Bosses · Phantom Blade Zero · Page 2

An archer hidden on the island east of Meigu Lake. Wounded though he is, he remains a master of both bow and sword: his robes billow when he moves, yet his bearing remains steady when he stands still. But his body has been invaded by a strange power, and several scarlet Crimson Eyes have sprouted between him and his bow. He need only will it, and blood-red beams of death pierce the air without a drawn string. This master of the Featherbow Sect once traveled the land with great ambition, hunting down Maskwalkers. But when he returned to the Encampment, he found his fellow disciples disfigured and changed in nature by Perfect Transcension, and they sought to force him to undergo it as well. He fought his way out and set out to find Huangxing, seeking an explanation and determined to stop him at the cost of his life. A Wulin consumed by such bloodlust was never the future he had promised his daughter. He escaped Perfect Transcension, but not the strange thing lurking deep within the Discordance. The Crimson Eyes that had long lain hidden on his bow had been watching the power in his blood, and when he was still recovering from his wounds, they burrowed into his flesh and bone. He clings to his final breath, waiting for someone worthy of his trust, and for someone to put an end to him.

In his youth, Zuo Shang was Soul's closest friend and fellow adopted son of Sovereign Mu. Exceptionally gifted and gentle in temperament, he possessed a composure far beyond his years, along with a depth of thought rare among his peers. Compared to Soul's impulsiveness and unrestrained nature, Zuo Shang was already remarkably steady and measured. In his spare time, Zuo Shang enjoyed reading intelligence reports, forming his own insights into the affairs of the Wulin. His martial prowess was on par with Soul's. His movements were light and agile, his techniques graceful and refined. Even when sparring with a wooden sword, he moved with the elegance of one who rode the wind and followed the clouds. From the days they spent together among the streets to the years they trained side by side within the Order, Zuo Shang and Soul had witnessed each other at their lowest and seen each other grow. Their bond only deepened with the passage of time... Who could have imagined that one day, they would turn their blades against each other?

Defeat Master Bi Yuan of the Tianxuan Sect and Master Bi Hai of Kuye Temple. In the house beside the mechanical monster's wreckage, attack the remains fighting the monster. Then descend from Well of the Three Puppets.

The entanglements of the Wulin should be settled in the way of the Wulin. If you do not give it your all, how can you know what truly lies in your opponent’s heart? Chang Hong calls forth his beloved horse. With a flick of his spear, wind and clouds stir, and lightning answers. Rider and mount move as one. Hooves thunder forward as his spear cleaves downward, driving lightning into the earth. Bolts coil across the ground like silver serpents, leaving the enemy little room to evade. As they trade blows, lightning and blade shadows collide again and again, until Soul’s dagger comes to rest at Chang Hong’s neck. Though defeated, Chang Hong feels a weight lift from his heart. This is still the Soul he knows, his spirit undiminished. Through this fight, Soul has proven his resolve to shoulder everything alone. There is nothing more to say. Chang Hong bids his old friend farewell, slings his spear across his back, and mounts his horse. With a neigh and the rumble of thunder, he rides away, the heaviness in his heart gone.

He took the name “Leng Tu,” dressed as “Leng Tu,” and in the end became “Leng Tu” in every way, even more cruel and deranged than the original. At first, he only had to imitate Leng Tu’s words and manner. But every lie demanded another to cover it, and when the disguise could no longer hold, he had no choice but to silence everyone who knew the real Leng Tu. Lies and blood piled up. Cruelty became a habit, and the mask became his true face. He used that cruelty to please the Lady of the Veil. The Lady he worships is cold-hearted and takes pleasure in watching the suffering of others. She has no use for anything that serves no purpose. If he cannot satisfy her, he has no value and could be cast aside at any moment. He will never allow himself to become useless. The Viper of Seven Venoms once tasted that suffering all too well. In that lightless prison of illusion, all his talent, kindness, and loyalty were crushed into nothing. He could only cling to life through endless torment, entirely at the mercy of others. He has become “Leng Tu” through and through. He spreads the Lady of the Veil’s false teachings and conducts Puppet experiments on countless Wulin practitioners and ordinary people. He savors their desperate struggles inside the Puppets, wanting them to suffer as the Viper of Seven Venoms once did. He even switched Still Poison and Silence Poison, using them to poison Lei Dang of the Order and reenact, in the name of “Leng Tu,” the very scheme that once destroyed the Viper of Seven Venoms. For all his sins, so long as they serve the Lady of the Veil, he gives her everything he has. Perhaps the Viper of Seven Venoms was destined to suffer that terrible fate. If not, who else could this believer crawling at the Lady of the Veil’s feet have become?

