Subduing He Caitou, Strengthening Rakshasa Street

After the Sea God Pavilion meeting concluded, the foresight and leadership Cao Longyan displayed not only earned him further recognition from the pavilion elders but also deeply impressed the two core figures of the Soul Guidance Department: Dean Xian Lin'er and Vice Dean Qian Duoduo.

Xian Lin'er was Mu En's direct disciple; in terms of seniority, she had to address Cao Longyan as "Junior Brother." Due to her connection with Mu En, she had always enjoyed the best relationship with Cao Longyan among all the Sea God Pavilion elders, with the exception of Xuan Zi.

During this meeting, Cao Longyan had pointedly addressed the stagnation of the Shrek Soul Guidance Department and provided practical, actionable improvement plans, striking a chord with both Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo.

They had dedicated their lives to the development of the Soul Guidance Department, yet suffered from a lack of attention and support from the academy. The appearance of Cao Longyan had undoubtedly brought them hope.

On the evening the meeting ended, Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo specifically sought out Cao Longyan, their faces full of admiration.

Qian Duoduo spoke first, his face breaking into a hearty, enthusiastic smile.

"Longyan, your insights on the Soul Guidance Department during the meeting really spoke to our hearts! The Shrek Soul Guidance Department was on the verge of being forgotten and abandoned by the academy, yet you turned the tide the moment you stepped in! Now, who would dare ignore the department? Even that old fox, Martial Soul Department Dean Yan Shaozhe, has changed his attitude quite a bit, hahaha! It feels so good, so satisfying!"

Xian Lin'er added with a smile.

"Longyan, you are Elder Mu's great-grandson and can be considered my junior brother, so there is no need for formalities between us. We have discussed it and decided to grant you the status of a core disciple of the Soul Guidance Department. This is your identity token; with it, you can enter and leave any part of the department at will. Whether you come to research soul tools with us or start pushing for the development and reform of the department, we will support you with everything we have."

Xian Lin'er handed a translucent white token engraved with complex patterns to Cao Longyan. The token emitted a faint soul tool fluctuation, signifying the special status of a core disciple.

This was a Level 8 soul tool! It even possessed triple functions: storage, defense, and mental clarity!

Cao Longyan looked at the token in his hand, then at the beaming Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo.

Sigh, they really are treating me as the savior and future of the Soul Guidance Department!

He bowed slightly and said with a sincere tone.

"Many thanks to Dean Xian and Vice Dean Qian for your trust. I will certainly not let you down and will help the Soul Guidance Department flourish!"

Qian Duoduo could no longer hold back, his tone tinged with craving.

"Well, Longyan, we're a bit hungry for the barbecue you make. Although only half a month has passed, our taste buds are already starving!"

Xian Lin'er nodded with a smile, her eyes full of anticipation.

"That's right, Longyan. Do you have any free time to come to the Soul Guidance Department and show us your skills in private? We can't let those old guys know, or they'll come to snatch the food again!"

I see, giving me such a precious soul tool was just a setup to get to this... I've been played...

Hearing this, a helpless smile tugged at the corner of Cao Longyan's mouth as he sighed.

"You two are too kind. I am free the day after tomorrow; I will definitely come to the Soul Guidance Department to prepare a barbecue for you both, enough to satisfy your cravings once and for all!"

Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo were instantly overjoyed, showing none of the decorum expected of Sea God Pavilion elders. After giving a few more instructions regarding the department, they left with smiles on their faces.

Two days later, Cao Longyan arrived at the Soul Guidance Department as promised.

Although the Shrek Soul Guidance Department was not as bustling as the Martial Soul Department—it could even be described as desolate—there was not a soul to be seen in the vast facility.

Holding his core disciple token, Cao Longyan proceeded without obstruction.

On his way to the Dean's office, he caught a glimpse of a tall, honest-looking bald youth in the training area.

If he wasn't mistaken, this person was the Soul Guidance Department's only current student, He Caitou.

As a transmigrator familiar with the plot, Cao Longyan knew He Caitou's true identity better than anyone.

He was no ordinary youth, but the former Crown Prince of the Sun Moon Empire, Xu He. Due to a royal coup, his entire family had been slaughtered; he was the only one who had managed to escape. He had hidden his identity, adopted the name He Caitou, and stayed in the Shrek Soul Guidance Department, learning soul tools while waiting for a chance to take revenge.

Cao Longyan knew clearly that He Caitou not only possessed outstanding talent and high attainments in soul tools but also had a resilient will and immense potential. If he could recruit him into his Rakshasa Street faction, it would surely be a great help—whether for the research of soul tools or for the future confrontation against the Sun Moon Empire, He Caitou was an indispensable talent.

After all, on his path to unifying the continent, the Sun Moon Empire might not be the biggest stumbling block, but it would certainly be a tough nut to crack. He needed more power, and someone with a natural vendetta against the Sun Moon Empire was even better!

Cao Longyan walked over slowly. He Caitou noticed the movement, looked up, and turned to see Cao Longyan. A flash of confusion crossed his eyes as he asked in an honest, simple tone.

"Who are you? Why have you come to the Soul Guidance Department? Ordinary people aren't allowed in here."

Cao Longyan smiled faintly and shook the core disciple token in his hand.

"My name is Cao Longyan, a core disciple of the Soul Guidance Department. I'm just here to take a look."

