What is Dugu Qiubai's no sword?

[Stance]

Powerhouses like Xu Zhu and Xiao Feng don't rely on weapons, so is this the same as Dugu Qiubai's no sword stage?

Did he only just reach their level?

[a_tumiwa]

its mean he use a sword stance and martial art without a sword, xu zu and xiao feng dont use sword

[Stance]

its mean he use a sword stance and martial art without a sword, xu zu and xiao feng dont use sword

Would achieving this level be higher than say HL18Z, which is also an unarmed skill?

[a_tumiwa]

both armed and unarmed combat skill have their own categories, so its depends on what martial arts they learnt.
if Xiao Feng is forced to use a sword to fight Linghu Chong, he will surely lost and vice versa if linghu chong fight bare-handed, then
he would beaten easily by XF.

i think what Dugu Qiubai achieved was higher than 18 dragon subduing palms, just look at his 9-dugu sword stance and feng qingyang, or yang guo heavy sword technique , these were martial arts created by dugu qiubai that still below a "non-sword" stage