During the reign of King Zhou (Tony Leung Ka-fai), a formal passes his bedchamber, and is devoured by the monstrous tails of Daji (Fan Bingbing), his concubine. Outside the city, several musicians inside a metallic pouch discuss their plans to free the People and their Chief, when Jiang Ziya (Jet Li) appears in their mind. He tells them that when King Zhou was he let himself become owned for his quest for power by the Dark Dragon.