Before He Caitou could speak, Cao Longyan's mouth curled, his eyes slightly upturned.

"What about you, He Caitou? Or should I say, the former Crown Prince of the Sun Moon Empire, Xu He? You've been hiding here for so long—don't you want to avenge your family?"

"You!"

He Caitou's expression changed instantly. His honest demeanor vanished without a trace, replaced by a flash of vigilance and killing intent. His body tensed up, and he subconsciously denied it.

"What nonsense are you spouting! I am He Caitou. I don't know what you're talking about regarding some Sun Moon Empire prince!"

Cao Longyan had expected the denial. He kept a calm smile on his face, his tone tinged with provocation.

"Oh? Is that so? Then how do you explain the golden dragon mark on your chest? If I'm not mistaken, that should be the symbol of the legitimate royal bloodline of the Sun Moon Empire."

He Caitou's face grew paler, his hands clenching so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Who exactly is he? How does he know?

Cao Longyan did not stop, nor did he care about He Caitou's emotional shift, continuing on his own.

"I know your entire family was slaughtered by the current Sun Moon Empire royal family. You escaped by luck and came to Shrek under an assumed name just to return for revenge one day. But, relying on yourself alone, with your current strength, revenge is as difficult as ascending to heaven!"

Every word struck at He Caitou's pain.

He could no longer keep up the act. He stood up abruptly, staring fiercely at Cao Longyan with a look of wariness, as if Cao Longyan were an enemy come to take his life.

One of his hands reached quietly toward the storage soul tool at his waist, his fingertips already touching the trigger. If Cao Longyan made even the slightest move, he would immediately pull out the soul tool inside and fight him to the death.

Seeing He Caitou's guarded expression, as if facing a formidable enemy, Cao Longyan couldn't help but laugh. He waved his hand and said in a relaxed tone.

"Don't be nervous. I am not from the Sun Moon Empire, nor am I here to kill you. I have no ill will toward you whatsoever."

He Caitou did not lower his guard, his voice remaining icy.

"What exactly do you want? Since you know my identity and came looking for me, you can't just be making idle chatter."

"I want to invite you to join my faction, Rakshasa Street!"

Cao Longyan's tone turned serious, his gaze resolute.

"As long as you join Rakshasa Street, you only need to wait eight years—just eight years—and I will take you to take revenge on the Sun Moon Empire!"

Hearing this, a flicker of temptation flashed through He Caitou's eyes.

Revenge was the only obsession that kept him alive. For so many years, he had endured in silence, and no one had ever dared to make him such a promise.

Furthermore, the timeframe he proposed was only eight years; that was a wait he could certainly afford!

Yet, when he looked at Cao Longyan and saw a youth of only ten years old with a tender frame, his excitement was instantly replaced by suspicion.

A ten-year-old boy—even if he were eighteen in eight years—what ability could he possibly have to help him take revenge? This was most likely a scam or a trap.

He Caitou suppressed his emotions, putting on a simple, honest expression as he tried to brush it off.

"Little brother, stop joking. I'm really not some prince; I'm just an ordinary student of the Soul Guidance Department. You've found the wrong person."

Cao Longyan saw through his thoughts at a glance, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

It seemed that unless he showed some real strength, the man wouldn't believe him.

Cao Longyan stopped wasting words. His soul power erupted, and he reached out his right hand to grasp the void, causing the Ten Halls of Yama martial soul to appear in his palm.

Red, red, orange-red, orange-red—four soul rings appeared in sequence, radiating a majestic aura of soul power. He displayed the strength of a peak level 45 Soul Ancestor without reservation.

"My name is Cao Longyan, ten years old, a level 45 Power Attack System Tool Soul Ancestor, the great-grandson of the current Sea God Pavilion Master, the heir to the next Sea God Pavilion Master, and the Master of Rakshasa Street."

Cao Longyan's voice was steady and powerful.

"In just eight years, I will definitely break through to become a Titled Douluo. I have the strength to help you take revenge and the confidence to have you join my Rakshasa Street. Now, do you believe me?"

He Caitou froze completely, his face full of shock. His eyes went round as he stared fixedly at the four soul rings above Cao Longyan's head and felt that overwhelming aura of soul power, muttering to himself.

"Forty... forty-five level Soul Ancestor? You're only ten? This... this is impossible!"

He never imagined that the seemingly tender youth before him would possess such heaven-defying strength and such a noble status.

A ten-year-old peak level 45 Soul Ancestor with such a soul ring configuration—a person like this had no reason to lie to a fallen prince like him.

Although he still felt as if he might be dreaming...

Just as He Caitou was deep in thought and hesitant, Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo happened to walk over.

Seeing the scene before them, Xian Lin'er smiled and spoke up.

"He Caitou, what's wrong? This is Longyan, also a core disciple of our Soul Guidance Department. He has practically locked in his position as the heir to the next Sea God Pavilion Master; it's perfectly normal that you can't compare to him."

Qian Duoduo nodded in agreement.

With the confirmation from Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo, the doubts in He Caitou's heart completely dissipated.

Once Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo had gone ahead to the Dean's office to retrieve the ingredients they liked, He Caitou looked at Cao Longyan, a flash of determination and gratitude in his eyes, and said in a low voice.

"I, He Caitou, am willing to join Rakshasa Street!"