A living puppet imprisoned beneath Crimson Manor. Knotted flesh and protruding blades twist together across its body. A greatsword runs through its spine, while a massive alloy scythe replaces its left arm. Strangely out of place amid the gore is a delicate crystal eye, one of two needed to activate Puppet No. 99. At the sight of anything living, the Scavenger swings its scythe in savage chops and rolls its massive body forward to crush its prey. Its movements are clumsy and slow, without any real form, yet Sha-Chi pours from it. An experimental creation of the Herald, it was pieced together from the remains of a burly strongman using Puppetry and Thread-Binding techniques. But the experiment spiraled out of control. Its body swelled and warped, while no number of masks could contain the Sha-Chi surging within. Even a greatsword through its body failed to kill it. The Herald eventually imprisoned it beneath Crimson Manor, using it to dispose of discarded puppets and troublesome members of the righteous path. Perhaps because Wulin folk still carry the vitality of the living, the Scavenger has developed a particular hunger for them.

Only after the Saw is knocked off does the truth become clear: The Crusher has no head. The sinews and blood vessels in his neck coil like the rings of an old tree, while the flesh writhes as if searching for the head he lost long ago. Without the Saw controlling him, the Crusher only grows more savage. Sha-Chi boils through his body, his skin burns red, and black smoke rises from his flesh. Freed from the Saw, he seems to have broken free of a shackle. He unleashes years of pain and rage, never noticing that the hood hiding his severed neck has fallen away. He has even forgotten that he is headless. Perhaps as long as he does not realize it, he will never fall. When Soul finally defeats him, his body crashes onto the ice and his empty neck stares back from the reflection below. A piercing cold suddenly fills him. He has not felt cold in years, having spent all this time in a haze. So even without a head, one can still live? The thought comes to him only at the very end. Death follows before he can wonder any further.

Dodge the close-range grab. When the enemy reaches or lunges, move out of its path. Perfect-block the blue-flash strike just before impact. The enemy can sidestep. Turn to face it again before following up.

He still dances amid the flames, as he did in years past to the cheers of the crowd, driving out evil and bringing blessings to the people. At the height of the battle, he stands atop the Plum Blossom Stakes and lets out a long cry, calling his disciples to dance with him. All the lion dancers here have fallen victim to Perfect Transcension, their minds lost. They turn the art of lion dancing into deadly techniques and charge at Soul, only to have Soul defeat them one by one and claim the lion head. Behind the mask, he watches as Soul leaps onto the high stakes and battles in the form of a lion dancer, and sees in him the hope of the art's continuation. The one to pluck the green he had awaited has finally arrived, to perform the final dance alongside him. When the dance reaches its end, Soul dons Flame's lion head. As the lion's bright eyes meet Flame's, his own will breaks free of the mask's control in an instant. Flame knows that his life is nearly spent, and before him stands a new lion dancer. The spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth gathers in those eyes. The Grandmaster can finally depart in peace. The art of lion dancing, and the will to drive out evil, are entrusted to Soul along with the lion head.

Red blossoms at the horizon, like the Lady's downcast eyes. Beneath that gorgeous glow, the red and green silks about Bai Chilian gather and bind, becoming four great pythons. They rear like scorpions and spin like saws. At times they strike and withdraw, waiting for an opening; at times they burst from the earth into a formation that shields her. Only by breaking the serpent array can she be brought down. Her life was once worth less than grass. At the brink of death, in a hazy dream, she beheld the Lady. The Lady gave her a thread of red silk, like a snake, like a bond. It sustained her life and restored her from death. So she wound snakes about her enemies' throats, tightening inch by inch, letting them die slowly in fear and pain. So simple. So satisfying. And still not enough! Only the Lady can truly cleanse the filth of the Wulin... But how could she be so useless? Trapped in a place like this... she deserves this torment... Offer the snakes. Offer her body. Offer everything... What else has she left to give the Lady? What can she offer to attain true salvation?

Years ago, she and Soul made a promise: if they ever crossed blades, neither would hold back. In this fight, she moves like lightning, advancing and retreating without leaving an opening. Power gathers in both arms, every strike solid and controlled. The techniques taught by Jade Dancer and Iron Fiend come together in her, making her nearly unstoppable. She carefully sorts through her grief over her father's death, the mystery of Soul's sudden departure, the changes brewing within the Order, and the concern of those around her. She forces herself to stay calm and make the right judgment. Once the Order's affairs are settled, she resolves to meet Soul face to face and demand an answer. She will fight him with everything she has, so he understands just how angry and unsettled she is by his secrecy, his leaving without a word, and his self righteous insistence on carrying everything alone. When blades clash and sparks fly, everything seems to freeze for an instant. In that moment, she finds her answer. The person before her is still the Soul she once knew. Like her, he has not changed. Even if he refuses to explain, she will find the truth and the answers herself.

Descend from Smuggler's Treasure Cellar to the courtyard. Cross the stone arch, reach Smuggler's Tunnel Entrance and enter the clearing to trigger the encounter.

