There were far more caught by the river than Han Yu intended to save.

But that was part of the plan.

Confusion.

Misdirection.

Even if some survived, even if some were recovered, the scale of the event would obscure the truth.

Within the underground network, the currents surged.

Bodies were carried swiftly through the channels, pushed and pulled by the force of the water. Some struck walls. Others were dragged beneath narrow passages. The journey was brutal.

But not unmonitored.

Hidden within the currents, Han Yu’s puppets activated.

They moved with precision, intercepting specific targets along the flow. Only those selected by Han Yu were prioritized. The others were left to the mercy of the river.

Time passed.

Slow.

Heavy.

Han Yu stood within the chamber, his gaze fixed on the water’s edge.

Waiting.

Every second stretched.

Every moment carried weight.

Then...

The first arrival.

A puppet emerged, carrying an unconscious figure.

Then another.

And another.

The weaker slaves were brought directly, retrieved before they could suffer fatal damage. The stronger ones were caught by the net, their bodies halted as the formation array slowed the current just enough to prevent immediate death.

The chamber filled.

Water.

Bodies.

Motion.

Han Yu did not hesitate.

He moved forward.

The puppets began extracting the slaves, pulling them from the water and laying them across the prepared ground. Some were breathing. Some were barely conscious. Others were completely still.

There was no time to assess individually.

No time to hesitate.

Han Yu’s hands moved swiftly.

He retrieved the refined Violet Spirit Quartz.

Activated his methods.

And began.

One by one...

He started modifying the seals.

Han Yu did not allow himself even a moment of hesitation.

The chamber was already filling with bodies as the puppets worked tirelessly, dragging in those selected from the currents and laying them across the prepared ground. Water pooled across the stone floor, mixing with blood and debris carried in from the tunnels. The air was heavy, thick with moisture and urgency.

Han Yu stepped into the center of it all.

His movements were precise.

Controlled.

Every second mattered.

He reached into his storage and retrieved the refined Violet Spirit Quartz. Each piece had been prepared in advance, processed to integrate smoothly with the structure of the seal. There was no room for error here. Every step had to align perfectly.

He placed the first piece upon the chest of a slave.

Then, his spirit sense extended.

It slipped into the body, navigating directly toward the seal. The structure revealed itself instantly. Nodes, pathways, and the central control point anchored by the original quartz. Han Yu did not disturb the outer layers. Instead, he followed the maintenance method described in the Mind Modifying Doll Seal, carefully approaching the core.

The timing was critical.

He activated the Soul Petrifying Glare.

For a brief instant, the slave’s soul was stunned. The connection between the seal and the larger array severed. The monitoring pathways went silent, interpreting the absence as death.

That was the opening.

Han Yu moved instantly.

The refined quartz was guided into the structure, merging with the seal, replacing the original core and altering the control pathways. His spirit sense wove through the formation, redirecting its authority, shifting its allegiance.

From the sect to himself.

Then, he withdrew.

The Petrifying Glare faded.

The soul returned.

The seal reactivated.

But now...

It answered to him.

Han Yu did not pause.

He moved to the next.

And the next.

And the next.

The process repeated.

Again.

And again.

Each time, the strain on his soul grew. The Soul Petrifying Glare, even in its brief application, consumed a significant amount of Soul Qi. Using it once was manageable. Using it dozens of times in rapid succession was exhausting.

But Han Yu endured.

His preparation over the past months proved invaluable. The refinement of his Soul Qi allowed him to maintain the technique far longer than he would have previously. Even so, the fatigue accumulated steadily, pressing against his consciousness like a growing weight.

He ignored it.

There was no room for weakness.

As the slaves continued to arrive, Han Yu worked without interruption. Puppets moved around him, assisting where needed, positioning bodies, stabilizing those at risk, and ensuring that the flow of arrivals remained controlled.

At the same time, Han Yu administered healing pills.

Quick.

Efficient.

Enough to stabilize.

Some slaves responded quickly, their bodies beginning to recover as the medicinal effects took hold. Others remained unconscious, their injuries more severe, requiring more time.

But regardless of their condition...

They did not resist.

They did not panic.

The modified seals held them in place, their awareness dulled, their actions restrained under Han Yu’s control. Those who regained consciousness simply remained where they were, waiting.

Obedient.

Silent.

Time passed.

The chamber grew more crowded.

Then...

He arrived.

Han Yu’s movements paused for the briefest moment.

Wu Shuan.

Even in his current state, he was unmistakable.

Worn.

Injured.

But alive.

Han Yu moved immediately, abandoning the others without hesitation. There was no calculation here. No weighing of priorities.

This was instinct.

He knelt beside him.

His spirit sense scanned the body quickly. A cracked arm bone. A deep wound along the side. Internal strain from the impact.

Serious.

But not fatal.

Han Yu retrieved several pills and fed them to him, ensuring that the immediate damage was stabilized. Then, without delay, he began the process.

The quartz was placed.

The connection established.

The Petrifying Glare activated.

The seal severed.

Replaced.

Modified.

Restored.

Every step executed flawlessly.

Minutes passed.

Then...

Wu Shuan’s eyes opened.

They were dull.

Empty.

Devoid of the awareness Han Yu remembered.

But that did not matter.

Not yet.

Han Yu met his gaze.

"Wait," he ordered.

Wu Shuan did not respond.

He simply remained still.

Han Yu exhaled softly.

Then turned away.

There were others.

Many more.

He resumed his work, moving through the remaining slaves, prioritizing those he recognized, those he had marked in his plans. Each one was processed with the same precision, the same care, the same relentless focus.