大唐双龙传 [Da Tang Shuang Long Zhuan] by Huang Yi

[hungryhero]

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《大唐雙龍傳》小說裡的魔門高手武功排行榜，榜上人物皆是深藏不露的絕頂高手，但名列第二的「邪王」石之軒 與榜末的尤鳥倦功力天差地別，尤鳥倦被石之軒偷襲，一招斃命，可見邪王驚天動地武功。依照婠婠所說邪派八大 高手是外人所排，不甚正確，只把各派最有名的人物排上榜，實際上滅情道的尹祖文、陰癸派的韋憐香都有上榜實 力，而且歷經多年，排行也有所變動，如排行第二的石之軒實際上更勝榜首祝玉妍。

1. 「陰后」祝玉妍：陰癸派掌門人，武功「天魔大法」。
2. 「邪王」石之軒：花間派掌門人、補天道傳人，武功「不死印法」、「幻魔身法」、「不死七幻」。
3. 「魔帥」趙德言：魔相派傳人，史實人物，投入東突厥為軍師，據說其師為長孫晟。武功「歸魂十八爪」、「百變 菱槍」。
4. 「天君」席應：滅情道傳人，武功「紫氣天羅」。
5. 「胖賈」安隆：四川豪商，是邪王石之軒的追隨者，天蓮宗蓮主。武功「天心蓮環」。
6. 「妖道」辟塵（榮鳳祥）：洛陽商會會長，是陰癸派在洛陽的台面上人物，真傳派中之分支老君觀傳 人。
7. 「子午劍」左游仙：真傳派中之分支道祖真傳傳人，史實人物。武功「子午罡」、「壬丙劍法」。
8. 「倒行逆施」尤鳥倦：邪極宗「邪帝」向雨田四大弟子之首，為分支逆行派的傳人。

Using google translator :
1. Yinhou - Zhu Yuyan
2. Evil King - Shi Zi Xuan
3. Magic handsome? - Zhao Deyan
4. Tianjun?
5. Fatjia? Tianlian Zonglian main. Martial arts "Tianxin lotus ring"
6. Demon Road - Rong Feng Xiang
7. ZiWang Jian?
8. Evil Emperor?
Only 3 names has been revealed so far....., no. 1, 2 and 6

[Anh Nam]

Thanks foxs

[LuDongBin]

Thks foxs.

[akolaw]

The four are seniors in Mor Mon, I would rate them as 1st tier martial artist, You is likely better and I rank him as 2nd group in 1st tier Ab, while the other three 3rd group in 1st tier Ac (same as Bien).

Since Xu can kill Ding, I would rate him as 1st tier 3 group now Ac. Since Xu and Kou play catch up all the time, Kou may also be at the same level

HY use a different approach to describe martial artist, Shi Long (Chapter 1) is 1st class ma, make a fame in large city, have his own training class, was killed easily by Yuwen. so 1st class is nobody in this book. so I decide to build a rating system for this book.

I rate it by 3 tier with 3 group in each tier. (following rating system of Shu, Sheung Chung Sa three bun, i.e. high middle low 3 level, and then
from Sheung Sheung to Sa Sa further divide into 9 bun, similar to Aa Ab to Cc we use nowaday.)

There are barriers between each group and tier, and each have to break through the barrier in order to arise to the next level. so not everyone can arise to next level by accumulate nei kung. 1st class ma are rank as Ca here, they are famous in local area, sifu in a big city, or head of a famous local gang etc. While the two boys were only 3rd group in the 3rd tier Cc, in Chapter 1.

!st tier are for the boss, leaders and seniors of super school, leader of famous house, clan etc, most of them are senior generation while a few girls are at this level, we see now Xu (and perhaps Kou too) move into this level. However only those that focus on spiritual path or see martial art as spiritual path grow to 1st group of 1st tier. (see Xu's reason that he want to be a hermit)

2nd tier full of juniors of super school, famous house, clan etc, they are the 2nd generation of 1st tier, they are generals, or nation know hero etc. The best of theses have a chance to grow to 1st tier. While some do not have the luxury of well groom in early age, but good enough to break into 2nd tier by their own effort, stay here for life, therefore we also see characters break into warlord, general etc. without any house, school, clan background.

