Tae-Won's world had narrowed to three things: the ground beneath his hands, the crushing weight on his back, and the endless stream of complaints from his own mind.

  Six hundred pounds was just the beginning, he thought bitterly as he inched forward through a rocky passage. That had been a week ago. Now, Elder Jin had steadily increased his weight to what felt like two thousand pounds—a mountain of pressure grinding Tae-Won's bones to dust with each movement.

  "Move faster," Elder Jin commanded from his comfortable perch on Tae-Won's back. He casually bit into a juicy peach, its sweet juice dripping onto Tae-Won's already sweat-soaked robes. "At this rate, we'll reach the Northern Ice Peaks when I'm actually old."

  "I'm... trying..." Tae-Won gasped, his arms trembling as he dragged himself forward another few inches. Each handprint he left in the dirt was at least six inches deep. "Maybe... if you... weren't... getting... fatter..."

  Elder Jin's response was immediate—he shifted slightly, adding another hundred pounds to his already impossible weight.

  "What was that? I couldn't hear you over the sound of your weakness," the old master said, tossing the peach pit onto the ground beside Tae-Won's straining face.

  Tae-Won bit back another retort, knowing it would only add to his burden. Instead, he focused on drawing energy from the last Qi replenishing elixir Elder Jin had forced down his throat. The glowing blue liquid had become both his salvation and his curse over the past week—restoring his energy just enough to prevent collapse, but never enough to make the journey comfortable.

  Despite the torture, Tae-Won couldn't deny the changes happening within his body. His muscles had become denser, his meridians wider, and his Qi circulation noticeably stronger. He could feel it even now—his cultivation base had increased by at least 20% without a single meditation session. The weight training was forcing his body to adapt or die.

  But at what cost? he wondered as he dragged himself over a particularly sharp rock. My dignity is already gone, and my back might never recover.

  The sun had begun its descent toward the horizon when Elder Jin finally called for a halt. They had reached a small clearing beside a trickling stream.

  "We'll rest here for the night," Elder Jin announced, finally lifting himself off Tae-Won's back.

  The sudden absence of weight made Tae-Won feel as though he might float away. He collapsed face-first into the dirt, his body a mass of trembling muscles and exhausted Qi pathways.

  "Get up," Elder Jin commanded, poking Tae-Won's side with his foot. "We need to assess your progress."

  "Can't... move..." Tae-Won mumbled into the dirt.

  Elder Jin sighed dramatically. "Seven days of training and you're still this pathetic? Maybe I overestimated your potential."

  The words stung Tae-Won's pride just enough to force him upright. He sat cross-legged, glaring at his master through sweat-soaked bangs.

  Elder Jin circled him slowly, prodding various muscle groups and checking the flow of Qi through Tae-Won's meridians. After a thorough examination, he stepped back with a satisfied nod.

  "Well, we're quite slow—it's already been a week, and we've only reached a quarter of the way to the Northern Ice Peaks," he announced. Then, his weathered face cracked into a rare smile. "But it seems this method has paid off. Your body has adapted faster than I expected."

  Tae-Won's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What do you mean?"

  "Your muscles have doubled in density, your meridians have widened by nearly 30%, and your Qi circulation has improved significantly," Elder Jin explained. "For someone with your unique constitution, physical training appears to be exceptionally effective."

  "So... does that mean we can take a carriage the rest of the way?" Tae-Won asked hopefully.

  Elder Jin laughed—a sharp, barking sound that Tae-Won had learned to dread. "Of course not! But I will be reducing the weight."

  "Really?" Tae-Won couldn't keep the hope from his voice.

  "Yes," Elder Jin nodded solemnly. "I'll go back to what you started with. Six hundred pounds should be sufficient for the next stage of training."

  Tae-Won blinked in disbelief. "Six hundred pounds... that's it? That's your idea of a reduction?"

  "You should be grateful," Elder Jin scoffed. "Most disciples would have been crushed under half that weight."

  Before Tae-Won could respond, Elder Jin tossed him another blue vial. "Drink. We'll continue at dawn."

  The next morning, Tae-Won awoke to find Elder Jin already seated beside him, breakfast in hand.

  "Up," the old master commanded. "We've wasted enough time."

  Tae-Won groaned but complied, moving to his hands and knees in preparation for his burden. To his surprise, his body responded with unexpected ease—the agonizing stiffness of the previous days had faded to a dull ache.

  Elder Jin settled onto his back, and Tae-Won braced himself for the crushing weight. But when it came, something was different.

  "This... this feels so light," Tae-Won gasped in genuine surprise. What had once threatened to shatter his spine now felt manageable—almost comfortable. "Is this really six hundred pounds?"

