Unlocking the Secret Hub Area in Black Myth Wukong: A Guide to Accessing the Zodiac Village and Yin Tiger Blacksmith

Black Myth Wukong is a game filled with secrets and hidden areas waiting to be discovered. One of these secrets is the Zodiac Village, a hidden hub area located inside the Painted Realm. This guide will walk you through the steps to unlock the Zodiac Village and access the Yin Tiger Blacksmith, a vendor that can upgrade your gear.

Unlocking the Painted Realm Hub and Yin Tiger Blacksmith

To unlock the Zodiac Village, you'll need to complete a quest given to you by Chen Loong. You'll meet him halfway through Chapter 3 on the shores of Bitter Lake. Here's how to find Chen Loong and complete the quest:

Finding Chen Loong Boss

After escaping the Pagoda realm and helping Bajiye escape the clutches of Kang-Jin Star, travel to Bitter Lake's shore and activate the North Shore of the Bitter Lake shrine. Make a U-turn and head straight along the coast, and you'll see a dragon in the distance talking. Approach the dragon to initiate a boss fight against Chen Loong.

The fight is relatively easy if you're well-equipped. Chen Loong will try to claw at you first, imbued with lightning. Dodge his attack and damage him, and he'll fly away and send bolts from the air. He'll also try to swoop toward you randomly. Defeat him to progress.

Fetching the Resurrection Pill from Xu Dog

After defeating Chen Loong, he'll ask you to fetch a resurrection pill from Xu Dog. Travel to the Cellar of the Crouching Tiger Temple and talk to Xu Dog. He'll give you the resurrection pill and a formula for a Fortifying Medicament medicine.

Return to Chen Loong's location, and you'll find him near a shack next to the shoreline. Deliver the medicine to him, and he'll be grateful. He'll give you a painting that will transport you to the Zodiac Village inside the Painted Realm.

Discovering the Zodiac Village in the Painted Realm

Once you arrive at the Zodiac Village, activate the shrine behind you. You can then talk to Xu Dog, who will be grateful for your help in reuniting everyone. He'll give you some medicines as a thank you, and you can request more periodically. You can also talk to Shen Monkey for an interesting dialogue interaction.

Meeting Yin Tiger Blacksmith

Follow the path to find Chen Loong standing in a doorway. You can give him seeds that you find in the world, and he'll harvest them for you. After meeting up with every NPC, continue following the path until you reach an open area with Yin Tiger sharpening his sword. You can then craft weapons and gear, as well as upgrade your existing gear from him.

Yin Tiger Blacksmith's Importance:

• He can upgrade your gear pieces to higher levels.
• He can raise the rarity of your gear pieces and their defense stats.
• You can challenge him to a duel, but be warned: he's one of the strongest bosses in the game.
• If you defeat him, you'll unlock his transformation, the Ebon Flow, and be able to craft legendary Iron-Tough gear pieces.

Additional Tips

If you're in Chapter 3, consider picking up an item that allows you to restore Mana during combat. There's also a guide on accessing hidden bosses beyond the waterfall and sand wall.