Don't watch this video if you don't know these 5 hidden masters

For generations of Jin Yong novel fans, these lines are very familiar. They are formed by the first characters of his 14 classic wuxia novels written by Jin Yong himself. Naturally, when we say wuxia, most people immediately think of legendary masters roaming the world with supreme martial arts manuals and intense epic duels. Many heroes and villains with incredible skills. Like Wujing, Xiaofeng, Yonghua, Dongfang Bubi, etc. However, there are many hidden dragons. Created by Jin Yong with little screen time. Often only mentioned through hearsay. Welcome to Battlecry, Chinese History Files. Dugu Choubai. First, we must mention one character. He became a legend in Jin Yong's wuxia world. Bearing the arrogant title, Sword Devil Dugu Choubai. Dugu Choubai appears in two novels. The Return of the Condor Heroes and The Smiling, Proud Wanderer. His sword techniques helped him dominate the world. Remaining unrivaled in his era with the Dugu Nine Swords. The Dugu Nine Swords of Dugu Choubai. Prioritize offense as the primary defense. The technique aims to counter every martial art under the sun. Finding the opponent's weakness and attacking relentlessly to secure victory. However, it seems even before Dugu Choubai. Had mastered the Nine Swords, he was already an extraordinary duelist. In his youth, he challenged the world's heroes and earned his reputation. Before 30, he roamed central plains with a soft sword, seeking worthy rivals. Before 40, his sword skills grew even more formidable. Dominating masters with a heavy, blunt dark iron sword. By then, Dugu's cultivation reached a transcendent level. And after 40, his wisdom led him to the peak of swordsmanship. Winning without a sword, through formless strikes. From there, Dugu Choubai's swordplay reached its ultimate zenith. No rival dared challenge Dugu anymore. His ghostly swordplay earned him the title Sword Demon. Yearning for defeat, he called himself Dugu Choubai. The peerless sword demon lived in solitude with his eagle. In a place likely near Mt Hua's recluse valley. The Dugu Nine Swords. And his loyal blades, were hidden there. Later, Yang Gua and Feng Qingyang mastered his arts and became supreme warriors. Linghu Chong, taught by Feng, is also seen as a successor. Xiaoyaozi. Founder of the Xiaoyao sect, a legend in Jingyang's demigods and semi-devils. A hidden master who created many peerless techniques. Passing them to his three disciples in order. Tianchan Tonglao, Wu Yazi, and Li Qiushui. All Xiaoyao arts were his own, regarded as divine. Surpassing anything ordinary martial artists could imagine. Each technique was unique, bizarre, and deadly. Mastering even a fraction ensured dominance. Like Northern Profound Art or the Eight Wastelands Power. He was also a master of medicine, music, chess, and art. Xiaoyaozi also had a few disciples. Though few, they were grandmasters of the orthodox sects. He began with three, Wu Yazi, Tianchan Tonglao, and Li Qiushui. Due to romantic jealousy, they split to form their own sects. These sects became powerful forces in the martial world. Namely, the Tianchan sect and the Xishao Yipin Tang. Others like Xuzhu, Duanyou, and Komozi gained his skills by chance. Mastering arts like the Six Harmonies Palm or Northern Profound Art. They all became top-tier experts in the realm. However, no matter how formidable their power. It is like comparing fireflies to the moon against Xiaoyaozi. With his ethereal, godlike demeanor. He shunned worldly affairs, remaining an enigma despite his peak power. A name less known, yet creator of the One-Finger Zen and Six Meridian Sword. Duan Saiping is recalled by Abbot Ku Rong in Demigods and Semi-Devils. With the Six Meridian Sword, he became an unrivaled master. Later, relying on this power and his own talent. He rallied the Yunnan people to topple the corrupt Nanzhao Kingdom. Founded the Dali Kingdom and the Tianlong Temple. A sanctuary for Dali royals to cultivate after abdicating the throne. The Six Meridian Sword is a ruthless, lethal technique. Meant for salvation, it is for royals, others must train alone. Abbot Ku Rong and his monks studied it but could not master it. He devised a way for six masters of equal power to split the technique. Each masters one strike, forming the Six Meridian Sword Formation. Each sword style varies, Xiao Chong is focused on powerful shifts. Chong Chong provides support, Guan Chong overcomes finesse with brute force. Xiaozi appears weak but is actually lethally venomous. Xiang Yang is the most agile and the primary offensive strike. Xiao Yang is the most powerful, with distinct, clean strokes. Making it an unbeatable style when facing formidable foes. The power of One Yang Finger and Six Meridians is unquestioned. If One Yang Finger alone made the royals masters of the realm. Duan Yu's Six Meridian Sword forced Southern Murong to submit. Even Northern Xiaofeng admitted he was no match. Meaning Duan Saiping, who mastered all six. Could truly rival the great Bodhidharma. The creator of Shaolin's tendon-changing classic. Lin Chaoying The only woman ranked in this tier. A top tier expert in Wuxia legends. Surpassing even Huang Rong and Xiaolongnü. She was the