https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yang_Guo
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Melancholic Palms[edit]
Yang Guo's agony and misery from being separated from Xiaolongnü spurs him to create a new set of palm techniques, known as the 'Melancholic Palms' (黯然銷魂掌), which incorporates elements of all the martial arts he learnt in his whole life. The movements are based on Yang Guo's emotions, as the more dejected he feels, the greater the power of the skill. The Level/power of this skill at the saddest point/peak is considered to be the greatest set of palm skills in Jin Yong's novels because of its uniqueness to get stronger the more sad you are.
Yang Guo spars with Huang Yaoshi and Zhou Botong with his new skill and they are impressed. Huang Yaoshi remarked that Yang Guo's new palm techniques can easily rival Guo Jing's 'Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms' stating that if Yang was at his saddest state, Guo Jing would not stand a chance. Zhou Botong even goes down on his knees to beg Yang Guo to teach him the 'Melancholic Palms'. This skill could not be matched at full potential by any Martial Artist in the history of Wulin besides Xiao Feng's Original "18 Dragon Subduing Palm" with his impeccable Will and Grit and the sweeper monk. After the heroes paid respects to the fallen on the mountain, A monk they had ran into said Yang Guo's prowess and abilities were unlike any he had seen including and were exceeding the levels of Guo Jing and mentioned how much of Yang Guo reminds him of Xiao Feng(Qiao Feng) back in the beggar sect days because of the same killer instincts the monk sensed in Yang. He even mentioned how he would hold his own with the Sweeper Monk if Yang Guo was at his saddest state. The monk had also mentioned no one has come close to the level of Yang Guo's inner power in his days at the temple including all the martial artist he had encountered besides Xiao Feng