Zhenwu Temple Walkthrough

After clearing the swamp path from the Refugee Camp, you will arrive at the Main Rebel Camp, the gateway to the magnificent and perilous Zhenwu Temple. This massive dungeon is home to two major bosses, intricate puzzles, and some of the most valuable loot in the game.

1. The Main Rebel Camp

Before storming the temple itself, you must navigate the heavily fortified rebel camp at its base.

Clear the Entrance In the open area before the camp, defeat the red-eyed Avian to get a Brilliant Red Feather. In the same area, an Inner Demon will manifest. Defeating it yields Bo Blood and the Plumed Stone Needle - Temper. Open the nearby chest for the Benediction: Fa - Combo Lightning.
Find Buglio (Optional) Descend the ladder into the camp. A cave path to the left leads to Buglio. Speaking with him progresses his questline. Defeat the enemy in the cave to get the Leech Headwear. This path also unlocks a shortcut back towards the Avian Marsh entrance.
Loot the Camp & Approach the Temple Return to the main camp. Go inside the largest tent on a wooden platform to find the Thunder Pendant. Proceed towards the temple, but be wary of the main corridor—it’s filled with landmines and targeted by a cannon. Use the side paths to safely eliminate the cannon crew and enter the temple grounds through the breach in the wall.

2. Zhenwu Antechamber & Initial Exploration

You have arrived at the temple’s main entrance. Your first goal is to secure a checkpoint.

Activate the Antechamber Shrine Defeat the guards in the courtyard and immediately rush up the main stairs to activate the Shrine: Zhenwu Antechamber.

Quest Note: If you have the Secret Letter from Avian Marsh, you can give it to Li Dingo here to secure his quest’s good ending.
Unlock the First Shortcut From the shrine, go into the hall on the left and make your way to the roof. Cross the wooden bridge to the opposite hall. Fight your way down, defeating a Mimic Vase on the second floor. At the bottom, kick down the ladder to create a shortcut back to the shrine.

3. The Left Path: Courtyard and Upper Halls

Climb the ladder next to the shortcut to reach the rooftop and cross the wooden bridge into the large outer courtyard on the left side of the temple.

Clear the Courtyard This area is heavily guarded. First, take out the cannon operators. Then, focus on the four Lotus Sorcerers in the plaza. Once the area is clear, pick up the powerful Spell: Ethereal Form from a corpse.
Find the Tome of Silver-Seeking Proceed up the stairs to the next building. Defeat the Face-Changer guarding the path. Inside, navigate a hallway with spike traps to find the Tome of Silver-Seeking, a key item to expand Wu Gang’s shop.
Reach the Main Hall Bridge Fight your way to the top floor of this building, defeating another Face-Changer guarding a chest with a Forgotten Remembrance. Open the door on the first floor to create a shortcut back to the courtyard, then climb to the very top to find a connecting bridge to the temple’s main hall.

4. The Main Hall & Bridge Mechanism

You are now in the large, central chamber of the temple with a complex moving bridge mechanism.

Cross the Bridge Interact with the mechanism to shift the bridges, allowing you to cross to the other side.
Explore the Lower Floor Make your way down to the ground floor. Be wary of a Mimic Vase hidden among many regular vases, which drops a Brilliant Red Feather. You’ll also find a red-eyed Ming guard who drops a Radiant Red Feather.
Solve the Worship Puzzle On the ground floor is a glowing point of interest. Use the Worship gesture on it to receive two Zhenwu Temple Elixirs.
Unlock Major Shortcuts From the ground floor, you can open a large door leading directly back to the Zhenwu Antechamber Shrine and another gate leading back to the left-side courtyard, creating major traversal routes.

5. The Right Path & Optional Boss: South General - Liu Wenxiu

From the Antechamber, you can take a path to the right side of the temple, which leads to an optional boss.

