The Dog-Beating Staff Technique

Hong Qigong and Ouyang Feng had been dueling for over a thousand rounds without a clear victor! Their internal energy showed no sign of depletion, for both had cultivated techniques closely linked to the Nine Yin Manual, allowing them to recover swiftly—far surpassing the ordinary superior arts of the third or fourth rank.

Yet, age weighed heavily upon them; their breaths were labored, hearts pounding, and their movements inevitably slowed. Tang Xuan and Master Xuan Zhi, master and disciple, watched with awe and longing. Yang Guo, however, worried for his foster father Ouyang Feng's well-being. Seeing both men exhausted, he hurriedly called out, "You two have fought for so long, surely you must be hungry. Why not have a hearty meal before continuing?"

Hong Qigong, a true gourmand, felt his stomach rumble at the mention of food. Ouyang Feng strode over to Yang Guo, eyes wide, demanding, "Where have you been these days?"

Yang Guo's eyes stung with emotion, thinking that after all, there was someone in this world who truly cared for him. Even his aunt had vanished for reasons unknown, leaving no trace behind. He did not know that when Ouyang Feng taught him the Toad Skill, he had immobilized Xiaolongnu, leading to her violation and a tragic misunderstanding that drove her away.

Yang Guo grasped Ouyang Feng’s arm, persuading him, "Father, you are Ouyang Feng. This elder, Hong Qigong, is a good man. Please don’t fight with him anymore!"

A thoughtful look entered Ouyang Feng’s eyes as he nodded, "He is Hong Qigong, I am Ouyang Feng!" He looked at Hong Qigong, eyes glazed and straining to recall the past, yet the memories remained elusive.

Yang Guo turned to Hong Qigong, pleading, "Elder Hong, he is my foster father. Please pity him—he is gravely ill and confused. Don’t trouble him further."

Hong Qigong, realizing Ouyang Feng was Yang Guo’s foster son, saw the old Poison King’s muddled state and nodded, sighing, "Very well."

The group descended from the summit of Mount Hua, dug up wild yams and cassava in the hills, then returned to the peak and roasted them, filling the air with delicious aroma. Ouyang Feng, Hong Qigong, Yang Guo, Xuan Zhi, and Tang Xuan all enjoyed their meal amidst the wind and snow.

Unexpectedly, after eating a piece of yam, Ouyang Feng suddenly sprang up and called out, "Hong Qigong, our fists and feet cannot decide a winner—let’s compete with weapons!"

Though his mind was unclear, Ouyang Feng’s madness left him few equals; today, having finally met a worthy adversary, he wished to indulge himself fully.

Hong Qigong shook his head—he had promised Yang Guo not to trouble Ouyang Feng further—and laughed, "No need. Consider it your victory."

Ouyang Feng cried, "What do you mean, no need?" He snapped off a tree branch, wielding it as a staff, and struck at Hong Qigong’s head! It was one of his famed techniques—the Spirit Snake Staff!

Though the branch lacked the serpent-headed staff of old, nor did it have a snake at the tip, the force behind the blow was formidable. Before the staff even reached its mark, the fierce wind pressed Tang Xuan, Xuan Zhi, and Yang Guo so hard they could scarcely breathe!

Tang Xuan watched with envy. Ouyang Feng possessed numerous unique skills—Toad Skill, Spirit Snake Fist, Spirit Snake Staff, the reversely practiced Nine Yin Manual—all mighty arts and peerless techniques.

Seeing Ouyang Feng strike, Hong Qigong sighed, and in a flash, picked up a branch, using it as a short stick to engage Ouyang Feng. As the former chief of the Western Beggars’ Sect, his signature Dog Beating Staff was a legendary technique.

The two clashed once more—staff whirled like a coiling snake; stick moved like a soaring dragon, resembling a rainbow streaking across the sky or a meteor chasing the moon!

Tang Xuan, Yang Guo, and Xuan Zhi watched, hearts pounding, entranced and intoxicated by the spectacle.

Yet this was only their second contest. For days afterward, the two alternated between eating and fighting!

They battled for three days and nights straight!

Given their advanced age, such strenuous combat would have exhausted anyone. Even the spectators—Tang Xuan, Xuan Zhi, and Yang Guo—grew weary, let alone the fighters themselves.

Eventually, both were nearly spent, but neither would yield a single move.

Though Hong Qigong had promised Yang Guo not to trouble Ouyang Feng, at the crucial moment of a lifelong rivalry, he wished to truly decide who was superior.

Ouyang Feng, obsessed with martial arts, would not give ground either.

Yang Guo repeatedly shouted for them to stop, but it was futile.

By this point, neither could move, yet neither would concede.

Ouyang Feng said, "Our internal energy is evenly matched, but when it comes to technique, you are ultimately inferior to me."

Hong Qigong shook his head, "Not necessarily. My sect’s treasured Dog Beating Staff relies on pure technique, even without internal strength. You cannot counter it. If it’s purely a matter of moves, you are no match for me."

Ouyang Feng frowned at hearing he was no match, "Fine, then let’s compete only in moves!"

He glanced at Tang Xuan and Yang Guo, saying, "Since we can no longer move, you teach that boy your moves, and I’ll teach my son mine—we’ll have them compete!"

Hong Qigong was taken aback by the suggestion.

He looked at Tang Xuan—a lay disciple of Shaolin, decisive and ruthless, reminiscent of Qiao Feng, whom he admired greatly. Passing on the Dog Beating Staff would not be a loss.

After all, Tang Xuan’s master was a high-ranking monk of the Shaolin order; in time, he could learn the seventy-two supreme arts of Shaolin, which were no less than the Dog Beating Staff. There was no need for him to covet the Beggars’ Sect’s unique techniques.

Moreover, with Qiao Feng as chief of the Eastern Beggars’ Sect, and Tang Xuan a fellow lay disciple, there was a bond. The youth was promising, with boundless prospects.

Perhaps, passing on this skill would earn the Beggars’ Sect a favor; it might prove useful in the future.

Hong Qigong nodded, "Very well!"

Ouyang Feng, having proposed the idea and teaching his own son, had no objections.

Master Xuan Zhi looked at Tang Xuan and said, "Quickly thank Elder Hong."

He, too, marveled at his disciple’s fortune—learning the Beggars’ Sect’s famed Dog Beating Staff.

This remarkable disciple had suggested coming to the summit of Mount Hua early on—could it be he knew Hong Qigong and Ouyang Feng would appear here?

Tang Xuan had indeed known, though he had not expected to have the chance to learn the Dog Beating Staff.

In the original Divine Condor novel, it was Yang Guo who, by breaking down their moves, learned the two masters’ peerless skills.

Such fortune could not be refused. Tang Xuan stepped forward, "Thank you, Elder Hong, for teaching me."

"Just one thing—do not pass it on," Hong Qigong nodded. The youth was grateful, which was all he sought. After years of judging character, he trusted his instincts.

Moreover, with Shaolin monks as witnesses and the reputation of the ancient Shaolin Temple, he felt assured.

"Yes," Tang Xuan replied.

Immediately, Hong Qigong taught Tang Xuan the Dog Beating Staff.

Ouyang Feng taught Yang Guo the techniques to break down moves.

The two began their contest.

"Detected fifth-rank staff technique—Dog Beating Staff!"

[Dog Beating Staff (fifth-rank staff technique)]

[Dog Beating Staff consists of thirty-six forms, created by the founder of the Beggars’ Sect…]