The master of the Soul-Snatching Banner has re-emerged in jiang hu to cause chaos and disruption. He leaves his mark - the killing flag - to show where he will strike next. The younger generation of swordsmen and women seek him out to end his rampage but each end up badly injured and dispirited. Part one of two.

Someone has been impersonating the Soul Snatching Banner in order to commit crimes. But someone else may have been impersonating him to do good deeds! And who was the skeleton in the cave, wearing the Soul Snatching Banner's clothing? As martial artists gather to a mountain sword meet to see who is the best of them all, fathers fight against sons and clan leaders fight against tradition and someone intends to make sure no one leaves the mountain alive!