Martial arts level of the Yellow Eyebrowed Monk

[PJ]

The yellow eyebrowed monk in DGSD, how good is he? Obviously not as strong as Duan Yanqing. How about compared to Duan Zhengchun?

[bobbywu]

Yeah I always wondered that too. But he didnt' do anough in the novel to really make a judgment.

[Athena]

Reverend Huangmei is weaker than Duan Yanqing and Duan Zhengming.
I always put him near Su Xinghe, Murong Fu and perhaps some of the weaker Xuan generation monks of Shaolin (i.e. Xuantong).

[Dennis Chen]

Wasn't his greatest weakness the fact that the martial arts he learned just wasn't as good as the ones learned by everyone else?

[Ken Cheng]

His specialty was the Mighty Gum Gwong Finger, wasn't it? This skill was highly feared in the time of HSDS (Mo Dong Heroes # 3 and # 6 were crippled by it), but in DGSD, it seems to be just a generic martial art.

[cybero]

Reverend Huangmei is weaker than Duan Yanqing and Duan Zhengming.
I always put him near Su Xinghe, Murong Fu and perhaps some of the weaker Xuan generation monks of Shaolin (i.e. Xuantong).

i always thought that mu rongfu was better than duan zhengming as was su xing he...

i think he was probably below duan zheng chun since the da jin gang zhi was said to be weaker than yi yang zhi

[Athena]

Duan Yanqing was superior to Murong Fu. Duan Yanqing and Duan Zhengming were more or less equals in martial arts, but Duan Zhengming could win against Duan Yanqing.
That would make Duan Zhenming superior to Murong Fu as well.
Duan Zhengchun was very much inferior to Duan Yanqing, although reverend Huangmei was weaker than Duan Yanqing he was still powerful enough to hold on till the others came.
Furthermore, the other three Evils thought that reverend Huangmei was not that much inferior to Duan Yanqing.
Huangmei only said that his Jingang Finger could not OVERCOME Duan Zhengming's Yiyang finger. He never said (nor did Jin Yong) that Jingang Finger was inferior to Yiyang Finger.
As for Su Xinghe, Su Xinghe's martial arts was said to be inferior by one level to Ding Chunqiu. But Su's martial arts were still powerful enough to impress peers of Ding like reverend Xuannan of Shaolin. Murong Fu, himself, was one level inferior to Ding Chunqiu. So, I find Su Xinghe and Murong Fu to be around the same level as well as reverend Huangmei.
But it is very impressive of Murong Fu at his age to be equals to these very old martial arts experts. Su Xinghe and reverend Huangmei were around 70 years old.

[kyss of the sword]

murong fu level of skill to Duan Yanqing and Ding Chunqiu is roughly comparably to guo jing matching the greats to 300 moves at the end of LOCH. murong fu is below them but not that far below them. he also posseses a greater varity of skills then them but is inferior in inner power. ultimately that was his downfall.

[qiaofeng]

given murong fu's talent, he could probably be around qiaofengs level if he just focused on 1 or 2 kills and wasnt such a show off and tried to master too many skills. being able to reach his level in his 20s without goodies like 9 yin/yang and snake bladders is no mean feat

[Ren Wo Xing]

I believe that it was said, as well, that Duan Yanqing's skill in the Yiyang Zhi was actually slightly above that of Duan Zhengming's, but Duan Zhengming could still defeat Yanqing, because Yanqing was a cripple.

[PJ]

given murong fu's talent, he could probably be around qiaofengs level if he just focused on 1 or 2 kills and wasnt such a show off and tried to master too many skills. being able to reach his level in his 20s without goodies like 9 yin/yang and snake bladders is no mean feat

Isn't Murong Fu in his 30s?

His techniques rivals what Xiao Feng's got, but his internal energy is WAY below Xiao Feng. I don't think focusing on 1 or 2 skills would help him. Xiao Feng himself knew many skills.

[TaiHan]

given murong fu's talent, he could probably be around qiaofengs level if he just focused on 1 or 2 kills and wasnt such a show off and tried to master too many skills. being able to reach his level in his 20s without goodies like 9 yin/yang and snake bladders is no mean feat

He might not have 9 Yin or 9 Yang, but he got almost every single martial arts in wulin at his finger tips. Unless one were to argue that these techniques could not compare to 9 Yin or 9 Yang.

