This book is a prequel to Jin Yong's "The Eight Parts of the Dragon". It tells the martial arts past nearly a hundred years before the main story takes place, and traces the origins and grievances of the three major martial arts families, Xiaoyao Sect, Gusu Murong, and Dali Duan.
The story is set at the end of the Five Dynasties and the beginning of the Northern Song Dynasty, with three main lines running in parallel: Tianshan Xiaoyaozi obtained the "Eternal Life Changchun Gong" from Changchun Valley, cultivated the way of immortality, and accepted four and a half disciples - Tong Lao, Wu Yazi, Li Qiushui, Qi Yufeng, and half a disciple "Zhi". After passing on his mantle to Wuyazi, he set off eastward to seek immortals and visit the Tao, leaving behind the general outline of "Xiaoyao Yufeng" for those who are destined to do so.
Murong Longcheng of Suzhou realized the principle of "the heart is the handle of a bucket" on the bank of Taihu Lake, completed the sixteen-character formula of "Dou Zhuan Xing Shi Shi", and also studied the Shen He fingering method in an attempt to restore his country. He and Duan Siping of Dali fought at the top of Huashan Mountain, and they joined hands to fight the Six Meridians Divine Sword. They were evenly matched and became a masterpiece in the martial arts world. Murong Longcheng finally died in depression and ordered his descendants to "wait" for the opportunity.
Duan Siping of Dali created the Six Meridians Divine Sword and established the Dali Kingdom. Before his death, he hid the sword manual in Tianlong Temple and passed it down to his descendants.
The grudges of the second generation of the Xiaoyao sect unfolded: Wu Yazi and Li Qiu Shui married and lived in seclusion in the blessed land of Langhuan in Wuliang Mountain, but they turned against each other because of a jade statue engraved with their junior sister Qi Yufeng. Li Qiushui had an affair with his disciple Ding Chunqiu and plotted against Wu Yazi. Wu Yazi was rescued by his eldest disciple Su Xinghe and hid in Wuming Valley for thirty years, setting up a Zhenlong chess game to be passed on to his successor. Ding Chunqiu fled to the Western Regions and founded the Xingxiu Sect. Qi Yufeng lived alone in Tianshan for fifty years, and then went down the mountain to the blessed land of Langhuan, where he lived for the rest of his life. Half of the disciples "stopped" from wandering around the world, and then entered Shaolin. After being enlightened by Master Kuchan, he let go of his obsession and spent decades sweeping the floors of the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion...
