Han Yu did not linger near the tunnels where he had conducted his test. Once the situation with the fallen slave was resolved and the supervising disciple had resumed control of the formation, he moved away without drawing further attention to himself.

His steps remained unhurried, his demeanor unchanged, as if the entire incident had been nothing more than a minor correction in routine discipline.

But internally, his focus had already shifted.

The success of the test had confirmed a critical piece of his plan, yet it was only one part of a much larger structure. Without a viable escape route, even the most refined method of breaking the seal would be meaningless. The slaves would remain trapped, surrounded by enemies, with no path to freedom.

Thus, his next priority was clear.

The formation plates.

Han Yu navigated through the tunnels with practiced familiarity, eventually reaching one of the concealed locations where he had hidden a formation plate.

The placement had been deliberate, tucked into a less noticeable crevice along the wall, partially obscured by natural rock formations and faint mineral deposits. To an untrained eye, it would appear as nothing more than an irregularity in the stone.

He knelt slightly and activated it.

The plate responded instantly, its surface lighting up faintly as stored information began to flow into his jade slip. Streams of mapped data transferred smoothly, merging with the existing structure he had already built.

Han Yu's eyes sharpened as he reviewed the incoming information.

'This is… a lot.'

More than he had expected.

The survey puppets had been active throughout his absence, continuing their exploration without interruption. The network of paths within his map expanded rapidly, branching into areas that had previously been blank.

Many of these newly discovered routes were underground channels filled with water.

Some were narrow.

Some were wide.

But most shared a common problem.

They were unusable.

Several were completely blocked, their paths sealed by dense layers of rock that had either collapsed naturally or shifted over time. Others remained open but were far too confined for human passage, their dimensions restricting movement to only the smallest of creatures.

Han Yu studied them carefully. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Then, he noticed something important.

Not all blockages were the same.

Some of the obstructed paths were not sealed by solid stone. Instead, they were filled with compacted mud, loose sediment, and smaller rocks. These materials, while restrictive, were not permanent barriers.

They could be moved.

Removed.

Expanded.

Han Yu's thoughts aligned quickly.

'These… can be widened.'

That realization shifted the value of those routes significantly. What had once been dismissed as unusable now became potential escape paths, provided they could be properly modified.

Without delay, Han Yu began adjusting his approach.

He retrieved several of the survey puppets and began modifying them directly within the tunnel. His movements were precise, efficient, reflecting the experience he had gained during his time at Puppet Peak. Components were adjusted, internal mechanisms recalibrated, and additional functions integrated.

The most important addition… Digging capability.

The puppets were not designed for heavy excavation, but with the right modifications, they could gradually clear softer obstructions. Mud could be displaced. Loose rocks could be pushed aside. Over time, even narrow passages could be expanded enough for human traversal.

Han Yu worked methodically, ensuring that each puppet retained its stability while gaining this new functionality. Once completed, he replaced their spirit stones, replenishing their energy reserves to ensure continuous operation.

One by one, he redeployed them.

They vanished into the tunnels, slipping into narrow openings and submerged channels, continuing their silent work beneath the surface.

Only after securing this did Han Yu turn his attention to the next task.

Chitterfang.

He reached out through their connection.

The response did not come immediately.

Han Yu did not react.

Instead, he waited.

Time passed.

Hours.

Nearly a full day.

That alone told him something.

Chitterfang had gone far.

Very far.

When the connection finally strengthened, the small rat returned, emerging from a distant tunnel before quickly making its way toward Han Yu. Its body carried traces of dirt and moisture, its whiskers twitching with visible excitement.

"I'm back!" Chitterfang said, its voice filled with energy.

Han Yu's gaze softened slightly, though his expression remained composed.

"What did you find?" he asked.

That was all the prompting Chitterfang needed.

It began speaking immediately, words spilling out with barely contained enthusiasm.

"I found them! A lot of them!"

Han Yu's eyes sharpened.

"Who?"

"The Twin Leaf Peak disciples!" Chitterfang said eagerly. "They're in other parts of the mine. Different sections. Not connected directly, but I found ways through."

Han Yu's breath stilled for a fraction of a moment.

He did not interrupt.

Chitterfang continued.

"I had to dig through some places. Small tunnels. Very tight. But I made it through. And there were people on the other side. Slaves. Some local clan people. Some Blood Sect disciples too."

Han Yu nodded slightly.

"And the ones from our sect?"

"There are many," Chitterfang replied. "I counted as best as I could."

Han Yu's gaze deepened.

"How many?"

"Thirty four," Chitterfang said proudly. "From Twin Leaf Peak."

Han Yu felt a subtle shift within his chest.

Not relief.

Not yet.

But something close.

That number was not small.

Not insignificant.

It meant that a portion of their sect's younger generation had survived.

But Chitterfang was not finished.

"There's someone else too," it added.

Han Yu's focus sharpened instantly.

"Who?"

"Wu Shuan."

For a brief moment…

Han Yu's composure nearly broke.

Wu Shuan.

Of all the names…

That was the one he had hoped for the most.

He closed his eyes briefly, steadying himself.

"His condition?" Han Yu asked.

"Good," Chitterfang replied. "He has the slave seal, but his body is fine. Just some scars. Nothing serious."

Han Yu nodded slowly.

That was enough.

That was more than enough.

Chitterfang continued listing others. Junior disciples. Some who had trained alongside Han Yu. Some who had never even entered the inheritance grounds. Faces from the past, now reduced to silent laborers within the depths of the mine.