Most 1st tier break through the barrier while they mature, that means they reach 1st group of 2nd tier before they mature, and break through it naturally, (they have the talent, and well groom from early age, that is why this is an elite group, girls mature earlier than boys, and this leave those who are not well groom from early age difficult to get to 1st tier, unless they come across some special event in life that help them break through. ( a lot of Chan/Zen koan are break through stories, and HY love spiritual stuff) And that is why we see a lot of comments from seniors saying that the two boys have good talent too bad they did not receive training at early age from beginning of the book. The 3 boys absorb the he jade and have dirt come out from body, is indication that obstacle or barriers been removed.

The three tier three group is my own rating system but the logic behind come from the book and was well discussed in readers forum when Da Tang published 20 years ago.

[徐中銳]

The most obvious example of why rating wuxia characters is an engrossingly futile pastime : Li Xunhuan ranks third on the Bingqipu (兵器譜, a fictional book of weapons) but he beats everyone in his novels.

You may tier until tears appear. Yet, in Da Tang, Kou and Xu will surely end around the top (and likely, along the way, kill above their ranking).

As to beauties, whoever Kou and Xu eventually marry wins out ?

[Jayariyin]

Thanks, foxs.

[hungryhero]

The most obvious example of why rating wuxia characters is an engrossingly futile pastime : Li Xunhuan ranks third on the Bingqipu (兵器譜, a fictional book of weapons) but he beats everyone in his novels.

You may tier until tears appear. Yet, in Da Tang, Kou and Xu will surely end around the top (and likely, along the way, kill above their ranking).

As to beauties, whoever Kou and Xu eventually marry wins out ?

It is indeed more interesting to see lower rank can beat the upper rank by scheme/twist scenario, as Li Xunhuan. I like the way Shangguan JinHong defeated by Li Xun Huan, it is like nobody can expect that. Surprise, Scary, happy tears mixed at the end.

[徐中銳]

There is indeed only a little difference between life and death.

It's too early for readers like us who haven't finished this story... Only people like akolaw who knows it already through its Chinese text can give sophisticated reasons about levelling prowess and looks.

But, unless you're writing a fan fiction supplement, the story is what it is. Ding Jiuzhong ranks higher than Xu Ziling yet got defeated and died. Because the author said so—wills it.

[foxs]

Xiaohu, no worries, as I said, I am not mad at you. Hungry, true; hence I don’t like politics. Ysabel, HPC, Anh, DongBin, Jaya, you are welcome. Akolaw, no offense, I am leaning toward Xu Xiong here. Your ranking system is based on your own subjective opinion. But I disagree with Xu Xiong’s last comment, especially since ‘beauty’ is indeed in the eyes of the beholder. Sometimes I saw a girl, who can’t be considered the ‘most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen’, but for some reason she was very attractive to me. Remember that Xu Ziling saw Shi Qingxuan with her grotesque nose, yet somehow he felt that she was beautiful. Also, sometimes media decided that this woman or that woman won the title ‘the most beautiful woman of the year’, but somehow, I don’t fully agree with that decision. I am not saying that that certain woman was not beautiful, but the ‘most’ beautiful? Meh … BTW, this also applies to any other ranking system; martial art skill rank, even in modern sports, where there is competition everywhere to determine the ranking of each team, like you guys noted, sometimes the ‘underdog’ won against higher rank team/individual.

---

Although the nightwalker flying over toward him was wearing hood over his head, but even if he turned into ashes, Kou Zhong would still recognize him, the unstoppable ‘Shadow Assassin’ Yang Xuyan, who, everybody who heard his name would have their countenance change.

