The Crimson Forest is the second region. You beat Hua Qianxiao on the bridge, rescue Quick Hand Zhang, defeat Jing Ye and Stone Hand, cross the Mirrorwood maze and finish with Bai Chilian.
The region in the walkthrough
Position on the route (in red, the point of no return) and items it contains
- Valleych. 1-2
- Crimson Forestch. 3
- Village of Luch. 4
- Pangzhench. 5-6
- Encampmentoptional
- Meigu Lakepartly optional
- Mountain of Imprisonmentoptional
- Mirage Estatech. 7
- Mount Soulrendch. 8 (finale)
What you’ll find in the region
Item count according to Vandal’s guide (Spanish guide); bars relative to Pangzhen, the largest region.
Step-by-step walkthrough
- Illusion of InanisWhen you arrive you see the illusion of The Lady Inanis and a Crane Bell.
- Hua QianxiaoOn the bridge to Pangzhen. The bridge falls: cross with the sickle.
- Quick Hand ZhangRescue him with a crank on the Trail of Cages. This starts “Quick Hand’s Request”.
- Jing YeNext to the Outlaw Trap. Before that, deliver the herbs to Yu’er.
- Thieves’ CampRelics for Zhang (Bloodstained Seal, Ancient Crossbow) and Lanlan’s tale (“Secrets of the Baishan Sect”).
- Stone HandAt the entrance to Mirrorwood. After that, the second Long Pillar.
- Mirrorwood mazeFollow the portals where you can hear crying.
- Bai ChilianThe region’s final boss. When you beat her you wake up in the Village of Lu.
Beating Bai Chilian closes several tales in the Valley and the Thieves’ Camp. Accept “Secrets of the Baishan Sect” from Lanlan first.
Bosses in the region
Hua Qianxiao, Jing Ye, Stone Hand, Bai Chilian and, as secret or optional bosses, The Gold-Masked One (2) and Yucong (frozen Crimson Forest, later). You have the strategy for each one in the bosses section.
Weapons, Phantom Edges and key items
The Fanatic’s Broken Blade, Outlaw Warblade, Flying Dagger, Iron Gauntlets, White Serpent & Crimson Viper, Shieldbreaker Talisman, the Cavalrybane accessory, Miraculous Scabbard and Resonance Talisman.
Continue with the rest of the game in the complete Phantom Blade Zero walkthrough.
How to get there and unlock
Chapters in this region
Step-by-step guides to the story that takes place here.
Crimson Forest FAQ
What if I go back after the chase?
When you go through the torii gate west of Cliffside Lodge, a cutscene has you flee from a huge enemy and you appear in a new area: the Mirrorwood Entrance Bell is right ahead. From there, two sets of stairs lead down to Stone Hand, which is the way forward. No guide reports a softlock from going back: if you already lit that Bell, travel to it to pick the route up again.
How do I reach the Crimson Forest Sha-Chi Tower?
Not on your first visit. Advance the story until you enter the Mirage Estate: the Crimson Forest is then covered in snow and the water freezes. Travel to the Mirrorwood Entrance Bell, head southwest uphill and then west, cross the ice and follow the passage to the Sha-Chi Tower Gate Bell. At the base, next to the furnace, is the key that opens the door by the 6th-floor lift; it leads to the rooftop, where Mu Xiaokui gives you the Supreme Order Token.
Sources: Fextralife (Game Progress Route), PowerPyx, KeenGamer and GamerSky, checked on 12 November 2026.
Kaarosu Damu Kira is a soulslike player with 13 platinum trophies, from Dark Souls and Bloodborne to Elden Ring and Black Myth: Wukong, and the author of PBZ Guide. Kaarosu earned the Phantom Blade Zero platinum on 14 Nov 2026 in a single playthrough and turns every fight into clear, fact-checked guides.