Reach the Boss Arena Navigate the right-side courtyards and structures. You will eventually find a ladder you can kick down to create a shortcut to the Refugee Camp swamp area. Nearby, stairs lead up to the boss arena.
Boss Fight: South General - Liu Wenxiu This general uses powerful lightning attacks. Equip armor with high Lightning and Paralysis resistance. Defeating him rewards you with the South General’s Armor Set, the Thunder’s Call weapon, and the Secret Missive key item.
Find the Cloudpiercer Spear After the boss fight, go through the newly opened door. In the following area, you can find a path to drop down onto some beams. A chest here contains the Cloudpiercer spear and a Brilliant Red Feather.

6. Pavilion of Knowledge & The Final Ascent

Return to the Main Hall and use the bridge mechanism and elevator to reach the highest levels of the temple.

Cross the Rafters Your path will take you across the treacherous ceiling beams high above the main hall. Be extremely cautious of a goblin ambush here, as it can easily knock you to your death.
Survive the Mimic Shrine You will reach an area with a new shrine. This is a trap! The Shrine: Pavilion of Knowledge is a powerful mimic. Defeat it to reveal the real shrine.
Meet the Storyteller Proceed into the Pavilion of Knowledge. On the second floor, you will find the Storyteller. After speaking with him, explore the floor to find the Zhenwu Temple Scriptures and the Cinder Dragoncoil Axe.
Reach the Altar Gate Exit the pavilion and continue your ascent. You will meet the Plain Warrioress again. Proceed down into a final fortified area. At the top, you will find the Shrine: Altar Gate. Nearby, a dying Buglio will give you Buglio’s Token before you face the temple’s final boss.

7. Boss Fights

How to Beat South General - Liu Wenxiu (Optional)

Resistances: High Lightning and Paralysis resistance is key.

Openings: His Thunderwave and Thunderstrike attacks leave him vulnerable.

Spacing: Maintain medium distance to bait out his more punishable moves.

How to Beat Fierce Tiger - Zhang Xianzhong (Final Boss)

Phase 1 ( Fierce Tiger): He is weak to Fire. The Dracolich Pendant can prevent staggering from his roars.

Phase 2 (Sovereign Zhang Xianzhong): If you have progressed their questlines, you can summon Huang Jian’e and Nian Suichang to help you in this phase.

Openings: His ground slams and lightning beam attacks create the safest windows to deal damage.

Defeating the final boss unlocks the Shrine: Zhenwu Altar and opens the path to the next area.

Key Items & Collectibles Summary

Benedictions

Fa - Combo Lightning: Chest near the Inner Demon at the entrance.
Shan - Blight Ward: Behind a Benediction Gate reached via an invisible bridge.
Wei - Lightning Force: Guarded by a Face-Changer near the Pavilion of Knowledge.

Pendants & Key Items

Thunder Pendant: In the main tent of the Rebel Camp.
Demon Pendant: On top of the statue in the antechamber.
Tome of Silver-Seeking: In a spike-trap hallway on the left path.
Secret Missive: Dropped by South General - Liu Wenxiu.
Zhenwu Temple Scriptures: In the Pavilion of Knowledge.
Buglio’s Token: Given by Buglio before the final boss.

Spells & Weapons

Spell: Ethereal Form: In the left-side courtyard.
Weapon: Thunder’s Call: Dropped by South General - Liu Wenxiu.
Weapon: Cloudpiercer: In a chest in a hidden room on the right path.
Weapon: Cinder Dragoncoil Axe: In the Pavilion of Knowledge.

Permanent Upgrades & Valuables

Forgotten Remembrance: Two in total, one on the left path and one behind the invisible bridge’s Benediction Gate.
Lost Remains: In a library-like area near the Pavilion of Knowledge.
Leech Headwear: In the cave with Buglio.
South General’s Set: Dropped by South General - Liu Wenxiu.

Feathers

Brilliant Red Feathers: 5 in total, scattered throughout the temple.
Radiant Red Feathers: 3 in total, dropped by powerful red-eyed enemies or found in high places.