Steel and Steam is one of the important chapters in Phantom Blade Zero, taking you through the Sha-Chi Tower, dangerous Transcended enemies, hidden paths, and several important story encounters. If you have just finished Against the Flow, this guide will help you find the next route and collect useful items without missing important rewards.
In this walkthrough, we will explore the Sha-Chi Tower, meet the Shadow Warden, investigate the Primal Stone, and take on Hua, the Deadly Betrothed, before facing The Hunt. You will also find details about Bells, Books, upgrade materials, and important story items such as the Twin Flesh Lilies and the Hunter’s Chain Sickle.
I also recommend completing the optional Deep in the Valley quest before moving on to the next chapter. It opens up additional areas, rewards, and useful upgrades, including the Reflex Device and Vessel Restorative. Let’s go through everything step by step.
Phantom Blade Zero Steel and Steam Walkthrough Guide – Quest
1. Leave the Destroyed Village and Collect the First Items
After completing Against the Flow, leave the destroyed village and follow the path toward the stone bridge. Before crossing it, look below the bridge for a few useful items.
- Broadplate Metal: Drop down from the bridge and check the chest in the right corner.
- Blood-Stopper Vine: Search the western corner beneath the bridge. You will need this item for the Apprentice Healer Tale.
- Book: Fragments of the Mandate: Climb back up and destroy the chained gate to reach the book.
- Focus Pill: Open the nearby chest to collect this medicine.
Once you have collected everything, cross the bridge and defeat the enemies on the other side. The Dread Axe is useful here, especially when you need to break another chained gate blocking your route.
Continue forward until you reach the area outside the Sha-Chi Tower.
2. Reach Creek Valley Plains Entrance
Near a wooden cage, you will find a Dying Mandate Disciple. Speak with him to learn that you need to find a way around the Sha-Chi Tower.
Continue along the main path until you reach the first Bell in the area, Creek Valley Plains Entrance.
There is a Panicked Mandate Disciple near the Bell. Talk to him to learn more about the monsters inside the tower. Completing the conversation unlocks the quest Deep in the Valley.
Continue forward and watch the short cutscene showing The Hunt crossing a bridge and cutting through the enemies in its path.
3. Clear the Steel Tower Entrance
Enter the Steel Tower area and prepare to fight several enemies. You will encounter Transcended monsters alongside archers, so try to clear the entire area before moving ahead.
Defeating all the enemies rewards you with a Blackstone Fragment and progresses the Tale Purge the Sect.
Next, climb the staircase in the northwest section of the area. At the top, you will find the Ruthless Archer Camp Bell.
Open the treasure chest beside the Bell to collect a Token of Pursuit.
Complete Purge the Sect Before Continuing
Before heading into the tower, consider returning to the outpost to finish the Tale Purge the Sect.
Hand over the Bow to the Brooding Old Archer. Completing this objective rewards you with the Phantom Edge Feather Bow, giving you another option for ranged combat.
Once you have claimed the reward, return to the Ruthless Archer Camp Bell.
4. Enter the Sha-Chi Tower
From the Ruthless Archer Camp Bell, drop down and follow the large metal tube. Use the nearby slope to climb toward a house, where you can collect the Book Reflections.
Return to the route used by The Hunt and cross the same bridge. At the other end, collect the Remnant Dust and follow the thread leading forward.
You will eventually reach the Valley Sha-Chi Tower 1st Floor Bell.
Inside the tower, collect these Books:
- Mystery of Transcension
- Hua the Bride
Explore the first floor before climbing the staircase. Continue upward, defeat the enemy waiting on the stairs, and climb the wall to reach the next level.
Circle around the floor to find another staircase. You will find another section of Mystery of Transcension near the staircase leading toward the top.
Continue climbing until you reach the summit and activate the next Bell.
5. Speak to the Shadow Warden
Near the summit Bell, you will find a Watchful Shadow Warden.
