Phantom Blade Zero Crimson Forest Walkthrough: All Bosses, Quests & Collectibles

Crimson Forest is where things start getting tricky in Phantom Blade Zero. Beyond the red-leafed trails lie hidden caves, poisonous cellars, powerful enemies, and several side quests you can permanently miss if you rush through the story.

The biggest mistake is heading straight for the final boss. Some of the region's best rewards, including the Flying Dagger Phantom Edge and Calming Gourd, come from exploring side paths and helping NPCs.

This LDShop walkthrough covers the full Crimson Forest route, boss strategies, important collectibles, Memory Flower locations, and everything worth finishing before moving on.

Crimson Forest Overview

Crimson Forest is the second major region, unlocked after completing Steel and Steam in Weeping Creek Valley. Most of the Snake's Reflection chapter takes place here.

Collectible	Total
Bells	19
Weapons & Phantom Edges	6
Accessories & Medicines	14
Challenge Locations	2
Sha-Chi Amber Shards	6
Blackstone Shards	6
Memory Flowers	18

Before progressing:

• Complete Apprentice Healer in Weeping Creek Valley before progressing through Jing Ye and into Thieves' Camp.
• Finish Purge the Sect, Festering Secrets, Honor Among Thieves, and A Healer's Mercy before defeating Bai Chilian.
• Keep the Hunter's Chain Sickle ready for grappling across gaps.
• Expect to revisit Crimson Forest after obtaining Bastion and other late-game abilities.

 

Crimson Forest Main Walkthrough

1. Crimson Forest Entrance and Hua Qianxiao

After entering Crimson Forest, activate the first Crane Bell and collect the Memory Flower Left by Inanis nearby.

Follow the forest path toward the Abandoned Main Road Bell. After crossing the broken bridge, explore the wooden scaffolding and open the golden chest for the Shieldbreaker Talisman.

Before continuing, drop to the lower path near the wall-running section to collect a Blackstone Shard.

Keep moving until you reach Pangzhen Bridge Overlook, where Hua Qianxiao, the Sword Fanatic, awaits.

How to defeat Hua Qianxiao:

• Equip Shieldbreaker Talisman and use Dread Axe to destroy his defensive barrier.
• Counter his Red Flash and Blue Flash attacks to drain his guard.
• Save your strongest attacks for guard-break openings.

Defeating him rewards The Fanatic's Broken Blade.

The bridge collapses shortly afterward. Follow the lower route, collect Simmering Brew, and defeat the dogs guarding a Memory Flower: Fellow Disciples.

2. Trail of Cages: Rescue Quick Hand Zhang

Continue to the Trail of Cages Bell, where you'll encounter Quick Hand Zhang trapped in a hanging cage.

Enter the nearby cave and explore its lower level.

Collect the following:

• Memory Flower: Fellow Disciples on a lower ledge.
• Blackstone Shard from the poisonous pool.
• Cavalrybane from the golden chest beneath the cage-release mechanism.

Use the crank at the end of the cave to lower Zhang's cage and free him.

This unlocks his later interactions and access to valuable equipment.

3. Outlaw Trap and Jing Ye Boss Fight

Activate the Outlaw Trap Bell, but don't rush into the boss arena.

Follow the right-hand path, defeat the thief near the campfire, and pick up the Blood Letter from the Nimble Thief to start Honor Among Thieves. A nearby Memory Flower completes the three-part Fellow Disciples collection.

Next, enter the cave near Outlaw Trap to collect:

• Crimson Forest Tunnel Crank
• Preservation Talisman Fragment I

Use the crank on the mechanism near the Bell to open the underground passage.

Explore both sides of this hidden area. You'll find a Sha-Chi Amber Shard, Kuye Dew, and Preservation Talisman Fragment II, which combines with the first fragment to create the Preservation Jar.

The final chest along the other passage contains the Sect Leader's Snuff Bottle, one of Zhang's three treasures.

Now return to the main road and challenge Jing Ye, the Outlaw.

Jing Ye begins the fight mounted before switching to ground combat at roughly half health.

During the mounted phase, stay patient and parry his ranged projectiles. Once he dismounts, use Dread Axe with Shieldbreaker Talisman to break his shield and create damage openings.

Defeating Jing Ye rewards the Outlaw Warblade.

Before crossing the bridge ahead, drop onto the small ledge on the right to collect another Memory Flower.

4. Thieves' Camp: Important Side Quests

Cross the bridge and speak with Lanlan to begin Secrets of the Baishan Sect.

At the Thieves' Camp, several NPC interactions are worth completing immediately.

Honor Among Thieves

Speak with the Gentle Thief in the house near the bridge. Answer his three questions correctly:

Question	Correct Answer
What did the thief steal?	A landowner's jade belt
What was the second answer?	Butterfly
What happened to the child?	The letter never said. His fate is unknown.

