua.
• Jing Yuan fretted over the Luofu’s future leaders, and Yanqing’s harsh trial began when Jingliu fought and instructed him.
• Jiang Yao found Jingliu beating Yanqing and knocked Yanqing unconscious before calling Jingliu away.
• Jingliu offered herself to Jiang Yao to protect the Xianzhou, but Jiang Yao denied intending to eat her.
• Jiang Yao kissed Jingliu and licked her skin, while Jingliu remained convinced that he was repressing his appetite.

Jiang Yao brought Jingliu into the Prison of Deep Seclusion, claiming it was his all-you-can-eat buffet and insisting he did not eat people. He toured the prison after knocking out its occupants, leaving Jingliu terrified of what he might do next.

• Jingliu recognized the place as the Prison of Deep Seclusion, but Jiang Yao called it his all-you-can-eat buffet.
• Jiang Yao denied that he ate people, while Jingliu suspected he had brought her there to cook for her and wondered if he was trying to cure her mara-struck condition.
• Jiang Yao revealed that he mainly wanted to provoke Hoolay and considered the Borisin prisoners possible ingredients.
• Jiang Yao toured the Prison of Deep Seclusion with Jingliu, knocking out everyone they encountered and leaving security lax.
• Several prisoners escaped, and a Heliobus tried to possess Jiang Yao, who swallowed it and silenced the prison with his presence.

Jiang Yao took Jingliu to inspect the imprisoned Hoolay as a potential ingredient, then punished him for provoking them. Hoolay finally realized how dangerous Jiang Yao was, and Jiang Yao praised Jingliu for pointing out that Hoolay was already afraid.

• Jiang Yao and Jingliu reached Hoolay's cell, where Jiang Yao judged Hoolay to be a poor ingredient without Phantylia.
• Hoolay recognized Jingliu, raged against her, and demanded to know who Jiang Yao was.
• Jiang Yao slapped Hoolay with a gust of air and warned him to stop talking about his bad breath.
• When Hoolay threatened Jiang Yao, Jiang Yao tore out his tongue and prevented it from regenerating.
• Jiang Yao complained that Hoolay was not frightened of Jingliu, and Jingliu pointed out that Hoolay was trembling with fear.
• Jiang Yao agreed that Jingliu was a genius.

Jiang Yao inspected Hoolay as a potential meal but decided to wait and consider how to maximize the experience from cooking him. He then realized his Path Power had advanced again and suspected Ruan Mei was responsible.

• Jiang Yao mentally planned dishes for Hoolay while Hoolay grew terrified and Jingliu watched.
• Jiang Yao decided not to cook Hoolay yet and considered having Feixiao receive him through dietary therapy, possibly via Jing Yuan.
• Jiang Yao stopped after thinking of Firefly and Ruan Mei, then realized his Path Power had advanced and suspected Ruan Mei had caused it.

Ruan Mei received Jiang Yao’s Light Cone, The Origin of Life, and became fascinated by the True Sting Pupa inside it. She tasted the pupa to test whether its extraordinary appeal came from its fully realized potential, while Jiang Yao’s thoughtful cooking had been intended simply as compensation for the Starcrusher Swarm King.

• Asta gave Ruan Mei the Light Cone The Origin of Life, which Jiang Yao had sent her.
• Ruan Mei opened the Light Cone and found a Swarm Pupa whose appearance and familiar, enticing aroma intrigued her.
• Ruan Mei sampled a tiny piece of the True Sting Pupa and noticed that it released an even richer aroma.
• Ruan Mei reasoned that the pupa’s appeal might come from its potential being brought nearly to its limit.
• Ruan Mei decided to taste the pupa before arranging to meet Jiang Yao and discuss it.
• Jiang Yao had made the dish to compensate Ruan Mei for the Starcrusher Swarm King, carefully balancing its flavors around the theme of life’s origin.

Jiang Yao prepared a True Sting Pupa dish for Ruan Mei, whose layered flavors overwhelmed her and left her exhausted. Ruan Mei wanted to meet the person who sent it, while Jiang Yao gained a major amount of EXP from her.

• Jiang Yao prepared the True Sting Pupa with an explosive blend of flavors and carefully balanced layers.
• Ruan Mei savored the dish as its taste and texture led her to reflect on life, continuation, and death.
• Ruan Mei realized she had eaten everything and immediately wanted to meet the person who had sent the delicacy through Asta.
• Ruan Mei found herself too mentally drained to move, while Jiang Yao gained a large amount of EXP from her.

