Phantom Blade Zero: Secrets at the Heart of the Lake guide

Where should you start if the lake quest is stuck?

Check the missing prerequisite, not just the quest marker. A Firefly Memory Flower in Village of Lu registers this mystery, but the route also uses the Broken Illusory Pipa obtained after Bai Chilian. Below is a dependency order for returning players; several early tasks can progress together.

Which items unlock the next stage?

The three encounters with the Three-Eyed Puppet are reached near Yuzan, Yubi, and the Jade-Face/Huangxing route respectively. Return the repair parts to Myst; possession of the parts is not the same as having the working instrument. See the obstacle-to-tool table if a different barrier is blocking you.

Where do the four masks come from?

Use the scarecrows for Yanru near the Terraces in Village of Lu, Lei Ting near Pangzhen’s western lakeside, and Guhe on the island by Meigu Village East Dock. Hansui is the exception: his mask comes from the Puppet Scavenger encounter inside Crimson Manor. Searching for a fourth outdoor scarecrow sends you down the wrong route.

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What must you do after opening the mirror?

At the frozen northwest of Meigu Lake, the four masks open Four Guardians’ Mirror. Defeat Blizzard Blademaster, then use both Crystal Puppet Eyes at the statue to continue to the lake’s heart. Clear the ritualists and finish the concluding encounter and dialogue. Opening the barrier alone does not complete the tale.

Before entering Mirage Estate, review the journal and the ending checkpoints. The fifth Long Pillar is inside the estate and belongs to the later checkpoint before Mount Soulrend’s last bell. This page contains quest spoilers, but does not reveal the final ending scene.

Where exactly do you find Myst and the repair parts?

Use Huang Manor Crossroads Bell as the starting point in Pangzhen. Find the tavern marked by two green lanterns. Inside, inspect the eastern wine racks, break the conspicuous large jar and operate the crank it conceals. Follow the passage underground and open the gate to meet Myst. Show her the broken instrument to establish which three parts you need.

For each part, separate unlocking the encounter from collecting the item:

1. Head: in Village of Lu, collect the Firefly flower set. At Temple of Blue Fireflies Bell, check behind the temple for the fog entrance. Continue to Broken Puppet Pit Bell and descend to Dusk’s encounter. Defeat him and check for the head.
2. Backplate: obtain the Training Grounds Key from the Chief Disciple of the Seven-Star Formation, then use the Training Grounds route in Mandate Encampment to reach Yubi. After winning, enter the building behind the arena and take the backplate from the table. Winning the fight alone is not the pickup.
3. Strings: use the powered boat to explore Meigu Lake and complete Yan’er’s flower set. It reveals Yan Qiansui’s location; defeat her in the southern lake area and check for the strings.

Return to the underground tavern with all three. The checkpoint is the working Illusory Pipa Phantom Edge, not three parts in your inventory. For the mountain entrance, sail to the northeast dock, activate Weeping Mistgate Bell and play the repaired instrument at the marked mist barrier.

How do the portals, manor and eyes fit together?

Treat the portal chain and mask collection as two branches that merge at the lake. Visit the Three-Eyed Puppet through the portals near Yuzan, Yubi and the northern Mountain of Imprisonment route. The final visit supplies Puppet’s Tongue and Crystal Puppet Eye Yin. The mountain visit is why repairing the instrument comes first.

For the manor branch, finish Deep in the Valley to open access below the Sha-Chi Tower. Lure the explosive enemy to the obstruction, use the opened route and take the elevator down. The door beyond still needs Puppet’s Tongue. Inside, completing the Puppet Scavenger/Hansui encounter supplies Hansui’s mask and Crystal Puppet Eye Yang. The second-floor flower can be checked on this visit too.

This gives you a practical inventory audit: three outdoor masks plus Hansui’s mask; one eye from the portal chain plus one from the manor. If the statue is still blocking progress after the mirror-realm boss, check the two eye items separately instead of repeating the three outdoor Acolyte fights.

What should you check before the next stage?

For another playthrough, use the NG+ preparation list before restarting. If you are still exploring, the Mirage Estate return route separates the three Nuo Masks, fifth Long Pillar and post-boss pickup order.