Completing the dialogue rewards Silent Wrap, which reduces noise from movement and assassinations.

A Healer's Mercy

Speak with Yu'er near the Thieves' Camp Bell to begin the quest. You'll need to locate four injured thieves throughout the region and give them her medicine.

Quick Hand's Request

Climb the wall near the camp and enter Quick Hand Zhang's hideout.

If you rescued him earlier, he gives you the Quick Hand Pendant. Ask him about the relics to unlock his request for three hidden treasures.

You already have the Sect Leader's Snuff Bottle. The remaining two are found along the upcoming route.

5. Red Serpent House and Cliffside Lodge

Leave Zhang's hideout and follow the wooden walkway into the cave ahead.

Collect another Memory Flower: on Perfect Transcension, then open the chest containing the Bloodstained Seal, Zhang's second treasure.

Continue into the settlement above. Search the buildings to obtain the Forest Outpost Courtyard Key and another Blackstone Shard.

Use the key to unlock the gate and activate the Red Serpent House Bell.

Follow the upper path through Cliff of Longing until you reach Cliffside Lodge.

Activate its Bell, climb into the house, and pass through the poisonous room to reach the balcony. Pick up the Crimson Forest Cellar Crank.

Insert the crank into the mechanism downstairs to open the cellar.

Inside, collect:

• Sha-Chi Amber Shard from the poisonous side room.
• Blackstone Shard near the lower wooden platforms.
• Crimson Forest Secret Chamber Crank.
• Thieves' Camp Dungeon Key.
• Memory Flower: on Perfect Transcension on the lower floor.

Use the Secret Chamber Crank to open the sealed room and speak with the wounded Baishan disciple.

Before leaving, help the injured thief found along the cellar route.

6. Thieves' Camp Dungeon and Flying Dagger

With the Dungeon Key obtained, return to Thieves' Camp and unlock the previously inaccessible door.

Inside the dungeon:

1. Help the injured thief near the entrance.

2. Open the chest nearby for the Ancient Crossbow, Zhang's final treasure.

3. Drop into the lower fighting pit and defeat the enemies to obtain the Cave Prison Key.

4. Collect the Sha-Chi Amber Shard beneath the wooden platforms.

5. Return upstairs and unlock the prison cell for another Amber Fragment.

If you haven't already, revisit both injured thieves near Outlaw Trap and make sure you've helped all four.

Return to Yu'er to complete A Healer's Mercy and receive the Calming Gourd.

Then visit Quick Hand Zhang with all three treasures:

Treasure	Location
Sect Leader's Snuff Bottle	Hidden tunnel beneath Outlaw Trap
Bloodstained Seal	Cave beyond Zhang's hideout
Ancient Crossbow	Thieves' Camp Dungeon

Your reward is the Flying Dagger Phantom Edge, a useful ranged option that can apply poison and pressure enemy Sha-Chi.

7. Mirrorwood Entrance and Stone Hand Iron Fever

Return to Cliffside Lodge and continue along the main route through the mist.

After the chase sequence, activate the Mirrorwood Entrance Bell and collect Stone Hand Iron Fever's first Memory Flower.

Continue forward to face Stone Hand Iron Fever.

His attacks are relatively readable. Parry his regular strikes, dodge his lunging grab, and punish him after his longer attack sequences.

Defeating him awards the Iron Gauntlets Phantom Edge.

Collect his second Memory Flower near the arena, then follow the nearby cave path to find Inanis' Memory Flower and begin Resonant Strings.

The right-hand route leads to the Mirrorwood Lóng Pillar challenge, where you can fight the Gold-Masked One again.

Winning rewards the Miraculous Scabbard. This challenge is optional, so you can return later if you're struggling.

8. Burial Grounds and the Banyan Tree

Continue beyond the Long Pillar, using the Hunter's Chain Sickle to swing across the branches and avoid the poisonous air.

Activate the Burial Grounds Bell and collect the nearby Inanis' Memory Flower.

Head into the mist-covered forest and check the right-hand side for another flower.

After the scene with Inanis, follow the newly opened path and activate the Parting Mists Bell.

The nearby Banyan Tree contains an optional combat challenge involving multiple enemy waves and another encounter with Jing Ye.

Completing it awards Banyan's Heart, used to unlock special abilities.

Return to the main route, follow the uphill trail, and continue collecting Inanis' Memory Flowers until you reach Mirrorwood Depths.

9. Mirrorwood Depths Portal Puzzle

The Mirrorwood Depths contains two portal puzzles. Choosing the wrong passage returns you to the starting area.

