As typical of some of his other novels, Jin Yong included elements of Chinese history in the story, such as featuring historical figures like Hongwu Emperor, Chen Youliang, Chang Yuchun and Zhang Sanfeng.

Set in China towards the end of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty (c. mid 14th century), the story revolves around a pair of highly coveted and allegedly unrivalled weapons, the Heaven-Reliant Sword and Dragon-Slaying Saber.

At the start of the novel, the Heaven-Reliant Sword is in the possession of Abbess Miejue, the leader of the "orthodox" Emei School, while the Dragon-Slaying Saber is seized by "Golden-Haired Lion King" Xie Xun, a senior member of the Ming Cult.

After their return, the Zhang family soon find themselves the target of many wulin figures seeking the whereabouts of Xie Xun and the Dragon-Slaying Saber.

Xiaozhao has to leave China for Persia to succeed her mother, Taj-kis, as the Sacred Maiden and the leader of the Persian Central Cult.

She falls in love with him, but has to turn against him as she is bound by an oath she made to her martial arts master, Abbess Miejue, who hates and distrusts Zhang Wuji and anyone related to the Ming Cult.

At the end of the novel, Zhang Wuji decides to retire from the wulin after he mistakenly believes that the Ming Cult's members are plotting to betray him.

At the end of the second edition of the novel, where Zhang Wuji chose to be with Zhao Min, it suggests that his still harbors ambiguous feelings for Zhou Zhiruo.

In 2005, Jin Yong published a third edition of the novel, where Zhang Wuji feels disillusioned after failing to save a general's life and addressing Han Lin'er's death.

He relinquishes his leadership of the Ming Cult to his deputies, Yang Xiao and Fan Yao, and then leaves the Central Plain with Zhao Min.

Similarly, concealed in the blade of the Heaven Sword are two scrolls detailing the Nine Yin Manual and Guo Jing's Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms.

Jin Yong reasoned that the change was due to a possibility that the dissection of the weapons will cause the manuals to be burnt, hence two pieces of an iron-plated map would be better substitutes.

It can thus be interpreted as such: The secret in the Dragon Slaying Saber can be used to "kill" (dethrone) the (Mongol) emperor and replace him with another (Han Chinese) ruler.

Ideally, a brilliant military leader can use the Book of Wumu to its full potential by staging a rebellion to overthrow the Yuan dynasty and restore Han Chinese rule.