Pili

An early Pili season, "Seven-Color Pili Gate," involves duels and factions, where characters like Duyan Long are defeated in combat by figures such as Dao Suo Jin Taiji. In other Pili series, characters suffer severe injuries; for instance, Yeh Hsiao-chai is depicted as having his legs cut off in a duel, though he later recovers, and Chin Shao-yeh is targeted by assassins and subjected to various forms of capture and torment.

An early Pili season, "Seven-Color Pili Gate," explicitly features its entire drama revolving around the romantic storyline involving characters Duyan Long, Jin Taiji, and Shi Qingqing. Another instance details 'Bei Kui' disfiguring 'White Butterfly' after his affections were rejected, highlighting an intense and negative outcome of unrequited love.

The overarching narratives often involve conflicts with "evil Dragon Spirits of the Great Underworld" and "Dragon Gods" like Suiku, with villains summoning supernatural "Eight Wonders" to achieve their goals, showcasing a clear presence of occult and mystical elements. Characters commonly employ specialized "martial art of Nothing" skills, implying supernatural or magical abilities beyond ordinary physical combat.

Characters like Yeh Hsiao-chai endure "incredibly traumatic life" events, including self-mutilation (cutting out his own tongue) and having his legs severed in a duel, even if he recovers. The plots often feature "demonic forces" like the "Dragon Spirit of the Great Underworld" seeking to terrorize humans and instigate invasions, creating a persistent sense of threat and danger.

Plot lines in early Pili seasons involve "main antagonists are the 'Pili Gate' factions," suggesting heroes or other characters frequently oppose powerful, established groups. The wuxia genre itself often centers on martial artists who operate outside official law, challenging corruption and tyrannical rule, which implicitly involves acts of defiance against authority.