Six crippled kung fu students are each given an Imperial Decree starting an anti-Ching rebellion, and are instructed to deliver them to the Commander-in-Chief.

Despite the national resistance, the Manchurians have taken over China, but the Ching Emperor fears that the Shaolin Temple disciples would overthrow the dynasty. So he disguises himself as a disciple, in order to become a kung fu master and control the Shaolin monks. But according to custom, he must pass the test of the legendary 18 Bronzemen before he can leave the Temple.