Those put off by the humor in Jackie Chan's work might enjoy this early period film, in which the star largely plays it straight. Eight Shaolin martial arts masters invent a new form of kung fu called "The Eight Steps of the Snake and Crane" and record all of the training techniques in a book. Shortly thereafter, all eight of the masters and the book disappear. It turns up in the hands of Su Yin-fong (Chan), a cocky lad who has mastered all of its secrets. Representatives from various clans try to steal the book but this is actually all part of a plan devised by Su's master, the sole surviving member of the original eight, who seeks to find the man who killed his peers.

Under the direction of Chi Chen-hwa, Chan gets to display his proficiency in various styles here, most notably during an exciting climactic fight against three spear-wielding killers and, then, the main villain (MASTER OF THE FLYING GUILLOTINE’s Kam Kong). Unfortunately, while the choreography shows some imagination, the storyline is numbingly routine and no more than an adequate framework for the kung fu (which includes Chan fighting against women, which is quite unusual for his movies). The stock music includes a cue some viewers might remember from MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL! Lo Wei regular Nora Miao Ker-hsiu co-stars as a beautiful, spirited clan leader, along with Kam Ching-lan (in male drag much of the time), Lee Man-tai (as the slovenly leader of the beggar clan), and Miao Tien.