The manual is a compilation of numerous scrolls and ancient scriptures pertaining to psychic powers, healing techniques, martial arts classics and Taoist philosophy.
Soon after, the emperor appointed Huang to lead an army to eradicate the Ming Cult, a martial arts school of Persian origin that had been involved in many anti-government activities.
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.
Wang incorporated some of the manual's underlying principles into the martial arts of his Quanzhen School, most notably the Big Dipper Formation.
Two years later, Huang's disciples Chen Xuanfeng and Mei Chaofeng decided to elope as they fear that their teacher might oppose their relationship.
Huang Yaoshi was filled with grief and he vowed to kill anyone who dared to learn anything from the book that cost the life of his beloved wife.
The manual read that the fingers/claw of the person would sink into the fatal points of the enemy, but they misinterpreted thinking the way to use this skill was to require human sacrifices during practice and hence instills fear in many martial artists by mere mention of its name.
The original interpretation was to target the fatal points of the person, such as, by piercing the user's finger into the skull of the enemy and thus they do not truly master the skill.
She later meets Yang Kang, who offers her shelter in an underground room in his house, and she teaches him the 'Nine Yin White Bone Claw' in return.
Years later Mei Chaofeng encounters Guo Jing and the "Seven Freaks of Jiangnan" again at Guiyun Manor near Lake Tai and they engage in battle.
Zhu Cong being a master at this, pickpockets Mei when he dusts her clothes after the fight and obtains the human skin copy of the manual and leaves it in Guo's possession.
Zhou still has with him a copy of the original first volume of the manual and he shares it with Guo as he was a martial arts maniac if could not understand the art he would pester anyone for it since Wang forbade his school to learn it Zhou was also forbidden to learn he shared it with Guo as he found a suitable candidate to practise the skill and show it to him without him violating his senior wish.
The power of his Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms is enhanced after the Nine Yin Manual's skills worked wonders by increasing his inner energy.
Ouyang Feng forces Guo Jing to produce a copy of the manual for him in his bid to become the most powerful fighter in the jianghu.
Huang helps Guo write a fake copy of the book, with some changes to the text that only a really seasoned martial artist with the sense of contentment can detect.
Years before Zhou found the Nine Yin Manual, Chang Yuchun of the Ming Cult was wounded by a monk working for the Yuan government, who used the 'Heart Shattering Palm' on him.
She follows the shortcuts inscribed on the manual in her practice and masters the 'Nine Yin White Bone Claw', 'Heart Shattering Palm', and 'White Boa Whip Skill', just like Mei Chaofeng had done before her.
Zhou encounters the Yellow Dress Maiden, a descendant of the Condor Hero Couple (Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü), while wreaking havoc in the jianghu after Zhang Wuji betrayed her love.