The quest also rewards you with the Dread Axe, a powerful Phantom Edge that you’ll need to break chain barriers and access additional areas. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to start the quest, progress through the investigation, and find the evidence mentioned in the available quest information.
Phantom Blade Zero Four Fierce Axes Quest Guide – All Evidence Locations and Dread Axe
You can start Four Fierce Axes in Weeping Creek Valley, near the Broken Puppet Valley Bell.
Follow these steps to unlock the quest:
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Travel to the Broken Puppet Valley Bell.
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Look for a corpse and an altar near a tree beside the Bell.
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Pick up the book called The Four Axes Case Files.
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Reading the book triggers the Four Fierce Axes quest.
Your objective is to uncover the truth behind the Four Axes Rebellion by collecting evidence and investigating what happened to its members.
Four Fierce Axes Quest Walkthrough
Step 1: Collect the Case File Inside the House
After collecting the first book near the Broken Puppet Valley Bell, look for the house directly in front of the area.
Enter the house and check the table for another document about the Four Axes. Collect this case file before moving on to the next location.
Step 2: Find Another Case File Near Rustblade Pavilion
Next, travel to the Outpost Courtyard Bell, located past Rustblade Pavilion.
Look for a house in the area and enter it. You should find another Four Axes case file inside. Collect the document to continue gathering evidence about the rebellion.
Step 3: Investigate the Mandate Outpost
Your next destination is the Mandate Outpost. Here, you’ll need to investigate two important characters and locations.
First, look for the Brooding Old Archer, who is sitting on the roof of a house.
Next, investigate the nearby house. Inside, you’ll find a Petrified Mandate Disciple hiding behind some boxes.
Speak to the disciple and exhaust all available dialogue options. This conversation advances the quest and reveals information about the Axemaster’s fate.
You’ll learn that the Axemaster has turned into a Maskwalker and must be defeated.
Step 4: Defeat Peng Meng the Axemaster
After speaking with the Petrified Mandate Disciple, head to the upper section of the Mandate Outpost in Weeping Creek Valley.
There, you’ll encounter Peng Meng the Axemaster.
Defeat the boss to obtain the Dread Axe, a Phantom Edge required for breaking certain chain barriers throughout the valley.
The quest objective will then update, asking you to gather more evidence about the Four Axes.
Step 5: Find Captain Wu’s Final Letter
Once you’ve obtained the Dread Axe, return to the chain barrier near the Axemaster’s Holding Cell Bell.
Use the axe to break through the barrier and proceed to the Bell area.
Near the Bell, inspect the table to collect another Four Axes document called Captain Wu’s Final Letter.
Make sure you collect this document before continuing your investigation.
Step 6: Open the Cave Entrance and Reach The Lady’s Cave
Continue exploring the area around the Axemaster’s Holding Cell.
Look for another chain barrier concealing a cave entrance. Use the Dread Axe to break the chains and enter the cave.
Follow the path inside until you reach The Lady’s Cave Bell.
Once you’ve arrived, continue through the tunnel and look for a wooden ledge you can grapple up to.
Step 7: Collect the Case File on the Wooden Ledge
After reaching the tunnel near The Lady’s Cave Bell, grapple up to the wooden ledge.
Look for another document titled Four Axes Case Files and pick it up.
This adds another piece of evidence to your investigation into the Four Axes Rebellion.
How to Continue Collecting Evidence
After defeating Peng Meng the Axemaster, the quest requires you to collect a total of seven pieces of evidence against the Four Axes.
However, completing the remaining investigation requires additional equipment and access to more areas.
You’ll need the following:
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Hunter’s Chain Sickle: Required to reach additional areas and traverse gaps.
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Sha-Chi Tower Base Camp Gate Key: Needed to explore further into the middle section of Weeping Creek Valley.
Once you have the required key, fast travel to the Creek Valley Plains Entrance Bell.
From there, head toward the houses where soldiers are fighting Transcended enemies. Continue investigating the area for additional evidence related to the Four Axes.
The available quest information ends at this point, so the remaining evidence locations and the final quest completion steps aren’t confirmed here.
Four Fierce Axes Quest Rewards
Completing the investigation provides the following listed rewards:
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Dread Axe: A Phantom Edge obtained by defeating Peng Meng the Axemaster.
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The Four Axes Case Files: The Axemaster’s Final Request: A document associated with the quest.
The Dread Axe is particularly important because it lets you break chain barriers that block access to otherwise inaccessible routes.
Extra Items in the Mandate Outpost
While investigating the house where you encounter the Petrified Mandate Disciple, check the area for additional loot.
You can find:
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Solvent ×3
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Phantom Reforge Talisman
Collect these items while you’re there so you don’t need to return later just for the extra supplies.
The most important part of Four Fierce Axes is progressing through the investigation in the correct order. Collect the early case files, speak to the Petrified Mandate Disciple, and defeat Peng Meng to obtain the Dread Axe.
You’ll need the Dread Axe to break chain barriers and reach additional areas, while the Hunter’s Chain Sickle and Sha-Chi Tower Base Camp Gate Key help you continue exploring the valley.
Keep an eye out for documents whenever you enter a house or reach a new Bell. Since the quest requires seven pieces of evidence, collecting every case file you encounter will help you avoid missing important clues.