Important: Collect all accessible Memory Flowers in Mirrorwood Depths before moving on. This area becomes temporarily inaccessible after the boss encounter.

Listen for the sound of weeping to identify the correct portal, or follow these sequences:

Puzzle	Correct Portal Order
First	Left → Middle → Right
Second	Right → Left → Middle

After clearing the first portal puzzle, follow the newly opened path and collect both of Bai Chilian's Memory Flowers before continuing to the second puzzle.

The second puzzle leads toward the Threadbound Great Tree Bell and the final boss.

10. Bai Chilian, Lady of the Twin Serpents

Bai Chilian is the final main boss of Crimson Forest.

She frequently attacks from a distance and leaves relatively few safe openings.

Boss strategy:

• Parry her ranged projectiles to drain her guard.
• Dodge the snakes emerging from the ground.
• Avoid chasing her constantly; wait for a guard-break opportunity.
• Use the Illusion of the Chord's assistance during the battle.

Once Bai Chilian is defeated, you'll receive White Serpent & Crimson Viper and the Resonance Talisman as the story progresses into the Village of Lu.

Warning: Defeating Bai Chilian can permanently fail several unfinished side quests. Complete your outstanding Tales before this fight.

 

All 18 Crimson Forest Memory Flowers

Memory Flowers reveal character memories and provide permanent health upgrades when their associated sets are completed.

Memory Flower Set	Count	Where to Look
Left by Inanis	1	Beside the first Crimson Forest Bell
Fellow Disciples	3	Cave after Hua Qianxiao; cave near Zhang's cage; Outlaw Trap path
On Perfect Transcension	4	After Jing Ye; cave beyond Zhang's hideout; Cliffside Lodge cellar; later Bastion-accessible area
Stone Hand Iron Fever	2	Mirrorwood Entrance and Iron Fever's arena
Inanis	6	After Iron Fever, Burial Grounds, misty forest, path beyond Banyan Tree, river crossing, Mirrorwood Depths
Bai Chilian	2	After clearing the first Mirrorwood portal puzzle

Important: The On Perfect Transcension flower near Lakeside Arch Bridge requires Bastion, obtained later in the Village of Lu. You won't be able to complete every collection during your first visit.

 

Important Accessories and Hidden Rewards

Besides the main boss rewards, Crimson Forest contains several useful accessories.

Accessory	How to Obtain
Shieldbreaker Talisman	Chest near Abandoned Main Road
Preservation Jar	Combine both Preservation Talisman Fragments
Cavalrybane	Chest below Zhang's cage mechanism
Silent Wrap	Complete Honor Among Thieves
Calming Gourd	Complete A Healer's Mercy
Quick Hand Pendant	Rescue Zhang and meet him at his hideout
Quick Hand Might	Purchase from Zhang
Quick Hand Pair	Purchase from Zhang
Brass Chest Guard	Thieves' Camp Dungeon, requires Bastion
Miraculous Scabbard	Complete Mirrorwood Lóng Pillar challenge
Resonance Talisman	Defeat Bai Chilian
Seal of Dugu	Return to Thieves' Camp after progressing Leave None Alive
Frostward	Crimson Forest Sha-Chi Tower area, later in the story
Chaos Ring	Mirrorwood Depths portal puzzle, second section near the former eastern portal (late-game cleanup).

Quick Hand Might and Quick Hand Pair are shop purchases and do not count toward the region's collectible tracker.

 

Crimson Forest Late-Game Cleanup

Not every collectible can be obtained during your first journey through Crimson Forest.

Return when you have the required abilities:

• Bastion: Cross the arrow traps in Thieves' Camp Dungeon to obtain Brass Chest Guard, reach Lakeside Arch Bridge, and collect the remaining On Perfect Transcension flower.
• Flaming Mane: Burn the blocked passage near Red Serpent House to access additional key items.
• Later story progression: Revisit the frozen lake and Sha-Chi Tower area for Frostward, additional shards, and other hidden rewards.
• Triple Threat: Defeat Yucong, No. 34 Twisted Puppet, to obtain the Freezing Chaos weapon.
• Tiger Cannon: Break the obstructed wall in the underground area near Cliffside Lodge for additional materials.

After progressing through Mirage Estate and triggering the snowy changes in Crimson Forest, return to the Mirrorwood Depths portal area. Collect the remaining Sha-Chi Amber Shard in the first section and the Chaos Ring in the second, both near the former eastern portals.

Check your collection tracker before leaving the region permanently. Completing the remaining Blackstone and Sha-Chi Amber sets provides valuable permanent upgrades.

 

Final Tips

Explore Crimson Forest carefully, complete missable quests before facing Bai Chilian, and return later for locked collectibles. For more Phantom Blade Zero guides and gaming deals, visit LDShop.