Everything is Developing for the Better?

Half a year had passed since Cao Longyan's soul guidance talent shocked the Soul Guidance Department.

Now, at just eleven years old, Cao Longyan's soul power had broken through to the peak of the forty-ninth rank, a mere step away from the Soul King realm, making it time for him to hunt for his next soul ring.

His soul guidance proficiency had surged in tandem, successfully promoting him to a Level 4 Soul Guidance Master, far surpassing all his peers and setting a record as the youngest to ever reach this rank.

While enhancing his strength, Cao Longyan did not forget to bolster the influence of his Rakshasa Street.

He created a set of cultivation methods specifically for the members of Rakshasa Street.

The Rakshasa Cultivation Method!

The Evil Spirit Art, which draws baleful energy into the body to temper both soul and flesh.

The Prison Shadow Step, which grants speed so fast it leaves afterimages, radiating a murderous aura that triggers mental attacks.

The Soul Suppressing Palm, which unleashes a wave of pressure from the palm to exert control and suppression.

The Soul Burning Explosion, a life-sacrificing technique that burns soul and vitality to briefly boost one's strength.

The Yama Eye, which, when cultivated, enhances soul power and mental strength, allowing the user to launch soul and mental attacks imbued with baleful energy; it is divided into six realms, from low to high: Spirit Communication, Soul Judging, Sin Severing, Yama, Reincarnation, and Nine Netherworlds.

Cao Longyan's own Yama Eye was currently at the Yama stage.

With the gradual implementation of the reform proposals Cao Longyan had put forward, the Shrek Soul Guidance Department had ushered in a new lease on life.

Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo, relying on the academy's support and a philosophy that aligned perfectly with Cao Longyan's, successfully recruited several highly gifted soul guidance disciples. The department finally shed its desolate "one-on-one" teaching atmosphere and gradually became vibrant and bustling.

Simultaneously, the defenses of Shrek City were being steadily upgraded. Rows of basic soul guidance defensive facilities designed by Cao Longyan rose from the ground, perfectly integrating soul devices with soul master defenses to establish a solid, preliminary soul guidance defense system, fundamentally changing the old model that relied too heavily on the individual strength of soul masters.

Recently, the market had been swept by a massive buying frenzy for a seemingly ordinary Level 4 soul guidance cannon.

This soul guidance cannon originated from Rakshasa Street—or more accurately, from the hands of Cao Longyan himself—and was named the Purgatory Cannon!

Despite its classification, the power of this cannon far exceeded any soul device of the same level, even rivaling Level 5 or 6 devices.

By injecting just a thread of soul power, it could easily pierce through defensive soul devices of Level 5 and below.

Even more heaven-defying was its ability to switch firing types based on the user's soul power attribute, with the intensity of the blast freely adjustable according to the amount of soul power input.

Even ordinary people without soul power could barely manage to use it to pierce through defensive soul devices of Level 4 and below.

What made it even more precious was that the production cost of the Purgatory Cannon was extremely low, with a retail price far below that of similar cannons on the market.

With power comparable to higher-tier devices but at a fraction of the cost, it became an instant sensation across the entire market.

Whether they were commoners, nobles, or clan factions, even the Heaven Dou Empire and the Douling Empire were eager to extend an olive branch.

The name of Rakshasa Street, riding the heat of the Purgatory Cannon, had officially made its mark, becoming a rising power on the Douluo Continent.

However, Cao Longyan never personally stepped into the limelight amidst all this prosperity and clamor.

He remained behind the scenes, responsible only for providing the production technology for the Purgatory Cannon and making strategic decisions for Rakshasa Street, while leaving daily production, sales, and operations to Tang Ya's parents.

Tang Ya's parents, who already possessed a sharp business sense, managed the affairs of Rakshasa Street in an orderly fashion under Cao Longyan's guidance. Not only did they reap massive wealth, but they also accumulated a vast network of connections, laying a solid foundation for the further expansion of Rakshasa Street.

Tang Ya was not idle either; she brought in her best friend, Jiang Nannan.

Jiang Nannan was deeply attracted to Rakshasa Street after Tang Ya introduced it to her, especially since the organization's tenets reminded her of someone—the boy with whom she had made a promise.

