Chapter 1

In this book, martial arts are generally classified into five levels: supreme, first-class, second-class, third-class, and unranked, with some minor distinctions within each level. First-class refers to what is commonly known as "the top-notch martial artist of the present era," and the other levels follow this pattern. To better illustrate the changes in martial arts in the story, after the *The Return of the Condor Heroes* volume, the concept of "super-first-class" is introduced—those who surpass the top-notch martial artists of the present era. The *The Smiling, Proud Wanderer* volume does not have this concept; those above first-class are considered supreme.

Unranked: This level is about laying the foundation, being slightly stronger than ordinary people, but with very limited capabilities. In terms of internal cultivation, it involves the stages of sensing qi, nurturing qi, and unblocking meridians. In external skills, it involves familiarizing oneself with the basics to avoid self-injury.

Third-class: This level involves the unblocking of the twelve main meridians, forming a true qi circulation, and accumulating internal energy. After this stage, the quality of the cultivation method becomes very important, and the gap between disciples of major sects and ordinary martial artists begins to widen. In external skills, at least one martial art should be mastered to a small degree, enabling one to subdue opponents.

Second-class: This level involves accumulating a certain amount of internal energy and further enhancing martial arts. This stage represents the limit for most martial artists, and many people spend their entire lives at this level. For example, Lin Zhenan and the Wang brothers of the Golden Saber Family, Wang Bofen and Wang Zhongqiang, have already achieved regional fame. However, for major sects, their outstanding disciples can reach this level around the age of twenty, such as the Four Beauties of Qingcheng and Linghu Chong (in the original story, he was at the peak of second-class when he appeared in Hengshan, able to withstand only ten moves from Tian Boguang; in this story, he is slightly improved, considered a quasi-first-class).

First-class: The differences at this level are more pronounced. I divide this level into quasi-first-class, weak first-class, middle first-class, and strong first-class.

Quasi-first-class: Representative figures include Daozhang Tiansong and non-outstanding disciples of major sects. After accumulating for decades, most will reach this level if they survive. Although they are not considered first-class, they can match first-class martial artists in certain aspects due to their internal energy and experience. They form the backbone of major sects, such as several of the Thirteen Protectors of Mount Song. Some outstanding young people, due to their exceptional abilities in certain areas, also fall into this category, such as Ren Yingying—she may reach true first-class under Ren Woxing's guidance later.

Weak first-class: Both internal and external skills have reached the top-notch level of the present era, representing the high-end tier in the martial world. Representative figures include Tian Boguang and Yu Canghai. Quasi-first-class martial artists like Tiansong might last dozens of moves with all their might, but any slight mistake will lead to defeat. Yu Canghai's skills are slightly better than Tian Boguang's, but he cannot easily defeat the weakest of the Tian Boguang class, and if surrounded by several peers, he would find it hard to escape. The Six Immortals of Taohuagou and Ning Zhongze in the original story are roughly at this level, though one or two of the Six Immortals might have reached middle first-class, but this is unverifiable.

Middle first-class: Representative figures include Liu Zhengfeng and Fei Bin, who are the strongest martial artists under the sect leaders. Very few reach this level. This tier is in the middle and hard to define. Many wandering martial artists reach this level but cannot advance further, such as Ji Wushi and the Yellow River Old Ancestor, prominent figures in the evil path. Most of the ten elders of the Cult of the Devil are at this level.

Strong first-class: Representative figures include Mo Da and Tian Men, the top forces in the righteous path outside the supreme experts. In the Three Battles of Shaolin, apart from Fang Zheng, Chong Xu, and Zuo Lengchan, others like Jie Feng and Zhen Shanzi are roughly at this level. Including Yu Canghai, they are known as the nine top experts of the righteous path (Yu Canghai is more recognized for his status). Most of the ten elders of the Cult of the Devil might have reached this level, such as Bao Dachu, who defeated Huang Zhonggong in a surprise attack (his internal energy is also considered strong first-class). Xiang Wentian can be considered one of the strongest at this level, and further advancement would make him supreme. As for wandering martial artists, reaching this level is extremely rare, such as Bu Jie, who might have the internal energy but is far inferior in external skills and was easily captured by Xiang Wentian in a surprise attack.

