Chapter 6: Advancement Plan  

Zhang Lie was surprised that he had already received an offer for the three fire-attuned techniques that he had uploaded onto the trading post.

After finding a cheap inn in which he could access the Internet, Zhang Lie hissed through his teeth at the terrible offer he had received. The other party had offered to trade one water-attuned technique for all three of his! Was he crazy?

"Don't you understand the rules of the trading post? I'll take three water-attuned techniques for my three fire-attuned ones, no more and no less!"

The other party was apparently also online, because he received a response quickly. "Your three techniques are too inferior! The technique I'm offering you is worth all three of yours."

"Ha! Who'd believe you?"

"Water-attuned techniques aren't all that rare, but trying to obtain three at once is a tall order."

"You're only offering one technique because you don't have three, aren't you?"

"Well, you're half-right. I only have two water-attuned techniques on hand, but one of my techniques is worth three of yours."

"Show me why."

The other party sent over a holographic recording of a palm-based technique, [Three-Wave Crescendo].

Each palm strike was akin to a wave, and each would be stronger than the last. Such a technique, simple and destructive in execution, was likely one of the best high-grade techniques that could be obtained in the first realm.

"It's quite good, but not enough to be exchanged for three of my own."

After all, it wasn't even a legendary-grade technique. On the other hand, both [Soulfire Blade] and [The Burning Pyres] were high-grade techniques, so Zhang Lie would be reluctant to trade one for two, let alone one for three.

"And the second technique?" The other party sent another holographic recording over. This time, it was a movement technique: [Rippling Walk].

It wasn't a particularly advanced technique, but agility-enhancing movement techniques were generally thought to be more important in the dimensional world than either attack and defense techniques. After all, hunters only had one life; they had to be prepared to flee at any moment.

"I'll trade you my three techniques for both of yours, as well as 50 grams of S-gold alloy."

"Weren't we going to do a one-for-three trade?"

"I'd be crazy to trade all three of my techniques for one of yours! Neither of your techniques are legendary-grade. Your first technique is worth one of mine, your second is comparable to my [Flameburst Step], and you'll have to give me 50 grams of S-gold alloy for my [Scorching Fist]."

Being too polite on the trading post would make the other party treat him like a doormat.

"Nonsense! At the very least, [Three-Wave Crescendo] is worth two of your techniques—it'll even be able to damage superior-grade lifeforms with all three blows! And [Rippling Walk] lasts longer than your [Flameburst Step]."

Zhang Lie rolled his eyes. "Don't treat me like a newbie. I've seen countless hunters like you preying on the clueless. It's true that your [Three-Wave Crescendo] can boast significant power, but it also requires hitting the same area with all three strikes. This is a clear flaw with the technique." magic

His past life's experience made it trivial to identify the strengths and weaknesses of any given technique. He continued, "As a water-attuned technique, [Rippling Walk] is longer-lasting by nature, whereas [Flameburst Step] provides a more instant, explosive advantage. Their strengths are in different areas, and their value is equivalent."

"Damn, what's someone like you doing pretending to be a newbie? You find this sort of thing funny?"

The other party was clearly quite shocked by Zhang Lie's reasoned rebuttal; after all, this was his first post on the trading post, and he had intended on scamming him—only to find that he wasn't an easy mark.

"Actually, yes."

"Shameless bastard!"

"Well, are you going to trade? Two techniques and 50 grams of S-gold alloy."

"Of course I will, but 50 grams is too much. 10 grams at most."

"30 grams is the lowest I'll go."

"...fine." After successfully completing the trade, Zhang Lie left his room and rented a training chamber for a day with 50 points, in which he began to practice [Three-Wave Crescendo].

This was a water-attuned technique that took the nature of water in a completely different direction compared to [Calm Waters]. The crux to [Three-Wave Crescendo] was the multiplicative effect of each strike. Instead of treating all three strikes as one attack, it would be more appropriate to practice each strike separately before trying to combine them into one.

At first, his actions weren't particularly quick. There was a significant delay between each palm strike, but the more Zhang Lie practiced, the less the delay. In the end, Zhang Lie produced what seemed like a casual palm strike.

Pa! Pa! Pa! It seemed as though that one strike had three separate afterimages. But, in truth, Zhang Lie had struck thrice in that one moment.

It had taken Zhang Lie half a day of concerted effort to obtain a rudimentary grasp of [Three-Wave Crescendo]. Subsequently, he chose to rest rather than to study [Rippling Walk].

It would take some time for his brain and body to adjust to engraving a technique on his genetic core, and taking appropriate breaks would be more beneficial for his overall growth. Resting was an integral part of training, after all.

After his break, Zhang Lie continued browsing the trading post.

Techniques were knowledge-based and could be uploaded directly to the trading post, but physical items like the S-gold alloy would need to be manually retrieved. Transactions involving parties from different settlements would require the use of teleportation devices, which incurred a small handling fee.

Zhang Lie headed to the branch of the trading post in the Blacksteel settlement, where he inputted his transaction ID and password for robotic retrieval of the S-gold alloy, a grayish-black substance about the size of his thumb.

Despite its unassuming appearance, the alloy actually commanded a jaw-dropping price, and even then was quickly snapped up by interested buyers. It was a particularly rare and valuable crafting material for weapons, affording significant penetrating power even for superior-grade lifeforms.

With his newly acquired S-gold alloy and the mutated-grade galewolf's backbone in hand, Zhang Lie headed for the settlement's forging apparatus. To be precise, this "forging apparatus" was a robot enhanced with artificial intelligence.

He handed over the mutated-grade galewolf's backbone and designated the S-gold alloy as a supplementary material, and was told that the forging process would cost 300 points and take a few hours.

After transferring the requisite points, Zhang Lie returned to the training chamber and began studying [Rippling Walk]. [Rippling Walk] was a little unique in that it required certain environmental effects to be used. Luckily, the chamber he had rented provided access to different terrain—given a modest expenditure of points, of course.

After transforming the floorboards of the training chamber into lapping waves, Zhang Lie began to practice his [Rippling Walk], working specifically on his speed and control. In three short hours, he quickly grew as accustomed to the water as a surfer.

He left the training chamber and headed back to the forging apparatus to retrieve his new weapon. The sword shone silver. Given the use of a galewolf's backbone as the primary crafting ingredient, its pommel and hilt had been fashioned with a moon motif. The blade was balanced, light, and aesthetically pleasing.

Zhang Lie was very satisfied with the sword. As he gingerly touched its edge to determine its keenness, he murmured, "I suppose I'll name you Galewind."

Compared to the previous shabby blade that Zhang Lie had been using, Galewind was far better. If the other blade had a combined stat value of 5, then Galewind would have a combined stat value of at least 50.

Zhang Lie couldn't wait to test out his new blade.

Now that he was well-equipped, he would be able to move on to the next stage in his advancement plan: picking herbs.

As he strode out of the settlement, however, Zhang Lie again found himself beset by Wang Xiaohua.

"Zhang Lie, you coward! You're finally back out again!" Wang Xiaohua, surrounded by her four teammates, tapped her foot impatiently, her mouth curled into an expression of distaste.