The manual was lost for several years after Huang Shang's death. When it reappeared in the jianghu, it induced bloodshed as martial artists competed fiercely with each other to seize possession of the anthology of martial arts. Numerous lives were lost due to the ensuing chaos caused by the obsession with the book. To prevent further spilling of blood, martial artists decided to stage a martial arts contest on Mount Hua to determine who would be the manual's rightful owner. The Five Greats (Central Divine Wang Chongyang, Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi, Western Venom Ouyang Feng, Northern Beggar Hong Qigong and Southern Emperor Duan Zhixing) gathered on Mount Hua and agreed that the champion of the contest would gain sole possession of the manual.