  "Your perception has changed along with your body," Elder Jin explained, tapping Tae-Won's shoulder with his walking staff. "Now move. We have ground to cover."

  Tae-Won placed his hands on the earth and pushed forward. Instead of the agonizing crawl of the past week, he found himself moving at a brisk pace, his arms and legs working in surprising harmony.

  "My torture finally ended," he muttered in disbelief, increasing his speed even further.

  As the realization of his newfound strength sank in, a mischievous idea formed in Tae-Won's mind. If he could move this easily with six hundred pounds, why not show the old man exactly what he was capable of?

  Without warning, Tae-Won surged forward, breaking into a full run with Elder Jin still perched on his back.

  "Wait—what are you doing?" Elder Jin demanded, grabbing onto Tae-Won's robes to stabilize himself.

  "You said we needed to go fast, right?" Tae-Won called back, a grin spreading across his face as he accelerated further. "So we're going fast!"

  "Slow down, you fool!" Elder Jin shouted, his long white beard flapping behind him like a battle standard. "This is not how Qinggong is supposed to be practiced!"

  "Sorry, can't hear you over the sound of my progress!" Tae-Won shouted, dodging between trees with newfound agility. The sensation was exhilarating—like being freed from chains he hadn't realized were binding him.

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  "If you don't slow down this instant, I'll double the weight again!" Elder Jin threatened, his dignified composure slipping as he clung to Tae-Won's back.

  "Then I'd better make the most of this while I can!" Tae-Won laughed, leaping over a fallen log with surprising grace despite his burden.

  Elder Jin's string of curses was lost to the wind as Tae-Won continued his reckless charge through the forest, reveling in the simple joy of movement after a week of tortuous crawling.

  Far away in an opulent chamber adorned with rare treasures and ancient scrolls, a figure sat shrouded in shadow. Before him knelt a man in nondescript gray robes—the kind worn by those who wished to avoid attention.

  "Report," the shadowed figure commanded, his voice carrying the weight of authority without the need for volume.

  The kneeling man bowed lower. "My lord, our investigation has yielded limited results. The boy, Tae-Won, was recruited by Elder Jin from the slums outside the Jin Clan territory."

  "The slums?" the shadowed figure repeated, interest coloring his tone. "And what of his status within the Jin Clan?"

  "That's where things become unusual, my lord," the informant continued. "He technically isn't part of the Jin Clan."

  The shadowed figure leaned forward, his face momentarily catching the light—revealing sharp features and calculating eyes. "Explain."

  "It's a peculiar arrangement," the informant said carefully. "He performed the discipleship oath with Elder Jin personally, but not the actual Jin Clan disciple tests. He resides in the Jin Clan's Northern District but isn't considered a member. Yet his agreement stipulates that he represents the Jin Clan in external tests and competitions."

  "So he's externally Jin Clan, but internally not," the shadowed figure summarized, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Interesting. Where are they now?"

  "We've been tracking their movement through the northern continent. They passed through Shanxi and several minor sects' territories. They're currently in the domain of the Great Azure Dragon Sect."

  "And what exactly are they doing?"

  "It appears they are... training," the informant finished awkwardly.

  The shadowed figure's eyebrow rose. "Training? Elaborate."

  "Our scouts report seeing an elder sitting atop a young man as he traveled."

  "That's quite normal for Qinggong training," the shadowed figure waved dismissively.

  "Yes, my lord, but there's something different. The footprints they left—they were at least six inches deep, even in stone."

  A laugh escaped the shadowed figure, genuine amusement dancing in his eyes. "Jin Weishan... still using those ancient methods, I see."

  The informant hesitated before speaking again. "My lord, is it true that Elder Jin was one of the Nine Kings?"

  The shadowed figure's eyes narrowed. "You know of this?"

  "Everyone in the cultivation world knows of the Nine Kings, my lord," the informant replied cautiously. "Though most believe them to be legends of the past. Elder Jin Weishan was the Ice King of the North, a pseudo-immortal cultivator who could have ascended to the divine realm."

  "Could have," the shadowed figure emphasized. "Yet he didn't."

  "If I may ask, Great Lord," the informant ventured carefully, "why would Elder Jin, the proud Ice Emperor of the North, take in a disciple from the slums? It's been decades since he last took a formal disciple."

  The shadowed figure's expression grew contemplative. "Jin had another disciple some 50 years ago—his only true disciple in the past century."

  "But you know what happened to his disciple, right?" the informant asked.

  The shadowed figure's eyes darkened. "Yes. After that... incident, Jin withdrew from public life. He performed his duties for the clan, but he became distant, reclusive. He didn't speak to many people anymore, not even those closest to him."

