Buzz
Vuong Trung Duong, Xiao Daozi, and Zhang Sanfeng are the leading masters in Kim Dung's martial arts universe.
Vuong Trung Duong
In 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes,' Vuong Trung Duong passed away before the era of the Condor Heroes began. His stories are often recounted through his disciple Chu Ba Thong and his apprentices.
At the first Swordsmanship Meeting on Mount Hua, Vuong Trung Duong was the foremost martial artist among the Five Supreme Experts, known as the Middle Heaven Sage, holding the Nine Yin Manual. The other four were Dong Ta Huang Yao Shi, Xi Du Ao Yang Feng, Nan Di Doan Tri Hung, and Bei Cai Hong Shat Gong.
Vuong Trung Duong's martial skills were unrivaled in his lifetime, yet Kim Dung, the author, did not specify their origin. It's only mentioned that Vuong Trung Duong was once a leader against the Kim dynasty, later disillusioned and became a Daoist monk, practicing Daoist's rejuvenation techniques. Hence, one can infer that his martial skills were created by synthesizing close combat techniques from battles and the Qi techniques of the Daoists.
Celestial Arts is the pinnacle of internal martial arts cultivated by Vuong Trung Duong, capable of opening the eight extraordinary meridians, achieving a level that rivals the Nine Yin Manual. According to Vuong Trung Duong, mastering it further would only place one at the forefront of the martial world. In essence, he acquired the Nine Yin Manual solely to ensure peace in the realm...
Vuong Trung Duong recruited 7 disciples, collectively known as the Seven True Disciples, including: Ma Ngoc, Khuu Xu Co, Dam Xu Doan, Vuong Xu Nhat, Hach Dai Thong, Luu Xu Huyen, and Ton Bat Nhi. Among them, Khuu Xu Co's martial skills stood out, but he couldn't match the Five Supreme Experts, let alone their disciples. Fortunately, the Seven True Disciples inherited the Northern Dipper Formation from Vuong Trung Duong, unleashing their collective strength, which helped the Seven True Sect maintain its position in the martial world for a while longer.
Xiao Daozi
In 'Heavenly Dragon Eight Parts,' Xiao Daozi is the founder of the Xiao Dao faction, although there isn't much information about his background or life, only through his disciples. Xiao Daozi is regarded by many as one of the characters with the highest martial arts and internal strength in Kim Dung's novels.
He independently created unique martial arts and passed them on to three disciples. In the order of initiation, they include Thien Son Dong Lao, Vo Nhai Tu, and Ly Thu Thuy. All three disciples of Xiao Daozi were top masters in the martial world at that time, frightening many with just their names. Later, when passed to Hu Truc, this faction did not appear again in Kim Dung's other novels. The sect's treasure is a ring made of precious stones.
Many fans believe that by creating countless peerless martial arts, rejuvenating techniques, or surpassing the limits of human capabilities, Xiao Daozi transcended humanity and attained the status of a celestial being.
Truong Tam Phong
As the founder of the renowned Vo Dang sect, his martial prowess is profound and unmatched. In his youth, he was imparted with a portion of the Nine Yang Divine Skill by the Great Master Giac Vien, significantly enhancing his internal strength. In his later years, Truong Tam Phong even innovated the Tai Chi Fist and Tai Chi Sword, principles of using stillness to control motion, and using softness to overcome hardness. His martial talent was unparalleled, acknowledged even by the author Kim Dung as a figure of unmatched greatness.
Truong Tam Phong had 7 disciples: Tong Vien Kieu, Du Lien Chau, Du Dai Nham, Truong Tung Khe, Truong Thuy Son, An Le Dinh, and Mac Thanh Coc, collectively known as the Seven Heroes of Vo Dang. The Vo Dang Sect became a dominant force in the martial world, rivalling the Shaolin Temple.
