Within the sect, Meng Jueyan's presence had changed dramatically.

No one dared to obstruct her path. No one questioned her authority. Even elders who had once ignored her existence now treated her with careful respect.

It was widely understood that offending her was equivalent to offending Ju Fan, and few were foolish enough to test that boundary. More than once, a disciple who spoke out of turn found themselves restrained and dragged away before Han Yu even became aware of the incident.

Meng Jueyan never abused this authority though for she knew her place.

She remained composed, efficient, and focused, which only strengthened her position further. Those who worked under her respected her. Those who interacted with her feared making mistakes.

In many ways, she had become the visible extension of Han Yu's will within the sect.

Han Yu himself had moved deeper into the political currents that flowed beneath the surface of the sect. At first, he had navigated them carefully, observing and learning. Over time, he began to shape them. His control over two critical aspects of the sect's operation placed him in a position that few could rival.

The mining puppets had already secured his influence over the extraction of Violet Spirit Quartz. The Jiangshi market had given him control over manpower.

Together, these two pillars formed the backbone of the sect's operational strength.

It was no longer possible for major decisions to be made without considering his position. Elders who once saw him as a talented junior now treated him as an equal in discussions. Some sought his support. Others tried to align themselves with him. A few attempted to oppose him quietly, though none had managed to do so effectively.

The number of Ju Series Jiangshi in circulation had grown to nearly two hundred and fifty thousand.

They were present in every major peak, every operational division, and even in external branches connected to the sect. Their presence had become so normal that few stopped to question it anymore. They were simply part of the sect's daily function.

That normalcy was exactly what Han Yu had aimed for.

Behind that widespread presence lay a deeper truth that only he fully understood. Through maintenance and upgrades, he had gradually extended his influence beyond the Jiangshi he originally created.

Many disciples and elders, impressed by his work, brought their own Jiangshi for refinement. Each time, Han Yu introduced subtle modifications that went unnoticed. Control cores were embedded, layered beneath existing formations in a way that did not interfere with their original functions.

The Jiangshi continued to serve their masters.

They continued to follow orders.

Yet beneath that surface, they carried an additional directive.

Han Yu's directive.

By his own estimation, nearly a quarter of the sect's entire Jiangshi force had come under his influence. The number continued to grow slowly as more units passed through his hands. There was no rush. There was no need to accelerate the process and risk exposure. Time itself worked in his favor.

He had also taken careful steps to expand his reach into more sensitive areas. Jiangshi assigned to guard restricted locations, archives, and private residences were occasionally rotated or sent for maintenance.

Each time, Han Yu took the opportunity to embed surveillance formations within them. These formations were subtle, designed to remain dormant unless activated, and capable of transmitting fragments of information back to him.

At first, the information was limited. Small details. Snippets of conversations. Movement patterns. Over time, as the network expanded, those fragments began to form a clearer picture. Han Yu could track interactions between elders, monitor shifts in faction alliances, and even anticipate certain decisions before they were made publicly.

It was not perfect and it was not complete but it was enough to give him an advantage that no one else possessed.

And outside the sect, his influence had grown just as steadily.

Qing Luan had developed the external network with remarkable efficiency. What had once been a single hidden base had expanded into multiple locations, each disguised as a legitimate settlement or trading hub.

These places operated under various identities, conducting business that appeared ordinary while serving a far more strategic purpose.

The private army he had entrusted to her, nearly ten thousand Jiangshi, remained hidden from the sect's direct awareness. Officially, they were distributed assets, part of various operations and defensive measures. In reality, they were a force that answered only to him.

Qing Luan herself had matured into a capable leader.

She managed resources, coordinated activities, and maintained the secrecy of the entire network with a level of competence that reassured Han Yu. Their communication remained controlled and infrequent, ensuring that no unnecessary connections could be traced.

Financially, Han Yu had reached a point where numbers no longer held meaning.

Wealth flowed into him continuously, through sales, maintenance fees, external businesses, and various investments. He had attempted to track it in the early years, only to abandon the effort when the scale grew too large to manage directly.

Instead, he delegated.

Specialized Jiangshi, designed for calculation and record keeping, handled large portions of his financial tracking. They worked alongside Meng Jueyan, ensuring that resources were allocated efficiently and that no discrepancies went unnoticed. Even then, Han Yu knew that his wealth extended beyond what was formally recorded.

He no longer measured it.

He simply used it.

Despite all of this, Han Yu did not allow himself to become complacent. He understood that what he had built was powerful, yet still fragile in the face of the sect's highest authorities.

There were individuals within the Slaughtered Moon Divine Blood Sect whose strength and experience far exceeded his own. If they were to discover the true extent of his actions, the consequences would be immediate and severe.

That awareness kept him grounded.

It kept him cautious.

And it kept him focused on the long term.

As he stood on the edge of his peak one evening, looking out over the vast expanse of the sect, Han Yu allowed himself a brief moment of reflection. Five years of relentless work had brought him to this point. His influence stretched across the sect, his network extended beyond it, and his plans continued to unfold quietly beneath the surface.

Everything was in place.

Or at least, enough was in place for the next step.

He exhaled slowly, his gaze steady.

The foundation had been built.

Now, it was only a matter of time before he decided how to use it.