founder of the ancient tomb sect. Mentioned in the tales of Xiaolongnü. And featured in the return of the Condor Heroes. The tangled history between Lin Chaoying. And the central divine Wang Chongyang. Led to the creation of the ancient tomb sect. Lin Chaoying once hoped to marry Wang Chongyang. Yet, focused on resistance. He avoided her despite his feelings. Leaving her heartbroken. Leading to a duel at Mount Zhongnan. He yielded at first. Which only fueled her anger. Finally, he was forced to fight back. He unleashed the very best of his martial arts. These formed the roots of the Chuanjin sword play. The innate skill. Later used to defeat the four masters and claim top rank. However, these skills failed to faze Lin Chaoying. After thousands of moves. Neither could defeat the other. Lin Chaoying later founded the ancient tomb sect. There, she studied the martial arts Wang Chongyang inscribed. She pondered ways to counter those arts. Creating the Jade Maiden Sutra. She spent her life in the ancient tomb perfecting this very skill. It was designed solely to suppress the Chuanjin sect and Wang Chongyang. After she passed, Wang Chongyang once visited her tomb. He saw her Jade Maiden techniques carved there. Profound and brilliant. Realizing every move countered his. He turned pale and fled the tomb. He spent three years in the wilderness. Struggling to find a solution. He found some ways to cope. But never completed a full counter system. Awed by her genius. He finally bowed in silent, begrudging respect. Post-competition, he held the title and the Nine-Yin Manual. Using its insights. He finally devised a way to beat the Jade Maiden Sutra. He carved this knowledge into the tomb for her successors to find. Yet, she created her masterpiece entirely from her own ingenuity. He relied on someone else's writings. Perhaps making him the lesser one. Had she competed against the masters of her time? She might have been the one crowned supreme. Instead of Wang Chongyang of the Chuanjin sect. Wang Xiang, author of the manual in the Condor Trilogy. Pen the Nine-Yin Manual. His story was recounted by Zhou Bodong in the Legend of the Condor Heroes. Wang Xiang was a civil official under Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty. Ordered by the emperor. He compiled the 5,481 Taoist scrolls into the Wanshou Daozong. Through sheer brilliance and perseverance. Wang Xiang mastered every martial technique within them. Later, on Huizong's orders. He led the imperial army to wipe out the Ming cult. But due to his incompetent troops. His forces were soundly defeated. Yet, with his burgeoning skills. He personally struck down the cult's leaders and elite guardians. Consequently, the families of those he killed hunted him down for revenge. Despite his immense power. He could not easily withstand them all. Outnumbered, he stood alone. Unable to protect his own kin. Tragically, Wang Xiang's entire family was slaughtered. He alone escaped. Fleeing to the mountains to hone his martial arts for vengeance. After years of solitary training and profound enlightenment. He descended to seek revenge. Only to find his enemies had already died of old age. Abandoning his vendetta. He penned the 2 Volume 9 Yin Manual to preserve his knowledge. The first volume contains profound Taoist theories. And foundational internal energy training. The second volume details offensive techniques and defensive maneuvers. The bronze corpse couple shook the martial world with just the second volume. Wang Chongyang used the manual to finally counter the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra. Guo Jing, Yang Guo, and Zhou Zhiruo became legends by mastering mere fragments of it. Truly, Wang Xiang's cultivation had reached a peak beyond mortal imagination. With the 9 Yin Manual, it's easy to understand. The Sweeper Monk. The Sweeper Monk, also known as the Nameless Monk. Was a supreme master appearing in Chapter 43 of Demigods and Semi-Devils. When the monk appeared, no one recognized him. Not even the abbots of Shaolin Temple. Could identify his background. They only knew him as an old monk. Doing the lowest menial work, sweeping the temple. He wasn't ordained, had no master, practiced no Zen, and held no rank. Yet, he was the ultimate master hidden within Shaolin. A glance was enough for him to identify Kumara Jiva's small formless skill. Kumara Jiva secretly fired a formless finger strike, hitting the monk unnoticed. Unexpectedly, the energy hit an invisible, resilient wall 3 feet away. The energy simply vanished without a trace, not even rebounding. Masters like Xiaoyuan Shan and Morong Bo couldn't withstand a single strike from him. Even the heroic Qiao Feng's 18 Dragons of Doing Palms had no effect. Morong Fu's family-taught universe-shifting skill also failed to move him. He later brought Xiaoyuan Shan and Morong Bo back from death and healed their internal wounds. He alone had mastered the 72 Shaolin Arts, the Muscle Tendon Classic, and more. He's considered the only master rivaling Xiaoyouzi in skill and inner power. These are the most formidable hidden masters in Jin Yong's novels. Which name impressed you most, or who would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments section below.