Han Yu exhaled slowly, then turned away slightly.

"Xinren," he said, "stand by."

"Yes, Master."

The Jiangshi moved to the side and remained still, awaiting further instructions.

Han Yu's attention shifted.

The success of this creation was undeniable.

But one question remained.

Was this a one time occurrence?

Or could it be repeated?

That question alone was enough to push him forward immediately.

Han Yu did not hesitate.

He raised his hand and activated his Spatial Storage ring. The faint glint of the ring caught the dim light of the workshop, its surface engraved with intricate patterns that hinted at its high grade craftsmanship.

Over the years, his storage tools had undergone a significant transformation.

He no longer relied on the small and inefficient storage bags he once carried. Those had been replaced long ago. Now, he possessed multiple rings and pieces of jewelry, each one capable of storing vast amounts of material.

The primary ring he wore was a High Grade Spirit Tool, one of the many gifts he had received after becoming a Legacy Disciple. Its internal space alone was enough to store nearly five hundred cubic meters, a capacity that far exceeded anything he had owned before.

And that was only one of many.

He had accumulated several others, each serving a specific purpose.

One in particular was dedicated entirely to corpses.

Han Yu activated it.

A faint ripple of spatial energy appeared, and a body emerged, hovering briefly before descending gently onto the ground beside the blood pool.

It was a simple corpse.

An average middle aged man who had no cultivation and no notable features. He was just an average mortal one could find anywhere in the world.

Han Yu looked at it thoughtfully.

"If this works on you…"

His gaze sharpened slightly.

"…then the implications are far greater."

Using cultivator corpses provided advantages. Their meridians were already developed. Their bodies were conditioned. Their internal structures were more suited for energy manipulation.

Mortals were different.

Weaker.

More fragile.

More flawed.

If the same result could be achieved with such a body, then the process would become far more versatile.

Han Yu stepped forward and began.

The process started as it always did.

The corpse was placed into the blood pool.

The liquid responded immediately, faint currents forming around the body as it began the initial phase of nurturing. This step was essential for mortal corpses. Without it, the body would not be able to withstand the subsequent processes.

The blood he used this time was basic. It was refined beast blood that was cheap and easily obtainable. There was no need to waste higher grade materials at this stage. Han Yu watched as the corpse began to absorb it.

The skin darkened slightly and the muscles tightened. A few minutes later the overall structure strengthened gradually.

Hours passed like this but Han Yu did not leave. He observed every change carefully, ensuring that the process remained stable. When the absorption reached a sufficient level, he moved to the next step.

Inspection.

His spirit sense entered the body, tracing through its internal pathways.

The meridians were present, as expected, but they were narrow, uneven, and filled with impurities. Blockages were scattered throughout, a result of a lifetime of mortal living. Food, environment, and lack of cultivation had all contributed to this state.

The Dantian was worse.

It was weak and unrefined, bordering on being barely functional.

Han Yu frowned slightly.

"This will not do."

Normally, this stage required herbs or formation arrays to cleanse the pathways. Both methods were effective but time consuming.

Han Yu chose a different approach.

He raised his hand as a dark flame appeared.

The Dark Blood Flames flickered to life, their color deep and heavy, carrying a faint crimson undertone within their darkness. With precise control, Han Yu activated the Dancing Flame Art.

The flames responded immediately, shifting and dividing into thin strands under his command.

Carefully, he guided them into the corpse. The flames entered through the meridians, moving slowly, deliberately under his control.

They did not burn the flesh, they burned the impurities. Every blockage was targeted. Every obstruction removed. The process required precision. Too much force would damage the pathways. Too little would leave residue behind.

Han Yu's control did not falter.

The flames danced through the meridians, clearing them methodically, leaving behind clean, open channels.

The Dantian was treated last.

The flames gathered there, condensing briefly before sweeping through the space, burning away accumulated impurities and stabilizing its structure.

Han Yu exhaled slowly as he completed the process.

The corpse's internal system was now clean, functional and ready for whatever was about to come next.

Han Yu withdrew the flames and his gaze returned to the body.

"All that remains…"

He looked at the blood pool, then at the faint connection he still held with the Eight Emotions Lotus.

"…is to see if it works again."

His eyes gleamed faintly.

The next experiment was about to begin.

Han Yu stood beside the blood pool for a few moments after finishing the purification of the corpse's meridians, his gaze steady and contemplative. The internal structure of the body had been refined to a level far beyond what a mortal vessel should possess.

The once clogged meridians now flowed cleanly, and even the weak Dantian had gained a degree of stability. It was still inferior compared to that of a cultivator, yet for his purposes, it was more than sufficient.

He did not allow himself to linger on that success. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

There was still much to be done.

Han Yu raised his hand and summoned a set of tools, each one carefully crafted for inscription work. His fingers moved with practiced ease as he began drawing servant runes across the surface of the corpse's body.

These were not simple markings, and they were far more than decorative symbols. Each rune carried intent, structure, and function, forming the foundation upon which the Jiangshi would operate. With the runes being made precisely, the transformation into a jiangshi would simply not happen.