Supreme experts in *The Smiling, Proud Wanderer*:

Three top experts of the righteous path: Fang Zheng, Chong Xu, and Zuo Lengchan. Among them, Fang Zheng is the strongest, with both internal and external skills reaching the highest level, making him virtually invincible. However, he carries too many burdens and is too rigid, and his age prevents further breakthroughs. Chong Xu's sword skills are among the top three in the righteous path, and his internal energy is also strong. Zuo Lengchan's internal and external skills are not the strongest, but considering his creation of the Cold Ice True Qi, he can be considered a supreme expert, albeit the weakest. [Original text: Fang Zheng, Chong Xu, and Zuo Lengchan are the three top experts of the righteous path. Any one of them is not necessarily inferior to Ren Woxing, and compared to Xiang Wentian, they might have a slight edge. Winning two out of three battles, they have a 70-80% chance, and winning all three is a 50-50 chance.]

As for Feng Qingyang, he appears too little and does not show his skills, making it hard to judge, but he is at least a supreme expert in sword skills, and his internal energy is also top-notch in the present era.

In the Cult of the Devil: Supreme experts include Dongfang Bubai and Ren Woxing.

Dongfang Bubai has not broken through to a higher level; otherwise, Ren Woxing and others would be defeated in one move. Since the *Manual of the Sunflower* and the *Evil-Dispelling Sword Manual* emphasize speed, failing to win in a hundred moves would likely lead to defeat after the opponent adapts, as seen in the original story when Yue Buqun practiced the *Evil-Dispelling Sword Manual* and lost to Linghu Chong. However, due to his extreme speed, Dongfang Bubai can defeat anyone in a one-on-one fight, making him the best in the world.

As for Ren Woxing, his internal and external skills are at the highest level, and he is proficient in all forms of combat. However, the great隐患 of the *Absorbing Star Technique* prevents him from fully utilizing his skills. In a real fight, he is slightly inferior to Fang Zheng and must rely on cunning to win. His skills reached this level over a decade ago, surpassing his contemporaries in the righteous path, leading to his rampant behavior until the隐患 erupted and he was imprisoned, leading to his disappearance.

Additional note: The concept of "supreme" is relative, referring to the highest level of martial arts in the present era, which varies depending on the world. For example, Fang Zheng and Ren Woxing are supreme experts in *The Smiling, Proud Wanderer*; Yideng and Huang Yaoshi are supreme experts in *The Return of the Condor Heroes*; and in *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*, Xiao Feng, Xiao Yuanshan, Murong Bo, and Kumārajīva are supreme experts. The level of martial arts represented by this concept is not the same. To be considered supreme experts in the entire Jin Yong martial arts system requires further discussion.

The six supreme experts in *The Smiling, Proud Wanderer* are not truly supreme in the entire Jin Yong martial arts system. Although each has unique skills—Dongfang Bubai's speed, Feng Qingyang's sword skills, Fang Zheng's *Sinew Metamorphosis* internal energy, Ren Woxing's *Absorbing Star Technique*, Zuo Lengchan's Cold Ice True Qi, and Chong Xu's *Tai Chi Sword*—their overall martial arts realm is not very high, and they are limited by their predecessors, unable to innovate and create truly unique skills. The author believes that the first three might be comparable to the Four Greats before they practiced the *Nine Yin Manual*, while the latter three are slightly inferior. These should be considered quasi-supreme, not supreme in the entire Jin Yong martial arts system.

Appendix: Progress of Yue Fangxing's martial arts:

1. Small success in *Mixed Essence Technique*, third-class expert; great success in *Mixed Essence Technique*, internal energy at first-class, but due to the accumulation of internal energy and external skills, considered quasi-first-class. In *The Blood Sword*, Yuan Chengzhi also obtained the *Golden Snake Secret Manual* and practiced external skills, gaining experience to reach the top-notch level of the present era.