Also fighter such as GJ and YG also know alot of martial arts techniques, but these people know how to put their martial arts together. YG combined most of the martial arts he know to created Sad Palm. GJ modified his XL18Z with 9 Yin, he can even use them with big dipper formation, not to mention other skills he know.

If MRF was given WYY's brain, he would be able to know which martial arts to used, how to devise a method to counter other martial arts, and how to link all of those stances together.

MRF should know that learning alot of martial arts doesn't make one great. As he said to MRB when was little, "Auntie and cousin always show off with all of their martial arts, but if one doesn't really understand it, they couldn't do anything with it." Well he said something like that.

[Whsie]

Now that you mentioned it, what is MRF's internal kung fu? MRF has tons of arsenal under his belt. He has one that could move away kung fu like QKDLY (except QKDLY is harder to learn and better- learning kung fu quick, and maximizing a person's ability) and TONS. But I don't remember reading what his internal was (but then again, I read only like 20% of the whole DSGS). And I thought I remember people say that XF's internal is Shaolin.

[qiaofeng]

He might not have 9 Yin or 9 Yang, but he got almost every single martial arts in wulin at his finger tips. Unless one were to argue that these techniques could not compare to 9 Yin or 9 Yang.

Also fighter such as GJ and YG also know alot of martial arts techniques, but these people know how to put their martial arts together. YG combined most of the martial arts he know to created Sad Palm. GJ modified his XL18Z with 9 Yin, he can even use them with big dipper formation, not to mention other skills he know.

If MRF was given WYY's brain, he would be able to know which martial arts to used, how to devise a method to counter other martial arts, and how to link all of those stances together.

MRF should know that learning alot of martial arts doesn't make one great. As he said to MRB when was little, "Auntie and cousin always show off with all of their martial arts, but if one doesn't really understand it, they couldn't do anything with it." Well he said something like that.

thats what i meant, take yg for example, he learnt lots of martial arts when he was younger and never really excelled in any one of them, it was only after a comment from jinlunfawang that he realised it. after he lost his arm, he focused on xuan tie jian fa and later an ran xiao hun zhang, with some help from snake bladders of course.

[Black Night Sea]

I believe that it was said, as well, that Duan Yanqing's skill in the Yiyang Zhi was actually slightly above that of Duan Zhengming's

Yeah, Bao Dingdi thought it was seemingly better than his own in terms of its power.

Isn't Murong Fu in his 30s?

He was said to be around the 27-28 margin of age.

His techniques rivals what Xiao Feng's got

Well, Feng Bo’e already knew XF possessed the top skill of XL 18 Palms. But for some reason, he shat his pants(and I mean it) when he witnessed Xiao Feng’s performance of Qin-long Gong (Dragon Capturing Skill); and instantly threw in the towel. From his previous showcase of his Dragon Claws (Shaolin 72 Ultimate Art) and his demonstration here of this strange technique, WYY could already distinguish the gap between her cousin’s martial arts to his.

It can be very easy to say that Diverting Star Technique can rival XL 18 Palms, but even Murong Bo (a guy who rivalled him in internal energy) wasn’t able to change the course of its force into a full U-turn of 180 degrees back at him. Let alone his son who had difficulty with DCQ.

The thing is, MRF never really mastered any martial arts whether they were good or bad. XF on the contrary, mastered every single one and always tried to fathom the opponent’s quality during battle. That's what makes a great fighter.

Also fighter such as GJ and YG also know alot of martial arts techniques, but these people know how to put their martial arts together. YG combined most of the martial arts he know to created Sad Palm. GJ modified his XL18Z with 9 Yin, he can even use them with big dipper formation, not to mention other skills he know.

Agree, MRF’s techniques ranged from Dog-beating Technique of Beggar Clan to sabre techniques from an entirely different school such as Five Tigers Breaking Door Sabre. You can hardly picture there being any signs of harmony in his martial arts and from this it also paints out his personality and why he lost control of his own life.