A Thread-Binding killer who guards the mourning hall at the Mirage Estate. He wears a straw rain cape, with several crimson masks stacked atop his head. His powerful frame is corpse-pale, and in his hands is a twin-bladed weapon known as the Crimson Boneblade, a vicious relic he treasures like his own marrow. Qiu Feng is brutish and bloodthirsty by nature. Believing that performing arts can ward off evil, he crudely imitates them: adopting the footwork of martial opera performers and the fang-baring movements of fang-spitting performances, even adorning his own masks with fangs. He firmly believes these additions make his techniques more powerful. When he first entered the estate, he slaughtered all the Nuo performers and took their Red Judge masks as treasures. Unable to wear them all on his face, he stacked them atop his head. He also imitated the sword-swallowing and fire-walking tricks, driving a long blade straight into his skull to show off his supposed invulnerability. When the battle turns against him, he pulls the blade from his skull, lets the masks cover it, and swings it with the fury of a sudden storm. Such a madman follows the Herald not out of loyalty, but because he craves the blood of powerful opponents to stain his masks and straw cape completely red. When he learned that the undefeated “Master Soul” had entered the estate, he eagerly waited in his path. Alas, this time, it was his own blood that stained the masks and straw cape red.

Climb the stairs from South Gate Bridge in PANGZHEN. Equip Flameward before challenging the captain.

The golden mask concealed the phosphor fire gnawing at the Mindseal, and even seemed to make it burn hotter. In the end, only the faintest remnant of the Mindseal remained. Inside, it had long since been burned hollow. Then the one behind it all quietly set the strings in motion. Before Blaze could even notice, the candle-threads sustaining his sense of self snapped one by one. The Mindseal was reduced to ash. Towering flames suddenly surged upward, bursting through his skull and leaving him as a dim green fire clinging to his body. The searing pain spread through every limb like a plague, turning his consciousness into fuel for the phosphor fire. At the height of the burning, a strange, bone-deep cold took hold. Yet the remnant body endured, spraying phosphor fire at will, as if the release of some unbearable itch had given rise to a trace of pleasure. "You see? Did that wandering healer lie to you?" The voice echoed through what remained of his mind... Yes. The mask truly could help one control Sha-Chi... Only the one who benefited was never him, but the one pulling the strings.

Go to Pangzhen Bridge Overlook and challenge Hua Qianxiao on the bridge.

Head past the outpost and equip JAGGED STEEL for the fight against Peng Meng.

A "Vessel-class" Crescent Blade Puppet guarding the training ground at Mirage Estate. Tall and imposing in ornate armor, with white hair streaming behind her, she wields an extremely heavy, long-handled blade carved with Loong motifs. Her techniques combine cleaving, sweeping, blocking, lifting, twisting, and thrusting. Once she catches an opening, she locks the blade around her opponent’s neck and circles them. Blue light whirls along the blade, gathering into a powerful gust as the shaft swings behind her before crashing down. Before the Herald turned her into a puppet, she possessed exceptional martial talent and was fascinated by the heroic generals of the stage. Her master placed the blade in her hands: the back of the blade was Heaven, the edge Earth, the tip the sovereign, and the shaft the master. From then on, the weapon became her whole life. Her skill continued to grow until, eventually, no one could give her a worthy fight. When the Herald turned her into a puppet, she felt little pain, and afterward, little seemed to have changed. It was as though those falling beneath her blade had simply changed from people to puppets. She still cannot understand the anger of those on the righteous path. Why do they condemn her for cruel slaughter, when few condemn the Maskwalkers for doing the same? Nor does she care to understand their anger. Only those capable of defeating her are worth understanding.

From Green Serpent House, enter the house behind you on the left. Clear it, exit through the double doors, turn left and follow the street to the end.

In those days, the three sisters each excelled in a different art. They devoted themselves to honing their skills, each mastering her chosen art. She chose that dark-iron steel blade, a symbol of her resolve. She practiced drawing and striking day and night, until her mastery reached the point where she could split mountains and cleave stone. Yet no mastery of the blade could save her two younger sisters: the second was trapped in the frozen realm, while the third was corrupted by ghost-fire, leaving both forever changed. When the three awoke in one body, she realized that she had fallen into the Herald’s scheme. She was the one who coaxed the second sister into drinking the medicine, and the one who poured it past the third sister’s lips. What began as a desperate attempt to save them had instead poisoned them all, dragging the sisters into the abyss. Now imprisoned in a single body and tortured day and night, she was consumed by regret. The Herald once promised that if they killed Soul, they could be divided among three vessels, each with a place of their own. Now, with Sha-Chi surging through her, she seeks only to atone for the sin of that day and escape the torment of sharing one body. Gripping the steel blade that can split mountains and cleave stone, she strikes with resolve, determined to fight to her final breath.

