Dugu Qiubai is a fictional character who is mentioned by name in three wuxia novels by Jin Yong (Louis Cha).
In this novel, set in the late Song dynasty (c. mid 13th century), Yang Guo inherits Dugu Qiubai's Heavy Sword Technique.
The Condor saves Yang Guo after he loses his arm, and leads him to Dugu Qiubai's Tomb of Swords.
Yang Guo learns Dugu Qiubai's skills with the help of the Condor and inherits the Heavy Iron Sword.
Although it lacks the fancy and stylish movements of typical swordplay styles, it is more effective than the most complicated form of sword attacks.
The protagonist, Linghu Chong, learns this technique from the reclusive swordsman Feng Qingyang, and uses it to counter its "evil" counterpart, the Bixie Swordplay (辟邪劍法).
In a very brief inner monologue, Chengguan, a knowledgeable but naïve Shaolin monk, ponders about two great swordsmen in the past who fought with swords without following any defined stances: Dugu Qiubai and Linghu Chong.
Unlike typical martial arts styles described in wuxia stories, the moves of the Nine Swords of Dugu do not follow any fixed sequence or pattern.