TL;DR – Key Takeaways
- Deep in the Valley is an optional quest in Weeping Creek Valley — but skipping it means missing a huge section of the map.
- Talk to the Panicked Mandate Disciple at the Creek Valley Plains Entrance bell to start it.
- You cannot complete it until you defeat The Hunt and earn the Hunter’s Chain Sickle.
- Use the Hunter’s Chain Sickle at the Sha-Chi Tower Summit to grab the Base Camp Gate Key.
- Opening the gate unlocks Creek Valley Plains with bells, boss fights, extra quests, and key rewards like the Counterstrike Bracers and Reflex Device.
What Is the Deep in the Valley Quest in Phantom Blade Zero?
Deep in the Valley is a side quest (called a Tale) in Phantom Blade Zero set in the first major region — Weeping Creek Valley. It unlocks a large optional area called Creek Valley Plains, which most players walk straight past if they follow the main story path.
This is one of those quests you really do not want to skip. It connects to multiple other Tales, hides some solid gear upgrades, and even ties into unlocking the Crimson Manor quest later. If you want 100% map completion or the True Ending, you need to do it.
Ready to learn more about the full world of Phantom Blade Zero? Let’s get into the quest.
How to Start the Deep in the Valley Quest
After leaving the Outpost area, follow the main path north. You will eventually reach a bell called the Creek Valley Plains Entrance. Right next to this bell, there is a Panicked Mandate Disciple standing guard in front of a locked gate.
Talk to him. He explains that the key to the Sha-Chi Tower Base Camp Gate was lost somewhere at the top of the Sha-Chi Tower. That conversation is what kicks off the Deep in the Valley quest and sets your first objective: find the Sha-Chi Tower Base Camp Gate Key.
Simple enough — except you cannot get the key yet. Here is why.
Why You Cannot Complete It Right Away
The Sha-Chi Tower Base Camp Gate Key is sitting on a ledge at the very top of the Sha-Chi Tower. The problem? It is completely out of reach without a grappling-type Phantom Edge weapon.
The weapon you need is the Hunter’s Chain Sickle, and you get it by defeating The Hunt, a major boss in this chapter. The Hunt is a Shadow Warden encountered at the Great Waterfall area. It fights in two phases, so be ready for a proper challenge.
Once you beat The Hunt and claim the Hunter’s Chain Sickle, you can finally go back and grab that key. Until then, set the quest aside and keep pushing through the Steel and Steam chapter.
Where to Find the Sha-Chi Tower Base Camp Gate Key
With the Hunter’s Chain Sickle in hand, fast travel to the Valley Sha-Chi Tower Summit bell. From there, climb the wall beside the friendly Shadow Warden and follow the connecting tube along the ledge.
You will see an orange-glowing item on a platform that was impossible to reach before. Use the Hunter’s Chain Sickle to swing across and pick up the Sha-Chi Tower Base Camp Gate Key.
That’s it. Now fast travel back to the Creek Valley Plains Entrance bell and use the key to open the gate. A whole new area is now yours to explore.
Everything Inside Creek Valley Plains – Deep in the Valley Walkthrough
Once you go through the gate, things open up fast. There are enemies, hidden paths, bells, NPCs, and collectibles spread across several sub-areas. Here is what to expect and where to go.
Step 1 – Fight Through the Plains Entrance
Right after entering the gate, you will run into a group of Transcended enemies. Take them out. After the initial fight, turn right and you will find a small waterfall area with more enemies. Clear them too and collect the Remnant Dust before moving on.
Continue forward until the path splits into three directions. This is the main branching point of the area.
Step 2 – Take the Eastern Path First
Head east and defeat the enemies in that section. You will come across two houses. The one on the right side has a Traversal Talisman below it. Before you activate the bell in the house on the left, head toward the right house and use the connecting tube to reach a NPC called the Blue-Robed Swordsman. Talking to him progresses the Four Fierce Axes Tale.