Unlike the other wardens you have encountered, this character is friendly. He has also managed to break the Mindseal, making him an important NPC for this chapter.
Exhaust his dialogue options to learn more about the Primal Stone. After speaking with him, you will unlock the Tale A Severed Mindseal.
You cannot complete this objective immediately, so remember to return after finding the Primal Stone.
6. Find Hua’s Lair
Return down the tower stairs and drop to the lower platform. Look toward the right corner to find a hole you can jump through.
Follow the path down to a bridge. Slide across it to reach a new area filled with enemies.
Defeat every enemy to continue. After the final fight, you will receive another section of the Book Hua the Bride.
Although the area may initially appear large, the paths lead toward the same general destination. Continue exploring and collect the available items along the way.
You can also find another section of Hua the Bride just before entering Hua’s lair.
7. Defeat Hua, the Deadly Betrothed
Enter Hua’s Lair and prepare for the boss fight against Hua, the Deadly Betrothed.
Defeating Hua rewards you with the weapon Scarlet Wraithblade. You will also be able to activate the Bell inside the lair.
Before leaving, collect the story item Twin Flesh Lilies near the front of the lair.
Make sure you explore the arena’s corners as well. The remaining sections of the Book Hua the Bride can be found around the area, so check the surroundings before moving on.
8. Return to the Outpost and Deliver the Twin Flesh Lilies
After defeating Hua, travel back to the outpost and speak with Yu’En.
Give her the Twin Flesh Lilies and exhaust the available dialogue to progress the Tale Flesh Lily.
While you are at the outpost, find the Swordsman Captain sitting near a large boulder. Speak with him to receive the Book Wulin Tales.
This interaction also progresses the Tale Festering Secret.
Once these objectives are complete, return to the top of the Sha-Chi Tower.
9. Find the Sha-Chi Furnace Inspection Crank
At the tower summit, return to the friendly Shadow Warden.
Climb the wall beside him to reach a higher platform, then follow the connecting tube toward the ledge. Use the ladder to descend.
At the bottom, defeat the enemy to obtain the story item Sha-Chi Furnace Inspection Crank.
Look along the edge for another ladder that leads back to the tower’s first floor.
10. Obtain the Primal Stone
Once you reach the first floor, approach the central mechanism and insert the Sha-Chi Furnace Inspection Crank.
Activating the mechanism rewards you with the Primal Stone.
Climb back to the summit and speak to the Shadow Warden again. Give him the Primal Stone and exhaust the conversation to progress the Tale A Severed Mindseal.
This completes the main objective involving the Warden for now.
11. Unlock Pillars of Kunlun
Return to the tower’s lower floor and use the ladder to climb up again.
Look toward the right corner to find a worn-down man. Speak with him to unlock the quest Pillars of Kunlun.
Collect the nearby Book Pillars of Kunlun before leaving the area.
Continue down the path until you reach the Waterfall Bridge Bell.
12. Explore the Area Below Waterfall Bridge
Near the Waterfall Bridge Bell, you will find a ladder and a bridge leading forward.
Before crossing the bridge, descend the ladder and turn left. Follow the staircase to a lower area filled with enemies.
Defeat the enemies and open the chest to collect upgrade materials.
Return to the upper path, climb back up, and cross the bridge. This triggers the next major objective of Steel and Steam: settling the score with The Hunt.
Settle the Score with The Hunt
13. Reach the Great Waterfall Bell
Continue straight after crossing the bridge. This section is mostly linear, and you should not encounter any enemies along the way.
Keep following the path until you reach the Great Waterfall Bell. Activate it before approaching the waterfall.
The Hunt will appear ahead, starting the next major boss encounter.
14. Defeat The Hunt
The Hunt is one of the chapter’s major boss encounters. Be prepared for a challenging fight, and pay attention to its attacks and openings rather than attacking recklessly.
The encounter has two phases. You must defeat both phases to finish the battle and receive the Hunter’s Chain Sickle.
