Snake’s Reflection is chapter 3 of Phantom Blade Zero and takes place in the Crimson Forest, with the Mirrorwood labyrinth and the arrival at the Village of Lu. The goal is to cross the forest to Mirrorwood: you defeat Hua Qianxiao, Jing Ye and Stone Hand, and the final boss is Bai Chilian, in two phases. It is the chapter with the most missable tales: Jing Ye and Bai Chilian close errands from the Valley and the Forest. No guide gives the length.
Chapter summary
Coming out of the Valley cave, Soul reaches a forest stained red where an illusion of Lady Inanis shows him the way. The attempt to cross the great bridge to Pangzhen goes wrong and forces you to find another route through outlaw territory. Along the way you free Quick Hand Zhang, a merchant who will be with you for the rest of the game, and enter the Thieves’ Camp, full of errands. At the end, the forest turns into Mirrorwood, a labyrinth of portals that can only be crossed by following a sound of weeping, and the Lady of the Twin Serpents awaits you. After her you wake up in the Village of Lu.
Snake’s Reflection route
Key bells, bosses and cutoff points of chapter 3 (in red, what closes tales)
- BellCrimson Forest
- BossHua Qianxiao
- BellTrail of Cages (free Zhang)
- BossJing Ye
- BellThieves’ Camp
- BossStone Hand
- ObjectiveMirrorwood labyrinth
- BossBai Chilian
- BellPlace of Awakening (Village of Lu)
Order according to Vandal (Spanish guide) and Fextralife. Jing Ye and Bai Chilian close tales when they die.
Step by step
Book and petal titles are translated from the Spanish version of the game; the in-game English wording may differ.
- Crimson Forest and the illusion of InanisYou start at the Crimson Forest Crane Bell, with the first Memory Flower nearby. The purple quest Illusion of Inanis activates on its own. Along the way you pick up the Shieldbreaker Talisman and activate Abandoned Main Road.
- Hua Qianxiao on the Pangzhen bridgeFrom Pangzhen Bridge Overlook you go out onto the bridge, where Hua Qianxiao, the Sword Fanatic is waiting. He gives you The Fanatic’s Broken Blade. The bridge collapses and you have to cross with the sickle. The Simmering Brew is nearby.
- Trail of Cages: free ZhangActivate Trail of Cages. Open Quick Hand Zhang’s cage with the crank: Las tres guaridas de la liebre astuta begins. A golden chest holds the Cavalrybane accessory, and next to the poison gas pit, a Blackstone Fragment. Run out of the gas clouds.
- Outlaw TrapActivate the bell and the Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank. Defeat the enemy at the campfire: his Blood Letter of the Nimble Thief activates Honor Among Thieves. Along the secret path you gather the two pieces of the Preservation Jar and the Kuye Dew.
- Jing Ye, the OutlawNext to the Outlaw Trap you fight Jing Ye, mandatory. He gives you the Outlaw Warblade, which steals life. Before you defeat him, hand Yu’er the three herbs for Apprentice Healer.
- Thieves’ CampIt is a Crane Bell. Here A Healer’s Mercy (Yu’er) and Secrets of the Baishan Sect (Lanlan, on the great bridge) begin. Zhang gives you the Quick Hand Pendant and opens Quick Hand’s Request, the search for his relics; the first ones are the Bloodstained Seal and the Ancient Crossbow. According to Vandal, the Flying Dagger is obtained with this errand.
- Red Serpent House and Cliffside LodgeActivate Red Serpent House, Cliff of Longing and Cliffside Lodge, where the Thieves’ Camp Dungeon Key is. Here The Four Serpent Houses activates, which Vandal does not treat as a chapter. Vandal warns that the dungeon and the Outlaw Trap have nothing more to offer for now.
- Stone Hand Iron FeverAt Mirrorwood Entrance you defeat Stone Hand, who gives the Iron Gauntlets Edge. A flower in this area activates Cuerdas resonantes.
- Mirrorwood Long Pillar (optional)Talk to the Man in Black and beat The Gold-Masked One a second time to progress Bloodline Awakening.
- Burial Grounds and the mistPast the Burial Grounds bell, the illusion of Inanis clears the mist and closes Illusion of Inanis (Parting Mists bell). From there Heart of the Banyan begins.
- Mirrorwood labyrinthFrom Mirrorwood Depths, always go through the portal where you hear weeping. You have the exact order in the Mirrorwood Depths puzzle. You reach Threadbound Great Tree.
- Bai ChilianMandatory boss in two phases: Lady of the Twin Serpents and the Sacrificial Serpent. She gives you the dual swords White Serpent & Crimson Viper and the Resonance Talisman. See the Bai Chilian guide.
- You wake up in the Village of LuActivate Place of Awakening (Crane), Crossroads, Mandate Encampment Outer Gate and Old Man Gen’s Hideout. You meet Jewel, next to whom there is a chest with Jewel’s Knot, and Old Man Gen asks for your help in The Journey Home. Pick up Bai Chilian’s Notes before the bridge: crossing it starts Heartless Remnants.