Now go to the house on the left and activate the Long Pillar Overlook Bell. Behind the bell, pick up two key items:
- Book: Reflections
- Rusted Loong Key — do not lose this, you will need it shortly
For more on the Four Fierce Axes side quest that connects here, check out our Four Fierce Axes Quest Walkthrough.
Step 3 – Use the Rusted Loong Key on the Cave
Cross the bridge out of the Long Pillar Overlook area. As you explore this section, look out for a Congeleaf item — grab it to make progress on the Apprentice Healer Tale.
You will find a locked gate nearby. Open it with the Rusted Loong Key and head inside the long cave.
Inside the cave, you will face a Transcended enemy near some steel crates. Defeat it and you will earn a Sha-Chi Amber Fragment. Collecting four of these expands Soul’s Sha-Chi capacity — very useful for extended fights.
Keep going to the end of the cave and activate the Weeping Creek Long Pillar Bell. Grab the Book: Wulin Tales behind it before you leave.
Step 4 – Fight the Gold Masked One (Bloodline Awakening)
Near the Weeping Creek Long Pillar Bell, find the Dragon Statue in the middle of the area. Interact with it to trigger a duel against The Gold Masked One.
This is a hidden boss encounter tied to the Bloodline Awakening questline. Win the fight and you get the Counterstrike Bracers — a solid accessory reward worth the fight.
Step 5 – Clear the Lower Waterfall Section
Head back toward where you picked up the Congeleaf and drop down to the lower waterfall area. More enemies will show up here, including an elite Transcended opponent near the water. Defeat them all and open the chest near the scaffolding to collect a Blackstone Fragment.
Once that area is cleared, return to the plains and head toward the other side.
Step 6 – Unlock the Crimson Manor Quest
Continue into the furnace section and pick up the Book: Fragments of the Mandate from the ground as you walk through.
A bit further in, you will see a large blocked section on the floor. You cannot open it directly. Instead, find an exploding Powderkeg enemy nearby, lure it toward the blocked area, and step back. The explosion blasts the floor open and reveals an elevator going down.
Take the elevator down, grab the Ancient Armor Fragment near a tree, and activate the Crimson Manor Bell. Then interact with the manor’s door — this unlocks the Crimson Manor quest, an important step toward the True Ending.
Check out our dedicated guide on the Phantom Blade Zero Red Thread Barrier if you run into that obstacle while exploring.
Step 7 – Reach the Valley Sha-Chi Tower Base Bell
Head back up to the upper level and climb the tower structure. Follow the staircase along the edge, fight the group of enemies blocking the path (you get a Blackstone Fragment for clearing them), then pick up the Book: The Four Axes Case Files from the table nearby.
Follow the path behind the staircase to activate the Valley Sha-Chi Tower Base Bell. Also pick up the Book: Mystery of Transcension near this bell.
Step 8 – Get the Reflex Device
Directly across from the Valley Sha-Chi Tower Base Bell, there is another mechanism. Use the Sha-Chi Furnace Inspection Crank (the one you collected earlier in the Steel and Steam chapter) to activate it.
This gives you the Reflex Device — one of the more useful upgrade items in this chapter. Do not miss it.
Step 9 – Grab the Vessel Restorative at the Summit
From the Tower Base Bell, continue climbing up the furnace structure. Work your way to the very top, collecting extra upgrade materials along the way. At the summit, open the chest to get the Vessel Restorative.
This completes the Deep in the Valley quest area. You have now unlocked all four Creek Valley Plains bells and collected the most important items in this section.