This weapon is particularly important because it unlocks additional traversal opportunities. You can use it to reach rooftops, climb otherwise inaccessible routes, and return to areas that were previously out of reach.
After collecting the Chain Sickle, you can backtrack to obtain several additional items before finishing the chapter.
15. Collect the Missable Backtracking Items
Use the Hunter’s Chain Sickle to revisit earlier areas and collect the following items.
| Location | Item | How to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Original starting area | Pendant of Righteousness | Return to the first area and explore in the opposite direction from the original route. |
| Ruthless Archer Camp | Mechanical Gear | Use the Chain Sickle to climb onto a rooftop. |
| Valley Sha-Chi Tower Summit | Sha-Chi Tower Base Camp Gate Key | Climb the wall and use the Chain Sickle near the connecting tube. |
These items are worth collecting before moving forward, particularly the Sha-Chi Tower Base Camp Gate Key, which is required to explore the Deep in the Valley quest area.
16. Explore the Cave Behind the Great Waterfall
After defeating The Hunt and collecting any backtracking items you want, return to the Great Waterfall and climb upward.
Inside, follow the path until you reach a shrine. Collect the Book Reflections before continuing.
Move in the opposite direction and drop down the cliff. At the bottom, collect two Exotic Copper Ingots.
Turn right and follow the water until you reach another waterfall. Search underneath it to find the Book Fragments of the Mandate.
Continue through the cave. There are no enemies along this stretch, so take your time exploring and collecting the remaining materials.
Look out for:
- Two Broadplate Metal
- Two Phantom Reforge Talismans
- A Traversal Talisman
Continue to the end of the cave to complete the main chapter Steel and Steam.
Deep in the Valley Side Quest
Deep in the Valley is an additional quest that becomes especially worthwhile after obtaining the Hunter’s Chain Sickle and the Sha-Chi Tower Base Camp Gate Key.
I recommend completing this area before advancing to the next chapter, as it contains extra Books, upgrade materials, Bells, a boss encounter, and useful equipment.
17. Unlock the Gate at Creek Valley Plains Entrance
Return to the Creek Valley Plains Entrance Bell and use the Sha-Chi Tower Base Camp Gate Key to open the gate.
Enter the plains and fight the first Transcended enemies. After the initial encounter, turn right to find a small waterfall area with more enemies.
Defeat the enemies and collect the large amount of Remnant Dust in the area.
Return to the main route and continue forward until you reach a section with three different paths.
18. Explore the Eastern Path
Take the eastern path and defeat the enemies in the area.
You will find two houses:
- House on the right: Contains an item that is not identified in the available walkthrough details. A Traversal Talisman can also be found below this house.
- House on the left: Contains the area’s Crane Bell.
Before activating the Bell, make your way toward the house on the right and use the connecting tube to reach the Blue-Robed Swordsman.
Speak with him to trigger the next objective for the Tale Four Fierce Axes.
Now return to the house on the left and activate the Long Pillar Overlook Bell. This interaction reveals more about Soul’s past.
Collect the items behind the Bell:
- Book Reflections
- Rusted Loong Key
Keep the Rusted Loong Key, as you will need it to unlock a cave later in this route.
19. Unlock the Rusted Loong Key Cave
Leave the Bell area and cross the bridge into the next section. The available paths will lead back toward areas you have already explored, but there are still important items to collect.
After traversing the wall, pick up the Congeleaf to progress the Tale Apprentice Healer.
Look nearby for a locked gate. Use the Rusted Loong Key to open it.
Follow the long cave until you encounter a Transcended enemy near steel crates. Defeat the enemy to receive a Sha-Chi Amber Fragment.
At the end of the cave, activate the Weeping Creek Long Pillar Bell.
Behind the Bell, collect the Book Wulin Tales.
20. Challenge the Gold Masked One
Near the Weeping Creek Long Pillar Bell, look for the Dragon Statue in the middle of the area.
