“The Sword and the Way” starts with the Taoist Bi Di, in the basement of Myst’s Tavern in Pangzhen. You take the Bronze Essence from the furnace of a forge next to the Green Serpent House, temper the Tianxuan Bronze Sword and go back with it. It gives the Kuye Temple Sutra. Do it before you close The Heart’s Trail. In New Game Plus it can get stuck.
Where does The Sword and the Way start?
In Pangzhen, in the chapter Town of Death, after you meet Myst. In the basement of her tavern, next to the Myst’s Tavern bell, talk to the Taoist Bi Di, the man by the table, and mention the bronze sword to him. You need to have the Tianxuan Bronze Sword, which you earn by beating Bi Yuan in the Village of Lu.
Step by step
- Go to the Green Serpent HouseTravel to the Green Serpent House bell, in The Heart’s Trail area.
- Climb onto the roofOn the southeast side of the house (to the right according to PowerPyx), grapple onto the roof, climb the ladder and enter the tunnel at the very top. Climb the walls and crouch to get through.
- Take the Bronze EssenceYou come out into a forge courtyard full of enemies. Take them out and interact with the furnace to get the Bronze Essence.
- Temper the Bronze SwordAt any bell, use Soul Temper on the Tianxuan Bronze Sword with the Bronze Essence.
- Go back to Bi DiTell him about the upgrade at Myst’s Tavern and he’ll give you the Kuye Temple Sutra.
Rewards
| Reward | Type | What it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Kuye Temple Sutra | Tempering material | Tempering the Kuye Temple Prayer Beads (summoning Phantom Edges) |
No source gives it a deadline of its own. But Vandal (Spanish guide) states that when you close The Heart’s Trail only five tales can stay open, and this isn’t one of them. That chapter ends when you place the serpent pieces in the Green Serpent House and head up to the Mirage Estate. You have the rest of the cut-offs in the area order.
Why won’t it progress?
According to player reports on the Steam forum (not official information), in New Game Plus the tale can’t be completed if you already tempered the Bronze Sword in your first playthrough: it asks you for the tempering again, but the weapon is already tempered. One player on their fourth cycle confirms it can’t be repeated, and support replied that it passed the report on. For now there’s no fix. In your first playthrough, if Bi Di doesn’t give you the tale, check that you already have the Tianxuan Bronze Sword.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Bronze Essence?
In the furnace of a forge courtyard you reach across the rooftops from the Green Serpent House bell, in Pangzhen.
Where is Bi Di?
In the basement of Myst’s Tavern, in Pangzhen, next to the table.
What is the Kuye Temple Sutra for?
To temper the Kuye Temple Prayer Beads, the Phantom Edge that summons Bronze Men.
Why can’t I finish The Sword and the Way in New Game Plus?
According to players on the Steam forum, it’s a bug: if you tempered the weapon in the previous cycle, the game doesn’t recognize the tempering. There’s no known fix.
