The familiar environment welcomed him.

Disciples greeted him with respect, stepping aside as he passed. Han Yu did not stop. His destination was clear.

Elder Jurhanzi.

The old man's workshop was as chaotic as ever. Various puppet components lay scattered across tables, half assembled constructs stood in corners, and faint mechanical sounds filled the air.

When Han Yu entered, the elder looked up immediately.

"Ju Fan!" he said with a grin. "You've come at a good time. I just finished a new joint articulation system. Come, come, you must see!"

Han Yu raised a hand slightly.

"I brought something," he said.

Jurhanzi paused.

His eyes lit up instantly.

"Oh?" he leaned forward. "Jiangshi?"

Han Yu nodded.

The elder clapped his hands once.

"Good! I was wondering when you would show me something. With your progress in puppets, I expect nothing less than something impressive."

Han Yu said nothing.

He simply released the first Jiangshi.

The Green Class unit.

It stood silently in the workshop, its presence calm and controlled.

Jurhanzi circled it immediately, his eyes sharp.

"At a glance… standard structure," he muttered. "Bone density is good. Muscle reinforcement is stable. Hm…"

He extended his hand and tapped its arm.

The sound was solid.

"Try to move it," Han Yu said.

The Jiangshi followed commands flawlessly.

Jurhanzi's expression shifted.

"Intelligence… above standard," he said slowly.

He increased the intensity of his tests, striking it lightly, probing its reactions, observing its energy flow.

Then he stepped back.

"…this is not normal," he said.

Han Yu remained silent.

Jurhanzi looked at him.

"You improved the core structure," he said. "And the behavior… it is too stable. Almost like a puppet with independent function."

Han Yu gave a faint nod.

"There is more."

He released the Fear Jiangshi.

The moment it appeared, the atmosphere changed.

Jurhanzi's body tensed.

For a brief moment, his expression shifted.

Fear.

A flicker.

Then it disappeared.

The elder steadied himself, his cultivation suppressing the effect instantly.

"…what was that?" he asked, his voice lower now.

Han Yu watched him carefully.

"What did you see?"

Jurhanzi narrowed his eyes.

"Nothing… concrete," he said after a pause. "Just a feeling. Something unpleasant."

Han Yu noted that.

The effect had reached him.

Even if only briefly.

Jurhanzi stepped forward cautiously, examining the Jiangshi with greater care now.

"This one…" he said slowly.

"…this one is dangerous."

Han Yu allowed himself a faint smile.

That was exactly the conclusion he wanted.

Han Yu did not keep Elder Jurhanzi waiting any longer. After allowing the man to examine the Trust and Fear Jiangshi, he raised his hand once more and released the final piece that would complete the display of his work.

The Anger Jiangshi stepped out.

Its presence alone changed the atmosphere of the workshop.

The red aura rolled outward like a slow wave, heavy and oppressive. Even without moving, the sheer density of its body made the surrounding space feel tighter. Its towering frame, thick limbs, and coiled strength immediately drew Jurhanzi's full attention.

The elder's eyes widened slightly.

"Oh?" he murmured, stepping closer. "Now this… this is something else."

Unlike before, Jurhanzi did not begin with gentle inspection. He circled the Jiangshi once, his gaze sharp, then without warning, he struck.

WHOOSH

His palm shot forward with immense force, carrying the power of a Dao Shell realm cultivator.

BANG!

The impact landed squarely on the Jiangshi's chest and a deep thud echoed through the room.

The Anger Jiangshi slid back a few steps, its feet carving grooves into the floor, but it did not fall.

Jurhanzi's expression shifted.

"Again," he said, this time with interest.

He increased his strength.

This time, his strike carried far more force, reinforced with Qi that condensed visibly around his arm.

BOOM!

The blow landed and this time the Jiangshi was sent flying. It crashed into the wall with a loud impact, cracks spreading across the stone before dust fell from above.

For a brief moment, the room was silent.

Then the Jiangshi stood up.

Its body remained intact.

Its posture remained steady.

Its eyes still burned with the same unchanging rage.

Jurhanzi let out a low whistle.

"Impressive," he said.

He stepped forward, examining it more closely now.

"The fact that it can withstand direct strikes from me at this level already speaks volumes," he continued. "Its durability is excellent, and the density of its body is far beyond what its structure suggests."

He turned to Han Yu.

"This one is meant for direct combat, isn't it?"

Han Yu gave a small nod.

"It excels in raw strength."

Jurhanzi chuckled softly.

"That is an understatement."

He looked back at the Jiangshi once more, clearly pleased.

Then his gaze shifted back to Han Yu, narrowing slightly. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"You made more, didn't you?"

Han Yu did not react immediately, but the faint glint in his eyes gave the answer away.

Jurhanzi laughed.

"I knew it. That look of yours always means you're hiding something."

Han Yu raised his hand again.

Two more Jiangshi appeared.

The Sadness Jiangshi stood quietly, its tears already beginning to fall, while the Joy Jiangshi looked around with an oddly eager expression.

Jurhanzi's attention shifted instantly.

He approached the Joy Jiangshi first.

"Hm?" he leaned in slightly.

The Jiangshi smiled at him.

"Hello… Elder," it said.

Jurhanzi froze for a brief moment.

Then his eyes widened.

"It speaks?" he said.

Han Yu nodded.

"It has higher intelligence."

Jurhanzi tested it immediately, asking it simple questions, then more complex ones. The Jiangshi responded with increasing coherence, forming sentences that, while simple, carried clear meaning.

The elder's expression grew more and more astonished.

"This level of intelligence…" he muttered. "This is something you only see in very high grade Jiangshi, and even then it is rare."

He turned to Han Yu again.

"You've created something quite extraordinary here."

Han Yu remained calm, though inwardly he was satisfied with the reaction.

Jurhanzi then moved to the Sadness Jiangshi.

He did not need long to feel its effect.

The crying began again.

Soft at first.

Then heavier.