Lin Pingzhi's entrance into the Mount Hua Sect causes Linghu Chong to lose his romantic feelings for Yue Lingshan, Yue Buqun's daughter, because she starts falling in love with Lin Pingzhi. At the same time, Linghu Chong's friendship with Tian Boguang leads him into trouble as it is against the Mount Hua Sect's rules to associate oneself with any "jianghu" lowlife or person from an "evil" sect. His master punishes him by making him stay alone for a year in a secluded area on Mount Hua to reflect on his "misdeeds". During this time, he discovers carvings of swordplay techniques in a cave, practises them, and unknowingly familiarises himself with the skills of the other four sword sects and the counter-moves. He also encounters Feng Qingyang, a reclusive Mount Hua Sect swordsman, who teaches him the powerful skill Nine Swords of Dugu.