  "And now he suddenly takes in this boy from the slums," the informant noted, understanding dawning on his face.

  The shadowed figure nodded. "Our servant within the Jin Clan confirmed our suspicions."

  "But how could a cultivator of his caliber—"

  "Gu," the shadowed figure interrupted, "have you ever heard about the Heavenly Immortal Disease?"

  The informant—Gu—paled visibly. "Isn't that the disease that inflicts Qi deviation and dissipation slowly?"

  "Well, you did your research," the shadowed figure nodded approvingly. "It's a disease that slowly eats away your Qi until you die."

  Gu's eyes widened in realization. "Don't tell me—"

  "Yes, it's precisely as you hear," the shadowed figure confirmed. "Jin Weishan is suffering from the Heavenly Immortal Disease."

  "But how is that possible?" Gu asked in disbelief. "It's a super rare disease, and there have only been very few cases of it."

  The shadowed figure leaned forward. "Do you know why this disease, as horrible as it is, is called the Heavenly Immortal Disease?"

  "Because it can only be inflicted on immortals or pseudo-immortals," Gu whispered.

  "Exactly. We don't know why it happens. Even the Divine Physician hasn't been able to find a cure yet." The shadowed figure's voice lowered. "But Jin has it. That's why 50 years ago he tried getting a disciple."

  "And it didn't work," Gu finished.

  "Correct."

  "Then what's different now?" Gu asked, puzzled. "Why would this time be any different?"

  "His strategy," the shadowed figure replied. "He never rushed as much in the past. Do you know where he's going?"

  "Well, following their current track..." Gu considered. "Yes, they're going to the Northern Ice Peaks."

  "The best-known place for pure Qi," the shadowed figure nodded, "but also—"

  "For learning frost Qi," Gu interjected, excitement creeping into his voice.

  "Precisely. He's planning on teaching Tae-Won his techniques soon." The shadowed figure's eyes gleamed with interest. "But knowing Jin, he's always calculative. Even if he's dying, he wouldn't rush a process unless—"

  "Unless Tae-Won has the potential to inherit his technique and survive," Gu concluded.

  "Bingo." The shadowed figure smiled coldly. "This boy must have extraordinary potential for Jin to invest his remaining time and energy in him."

  "Your orders, my lord?"

  The shadowed figure rose from his seat. "Prepare a welcome party for when they reach the Frost Demon Sect's territory. I want to see this boy's capabilities firsthand." He paused, his expression turning serious. "In fact, I'll be going to see this boy myself."

  Gu's eyes widened slightly. "My lord, is that necessary? Our agents could—"

  "Jin and I have unfinished business," the shadowed figure interrupted. "And if he's truly in his final years, this may be our last opportunity to settle old scores. Besides, I'm curious about this boy who has captured the attention of the Ice Emperor."

  "But my lord, if Jin Weishan knows we're tracking him—"

  "He knows," the shadowed figure stated with certainty. "And he's allowing it. Jin has always been ten steps ahead of everyone else. This is his way of extending an invitation."

  "An invitation, my lord?"

  "To witness the passing of a legacy," the shadowed figure mused. "Or perhaps to compete for it. Either way, I accept his challenge."

  Gu hesitated before asking, "What of the Frost Demon Sect? Their territory isn't easily accessible, especially with their recent... activities."

  A cold smile spread across the shadowed figure's face. "The Frost Demon Sect answers to me. They will provide no interference—unless I wish it."

  "Of course, Great Lord," Gu bowed deeply.

  "Have Sect Leader Yue prepare suitable accommodations at the White Frost Palace," the shadowed figure commanded. "And inform her that I expect a full report on the unusual Qi fluctuations near the Frozen Heart Lake."

  "It will be done," Gu promised, backing toward the door.

  "One more thing," the shadowed figure called, stopping Gu mid-step. "Instruct our agents to maintain an even greater distance. Jin is allowing us to track him because it serves his purpose. But don't mistake his tolerance for weakness, even in his current state."

  "I understand, my lord."

  As Gu departed, the shadowed figure turned to gaze out a frost-covered window that somehow offered a view of the distant Northern Ice Peaks despite the geographical impossibility.

  "Old friend," he murmured to the absent Jin, "what game are you playing this time? And is this boy your new piece or your successor?"

  He closed his eyes, extending his senses far beyond normal limits, brushing against the edges of a distant consciousness. For just a moment, he felt a familiar presence acknowledge him—like an old chess opponent nodding across the board before the first move.

  The shadowed figure smiled. "Very well, Jin. I accept your invitation."