Jurhanzi's brows furrowed slightly as the aura settled over him.

"…this one affects the mind," he said after a moment.

Han Yu nodded.

"It induces emotional instability."

Jurhanzi stepped back, steadying himself.

"Yes… I can feel it," he said. "It is subtle, but persistent."

He looked impressed, though also cautious.

"Very useful in the right situation."

Han Yu gave a slight nod.

"There is one more."

Jurhanzi raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? You still have something left?"

Han Yu hesitated for a brief moment.

"This one… is different," he said. "You may want to prepare yourself."

Jurhanzi waved a hand dismissively.

"I have seen things far worse than what you can imagine, boy. Go on."

Han Yu nodded and released the Disgust Jiangshi.

The moment it appeared, the workshop changed.

The stench hit first.

Thick and overpowering.

It assaulted the senses with brutal force.

Jurhanzi's expression twisted instantly.

He covered his mouth and nose, his body recoiling instinctively.

"What in the!" he began, but stopped as the smell intensified.

"This… this is vile!" he exclaimed.

Han Yu remained at a distance.

"I warned you."

That was not all.

The pus dripping from the Jiangshi's body fell onto the floor.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle

Where it landed, the stone began to corrode, small holes forming as the substance ate through the material.

Jurhanzi's eyes widened.

"Seal it! Seal it now!" he shouted.

Han Yu did not hesitate.

The Jiangshi was immediately returned to its coffin and sealed with multiple layers.

Even then, the stench lingered.

Jurhanzi staggered back slightly, still covering his face.

"By the heavens…" he muttered.

Han Yu watched as the elder activated purification arrays within the workshop. Streams of energy swept through the air, removing the lingering contamination. He then took out several vials and released fragrant herbal oils into the environment.

Only after several minutes did the air return to a tolerable state.

Jurhanzi finally lowered his hand, taking a deep breath.

"…that one," he said slowly, "might be the most terrifying of all."

Han Yu nodded.

"It has corrosive and contaminating properties."

Jurhanzi glanced at him.

"You have created six entirely new types of Jiangshi," he said.

There was genuine astonishment in his voice.

Han Yu inclined his head slightly.

"They are part of the same system."

Jurhanzi crossed his arms.

"Have you named them?"

Han Yu answered calmly.

"The Ju Series Jiangshi."

He paused briefly.

"They are divided into six classes. Green, Yellow, Indigo, Red, Violet, and Dark Blue."

Jurhanzi nodded thoughtfully.

"A classification based on observable traits. Good. Clear and efficient."

He did not question the naming further.

Instead, his attention shifted to a more practical matter.

"What are your intentions with these?" he asked.

Han Yu met his gaze.

"The production method will remain private."

Jurhanzi showed no displeasure.

"That is expected," he said. "Many of us keep our core techniques to ourselves."

He leaned forward slightly.

"Will you sell them?"

Han Yu nodded.

"Yes."

A grin appeared on the elder's face.

"Excellent," he said. "This will cause quite a stir. I can arrange an exhibition. Once people see what these can do, they will line up to buy them."

Han Yu raised a hand slightly.

"Before that, I have conditions."

Jurhanzi paused.

"What conditions?"

Han Yu spoke clearly.

"I will sell the Jiangshi. However, only I will handle their maintenance."

Jurhanzi's eyes flickered with interest.

"Go on."

Han Yu continued.

"Any Jiangshi purchased from me must return to me periodically for upkeep. No external modifications will be allowed."

He paused briefly, then added.

"In addition, I will offer discounts to those who bring their existing Jiangshi to me for maintenance."

Jurhanzi's expression shifted into one of approval.

"Clever," he said. "You are not just selling products. You are creating dependency."

Han Yu did not deny it.

"There is more," he said.

"I will also offer upgrade paths."

Jurhanzi's eyes sharpened.

"Upgrades?"

Han Yu nodded.

"I can improve existing Jiangshi, enhancing their performance over time."

The elder let out a soft laugh.

"You are building an entire system around this," he said.

Han Yu remained calm.

"That is the intention."

Jurhanzi looked at him for a long moment, then nodded slowly.

"…you have grown far beyond a simple disciple," he said.

Then his expression turned into a grin.

"I like it."

He clapped his hands once.

"Very well. I will help you arrange everything. This will shake the entire sect."

Han Yu allowed himself a faint smile.

That was exactly what he wanted.

A few minutes later, Han Yu walked out of Elder Jurhanzi's workshop with an unhurried pace, his expression calm and composed, yet his thoughts moved far faster than his steps.

The discussion had gone better than he had expected. The elder had examined every Jiangshi he presented, tested them thoroughly, and even expressed admiration without the slightest hint of suspicion. That alone was enough to make Han Yu feel a rare sense of relief.

What mattered the most was something far subtler.

Jurhanzi had not sensed the Eight Emotions energy. He had even prepared excuses for them, some new curses or even random mutations. But the man did not sense it at all. That fact alone confirmed the viability of everything Han Yu had been planning over the past months.

If even a Dao Shell realm expert who specialized in puppets and Jiangshi could not detect the underlying mechanism behind these creations, then the rest of the sect stood even less of a chance.

The concealment was perfect, or at least close enough to perfection for Han Yu to proceed without hesitation. He let out a slow breath as he descended the Puppet Peak, the faint smile on his face fading into a thoughtful expression.

The conditions he had set were not random.

Every word he had spoken to Jurhanzi had been carefully considered long before he ever stepped into that workshop. The requirement for exclusive maintenance was the most important piece of the entire arrangement.

Without it, the spread of his Jiangshi would become uncontrollable, and worse, he would lose access to them after sale. That was something he could never allow.