As King Zhou, portrayed by Tony Leung Ka-fai, reclined on his throne, an unfortunate official found himself ensnared within the sinister allure of Daji, his captivating concubine, played by Fan Bingbing. Outside the city walls, a courageous band of warriors strategized inside a metal wagon, plotting their mission to rescue the Invisible People alongside their dauntless leader. In a moment of serendipity, Jiang Ziya, brought to life by Jet Li, appeared before them, his expression illuminated with an ethereal glow. As he unfolded the tragic tale of King Zhou’s impending downfall, the warriors listened intently to the cautionary account of how the once-great king had surrendered to the seductive corruption of the Black Dragon, sacrificing his very being in a relentless quest for power.
While the city celebrated in a vibrant festival, King Zhou and Daji orchestrated a chilling act, forcing the Invisible Chief to undergo a gruesome divination that revealed a desolate fate for the king himself—one in which he begged for mercy only to dissipate into nothingness. This grim prophecy stoked King Zhou's paranoia, leading him to command his guards to gouge out the chief's eyes. In a separate but equally treacherous situation, the warriors covertly entered a prison, their steel blades flashing in a fierce clash with the guards. Leizhenzi, portrayed by Jacky Heung, a member of the Wing Adept tribe, employed his mystical abilities to shatter the barriers confining the Invisible People, disregarding the warnings against the reckless use of such power.
Leizhenzi’s actions caught the interest of Shen Gong Bao, portrayed by Louis Koo, who summoned his majestic black leopard to track the escaping warriors. As chaos erupted, the Invisible People fell victim to a hail of arrows, their cries piercing the night air. Nevertheless, the warriors managed to escape the turmoil, whisking the Invisible Children to a new haven where they could utilize their extraordinary teleportation abilities.
To thwart Shen Gong Bao’s unyielding chase, Leizhenzi single-handedly breached a wall, conjuring a magical barrier to impede their adversary. During a conversation with Ji Fa, played by Andy On, Leizhenzi recounted the heartrending narrative of his father’s death at the hands of an invading force that decimated the Wing Adepts, leaving behind a haunting legacy of violence.
At the height of the festivities, Jiang Ziya disrupted the celebrations with a wave of his hand, freezing time to liberate the Invisible Chief and aid the warriors in their flight. Yet, Daji’s deadly tails posed an insurmountable challenge, requiring Jiang Ziya to rely on his wits and cunning to navigate her malevolent grasp. In a moment of desperation, the chief sacrificed one of his own eyes to distract Daji, but this act proved futile as he fell victim to her lethal tails. Jiang Ziya managed to escape on his crane, clutching one of the chief's eyes, while Daji claimed the other as her prize.
As the warriors returned to their capital, an urgent tension gripped the land. Leizhenzi embarked on a daunting quest at the behest of King Ji Chang, portrayed by Zu Feng, who beseeched Jiang Ziya to unlock the powers of the chief's eye and forge a plan to overcome the ominous forces of King Zhou and the nefarious Black Dragon. Jiang Ziya unveiled that their victory hinged upon acquiring the legendary Sword of Light, a weapon that could only be wielded by the destined hero, known as Golden Dragon. However, this mission was shrouded in complexity as Jiang Ziya himself experienced an unnerving transformation, becoming increasingly youthful due to a spell cast by Daji, which accelerated his aging each time he invoked his powers.
Refusing to be deterred, Leizhenzi volunteered to retrieve the sword and was set on a path by Jiang Ziya, who bestowed upon him three extraordinary gifts from the Spring of Life: a one-eyed plant infused with ancient knowledge, a mischievous egg hatching into the playful Ne Zha, played by Wen Zhang, and a stunted Dragon Prince whose growth had been stymied by Ne Zha’s mischievous antics. As they journeyed through a barren wasteland, they confronted an otherworldly centipede-like worm, which Leizhenzi bravely vanquished.
However, their victory was fleeting as Ne Zha snatched the second gift, the baby Dragon Prince, leveraging its mystical abilities to impose control over Leizhenzi’s swiftly growing companion. Upon awakening, Leizhenzi compelled Ne Zha to join him in their pursuit of the Sword of Light, promising to assist his wayward friend in reclaiming his desired Fire Wheels.
