The reaction was immediate.

The Fear Jiangshi flinched.

Its entire body recoiled slightly, and then it retreated two steps back before lowering itself into a crouched position. Its head dipped, and its long claws pressed into the ground as if it were bracing for punishment.

"I… did not mean to disobey… Master," it said in a low, trembling voice.

Han Yu watched the response in silence.

"…interesting," he muttered.

Fear.

It was not just projecting fear outward.

It experienced it internally.

This Jiangshi feared him deeply on an instinctual level.

Han Yu stepped closer and the Jiangshi shrank further, almost pressing itself into the corner of the workshop.

It was a complete contrast to the Joy Jiangshi, which actively sought his attention and approval. This one avoided displeasing him at all costs, reacting strongly even to minor shifts in tone.

Han Yu did not push it further.

He returned to a neutral stance.

"Come here."

The Jiangshi hesitated for a fraction of a second, then moved forward cautiously.

Control was stable.

Behavior was predictable.

Han Yu shifted to the next phase of testing.

"Attack," he said.

The Fear Jiangshi froze for a brief moment.

Then it moved.

Fast.

Faster than expected.

Its body blurred as it lunged forward, its long claws slicing through the air with a sharp whistling sound. The strike carried a weight that far exceeded its thin appearance.

Han Yu blocked it with a single arm, reinforcing his body with Abyssal Frost Qi.

The impact was solid and heavy.

He felt the force clearly.

"Steel Skin level," he said calmly.

He pushed it back and continued testing.

"Again."

The Jiangshi attacked repeatedly.

Each strike was precise, controlled, and powerful. There was no wasted movement. No erratic flailing. Every motion was efficient, directed, and lethal.

Han Yu increased the intensity of the test.

He allowed it to strike his body directly.

Claws collided with his reinforced skin.

The sound was sharp.

The force was real.

Yet the Jiangshi did not overextend itself. It adjusted its attacks based on resistance, shifting angles and targeting weaker points.

Han Yu nodded slightly.

"Good."

He tested its durability next.

A controlled strike from his halberd landed against its torso. The Jiangshi staggered back, yet it did not break. The impact echoed through its body, but the structure held. Despite its thin, skeletal frame, its durability matched its offensive capability.

It had condensed strength in an efficient form.

Han Yu circled it slowly.

"Climb."

The Jiangshi turned and moved toward the wall.

Without hesitation, it began climbing vertically.

Its long claws dug into the surface with ease, allowing it to scale upward effortlessly. Within seconds, it reached the ceiling and remained suspended there, its body clinging to the surface like a predatory creature waiting to strike.

Han Yu watched with interest.

"Drop."

It released its grip and landed smoothly with no instability or delay.

Han Yu's gaze deepened.

"This is a predator."

The conclusion formed naturally.

The Fear Jiangshi was not meant for brute force alone. It combined psychological warfare with lethal efficiency. Its illusions could trap a target in their own fears, and while they struggled within that mental prison, the Jiangshi would strike without hesitation.

He imagined the scenario clearly.

A cultivator facing it.

The illusion begins.

Their deepest fear manifests.

Their focus breaks.

Their reaction slows.

And in that moment…

They die.

Han Yu allowed himself a faint smile.

"This one may be the most valuable so far."

Even compared to the others, its utility stood out.

He knew the sect would place immense value on such a creation. Illusion based techniques existed, and so did cursed spirits capable of influencing the mind. Yet those methods were generalized. They created fear, confusion, or hallucinations, but they lacked precision.

This Jiangshi was different.

It personalized the fear.

It targeted the individual.

That alone elevated it beyond most known techniques.

Han Yu exhaled slowly, then turned away.

"One more."

There was one final emotion left.

Anger.

He already had expectations.

Violence.

Instability.

Raw power.

Even so, assumptions were not enough.

He prepared carefully.

Before beginning, Han Yu activated multiple restriction formations within the workshop. Layers of containment arrays formed around the designated area, each one designed to suppress and restrain if necessary.

"Just in case," he muttered.

He selected a suitable corpse and began the process once more.

Purification.

Rune inscription.

Stabilization.

Core insertion.

Blood pool immersion.

Everything proceeded as usual.

Then came the final step.

Han Yu summoned the Anger Energy.

It burned brighter than the others.

A deep red glow that pulsed with intensity.

He guided it into the Jiangshi.

The reaction was immediate.

Violent.

The body began absorbing blood at an accelerated rate.

Faster than any previous experiment.

Within moments, the pool began to drain.

Han Yu frowned.

"That is not enough."

He acted quickly.

More blood was poured in.

Refined beast blood.

Blood crystals.

All added without hesitation.

The absorption continued.

The Jiangshi did not slow down.

It began drawing energy from the surroundings, from the air itself!

SHUA

A dense red mist formed around it, swirling violently like a storm contained within a confined space.

Han Yu attempted to observe it with his spirit sense but he was pushed back.

The mist actually resisted him.

"Strong," he said under his breath.

He did not interfere further.

For half an hour, the process continued.

The workshop remained silent except for the low, turbulent hum of energy moving within the mist.

Then… It stopped and the red mist began to settle. Slowly, the figure within became visible.

Han Yu's eyes narrowed slightly.

The Jiangshi that emerged was unlike any he had created before.

It stood tall at nearly two and a half meters.

Its body was massive, built with thick, dense muscle that seemed carved from hardened flesh. Its arms were enormous, each one nearly half a meter thick, ending in heavy, clawed hands.

Its legs matched that strength, supporting its frame with stability and power. Its torso was broad, like a wall of flesh and muscle, radiating raw physical dominance. Its skin carried a dark sheen, almost metallic in appearance.