All Rewards and Items in the Deep in the Valley Quest
- Rusted Loong Key – Behind Long Pillar Overlook Bell, used to open the cave
- Sha-Chi Amber Fragment – Inside the Rusted Loong Key cave after defeating the Transcended enemy
- Counterstrike Bracers – Defeat the Gold Masked One at the Dragon Statue
- Reflex Device – Use the Sha-Chi Furnace Inspection Crank at Valley Sha-Chi Tower Base
- Vessel Restorative – Chest at the top of the furnace structure
- Ancient Armor Fragment – Near the tree after taking the elevator down in the furnace section
- Blackstone Fragments – Multiple from clearing enemy groups in the area
- Crimson Manor quest unlocked
- Bloodline Awakening quest progressed
- Four Fierce Axes quest progressed
Connected Quests You Should Do Alongside Deep in the Valley
This quest does not exist in a vacuum. Several other Tales run through the same area, so it is smart to work on them at the same time. Here is what connects:
- Four Fierce Axes – Talk to the Blue-Robed Swordsman inside the Plains and collect more evidence. Our full Four Fierce Axes Quest Walkthrough covers every step.
- Festering Secret – The Mandate Lieutenant you need for this quest is also inside the Creek Valley Plains area. See our Festering Secret Quest Walkthrough for the details.
- Apprentice Healer – The Congeleaf you grab in the Plains is a required item for Yu’er’s healing quest chain.
- Bloodline Awakening – Triggered by fighting the Gold Masked One at the Dragon Statue inside the Plains.
- Crimson Manor – The bell and manor door inside the furnace section are required to even start this quest, which is part of the True Ending requirements.
Want to see what outfits you can unlock through these quests and exploration? Check out our guide on all Phantom Blade Zero outfits and how to unlock them.
Tips for Completing Deep in the Valley Efficiently
- Do not rush through the main story. The gate stays locked until you have the Hunter’s Chain Sickle. There is no workaround — you have to beat The Hunt first.
- Keep the Rusted Loong Key. You find it right after the Long Pillar Overlook Bell. If you store it and forget, you cannot open the cave with the Sha-Chi Amber Fragment.
- Bring the Sha-Chi Furnace Inspection Crank. You pick this up during the main Steel and Steam chapter. You need it for the Reflex Device at the Tower Base — so make sure you have it before heading into the Plains.
- Do not use the Powderkeg on the wrong wall. Inside the furnace section, the explosion is needed to open the floor elevator. Be precise with where you lure the enemy.
- Activate all four Creek Valley Plains bells. Long Pillar Overlook, Weeping Creek Long Pillar, Crimson Manor, and Valley Sha-Chi Tower Base. Missing one means an incomplete map section.
Need a refresher on the whole chapter structure? See our Phantom Blade Zero all chapter list to track where Deep in the Valley fits in the full story.
Interested in grabbing the game? It is available on PC via Steam, PS5 via the PlayStation Store, and PC via the Epic Games Store.
If you are still setting up and want to check install size and PC requirements first, we have that covered too: Phantom Blade Zero PC requirements and install size guide. And if you want to know if the game is worth your time, read our Phantom Blade Zero review.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start the Deep in the Valley quest in Phantom Blade Zero?
Talk to the Panicked Mandate Disciple standing next to the locked gate near the Creek Valley Plains Entrance bell. He will ask you to find the Sha-Chi Tower Base Camp Gate Key, which starts the quest.
Where is the Sha-Chi Tower Base Camp Gate Key?
It is at the top of the Sha-Chi Tower on a ledge that you cannot reach by normal means. Fast travel to the Valley Sha-Chi Tower Summit bell, climb the wall beside the Shadow Warden, follow the connecting tube, and use the Hunter’s Chain Sickle to swing across and grab it.
Can I complete Deep in the Valley before defeating The Hunt?
No. The key is physically inaccessible without the Hunter’s Chain Sickle, which you only get after defeating The Hunt boss at the Great Waterfall. You need to progress the Steel and Steam chapter first.
What do I get for completing Deep in the Valley?
The main rewards include the Counterstrike Bracers (from defeating the Gold Masked One), the Reflex Device, the Vessel Restorative, Sha-Chi Amber Fragments, Blackstone Fragments, and access to the Crimson Manor quest. You also unlock four new bells for full map coverage.
Is Deep in the Valley required for the True Ending?
Yes. Completing it is one of the pre-requisite quests needed before the Mirage Estate to unlock the True Ending in Phantom Blade Zero. Skipping it can lock you out of important late-game content.
