Despite the national resistance, the Manchurians have taken over China, but the Ching Emperor fears that the Shaolin Temple disciples would overthrow the dynasty. So he disguises himself as a disciple, in order to become a kung fu master and control the Shaolin monks. But according to custom, he must pass the test of the legendary 18 Bronzemen before he can leave the Temple.

During the Manchurian invasion of China, the son of the Ming Dynasty General takes refuge in the Shaolin Temple to learn martial arts, so that he may seek revenge for his dead father. But he must first endure the rigorous test of the temple's legendary 18 Bronzemen.

For a long time, a modest village lives in terror because of the raids of a bunch of bandits. Miners and farmers, wanting to avoid the worst, decide to outsource all their savings to Tang's bank. These men are directly attacked by Zatoichi's intervention, a blind man who is an expert swordsman despite his infirmity, and Bruce Wong, a young fighter who returns to the village after three years of exile. At a later time, Tang finds that the bandits know all their moves because they are informed by a traitor. Suspects seem to be Ju Ju, a prostitute and cabaret singer, however, when the girl is killed by the brigands, the real culprit is revealed as Kian Chan, the bank counselor. Bruce and Zatoichi vow to kill him...