2. Learned the *Sinew Metamorphosis and Bone Strengthening Chapter*, stabilized at first-class after half a year at the seaside, and fought evenly with Tian Boguang, weak first-class.

3. After more than a year of sword practice at the seaside, reached middle first-class, slightly better than Fei Bin, but not as good as Mo Da, focusing more on defense and lacking methods to subdue opponents. His strongest technique is the *Jade-Breaking Fist* combined with the *Great Demon Subduing Fist*.

4. After the Five Tyrants' Battle, achieved great success in the *Sinew Metamorphosis and Bone Strengthening Chapter* and nearly perfected the *Mixed Essence Technique*, reaching strong first-class (from quasi-first-class to strong first-class in two years, similar to Guo Jing and Yang Guo's progress after practicing the *Sinew Metamorphosis and Bone Strengthening Chapter*, even slightly faster due to seaside practice). Due to the creation of the Six Sword Techniques, his external skills reached the supreme level of the present era, allowing him to fight Ren Woxing for dozens of moves without falling behind.

5. After the Plum Manor battle, dispersed the yang energy and absorbed it with the *Mixed Essence Energy*, greatly increasing his power and pushing the *Mixed Essence Technique* to perfection. Although his accumulation is still less than Fang Zheng and Ren Woxing, he is at the supreme level of the present era, comparable to Yang Guo after eating snake gall and learning the heavy sword technique.

6. After two and a half years of intense practice in the sea, his power increased, truly reaching the highest level of the present era, and slightly surpassing...

Appendix: Progress of Guo Jing and Yang Guo's martial arts:

Guo Jing: At 16, unranked; after learning Quanzhen techniques, second-class, defeated the Four Ghosts of the Yellow River; after eating the medicinal snake, reached the peak of second-class; after digesting and absorbing the snake and learning the fifteen moves of the *Dragon Subduing Palm*, quasi-first-class; after learning the final three moves, possibly reached first-class; after learning the *Left-Right Combat Technique* on Peach Blossom Island, his external skills improved, and he fought Ouyang Feng; after learning the *Sinew Metamorphosis and Bone Strengthening Chapter*, he reached middle first-class by the time he arrived in Lin'an, defeating Ouyang Ke and impressing Ouyang Feng with his rapid progress; during the enlightenment at Junshan, he possibly reached strong first-class; in the desert, he was forced by Ouyang Feng and fought with Ouyang Feng, Zhou Botong, and Ouyang Ke, at least strong first-class; before the second Huashan Gathering, he overcame a mental barrier and became quasi-super-first-class, fighting Huang Yaoshi for three hundred moves without defeat; at the beginning of *The Return of the Condor Heroes*, he truly reached super-first-class, fighting Ouyang Feng to a draw, both injured.

Yang Guo: At 16, quasi-first-class when leaving the ancient tomb and learning the *Tomb Manual*; at 17, the *Jade Maiden Heart Sutra* was fully practiced, reaching first-class; at 18, he descended the mountain and observed the Huashan competition, reaching middle first-class, comparable to Huo Du, but slightly inferior in power and experience, but won with clever moves; after being healed by Huang Yaoshi, his true energy was stimulated, about to enter strong first-class (if he could emit a long howl on his own, it would be solid strong first-class); in the Valley of Absolute Affection, he casually turned poetry into sword techniques, reaching strong first-class, but still weaker than Li Mouchou and the Four Mongol Warriors, as seen in the Battle of Xiangyang; after eating snake gall and practicing the heavy sword in the *The Return of the Condor Heroes* valley, he entered quasi-super-first-class, defeating Master Cien (Jiugong) as proof; after six years of sword practice at the seaside, he truly reached super-first-class.

Since it is difficult to determine Guo Jing's martial arts realm and he learned the complete *Nine Yin Manual*, this story mainly uses Yang Guo as a comparison.

Appendix: The author did not want to write about the levels of martial arts, as the specific details should be felt by the readers. Traditional martial arts works do not have specific strength classifications, and readers must experience them through the story. However, to better illustrate the changes in the characters' strength, this section was written. Any omissions are kindly requested to be forgiven by the readers!

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