Circle of Iron 1978

At a martial arts tournament, Cord fights for the right to pursue Zetan, a legendary wizard who guards a supposed book of enlightenment said to contain all the world’s wisdom. An arrogant barbarian, Cord defeats every opponent but is disqualified for fighting dishonorably. He decides to shadow the eventual winner, Morthond, hoping to be guided to Zetan.

While the two rest, a blind flutist enters and Cord follows The Blind Man into a nearby building. The blind man easily dispatches a gang of thugs, showing a calm, precise strength that dwarfs Cord’s brute force. Impressed, Cord asks to be his student. The blind man declines, but Cord presses on, drawn by a desire to understand the deeper meaning behind the lessons. The teacher speaks in riddles, guiding rather than telling, and then disappears into the night, leaving Cord with more questions than answers.

Cord later finds Morthond wounded from the first trial. Morthond pleads for help in ending his suffering and for guidance to continue the quest to find Zetan. Cord agrees, and together they press on toward yet another trial. Their path brings them into conflict with a tribe of monkey men, where the leader known as the Monkeyman proves to be a formidable fighter. Cord challenges him and eventually defeats the Monkeyman, who, in a final act of wisdom, hints at how to locate the next trial.

On their journey, they encounter a man trapped in a large cauldron of oil who seeks to dissolve the lower half of his body to suppress his sexual urges and attain enlightenment. He invites Cord to join him, but Cord refuses, and the man warns that Cord will one day betray his own vow of celibacy. The encounter serves as a stark reminder of the extremes some seek on the path to enlightenment.

The travelers reach a festival where a bandleader, Chang-Sha, hosts a celebration. The scene introduces Tara, a woman linked to the journey and the trials ahead. Cord declines Chang-Sha’s offer to take one of his wives, honoring his vow, but later in the night Tara comes to Cord’s tent and they have a passionate encounter. The next morning, Cord discovers that the entire band has left and Tara has been crucified, a brutal act that fills him with rage and guilt for what has happened to her.

Continuing his quest, Cord experiences a vision of Death but dispels the fear by proving he will not be ruled by it. He then reaches an oasis where he encounters the blind man again. The teacher agrees to travel with him for a time, and their journey becomes a series of intimate, often challenging lessons—through encounters with a poor ferryman and his wife, raiders, and a spoiled child, the blind man imparts practical wisdom that tests Cord’s resolve.

Cord eventually finds Chang-Sha and his band again. Feeling responsible for Tara’s death, he insists on fighting Chang-Sha to learn the location of Zetan. The two clash for several minutes, their contest ending in a draw, but Chang-Sha reveals how to find Zetan regardless. This moment pushes Cord toward the final leg of his journey, to the island where Zetan resides.

Upon reaching Zetan’s island, Cord confronts the sect that guards the fabled book of enlightenment. He is ready for a fight, yet Zetan explains that Cord has already passed the trials and is worthy to read the book. They reveal that there is no physical book at all—the pages are mirrors, a blunt revelation that enlightenment is found within oneself. Zetan even asks Cord to replace him as the keeper of the book, but Cord chooses not to assume that burden. He departs with a sense of peace, declining the position and leaving Zetan behind.

As Cord steps away from the illusion of mastery, he encounters the blind man once more. The mentor passes on his flute, signaling that Cord is now ready to take on the role of teacher himself. Reunited with a new sense of purpose, Cord returns to the world not as a seeker of external wisdom, but as a guide who helps others discover the light within themselves. The journey ends with Cord rejoining the path he began on, transformed into someone who can teach and illuminate others through his own hard-won insight.