[PJ]

If Murong Fu's techniques are not as good as Xiao Feng, he couldn't possibly cope with help from You Tanzhi, who has next to no skill. Tanzhi covered the internal energy while Fu matched the external techniques, that's why they could withstand Xiao Feng. Otherwise they'd have been dead meat.

Feng Bo E was impressed with Qin Long Gong, but who's to say he wasn't impressed with his young master's skills? Xiao Feng is more powerful than Murong, but from a technique perspective I think they are comparable.

[Black Night Sea]

MRF wasn’t really involved with the battle as much as YTZ was. XF at first hand, knew YTZ possessed profound internal energy, but was taken aback when his Cold Poison Silkworms chilled his body. That’s when he fought in a desperate way, and did not reveal the essence of XL18 Palms as H7G and GJ have done so. Suddenly YTZ and MRF’s chances did not evaporate straight away and brought them back in the match. It’s more tactics than actual techniques that he was quite versed in.

In the well scene, MRF was floored by JMZ through trickery and fake moves. His Diverting Star Technique here again, was useless.

[PJ]

Murong Fu was very much involved in the battle. It was stated that if he didn't cover the techniques, You Tanzhi would have been tricked quickly. he was such an expert on external technique that no one in the audience could tell he purposely let You take more hits from Xiao Feng.

About Star Shifting Technique useless against JMZ, doesn't it have more to do with Murong's lack of internal energy? Similarly, all the skills of "use your opponent's power against him" concept don't work against more powerful opponents.

[qiaofeng]

+ murong fu wasnt too shabby in his encounter with the 36 hole bosses and 72 island bosses.

[Black Night Sea]

Murong Fu was very much involved in the battle. It was stated that if he didn't cover the techniques, You Tanzhi would have been tricked quickly. he was such an expert on external technique that no one in the audience could tell he purposely let You take more hits from Xiao Feng.

Be careful when you use the term ‘external’, it can be a part of techniques but it doesn’t comprise of techniques as a whole. Techniques can be of the External Art '外家', which is well known for its fast and hard styles, this is where XL18 Palms belongs. It’s counterpart Internal Art '內家' stresses use of Qi and known for its ‘softness’. A great example of this is most notably as you all know: Taichi Quan. And Shenfa is meant for his ‘bodily movements’ or his stealth. NOT anything to do with techniques, so as to avoid soaking up XL18 Palm’s full force.

When he was also in trouble with XF, YTZ was there to save him and vice versa so XF was caught in a trap or a cycle of torment as the freezing coldness kept invading his vulnerable body. MRF probably wouldn’t last very long and might well bite the dust just as quickly as YTZ did when he was one-on-one with XF. He knew that, so acted as if he was fully involved and putting all his effort, when he wasn’t. This is stealth at its best and surprisingly useful in teamwork. The only mention of his excellent techniques was when he was up against Duan Yu. Xf showed proficiency with the sabre, but I’d doubt he’d be anywhere near MRF in sword arts, as both methods of practice contrast each other.

Also I'd like to make a point that in wuxia, for certain techniques you need very good internal energy to learn them such as 72 Ultimate Arts of Shaolin. That’s why MRB wasn’t prepared to risk letting his son learn them and in the end, absorb little results out of it. It would practically be a waste of time, just like the reason for why he didn’t expose his own signature manoeuvre of Canghe Finger for him and perhaps other hidden treasures of the Great Yan. Jin Yong used this same criteria for learning from Tianshan Tonglao’s pictures in her palace; the same applied for Li Qiushui’s works in Xixia. So it’s only natural that the more internal energy you have, the more barriers to the essential advanced techniques will be opened for you. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the case for MRF.

About Star Shifting Technique useless against JMZ, doesn't it have more to do with Murong's lack of internal energy? Similarly, all the skills of "use your opponent's power against him" concept don't work against more powerful opponents.

MRF gambled and probably knew it wouldn’t make a difference whether he used it or not. He was bossed around like an amateur, and the vulnerability of his moves were laid open when he couldn’t pick out the fake moves from the real ones of JMZ. In other words, he doesn’t know which one he could possibly divert. It's not that his internal energy was at fault. Funny thing is, JMZ was in serious disorder and pain during the battle after he doggedly learnt Changing Tendons Sutra.