Have you been “grinding” Black Myth: Wukong up to Chapter 3 and feel tired of running back and forth between Keeper’s Shrines to meet NPCs? Do you want to “upgrade” your armor but don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, Zodiac Village is your “true love”!
Zodiac Village is not just a location on the map, but also a very important hub, where many useful NPCs are concentrated, and especially the ability to upgrade armor – something you’ve been looking for. This article will be your guide, guiding you step-by-step to “unlock” this mysterious village, while also “revealing” tips to maximize the benefits it brings.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s explore Zodiac Village together and “transform” your armor to become “tougher” than ever!
Unlocking Zodiac Village
To set foot in this “divine” village, you need to go through a few small challenges. But don’t worry, I will guide you through each step in detail, ensuring it’s “easy as pie”!
First, make sure you have “stepped foot” into Chapter 3 of the game. If you are still “struggling” in the previous chapters, put aside the search for Zodiac Village and focus on “conquering” the storyline!
(Optional): If the story requires it, you may need to defeat a specific boss before you can continue your journey to Zodiac Village.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Find Chen Loong
Start your journey from the Keeper’s Shrine called North Shore of the Bitter Lake. From here, head north, following the rocky shore and the coastline.
Pay attention, you will see a rather impressive scene: a dragon “playing” with lightning in the middle of the lake! That is Chen Loong, the character we need to find. Just boldly move forward, don’t be afraid!
Tip: If you are “sharp-eyed”, look for a small hut nearby. This will be an important “landmark” for later steps.
Step 2: Defeat Chen Loong
That’s right, you heard correctly! To “befriend” Chen Loong, you will have to “fight” him. This is a boss fight, but don’t worry too much, you won’t have to “go it alone”. Admiral Bajie will “join the battle” with you.
Step 3: Find and Assist Xu Dog (Find Medicine for Chen Loong)
After “defeating” Chen Loong, he will “complain” that he needs medicine to recover. And the person who can help him (as well as help you) is Xu Dog – a medicine seller.
Here, there will be two scenarios, depending on whether you have met Xu Dog in Chapter 2 or not:
Scenario 1 (Met Xu Dog in Chapter 2): If you have “encountered” Xu Dog before, you will find him at the Cellar Shrine in the Crouching Tiger Temple area. Go there, talk, and receive the quest (if any) or simply receive the medicine.
Scenario 2 (Haven’t Met Xu Dog): If this is the first time you’ve heard of this name, then you’ll have to “struggle” a bit more. Follow these instructions:
- Go to the Village Entrance Shrine. Instead of entering the village, go down the ditch below the wooden bridge. Go through the tunnel. You will see Xu Dog standing near the rocks.
- Note: You may have to “deal with” a giant frog boss named Lang-Li-Guhh-Baw to retrieve the medicine for Xu Dog.
- Talk to Xu Dog to receive the medicine or complete the related quest.
Step 4: Return to Chen Loong and Give the Medicine
Now you have in your hands what Chen Loong needs: Special-made Bone-Strengthening Pellet. Return to the coast, near the hut you saw earlier (in Step 1). Give the medicine to Chen Loong.
Step 5: Receive the Ruyi Scroll and Go to Zodiac Village
To “repay” you, Chen Loong will give you a very important item: the Ruyi Scroll. This is the “passport” that takes you to Zodiac Village.
You can use the Ruyi Scroll to teleport to the village instantly, or if you prefer, you can select Zodiac Village from the list of destinations at any Keeper’s Shrine.
Upgrading Armor
Welcome to Zodiac Village! Now that you have “set foot” in this village, you will have the opportunity to “upgrade” your armor, helping to increase your defense and “survive” in the fierce battles ahead.
Introducing Yin Tiger
You need to find Yin Tiger – a talented blacksmith and the most important NPC in the village. Find him – you won’t have trouble recognizing him!
To upgrade armor, you just need to select the Upgrade Armor option in the menu. However, remember, “there’s no such thing as a free lunch”! You will need to “pay” a certain amount of materials, depending on the rarity of the armor piece you want to upgrade.
Below is a table summarizing the necessary materials:
| Rarity | Required Materials |
| Uncommon | Will and Silk |
| Rare | Will , Silk, and Cold Iron Leaves |
| Epic | Will, Cold Iron Leaves, and Fine Gold Thread |
| Legendary | Will, Fine Gold Thread, and Celestial Ribbon |
Challenging Yin Tiger
In addition to the ability to craft and upgrade equipment, Yin Tiger also offers you a special challenge – a dramatic “do-or-die” battle!
If you select the “Challenge” option in Yin Tiger’s menu, prepare yourself for a one-on-one battle. Be prepared, because this is not an “easy” fight! Yin Tiger is a “tough” opponent, with the ability to use both fire and wind, along with “heavy” attacks.
Rewards
Of course, “no pain, no gain”! If you “overcome” this challenge, you will receive extremely valuable rewards:
- Ebon Flow spell: Learning this skill, you can “transform” into Yin Tiger, block attacks with a giant sword, and “close in” on enemies with lightning-fast dashes.
- Additional Curio slot: After “defeating” Yin Tiger, the “Challenge” option will turn into “Equip More Curios”. This means you will have an extra equipment slot to “attach” more Curios, helping to increase your character’s strength.
You will have the opportunity to “own” extremely “cool” Legendary armor:
- Iron Horned Helmet
- Iron-Tough Armor
- Iron-Tough Gauntlets
- Iron-Tough Greaves
With such “attractive” rewards, what are you waiting for? “Challenge” Yin Tiger right away!
Other Activities in Zodiac Village
Zodiac Village is not just about Yin Tiger and armor upgrades. This place also hides many other interesting things waiting for you to discover.
Xu Dog – Request Medicines
Do you remember Xu Dog, the medicine seller you helped earlier? At Zodiac Village, you can “interact” with him and select the “Request Medicines” option to receive useful healing potions.
Note: You will need to wait a while before new medicines are available. Look for the red dot next to the “Request Medicines” option – that’s the sign that new medicines are ready for you to “grab”!
Chen Loong – Farming
If you have collected any seeds during your “adventure”, find Chen Loong. You can find him above, near the stairs, behind the Shen Monkey and Xu Dog.
Right in front of the stairs, you can find baskets where you can harvest materials.
You can “give” seeds to Chen Loong, and he will help you grow them. After a while, you can come back to “harvest” the results – valuable materials for crafting and upgrading.
Tip: The first time you harvest, you will receive the “Happy Harvest” achievement!
So, you have “mastered” the secrets to unlocking Zodiac Village, upgrading armor, and exploring the interesting activities here. Zodiac Village is not just a simple “stopover”, but also an important hub, helping you “level up” your strength and prepare for the more “challenging” challenges in Black Myth: Wukong.
Remember to regularly visit Zodiac Village to “maximize” the benefits it brings: upgrade armor, challenge Yin Tiger, receive medicine from Xu Dog, and “harvest” the results from Chen Loong.
Wishing you “fiery” and “successful” gaming hours in Black Myth: Wukong!