Chapter bosses
| Boss | Type | Reward | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hua Qianxiao, the Sword Fanatic | Mandatory | The Fanatic’s Broken Blade weapon | How to beat Hua Qianxiao |
| Jing Ye, the Outlaw | Mandatory; closes Apprentice Healer | Outlaw Warblade weapon | How to beat Jing Ye |
| Stone Hand Iron Fever | Mandatory | Iron Gauntlets Edge | How to beat Stone Hand |
| The Gold-Masked One (2) | Optional | Miraculous Scabbard | Long Pillars |
| Bai Chilian, Lady of the Twin Serpents and the Sacrificial Serpent | Mandatory; closes several tales | White Serpent & Crimson Viper and Resonance Talisman | How to beat Bai Chilian |
Vandal and Fextralife do not make clear whether Jing Ye and Stone Hand are mandatory (Vandal says Stone Hand “seems” to be); both appear among the story bosses in Vandal’s index. The reward for the second duel with The Gold-Masked One comes from our Long Pillars guide.
Tales and purple quests in this chapter
| Tale or quest | Where it starts | Missable if you move on? |
|---|---|---|
| Illusion of Inanis (purple) | Automatic, when you reach the Crimson Forest | Very hard to miss: it completes with the story |
| Las tres guaridas de la liebre astuta | Zhang’s cage, Trail of Cages | Yes: if you move on from Trail of Cages without freeing Zhang |
| Quick Hand’s Request (Zhang’s relics) | Zhang, Thieves’ Camp | Yes: it depends on freeing Zhang; his errands count toward the perfect ending |
| Honor Among Thieves | Letter from the enemy at the campfire, Outlaw Trap | Yes: hand in the letter before defeating Bai Chilian |
| A Healer’s Mercy | Yu’er, Thieves’ Camp | Yes: heal the four thieves before defeating Bai Chilian |
| Secrets of the Baishan Sect | Lanlan, great bridge next to the Thieves’ Camp | Yes: accept it before defeating Bai Chilian |
| Cuerdas resonantes | First petal of the Inanis flower, Mirrorwood Entrance | Yes: without all the petals you lose the help against Bai Chilian |
| Heart of the Banyan | Illusion of Inanis in the mist | Yes: when you climb the stairs past the Green Serpent House |
| The Journey Home | Old Man Gen, Old Man Gen’s Hideout (Village of Lu) | Yes: accept it before entering Pangzhen |
Whence the Weeping (parts 2 and 3) and Bloodline Awakening (second Long Pillar) also progress, according to Vandal. Fextralife places the meeting with Old Man Gen and Jewel in chapter 4.
Moving on from the Trail of Cages bell without freeing Zhang makes you lose his errands. Defeating Jing Ye closes Apprentice Healer if you did not hand in the three herbs. Defeating Bai Chilian closes Flesh Lily (lilies not handed in), Purge the Sect (bow not handed in), Festering Secret and Four Fierce Axes, Honor Among Thieves, A Healer’s Mercy, Secrets of the Baishan Sect (if you did not accept it) and the help from Cuerdas resonantes. Vandal marks no points of no return in this chapter; these cutoffs come from our tale pages. Save manually before each one and review the area order and points of no return.
Collectibles and key items
- Weapons: The Fanatic’s Broken Blade, Outlaw Warblade and White Serpent & Crimson Viper.
- Phantom Edges: Iron Gauntlets and Flying Dagger.
- Accessories: Shieldbreaker Talisman, Cavalrybane, Preservation Jar, Quick Hand Pendant, Resonance Talisman, Jewel’s Knot and Miraculous Scabbard (if you beat The Gold-Masked One).
- Medicines: Simmering Brew and Kuye Dew.
- Keys and cranks: Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank, Outpost Courtyard Key, Thieves’ Camp Dungeon Key and the cellar and secret chamber cranks.
- Collectibles: 19 bells (Vandal’s count; see all bells), many Memory Flowers, Blackstone and Sha-Chi Amber fragments, and books such as Mingyuan’s Letter to His Uncle.
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Frequently asked questions
What should I finish before defeating Bai Chilian?
Hand in the lilies for Flesh Lily and the bow for Purge the Sect, close Festering Secret, Honor Among Thieves and A Healer’s Mercy, accept Secrets of the Baishan Sect and gather the petals for Cuerdas resonantes. The Apprentice Healer herbs come earlier, before Jing Ye.
How do you get out of the Mirrorwood labyrinth?
By always going through the portal where you hear weeping. The order of exits is fixed; you have it in the Mirrorwood puzzle.
Where is Quick Hand Zhang?
Locked in a cage on the Trail of Cages. Open it with the crank and you will see him again at the Thieves’ Camp, where he opens his shop and his errands.
How do I get the Flying Dagger?
With Quick Hand’s Request, Zhang’s errand at the Thieves’ Camp, according to Vandal.
