The corpse's skin had already transformed during the earlier stages of nurturing.

It had toughened significantly, taking on a texture that resembled aged bark. Ordinary carving would have failed to leave a mark, yet under Han Yu's control, the runes etched themselves into the flesh as if guided by an unseen force. His spirit sense directed every stroke, ensuring precision down to the smallest detail.

He worked methodically, placing each rune in its proper location, aligning them according to the formation blueprint he had developed over years of experimentation.

Some runes were meant to regulate energy flow, others to reinforce the body, and a few were dedicated to obedience and command reception. Individually they were simple. Together they formed a complex network that would serve as the Jiangshi's foundational system.

Time passed quietly within the workshop as Han Yu repeated the process over and over again.

The body gradually filled with inscriptions, each one glowing faintly before settling into the flesh. When the final rune was completed, the entire network activated briefly, a subtle pulse running through the corpse before fading into dormancy.

Han Yu observed it for a moment, then gave a small nod.

"Stable," he murmured.

With that, he moved on to the next phase.

He lifted the corpse and transferred it into a different pool. This one was entirely different from the blood pools he had used earlier. The liquid within was clear, almost pristine, though faint ripples of spiritual energy could be seen moving beneath the surface.

Various herbs had been dissolved into it, their essence permeating the water, while several spirit stones rested at the bottom, slowly releasing their energy into the mixture.

As the corpse was submerged, the water reacted immediately. Gentle currents formed around it, carrying the herbal essence and spiritual energy into the body. This stage was meant to stabilize and integrate the runes, allowing them to merge fully with the physical vessel.

Han Yu stood nearby, monitoring the process closely as hours passed.

The runes began to fade from view, their physical markings dissolving as they sank deeper into the body. This was expected. It meant that the formations were no longer external constructs. They had become part of the corpse itself.

After sufficient time had passed, Han Yu extended his spirit sense once more and inspected the body.

The results were satisfactory.

The formations had integrated completely. There was no rejection, no instability, and no deviation from the intended structure.

He allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction before proceeding.

Now came the core of the process.

Han Yu reached into his storage and retrieved a small marble like crystal. It was dark in color, with a swirling mist contained within its surface. The energy emanating from it carried a distinct chill, one that spoke of death and reanimation.

This was the Reanimation curse core.

It was the foundation of all Jiangshi creation.

Without it, the corpse would remain lifeless.

Han Yu stepped forward and made a precise incision in the abdomen. The cut was clean, controlled, and just large enough to allow insertion. He placed the curse core inside, then guided it carefully using his spirit sense.

The core moved slowly through the body, passing through the pathways he had already prepared, before settling within the Dantian.

The moment it reached its destination, a faint reaction occurred.

Shua

The core pulsed once.

Then went still.

Han Yu closed the incision and immediately moved to the next step. The corpse was transferred once again, this time back into a blood pool. However, this pool was far richer than the previous ones.

It contained not only refined beast blood but also powdered blood crystals and carefully selected herbs that enhanced vitality and structural reinforcement. As the body sank into the liquid, the nurturing process began anew.

This phase required patience.

Han Yu remained by the pool, observing the gradual changes as the energy from the blood was absorbed. The curse core began to activate slowly, drawing in the surrounding energy and initiating the reanimation process.

An entire day passed.

During this time, the corpse underwent significant transformation. Its muscles tightened, its bones strengthened, and the faint aura of a Jiangshi began to form.

Han Yu could feel it clearly.

If he allowed the process to continue uninterrupted, the result would be predictable. The corpse would become a standard Bronze Skin Jiangshi.

But that was not his goal.

As the aura reached a critical point, Han Yu acted.

He raised his hand and summoned a wisp of green energy of Trust.

The same energy that had given birth to Xinren.

The glow was faint, visible only to him, yet its presence carried a subtle warmth that contrasted with the cold aura of the Jiangshi.

He guided it carefully.

The wisp entered the body, slipping past the layers of blood energy and sinking directly into the Dantian.

At the same time, Han Yu activated Memory Echo.

The skill imprinted a foundational layer of instruction into the forming existence. It was not complex, yet it provided a structure upon which further behavior could develop.

Han Yu watched closely.

The Trust energy began to change.

Just as before, it condensed, shaping itself into a Dao Script symbol. The character formed clearly, surrounded by a circular boundary. From that circle, thin green tendrils extended outward, connecting directly to the curse core.

Unlike the previous Jiangshi, this time the structure was simpler.

There was only one core.

The symbol anchored itself firmly to it, stabilizing the energy flow and creating a unified system.

Han Yu's eyes gleamed slightly.

"It works again," he said quietly.

The process continued.

The body absorbed more energy from the blood pool, though the rate was different this time. It consumed a significant portion of the blood, yet it did not drain the pool completely. Approximately half remained, a stark contrast to the earlier experiment.

Still, the absorption was far beyond what a normal Bronze Skin Jiangshi would require.

Hours passed.

Finally, the transformation reached completion.

The body stilled.

Then, slowly… Its eyes opened.