Follow the PANGZHEN story to the lion dancer. Watch for the head blade, stomp and fire breath.

An elite Shadow Warden guarding the White Serpent House. Those caught by his whirling axes die in agonizing pain, earning him his name. Clad in green, his robes spread like a moth’s wings as he moves. The Sundering Dual Axes in his hands flash as they spin, his attacks relentless. Yet after countless battles, his robes remain spotless. He is always composed. Against the strong, he calmly studies and dismantles their techniques; against the weak, his composure is not mercy but indifference. This is his way of surviving. Others’ lives mean nothing to him. He weighs only how the situation affects his own advance or retreat. Before Zuo Shang became the Shadow Sovereign, Heartpiercer was an unremarkable Shadow Warden. After Zuo Shang took power, he entrusted Heartpiercer with guarding the White Serpent House. Was it his composure that earned Zuo Shang’s trust, or a "special arrangement"? And is Heartpiercer’s fate already part of Zuo Shang’s design?

One of the four Acolytes serving under the High Elder. Through a scarecrow, she conceals herself within the Discordance. Clad in dark green robes and wielding a fly whisk, she turns lightning into a weapon of slaughter. With a flick of the whisk, pillars of lightning strike from above. She can move with the lightning and, with herself at the center, spread a circular lightning array that blasts everything around her. She was originally ordered by the High Elder to infiltrate Pangzhen and monitor the Herald, but the Thread-Binding sect was too heavily guarded for her to find an opening. Later, at the High Elder's command, she turned her attention to the Human-Faced Banyan, where strange phenomena had repeatedly appeared. The tree is brimming with Sha-Chi. If she can find a way to seize that power, it may help open the Rift and hasten the Lady's descent... Mortal laws are far too lenient. But when the Merciful Lady descends, divine thunder from the Nine Heavens will pass judgment on all. False principles will crumble, sin will be punished, and absolute justice will reshape the world... Lei Ting believes this without question.

Collect all 6 firefly memories. Examine the mist in the main building at Temple of Blue Fireflies. At Broken Puppet Pit Entrance, jump down beside the fishing puppet.

A mysterious woman in red who once appeared atop the Dovecote tower. Her swordplay is light and graceful, yet Sha-Chi has already burned her face into a twisted hollow. A thread of reason remains. She stays atop the tower as if waiting for someone important. Thus, when she fought Soul, she had no intention of giving it her all. Driven by Sha-Chi, she could barely control herself. She came from an evil sect, yet fell in love with the Chief Disciple of a Mandate sect. The Mandate's upper ranks could never tolerate the sect she came from, and their love became an excuse to persecute her. They subjected her to humiliation after humiliation, then hypocritically spared her life. How absurd. Those same leaders had no desire to stand against inhuman creatures, yet were willing to go to great lengths to deal with a small sect living in seclusion. They proclaimed themselves the righteous path, yet possessed not a fraction of the courage and integrity of the disciples beneath them. To survive, and to seek revenge, she underwent Transcension. But as she stands atop the tower, looking down upon the ruined Mandate Encampment, does she wonder if it was all for nothing? Or perhaps, when it comes to the love and hatred of her life, she has no regrets.

Dodge the close-range grab. When the enemy reaches or lunges, move out of its path. This enemy can punish charging. Start a charged heavy attack during its recovery. The enemy can counter ranged attacks. If it answers your first shot, reposition and fire after its next miss. The enemy has a guard-breaking move. Leave room to dodge when it winds up for a heavy hit.

The “True Lóng” Zuo Shang commands is cast in pure gold, with a majestic Loong head and tightly packed golden scales. Through the mysteries of the Radiant Heart, it seems not only able to withstand the Blight’s erosion, but also to protect the consciousness within from its backlash. Zuo Shang intends to use this body to control the all-devouring Blight. Everything can serve as a piece: the rampaging Blight, the Herald’s masterful puppetcraft, and the Radiant Heart forged from Discordant Shards... Together, they form a flawless game. Catastrophe is coming. Someone must tame the disaster and turn it into a power the world can wield. And since he alone dares to conceive of it, dares to act on it, and has the ability to achieve it, he will not squander that gift. That is why Zuo Shang chose the Hollow Heart. His plan cannot afford to be swayed by emotion. In the struggle between the Lóng and the Blight, hesitation, pity, and personal ties would only compromise the precision of each move. That is also why he cannot understand Soul’s choice. Soul possesses the same martial talent, yet simply takes things as they come, with no desire to uncover the source of his power or master it. To preserve his human emotions and desires, he would rather choose the Tainted Heart and live for only sixty-six days... And if he truly lost the only opponent worthy of standing against him, Zuo Shang might find it somewhat empty... Or perhaps, from the moment he began laying his plans, he had already lost the possibility of having a “kindred spirit.”