Old farmer Zhou Youtian rescues Chilian, a giant snake wounded by a hunter's arrow. Unexpectedly, after escaping, Chilian abducts his daughter-in-law to coerce him into coming to the stone cave. When villagers enter the mountain to rescue her, another giant snake, Wushao, appears, and an old injustice is uncovered, revealing that the real culprit is the villager Wu Ergui. Before the disturbance settles, Chilian's son Heichi, harboring hatred, harms the villagers and is subdued by everyone. Later, herb merchants heavily bounty hunt snakes for profit, setting fire to the mountain, killing baby snakes, and causing Chilian's younger son, Chitong, to lead the snakes down the mountain for revenge. Zhou Youtian and others mediate, ultimately punishing the wicked, and Chitong takes the injured Chilian to live in seclusion deep in the mountains. Zhou Youtian also realizes that all living creatures have spirituality, and humanity must hold reverence in their hearts.