Born in the House of the Deadly Hand in Hunan, China, Shang-Chi was raised from early childhood by his father, the immortal sorcerer and criminal mastermind Zheng Zu (originally known as Fu Manchu), to become a living weapon. Believing his training served a noble purpose, Shang-Chi mastered countless hand-to-hand combat disciplines and spiritual techniques in complete seclusion within the Five Weapons Society.

However, upon completing his first assassination assignment, Shang-Chi uncovered his father's true sinister identity and promptly defected, vowing to dismantle his father's global criminal empire. Operating as a rogue vigilante, Shang-Chi allied with British Intelligence (MI-6) operatives, including Denis Nayland Smith, Black Jack Tarr, and Leiko Wu, engaging in global espionage against the Si-Fan ninjas and various mystical threats.

As his reputation grew, his martial prowess brought him into the superhuman community, leading to key roles in teams such as the Marvel Knights, Heroes for Hire alongside Misty Knight and Colleen Wing, and Steve Rogers' Secret Avengers. In later years, Shang-Chi was handpicked by Captain America and Iron Man to join the primary Avengers roster, aiding Earth during cosmic crises such as the Builders' invasion and Thanos' assault. Following the death of his father, Shang-Chi reluctantly assumed the role of Supreme Commander of the Five Weapons Society in an effort to reform the sinister group into a force for good, facing familial conflict with his half-siblings and eventually inheriting the powerful Ten Rings.