OK, we're going to run Ling Wu Chung with his Dook Goo 9 Swords (and whatever other skills he had by the end of SPW) against a gauntlet of other major Jin Yong protagonists (discounting the weaker ones such as Wai Siu Bo and Chan Ga Lok, whom LWC is clearly superior to in martial arts).
So he goes against them in this order:
1. Cheung Mo Gei (end of HSDS)
2. Yeung Gor (end of ROCH)
3. Gwok Jing (end of ROCH)
4. Kiu Fung (shortly before the time of his death in DGSD)
5. Deun Yu (end of DGSD)
6. Hui Juk (end of DGSD)
How far do you imagine Ling Wu Chung getting through this gauntlet?
So he goes against them in this order:
1. Cheung Mo Gei (end of HSDS)
2. Yeung Gor (end of ROCH)
3. Gwok Jing (end of ROCH)
4. Kiu Fung (shortly before the time of his death in DGSD)
5. Deun Yu (end of DGSD)
6. Hui Juk (end of DGSD)
How far do you imagine Ling Wu Chung getting through this gauntlet?