Jiang Yao returned to the Prison of Deep Seclusion, dragged Phantylia back, and began harvesting Hoolay for meat. He left Hoolay alive with herbs and a marinade in his wounds, while Jingliu waited obediently nearby.

• Jiang Yao left Jingliu and Hoolay in the Prison of Deep Seclusion while he went to fetch more ingredients.
• Phantylia fled from the Luofu but Jiang Yao caught her with his tongue and dragged her back to the prison.
• Jiang Yao asked Jingliu for her sword and decided to carve lean meat from Hoolay's chest and abdomen.
• Jiang Yao tucked medicinal herbs into Hoolay's wounds and spat into them to keep him healthy and season the meat in advance.

Jiang Yao brought Hoolay meat to the Seat of Divine Foresight and began cooking it with Phantylia’s help. As the dish sizzled in the wok, Jingliu struggled to resist its aroma.

• Hoolay felt his body healing and growing while his will to act faded, and he feared becoming Jiang Yao’s endless supply of meat.
• Jiang Yao returned to the Seat of Divine Foresight with Hoolay meat and asked Jing Yuan to show him the kitchen.
• Jing Yuan cleared the kitchen and returned to his work after Jiang Yao promised to share dinner with him.
• Jiang Yao released Jingliu and Phantylia, sliced and soaked the Hoolay meat in Budget Wheat Ear Tea, and made Phantylia promise to follow his cooking instructions.
• Jiang Yao marinated the meat with seasonings, then had Phantylia heat the wok while he added the meat and began cooking it.
• Jingliu smelled the cooking Hoolay meat and could barely resist eating it.

Jiang Yao used Phantylia’s abilities to cook Hoolay meat to perfection, leaving Jingliu eagerly anticipating the meal. Meanwhile, Fu Xuan and the Astral Express Crew returned to the Seat of Divine Foresight, where they encountered Jing Yuan and discussed their visit to the Luofu.

• Jiang Yao directed Phantylia to help him precisely season and cook Hoolay’s meat, while Jingliu struggled to resist its aroma.
• Jingliu backed away from the wok so her drool would not ruin the food, and Jiang Yao added the final seasonings.
• Fu Xuan accompanied the Astral Express Crew to the Seat of Divine Foresight after a divination suggested a pleasant surprise awaited her there.
• Fu Xuan and the Astral Express Crew found Jing Yuan on the way and told him they had enjoyed exploring the Luofu.
• The chapter explained that Jiang Yao’s cooking had protected Cloud Knights in Aurum Alley from the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus.

Jiang Yao cooked stir-fried Hoolay Meat for the group, whose enthusiasm turned the meal into a fierce feast. The food gave Jingliu and Jing Yuan a major boost in experience, and Jiang Yao ended the chapter stunned to find the shared plate completely empty.

• Fu Xuan questioned why Jing Yuan had time to head for the kitchen, then realized Jiang Yao was making a late-night snack and rushed there with March 7th and Stelle.
• Jiang Yao divided the Hoolay Meat into portions for the group and others, then sent Jingliu and Phantylia into his stomach before the guests arrived.
• Jiang Yao made March 7th and Stelle wait until he had taken a portion for himself, then gave everyone permission to eat.
• March 7th, Stelle, Jing Yuan, Dan Heng, Fu Xuan, and Welt devoured the Hoolay Meat and praised Jiang Yao's cooking.
• Jiang Yao realized the meal had granted Jingliu and Jing Yuan far more experience than expected, then found the plate completely empty.

Jiang Yao considered how to make the rare, nourishing Hoolay Meat last and exchanged messages with Asta about Ruan Mei wanting to meet him. After the meal, Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan prepared to discuss the meat’s potential with him.

• Jiang Yao weighed ways to produce more Hoolay Meat and wondered whether Feixiao might pay him if it helped cure her.
• Asta told Jiang Yao that Ruan Mei wanted to meet him and asked about their relationship.
• Jiang Yao said he would postpone meeting Ruan Mei until after the crew’s planned visit to Penacony.
• Jiang Yao mused about the dangers and opportunities of Penacony, where Xipe and Qlipoth might oppose him.
• Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan proposed moving elsewhere to discuss how Hoolay Meat could strengthen the Xianzhou Alliance.