This film deserves to be a cult classic and Pearl Cheung (aka Chang Ling) and could be described as a precursor to Azumi. Except that watching it you feel the whole production crew must have been taking quantities of illegal substances. This is beyond weird. The sets are cheap and full of dry ice and strange objects that seem to have no purpose. But the costumes are amazing - done by a Chinese version of Versace and the weird hairstyles (particularly the 'disguised' Emperor (Mang Fei)). The other comment mentions the very strange throne room with green flashing eyes and the cave of Silver Fox (with Silver Fox for once playing on the good side) which looks like something out of la la land. The plot is almost indescribable and the acting at times barely approaches the meaning of the word. Starting out as a simpering, pouting pretty girl, Pearl Cheung turns (with no real training shown) into a sword demon killing any who come even close. The scene where she holds a sort of funeral for her dead master (in a bamboo box) and kills everyone in the room is worth watching for. The dead master even manages to blink! At the end the fight between the main villain, Pearl and Mang Fei with swords and flying killer gloves is amazing. Pearl seems to be fatally wounded but appears again dressed as a beautiful girl to say goodbye to her Emperor (she is apparently too poor to share his life) none the worse. This film needs to be watched to be appreciated. I must find the two other films in this trilogy. Great fun (very bloody in places by the way and not suitable for children).