The secret martial arts manual "The Sunflower Manual" has been stolen from the Imperial Treasury. The head eunuch of the Eastern Depot, Gu Jinfeng (played by Liu Xun), leads a thousand households, including Ouyang Quan (played by Jacky Cheung), southward to investigate Lin Zhen Nan, a resigning official of the Brocade Guard, while also employing the peripheral support of "the Leader of the Five Mountains", Zuo Lengchan (played by Yuanhua). The Huashan Sect's chief disciple, Linghu Chong (played by Danny Lee), and his junior sister, Yue Ling Shan (played by Ye Tong), are tasked by their master to assist Lin Zhen Nan. Unfortunately, their abilities are inadequate, and after receiving Lin's last wishes, they flee. On their journey, they unexpectedly encounter Liu Zhengfeng (played by Wu Ma), the leader of Shunfeng Hall, and Qu Yang (played by Lam Ching-ying), an elder of the Sun-Moon Holy Cult, along with Feng Qingyang from the Huashan Sect. They receive the scores to "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer" and the Dugu Nine Swords. Various factions gather in Miao people's territory for the "Sunflower Manual", leading to a rivalry between Ouyang Quan and Zuo Lengchan. They disguise themselves as Lin Pingzhi to infiltrate the Huashan Sect. Linghu Chong meets Ren Yingying (played by Cherie Chung) and Lan Phoenix (played by Yuen Qiu) from the Sun-Moon Holy Cult, who assist him due to Qu Yang's influence. Gu Jinfeng and Yue Buqun battle fiercely for the "Sunflower Manual", prompting Linghu Chong to wield the Dugu Nine Swords to protect his fellow disciples, beginning to understand the true meaning of "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer". This film is adapted from the novel of the same name by Jin Yong.