This moment Kou Zhong did not have time to think whether he would be the first person ever who tried to assassinate Yang Xuyan. Hurriedly he restrained everything that could incite the opponent’s alertness: stopping his breathing from mouth and nose, and sealing his pores, and opening his eyes only a slit, as he watched through the gaps among the thick leaves and branches, to calculate where and when Yang Xuyan would land his feet.

Because this tree was about seventeen, eighteen zhang tall, no matter how brilliant Yang Xuyan’s qinggong was, if he soared from the rooftop of a building only two zhang tall, plus he had to traverse the nearly four zhang of distance, he would have to land on a horizontal branch somewhere in the middle of the tree, and then climbed to the treetop in order to be able to observe the situation inside the Zongguan Mansion.

In that split second, countless ways to launch surprise attack flashed through his mind, but in the end he decided to quietly wait for the opponent to climb up, and then he would attack with all his strength from his hiding place, to kill him while he had no time to deal with it.

Suddenly he heard strange noise, Yang Xuyan’s left hand produced an upside down sharp awl, which, fast as lightning, was shooting toward the sole of his feet. By the time Kou Zhong saw it and was shocked, the sharp awl was separated from his feet by only about five chi of tree trunk, with the rope at the tail of the awl, which was only a bit thicker than natural silk, completely taut.

Yang Xuyan changed direction; he soared at an angle toward Kou Zhong’s feet.

Without even thinking, the Moon in the Well, which has been at the ready by his side, swiftly chopped down; the blade contacted the tail of the awl.

‘Ding!’

As if he was struck by lightning, Yang Xuyan was hit by Kou Zhong’s spiraling energy, transmitted via the rope, straight into the pit of his stomach that he spurted a mouthful of blood, and was thrown outward.

The rope disintegrated into cun­-long fragments.

Seeing his sneak attack succeeded, Kou Zhong was not willing to let this one-in-a-thousand golden opportunity off. Abruptly raising a mouthful of true qi, he glided down from the top of the tree like a swimming fish, to pursue Yang Xuyan, who was continuously rolling down in the air.

But Yang Xuyan was indeed worthy to be called a martial art master whose name was feared all around the world. When he was still about two ­zhang away from the dark pavement of the street, he already regained his balance, and applied his qi to accelerate his fall, hence he dodged Kou Zhong’s saber, which ought to kill him, by only a hairbreadth.

‘Bang!’

One after another the two landed on the quiet, deserted long street by the Zongguan Mansion, while the saber and the sword collided.

Yang Xuyan raised his sleeve to wipe the blood from the corner of his lips, revealing a pair of flashing eyes from behind the hood. “Kou Xiong’s move this time is really clever; unexpectedly this is the first time that Ol’ Yang sustain an injury in action. You can be very proud of yourself!” he said hatefully.

Kou Zhong giggled and said, “Yang Xiong is the extraordinary one; receiving Xiaodi’s full-strength strike, you are still able to stand as steady as Mount Tai, with no gap to be exploited. But if you don’t look for a secret place that no one can find to heal your injury, quite possibly your power will be drastically reduced, and the next time you are doing your assassination job, it might not be as glorious.”

Yang Xuyan laughed involuntarily and said, “Thank you for Kou Xiong’s concern, but Xiaodi thinks that Kou Xiong is only displaying a shadow; how could you be willing to let this golden opportunity slip by? I have no choice but to accompany Kou Xiong. En garde!”

Finished speaking, he pressed on three steps with raised sword; a thick and strong sword qi rushed forth violently.

Kou Zhong did not expect that after receiving such injury, he would still be this dauntless.

He wanted to gain the initiative by striking first, but inwardly he could not help praising him, knowing that this dreadful adversary was hoping to gain control of the situation before his injury flared out. Naturally it would be ideal if he could do this in the shortest possible time, and then when necessary, getting away would be relatively easier.

With raised eyebrows, Kou Zhong lifted the Moon in the Well, without even blinking his tiger-eyes stared at the opponent, and he said with a cold laugh, “If Yang Xiong forced yourself to attack and suffered defeat, next year tonight will be the anniversary of your death.”