Furthermore, after Tang Ya's family learned of her family situation, they helped her and her mother settle in Shrek City, which solidified her determination to join Rakshasa Street.

It is worth mentioning that in this life, Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi did not become the bitter rivals they were in the original story.

Cao Longyan's subtle influence played a significant role in this, as he had dropped plenty of hints to Bei Bei regarding the affairs of the Mysterious Underworld Sect.

On the first day of the holiday, Tang Ya dragged Bei Bei and Jiang Nannan back to Rakshasa Street, chatting and laughing all the way.

At that moment, Cao Longyan was sitting in the Rakshasa Street council hall, discussing the production progress of the Purgatory Cannon, future sales plans, and the long-term development of Rakshasa Street with Tang Ya's parents. His tone was steady and his logic clear, showing no signs of being merely an eleven-year-old boy.

As Tang Ya pushed open the gates of Rakshasa Street, she caught a glimpse of Cao Longyan's figure through the crack in the council hall door. Her smile instantly stiffened, and she subconsciously pulled Bei Bei and Jiang Nannan in the opposite direction.

She knew that Cao Longyan did not wish for others to know about this side of his identity, even though she was aware of the relationship between him and Bei Bei.

Bei Bei, failing to notice Tang Ya's strange behavior, continued with a smile.

"Xiao Ya, Rakshasa Street is developing better and better. I haven't really contributed much; your parents and you are truly amazing!"

Tang Ya only offered Bei Bei an awkward smile, her eyes darting repeatedly toward the council hall.

"Bei Bei, how... how could it be as amazing as you say..."

However, Jiang Nannan keenly sensed Tang Ya's anomaly, and she frowned, a trace of doubt rising in her heart.

Taking advantage of the moment Tang Ya was distracted talking to Bei Bei, she subconsciously glanced back in the direction Tang Ya kept eyeing.

But that one look caused her entire body to freeze, her heart to pound violently, and a flash of disbelief to cross her eyes.

Not far away, a figure that looked remarkably similar to the one who had saved her five years ago was walking out of the council hall door.

Although five years had passed and he had grown up, and his appearance might have changed slightly, she was certain she could not be mistaken!

Jiang Nannan's breathing became ragged, and she stood rooted to the spot.

She subconsciously rubbed her eyes and looked again, but that familiar figure had already vanished.

A panic rose in her heart, and she began to fall into doubt...

That figure had clearly been right there just a moment ago... could she have been seeing things?

Little did she know, her eyes hadn't deceived her; it was just that Cao Longyan had slipped out through the sect's back gate with practiced speed, and having urgent matters to attend to, he was moving faster than usual.

"Nannan, what's wrong? Why are you zoning out? Hurry up and catch up with us!"

Tang Ya's call came from ahead, pulling Jiang Nannan back to her senses.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the disappointment and confusion in her heart, shook her head, and a bitter smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

Perhaps she really had seen things; how could the person she had been searching for for three years appear here so easily?

Yet, what she didn't know was that this was already the third time she had brushed past Cao Longyan.

Three years ago, when she entered Shrek, she began searching everywhere for a glimpse of Cao Longyan, but he spent his years on Sea God Island and rarely appeared in the outer courtyard.

Furthermore, aside from Bei Bei and Tang Ya, almost no one in the outer courtyard knew him.

Not to mention, how could Bei Bei and Tang Ya possibly know that the person she was desperately searching for was Cao Longyan?

They would never have imagined that Cao Longyan could have any connection to Jiang Nannan!

The first time they brushed past each other was when Bei Bei and Tang Ya encountered a dejected Cao Longyan by the lake; she had just gone home for the holidays to pick up her mother and bring her to Tang Ya's residence in Shrek, missing the chance to meet him.

The second time was when Cao Longyan stepped in to suppress the out-of-control Ma Xiaotao; she had been dragged off to Rakshasa Street by Tang Ya and Bei Bei, missing him once again.

The third time was this very moment.

Jiang Nannan followed in the footsteps of Tang Ya and Bei Bei, her heart filled with loss and resentment, though a moment later, it hardened into resolve.

She would not give up; this was the promise between them. Perhaps he was in the inner courtyard; she had to work even harder so she could tell him in person that she hadn't broken her word and hadn't let him or Zhang Lexuan down!