Interact with the statue to challenge The Gold Masked One.
Defeating this opponent progresses the quest Bloodline Awakening and rewards you with the Counterstrike Bracers.
After the fight, head in the direction the Dragon Statue faces to return toward the bridge.
21. Clear the Lower Waterfall Area
Return to the place where you collected the Congeleaf and drop down to the lower section.
Defeat all the enemies in the area. Continue toward the water, and additional enemies will appear near the waterfalls, including an elite Transcended opponent.
Clear the encounter, then open the chest near the scaffolding to obtain a Blackstone Fragment.
Once the area is clear, return to the plains’ Crane Bell and head toward the other side of the area.
22. Explore the Furnace Section
Continue into the furnace section and collect the Book Fragments of the Mandate from the ground.
Further ahead, you will find a large blocked section in the floor. You cannot open it by simply interacting with it.
Instead, lure an exploding enemy toward the blocked area and let it explode nearby. The explosion will open the floor and reveal an elevator leading to the lower level.
Descend and collect the Ancient Armor Fragment near a tree.
You will also find the Crimson Manor Bell in this area. Activate it, then interact with the manor’s door to unlock the quest Crimson Manor.
23. Climb Toward Valley Sha-Chi Tower Base
Return to the upper level and begin climbing the tower.
Follow the staircase near the edge of the area. Continue along the path until you encounter another group of enemies.
Defeating all of them rewards you with a Blackstone Fragment.
After clearing the area, return to the table near the staircase and collect the Book The Four Axes Case Files.
Follow the path behind the staircase to reach the Valley Sha-Chi Tower Base Bell.
24. Obtain the Reflex Device
Near the Valley Sha-Chi Tower Base Bell, collect the Book Mystery of Transcension.
Across from the Bell, you will find another mechanism that can be activated with the Sha-Chi Furnace Inspection Crank you collected earlier.
Use the crank to activate the mechanism and obtain the Reflex Device.
This is an important upgrade to collect while you are already exploring the tower.
25. Find the Vessel Restorative
After obtaining the Reflex Device, circle around the furnace and continue climbing upward.
Search along the route for additional upgrade materials. Keep scaling the structure until you reach the very top.
At the summit, open the chest to obtain the Vessel Restorative.
Make sure you have collected the nearby items and Books before leaving the area.
Important Items and Rewards
Here is a quick reference for some of the most useful rewards in Steel and Steam and Deep in the Valley.
| Item or reward | Where to obtain it |
|---|---|
| Focus Pill | Chest near the chained gate before the stone bridge |
| Token of Pursuit | Chest beside Ruthless Archer Camp Bell |
| Feather Bow | Complete Purge the Sect and give the Bow to the Brooding Old Archer |
| Scarlet Wraithblade | Defeat Hua, the Deadly Betrothed |
| Twin Flesh Lilies | In front of Hua’s lair after defeating her |
| Sha-Chi Furnace Inspection Crank | Defeat the enemy below the Sha-Chi Tower summit |
| Primal Stone | Activate the central mechanism on the tower’s first floor |
| Hunter’s Chain Sickle | Defeat both phases of The Hunt |
| Pendant of Righteousness | Backtrack to the original starting area |
| Mechanical Gear | Rooftop near Ruthless Archer Camp |
| Sha-Chi Tower Base Camp Gate Key | Near the connecting tube at the tower summit |
| Rusted Loong Key | Behind Long Pillar Overlook Bell |
| Sha-Chi Amber Fragment | Defeat the Transcended enemy inside the locked cave |
| Counterstrike Bracers | Defeat the Gold Masked One |
| 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 |
Steel and Steam has several connected objectives, so it is easy to miss collectibles while focusing on the main story. By exploring each Bell area, talking to the important NPCs, and returning with the Hunter’s Chain Sickle, you can collect the major rewards and make good progress on the chapter’s Tales before moving forward.