Yang Xuyan replied indifferently, “Kou Xiong overestimates yourself too much.”

With a low shout, his sword stabbed swiftly forward.

‘Dang!’

Kou Zhong moved his saber to block, while mockingly said, “Turns out Yang Xiong’s injury is more serious than I thought; unexpectedly you failed to display your signature shadow sword technique.”

Yang Xuyan parried the wave after wave of spiraling energy coming from the blade of Kou Zhong’s saber; smiling, he said, “Not shadow sword technique, its Phantom Sword Technique. Look closely!”

Sweeping the sword across, he pushed the saber, jolting Kou Zhong three steps back. And then his sword momentum flared out, turning into sword shadows and dots of sharp light filling the air, and suffocating energy and qi, carrying overbearing might with the power of thunder strike and lightning bolt, rolling wildly straight toward Kou Zhong.

The instant he was shaken and was pushed back, Kou Zhong knew the situation was very bad; this man had a very strong foundation, he had indeed reached the beyond-belief stage, unexpectedly he was able to suppress his injury and still had enough power to launch a storming offensive. Once Kou Zhong made the slightest mistake, he might have his boat capsize in the sewer [fig. meet with unexpected failure], even losing his life.

With no strategy left to try, Kou Zhong could only rely on his real skill to save his life; he slammed into the opponent’s sword rays, by meeting attack with attack, unleashing the desperate move of staking everything in that one attack, to trigger the opponent’s injury to flare out and kill the enemy in one stroke, to engage the enemy and seal his escape route.

Momentarily aura of death filled the atmosphere, saber rays and sword shadows completely shrouded the two combatants, not a single move was not extremely ruthless, blood might splash at every turn.

The sound of saber and sword and power and qi clashing against each other was like the sound of a string of firecrackers exploded continuously.

The moment saber and sword clashed, sparks flew. Each one dodging the enemy only by a hairsbreadth. Speed against speed. There was not the least bit of cheap trick.

Noises started to rise from the Zongguan Mansion, evidently Kou Zhong’s men had heard the sound of the hard fighting and were rushing over.

From the nearby buildings came the continuous sound of windows being pushed open. The fighting has awakened the sleeping inhabitants.

‘Dang!’

The situation suddenly changed.

Even though he was going all out, Kou Zhong was still unable to evade Yang Xuyan’s divine strokes; he was forced to withdraw five steps back by his thunderbolt, lightning-flashed sword.

While inwardly crying, ‘Bad!’ Yang Xuyan suddenly flashed backward, let out a long laugh, and said, “Today Kou Xiong has shown favor; someday Xiaodi will definitely repay.”

Looking at the speed he was retreating, Kou Zhong knew he was unable to pursue, hence he returned the saber to its scabbard, cupped his fist, and said, “Please send my greetings to Xiao Nini, toward her, Xiaodi has undying gratitude [orig. hard to forget even after one’s teeth fall out.”

Yang Xuyan suddenly spurted another mouthful of blood, and disappeared into an alley crossing the big street.

Xuan Yong and the others rushed over one after another.

Kou Zhong raised his arms to stop them from running after Yang Xuyan. He spoke nonchalantly, “We have at least several months before we have to worry about that fellow!”

※ ※ ※

Flute sound rose up, sharp, shrill, extremely loud, and kept climbing higher and higher, echoing around all the caves, big and small.

Millions of bats responded to the noise by flapping their wings in confusion and flew swiftly, so that together, the noise grew even louder, like a rumbling thunder, like surging tide rushing forth from every cave, with terrifying momentum that startling the heaven and splitting the earth.

Although Xu Ziling already knew that Shi Qingxuan could drive the bats using her flute, he still could not think that it would be this terrifying. Everywhere he saw, the caves were packed with shadows, coming straight toward his face. Hastily he ran out of the cave, and hid by the exit.

