The series takes place in 17th-century China during the early
Qing dynasty. Fearing resistance from the
wulin, the Qing government bans the practice of martial arts and possession of weapons.
Dokado, a Qing prince, leads troops to enforce the order and attacks a village sheltering an anti-Qing rebel group. Two rebels – Han Zhibang and Wu Yuanying – escape with help from
Fu Qingzhu, a former executioner seeking redemption, and the three travel to
Mount Heaven to request aid from the reclusive swordmaster Huiming. Huiming sends his four apprentices – Chu Zhaonan, Yang Yuncong, Xin Longzi and Mulang – to join the trio on their heroic quest and gives each of them a unique sword. Calling themselves the "Seven Swords", the seven swordsmen return to fend off an attack by Qing forces and protect the villagers as they evacuate. While hiding in a cave system, they discover a spy in their midst who repeatedly sabotages them and frames Yang Yuncong. After fighting their way out of the caves, the Seven Swords separate. Han Zhibang and Mulang stay with the villagers to protect them, while Fu Qingzhu, Xin Longzi, and Wu Yuanying head to
Beijing. Meanwhile, Chu Zhaonan is captured by the Qing general Fenghuo Liancheng and falls in love with the general's slave, Lüzhu, who later dies helping him escape. In the northwest, Chu Zhaonan reunites with Yang Yuncong, now aligned with an anti-Qing tribal group led by Feihongjin. Yang Yuncong is wounded in battle and rescued by Nalan Minghui, a Qing general's daughter. They fall in love and secretly have a daughter even though Nalan Minghui is already promised in marriage to Dokado. In Beijing, Fu Qingzhu, Xin Longzi and Wu Yuanying attempt to assassinate the
Shunzhi Emperor but end up saving him from a palace coup instead. Meanwhile in
Hangzhou, Han Zhibang becomes the rebel group's new leader for his heroism in rescuing his captured comrades. When the Seven Swords reunite, Chu Zhaonan feigns defection to get close enough to assassinate Dokado, but the plan collapses when Dokado exposes him and forces him to kill rebel captives. His actions create suspicion among the rebels and his fellow swordsmen, especially after he accidentally kills the village chief. To prove his loyalty, Chu Zhaonan challenges Dokado to a duel at the
Qiantang River and calls the other swordsmen to join him. Dokado is defeated, but the Seven Swords fall apart as a result: Yang Yuncong is killed, Xin Longzi loses his sanity and disappears, Mulang returns to Mount Heaven in guilt after carelessly allowing a spy into the rebels' base, and Chu Zhaonan wanders off deeply traumatised. Fu Qingzhu and Wu Yuanying search for the missing members, while Han Zhibang remains with the surviving rebels. == List of episodes ==