Han Yu's thoughts flowed calmly.

"I will be leaving the mine for a while."

There was a brief pause.

Then,

"Oh? Where are you going?"

"To the sect. Puppet Peak."

Chitterfang seemed to understand quickly.

"Oh… work stuff."

"Yes."

Han Yu's tone remained steady.

"While I am gone, continue exploring. Focus on unmapped areas. Look for connections between sections. And…" he paused slightly, "search for others from the Twin Leaf Peak Sect."

Chitterfang's whiskers twitched with determination.

"I'll do my best!"

Han Yu gave a slight nod, even though the rat could not see it.

"Do not take unnecessary risks. If you encounter danger, retreat immediately."

"I know, I know," Chitterfang replied, sounding confident. "I'm very sneaky."

Han Yu allowed a faint trace of acceptance to pass through their link.

With that, he severed the connection.

His preparations were minimal.

Everything that needed to be set in motion had already been done. The formation plates would continue recording. The jade slip would store the accumulated data. And Chitterfang would serve as his eyes in his absence.

He had also topped up the spirit stones for the survey puppets thus there was nothing more to delay him.

Han Yu turned and left the mine.

The transition from the damp, enclosed tunnels to the open air of the camp felt almost abrupt. The faint metallic bitterness of the mine was replaced by the dry, familiar atmosphere of the Blood Continent. Workers moved about, clan members coordinated logistics, and the distant presence of the Blood Sect lingered like a quiet shadow over everything.

Han Yu did not linger.

He made his way directly toward Hong Yao's tent.

The two Bronze Skin Jiangshi guarding it remained unmoving as he approached. Inside, Hong Yao was seated calmly, reviewing a set of documents with a bored look that said he'd prefer to be any place other than this.

Han Yu spoke without unnecessary words.

"I have been summoned back to Puppet Peak."

Hong Yao glanced up briefly.

There was no surprise in his eyes.

No suspicion.

Only mild acknowledgment.

"I see," he said. "Then go."

That was all.

No questions.

No delay.

Han Yu inclined his head slightly.

"I will return once the matter is resolved."

Hong Yao waved a hand dismissively.

"Do as you wish."

The simplicity of the exchange only reinforced Han Yu's earlier conclusion.

Hong Yao truly did not care.

And for now, that worked in his favor.

Without further words, Han Yu left.

He did not waste time preparing elaborate travel arrangements. With his current identity and status, obtaining permission to travel was trivial. Within a short time, he was already in motion, leaving the mining region behind.

The journey back to the sect took two days.

Two days of continuous travel across the harsh landscape of the Blood Continent. Han Yu maintained a steady pace, neither rushing excessively nor slowing down. His mind, however, did not rest.

Even as he moved, he continued reviewing the data stored within his jade slip, refining pathways, considering contingencies, and adjusting his long-term plans.

By the time the familiar silhouette of the sect appeared on the horizon, his thoughts had already shifted.

From escape.

To creation.

Han Yu arrived without fanfare.

His first destination was not Puppet Peak.

But Kidney Peak.

As Ju Fan, it was only natural for him to report his return to the Peak Head. The interaction was brief and formal. Han Yu presented a summary of his progress, focusing primarily on geological observations and puppet-related data.

The Peak Head listened.

Approved.

And dismissed him without complication.

With that obligation fulfilled Han Yu checked up on Xuan Qing, and Meng Jueyan before he finally made his way to Puppet Peak.

The atmosphere there was markedly different from the mine.

Orderly.

Structured.

Filled with the quiet intensity of research and creation.

Disciples moved with purpose, carrying materials, adjusting formations, and tending to various puppet constructs in different stages of development. The air carried a faint scent of metal and refined materials, a stark contrast to the damp earth of the mine.

Han Yu did not pause to observe.

He went directly to meet Elder Jurhanzi.

The elder was already waiting.

The moment Han Yu entered, Jurhanzi's gaze locked onto him, sharp and assessing.

"You're back," the elder said.

Han Yu bowed slightly.

"Yes, Elder."

Jurhanzi did not waste time on pleasantries.

"Show me what you've gathered."

Han Yu complied immediately.

He retrieved the jade slip and handed it over.

Jurhanzi's spirit sense entered it.

And for the next several minutes, silence filled the room.

The elder's expression shifted subtly as he reviewed the data. Not dramatically, but enough for Han Yu to notice. Interest. Focus. Perhaps even a hint of approval.

"Hm."

Jurhanzi finally spoke.

"This is… more than I expected."

Han Yu remained silent.

The elder continued scanning.

"Not enough for a complete design," he added, "but sufficient for an enhanced prototype."

That was all Han Yu needed to hear.

Work began immediately.

For the next week, Han Yu and Elder Jurhanzi worked side by side, analyzing the data and translating it into practical application. Their focus was clear.

Vibration.

If brute force could not extract the Violet Spirit Quartz without damaging it, then precision had to replace it.

Resonance.

Frequency.

Controlled disruption.

They began with samples.

Fragments of rock extracted from the mine.

Hematite.

Talc.

And most importantly, Violet Spirit Quartz.

Each material responded differently.

Each had its own resonant frequency.

Finding those frequencies was not simple.

It required repeated testing.

Adjustment.

Failure.

Again and again.

Sometimes the frequency would be too low, producing no effect. Other times, it would be too high, shattering not only the surrounding material but also the quartz itself.

The margin for error was extremely small.

Days passed in this manner.

Trial after trial.

Failure after failure.

And yet, neither of them stopped.

Han Yu's understanding deepened with each attempt. He began to see patterns, subtle interactions between materials, ways in which vibrations could propagate through different layers.

Jurhanzi, on the other hand, refined the mechanical design, adjusting the puppet's structure to deliver precise frequencies with minimal deviation.