Craning his head, he saw You Niaojuan, three people were running away for their lives, while waving their hands like crazy to smack the bats attacking them. These three demons’ power was overbearing, a large number of bats met their palms and fell down to the ground. They were mainly protecting their eyes, ears, mouth, nose and neck, the rather sensitive body parts. To the bats charging toward their bodies, they simply applied their inner power to shake their clothes and jolt the bats to their death.

However, there were so many bats, almost endless, so that no matter how many they killed, the bats still continuously attacked them wildly, like clump after clump of black clouds descending upon them, forcing the three to cover their head and sneak away like a rat, retreating back toward where they were coming from.

This was the first time that Xu Ziling found out that bats could attack living persons, and that they could be this vicious; it was only now did he understand the effectiveness of the talcum powder Shi Qingxuan smeared on his head.

From what he heard, bats are said to be nocturnal, and they suck blood, but their targets are usually other animal or domestic fowls; he never heard that they attacked people.

Probably the bats inside this maze of caves were special species, or perhaps because of Shi Qingxuan’s flute, they deviated from their usual nature.

Once the bats in the entire huge cave were provoked, like a powerful torrent they swarmed into the cave where the three were fleeing. Those who had not flown into that cave converged with the bats from the other caves, forming a great army of bats, flying around the huge cave, while emitting ear-splitting squeaking noise. Only no bats were flying within three chi of Xu Ziling.

But no matter how they flew or circled in the jam-packed space of the cave, no matter how fast they moved, not two bats were colliding with each other. Watching their flight path, Xu Ziling could not help clicking his tongue in wonder, while also feeling dread in his heart.

Powerful qi rushed out violently, a large number of bats, with their flesh and blood separated, were thrown out of the cave.

[Liljanger]

Thanks foxs

[Ysabelkid]

Thanks foxs

[hungryhero]

Thamks foxs. Xiao nini = Dong Shu ni?

[LuDongBin]

Thks foxs. Will this be the last beauty to appear and hopefully, and finally, capture XL's heart?

[wangxiaohu]

Thanks foxs...

[spynet]

Thanks foxs!

[SkyWalker]

Thanks foxs.

[foxs]

Janger, Ysabel, Xiaohu, Spy, Sky, you are welcome. Hungry, yes. DongBin, was that a question, or your wish?

---

Xu Ziling’s heart was moved; he took a step across the cave bed to hide by the cave entrance from which he originally came, to wait for the bats inside the huge cave, baring their fangs and brandishing their claws, to further consume the three people’s true strength.

After letting out a series of strange shouts, You Niaojuan was finally able to cut a bloody path out of the battlefield; he rushed out of the cave.

Like a swarm of honeybees seeing nectar the millions of bats inside the huge cave flocked out toward him; You Niaojuan was like being sucked into the cyclone of bats, and was unable to move a single cun.

“Hey!”

You Niaojuan was worthy to be called a martial art master of the ultra-demonic sect, ranked among the ‘Eight Martial Art Masters of the Demonic Ways’; the powerful qi in his entire body burst forth, none of the bats within several chi radius from him narrowly and luckily escaped, all were shocked by him that their body split and they fell to the ground.

This moment Zhou Laotan and Jin Huanzhen forced their way out of the cave; the former’s pair of arms were already swelling several times bigger, the latter had her hair disheveled, she looked like a mad woman, and was in an extremely sorry state.

The flute was still playing uninterruptedly, the tempo was getting faster and faster, the rumbling noise inside the cave was unable to drown the sound of the flute.

‘Bang!’

Jin Huanzhen emitted a rending-the-heart, splitting-the-lungs tragic scream, but it was not because of the bats’ attack, but because You Niaojuan, who felt the pressure from the bats diminished and saw an opening, was sending a kick toward her lower abdomen. Her entire body was thrown sideways, blood sprayed violently from her mouth.

Perhaps because the bats smelled the scent of blood, a large number of them abandoned the other two and swarmed toward Jin Huanzhen.

