The eponymous character, played by Jimmy Wang, has hung up his signature broken sword and is living peacefully with his wife.

Any that refuse are murdered by the Eight Kings' twin enforcers, the Black and White Knights.

After capturing all the rival masters, the Eight Kings deliver an ultimatum; all the rival schools' students must cut off their sword arms and surrender the severed limbs to the Eight Kings, or the students' beloved teachers will all die.

The One-Armed Swordsman must then contend with the unique styles and weapons of the Eight Kings: In the end the One-Armed Swordsman defeats the Eight Kings and their armies, but by that time all of the sword fighting students who were helping him are dead.

He leaves the last King, Unseen, to be killed by their vengeful masters as he and his wife return home.