Meanwhile, Shen Gong Bao engineered a relentless automaton, portrayed by Angelababy, with an unwavering objective: to eliminate Leizhenzi. As our heroes traversed treacherous terrains, they stumbled upon a mystical marsh, where pillars magically reshaped into a palace set amidst the desert. Here, they encountered Erlang Shen, brought to life by Huang Xiaoming, a hermit with the astounding power to manipulate sand. Infuriated by their intrusion, Erlang Shen launched a fierce onslaught, only to be vanquished by Leizhenzi’s resolve. A revelation of Erlang Shen's true essence unfolded as he retreated, leaving Leizhenzi and Ne Zha to persist on their quest.
Afterward, as Leizhenzi and Ne Zha ventured toward the bustling port town, they chanced upon a captivating entity known as Lan Die, who enticed children with her ethereal glow. Entranced by her mystical presence, Leizhenzi found himself drawn to her enchantment. Together, they sought the guidance of the esteemed sorceress Taiyi Zhenren, whose remarkable talents offered insights into Lan Die's cryptic nature.
However, their encounter was cut short when Lan Die misappropriated the sacred artifact essential for their maritime escapade. Ne Zha, brimming with curiosity and mischief, followed suit, and together they embarked on an adventure towards uncharted territories. The magical vessel granted them the ability to navigate any trajectory they desired. As they sailed, Ne Zha’s antics left a profound impact on the baby Dragon Prince, who retaliated by exhaling a gas that ensnared Ne Zha in a deep slumber.
With dawn breaking on the horizon, Lan Die and Leizhenzi marveled at the stunning vista, only to be interrupted by Shen Gong Bao, who erased Lan Die’s memories, revealing her true automaton form. Confused by the ship's abrupt shift in direction, Leizhenzi was enlightened by an extraordinary plant that outlined their new destination: the palace of the Dragon King.
Upon their arrival at the East Sea Palace, Ne Zha reunited with his father, the formidable Dragon King, played by Waise Lee, who summoned a colossal octopus to retrieve his wayward son and Leizhenzi. Within the confines of the palace, Ne Zha demanded the return of his cherished Fire Wheels from the Dragon King, only to face hostility as the king's guards launched a fierce attack.
With remarkable ingenuity, Ne Zha countered with a unique display of flatulence and urine, easily repelling the guards. The Dragon King, astounded by Ne Zha’s unconventional tactics, acquiesced to his request for the Fire Wheels in exchange for the baby Dragon Prince. Empowered by this newfound gift, Ne Zha transformed back into his adult self, soaring to the skies with newfound independence.
As Leizhenzi's former home lay in shambles, Shen Gong Bao made his entrance, flanked by a fleet of aerial vessels, only to find himself thwarted by Lan Die. In a daring maneuver, Lan Die overcame the daunting rings safeguarding the Sword of Light, seizing the coveted artifact but inadvertently shattering the protective rings, sending Shen Gong Bao's forces scattering into chaos. As the sun set on the horizon, Leizhenzi donned new wings, carrying the weary Lan Die to witness the celestial spectacle. Her metamorphosis into a lifeless wooden mannequin now complete, he departed, leaving her resting place amidst the sword's island, the Sword of Light firmly in his grasp.
Meanwhile, as Ne Zha and Erlang Shen, adorned in radiant golden armor, rushed back to the capital, they were met with an aerial assault from King Zhou’s forces. Jiang Ziya grappled to wield the city's defenses effectively, while Daji invoked her mystical prowess once more, resurrecting Shen Gong Bao in a form that rendered him nearly unstoppable.
As they returned bearing the Sword of Light, the trio found Jiang Ziya reverting to a youthful state. A fierce confrontation erupted, culminating in a tragic outcome as Shen Gong Bao ultimately claimed Ji Chang's life during their clash. As he drew his last breath, Ji Chang entrusted his command and the sword to his son, Ji Fa, imbuing him with the essence of the "Golden Dragon." With his spirit intertwined with the sword, Ji Fa plunged into the Spring of Life, emerging as a formidable warrior clad in golden armor, brandishing a charged sword. Together, the heroes lured Shen Gong Bao into the revitalizing waters of the Spring, allowing Ji Fa to unleash his full power and vanquish the malevolent creature.
As the tale unfolds, Ji Fa summons his forces in preparation for a counterattack, directing their might towards the Shang kingdom while King Zhou transforms into the fearsome Black Dragon, anticipating the heroes' rebuke. A poignant moment lingers as an innocent baby Jiang Ziya is ensnared in the grip of the Black Dragon’s dark essence, setting the stage for the extraordinary battles that await.
