Chapter 024: Fair Exchange

Lightness techniques also come in various forms. Some excel in soaring to great heights, some are graceful and agile, some burst forth with speed, and some are suited for long-distance travel... Each type of lightness skill has its own unique advantage.

"Eight Steps Ascending Dragon" is no exception. Compared to other lightness techniques, however, its advantages are more numerous, encompassing three major attributes. It allows one to leap high, move with agility, and even traverse vast distances at speed.

But it’s not merely running—it’s flying.

Once mastered, "Eight Steps Ascending Dragon" enables its practitioner to fly through the sky! Of course, to achieve flight, two conditions must be met: first, one must generate true energy within the dantian, and second, the quantity of true energy must be sufficient.

The emergence of true energy marks the attainment of the sixth rank as a martial artist. In other words, unless one reaches the sixth rank, even if the "Eight Steps Ascending Dragon" is mastered, it can only be used to run on the ground. Only upon attaining the sixth rank can one rise from the earth to the heavens.

This is the defining feature and strength of "Eight Steps Ascending Dragon." In Su Jingxing’s view, even without reaching the sixth rank, even if it cannot make one fly, "Eight Steps Ascending Dragon" is a profound martial art. Its agility and grace remind him of the famed "Ripple Steps." In terms of dodging and maneuvering, its footwork far surpasses that of the "Seven Step Fist"—by at least tenfold.

The only drawback is its limitation: it cannot break beyond the range of eight steps. This, inevitably, leaves a trace of regret.

Fortunately, "Eight Steps Ascending Dragon" is not difficult to begin learning. Of course, this ease comes with a prerequisite—the need for comprehension. The manual not only records the relevant details but also includes accompanying illustrations. Anyone can understand the pictures, but the content itself is not so easily grasped. Had Su Jingxing’s soul force not increased, he might have understood individual characters, but piecing them together into sentences would have left him perplexed. It’s much like reading classical texts—one may recognize each character, but when they form phrases, confusion ensues.

The Wei family had always guarded "Eight Steps Ascending Dragon," never allowing outsiders to learn of it. Clearly, this has much to do with the aforementioned factors. In truth, few among them could fully master the technique themselves. Over the past decades, the only person in the Wei family to reach the sixth rank was Wei Jia’s grandfather.

Su Jingxing was unsure if the old man had ever truly mastered "Eight Steps Ascending Dragon." Odds are, he did not. If he had, it was likely only at a rudimentary level, and he never displayed it before others.

A skill of such high caliber as "Eight Steps Ascending Dragon" requires strict secrecy. If not, it would easily attract disaster for possessing something so coveted.

After reading, Su Jingxing resolved to remember this point as he negotiated his exchange with Wei Jia.

...

“An impressive lightness technique,” Su Jingxing said calmly, closing the manual. “What do you wish to trade?”

“Ten favors!” Wei Jia’s eyes brightened. “I’d like to exchange it for ten times you’ll act for me—”

“Three times,” Su Jingxing interrupted.

Wei Jia opened her mouth, bit her lip, and said, “Three is too few. At least eight times!”

“Three times.”

“Three times is really too little.” Wei Jia stomped her foot, pouting slightly. “If not eight, then how about five—”

“Three times.”

Su Jingxing remained indifferent. “Three opportunities to act. Whether I carry it out or not, the decision is mine.”

Wei Jia was silent, barely restraining her frustration, taking a deep breath. “But—”

“If it doesn’t suit you, let’s drop it.” Su Jingxing broke in. “The ‘Eight Steps Ascending Dragon’ is indeed excellent, but it alone isn’t enough for me to risk my life for the Wei family.”

Wei Jia, fists clenched, forced a smile. “It’s not risking your life. It’s a fair exchange, not—”

“Whether it is or not isn’t up to you,” Su Jingxing replied coolly. “My terms are set: three opportunities to act, each subject to my decision. If not, the deal is off. As for ‘Eight Steps Ascending Dragon,’ rest assured—I won’t take it by force.”

He offered the manual back to Wei Jia.

Wei Jia didn’t move.

At that moment, her mind was in turmoil, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

She had lost control—or rather, she’d never had it. The initiative was never in her hands.

She thought offering "Eight Steps Ascending Dragon" would lure Su Jingxing in. Yet, after reading it, his reaction was nothing like what she’d expected—no excitement, no impatience. He remained calm throughout, unnervingly so.

This left Wei Jia feeling deeply defeated. If Su Jingxing wouldn’t bite, all her scheming was useless.

She couldn’t understand it. How could Su Jingxing remain unmoved before such a martial art?

Unbeknownst to her, Su Jingxing was indeed moved. But being moved is one thing; to become someone else’s tool for a technique is not something he would stoop to.

"Eight Steps Ascending Dragon" is undeniably powerful. Yet, given time, Su Jingxing was confident he would eventually acquire comparable, or even superior, skills from the corpses he collected.

Over recent days, as he transported bodies, he had discerned a pattern: skill cards containing martial arts always came from martial artists. The stronger the martial artist, the higher the skill’s