Niccolò and Matteo Polo, Marco's father and uncle, return from Venice as ambassadors of the Great Khan, and then leave for Cathay (China), this time together with Marco. The three arrive in the Holy Land, where Tebaldo Visconti tasks them with spreading the Christian gospel: in the Armenian deserts, however, they are attacked by Saracens...

After the Saracen leader has granted freedom to the Polos, the caravan can resume its journey and continue advancing into endless Persia. The Polos arrive in Hormuz, in the Persian Gulf, from where they intend to sail to China. However, the city was decimated by the plague and the ships were set on fire to stem the contagion. The Polos are forced to retreat towards the North.