Xu Ziling had never imagined that under this kind of situation You Niaojuan would still have the thought to deal with someone from his own side that viciously. Although he did not have the slightest bit of good impression toward Jin Huanzhen, he was grieving for her.

Realizing that he was unable to retaliate against You Niaojian, Zhou Laotan let out a wild roar and fast as lightning he rushed out to escape.

You Niaojuan laughed aloud and said, “Nothing in the world is better than this connecting caves to be the happy land in which you are going to be buried; I’ll let the two of you to become a pair of mandarin ducks who share the same fate!”

With one hand caught a bat, with the other hand he sent out a long-distance palm strike, generating a gale-like attack toward Zhou Laotan’s thick back. His method was ruthless, taking the breath of those who saw it away.

Zhou Laotan neither flashed away nor dodged the attack. He arched his back upward to meet his palm head on, and borrowed the momentum to accelerate forward, traversing the three zhang of empty air, to catch Jin Huanzhen’s body, which was full of bats, just before it reached the ground, while sending out his true power. As soon as the bats met his power, they fell from Jin Huanzhen’s body.

It seemed like You Niaojuan was going to execute his evil scheme again. Letting out strange shout, Zhou Laotan, with Jin Huanzhen in his arms, dashed toward the other side, trying to find another way to escape from the cave, taking along with him a large number of bats.

The other bats swarmed to attack You Niaojuan again.

This utterly vicious, extremely evil disciple revealed a pitiful expression, and dashed in Xu Ziling’s direction, wanting to escape back to above ground.

Naturally Xu Ziling was unwilling to let him off; he sent out a punch.

You Niaojuan let out a hearty laugh and said, “I am already prepared for you!”

The one-legged steel man hanging on his back moved to his hand, and then moved to meet Xu Ziling’s bold-and-powerful-without-equal punch.

‘Bang!’

Xu Ziling was jolted by the power of his counterattack that his blood and qi were surging within his chest and he staggered backward several steps. But the opponent was also shaken by his all-out strike that he tumbled backward and again fell into the bats’ battle formation.

After exchanging blows with him, Xu Ziling was inwardly overwhelmed with shock, thinking that if the opponent’s true power had not been depleted by extreme wear and tear, plus he had suffered internal injury, Xu Ziling might not be able to block him just now.

This moment You Niaojuan wildly brandished and randomly struck the one-legged copper man, weighed about a hundred catty, in his hand, so that none of the bats did not have their bones shattered and they fell to the ground. Thick accumulation of dead bats rapidly grew on the cave bed; it was such a bizarre and bitter scene.

The cave was dim to begin with, with the illumination came mostly from the stalactite, but now the bats have completely blocked his vision, providing the best cover for Xu Ziling.

Xu Ziling flashed to another position; one finger jabbed, the finger wind penetrated the layer of bats, and stabbed the vital acupoint on You Niaojuan’s back.

You Niaojuan’s entire body shook severely, he spurted a mouthful of large blood spray. Letting out a wild roar, which rumbled through the entire cave, he followed Zhou Laotan’s lead by fleeing toward another cave.

Xu Ziling’s energy was completely exhausted; just now, that one punch and one finger jab had consumed a great amount of his true power, yet he still failed to knock this vicious man down, hence the depth of his internal power could be clearly imagined.

The flute suddenly stopped.

Shi Qingxuan rushed out of one of the caves, her face pale from the excessive loss of true power, but the ugly nose still maintained its original color and luster, it did not emulate the complexion of the rest of her face.

“We are leaving!”

Astonished, Xu Ziling said, “The crafty scoundrels have not received their just punishment, are we going to let them off?”

Shi Qingxuan shouted hoarsely, “I am going to seal off the cave; do you want to stay?”

Shocked, Xu Ziling hastily ran after her, going out of the cave.

[Ysabelkid]

Thanks foxs

[Jayariyin]

Thanks, foxs.

[HPC7595]

Thanks foxs