As you start exploring Weeping Creek Valley, you will start noticing red icons on the map with a bow drawn on it. Naturally, it would lead to you to see if there is an enemy, or a chest that drops a bow – to get these items, and also, of course, help during combat.
Turns out, the only way to get a bow is to complete a side quest – and one that is completely missable, as the game, in no way, puts that particular NPC on the main story path, like, for example, it does with Yu’er.
Here’s how to get a bow, and get all those collectibles and upgrade items that, without a bow, are out of reach in Phantom Blade Zero.
Beginning Purge the Sect quest
You get a Bow on completing Purge the Sect side quest in Phantom Blade Zero. This side quest is given to you by the Brooding Old Archer, sitting on the roof of a building, in the Outpost – your first mini-hub for the game. You will come across this area early in the first chapter – Against The Fall.
Approach and speak to him, and he will complain about how his pupils have gone rogue, and that he is ashamed of them. However, he being too old, can’t do much but complain. Soul, helpfully suggests that he can take care of them for him, which starts Purge the Sect quest.
Getting the Broken String Bow
Your next step is to progress on the main quest, and defeat Peng Meng, The Axemaster. Continue ahead, defeat the two enemies with shields, till you cross The Weeping Creek Valley Plains Entrance bell on your right.
You will then be treated to a cinematic of The Hunt further taunting you, and you will enter into an area filled with enemies. Clear the first set of enemies to arrive into an area that has two ladders going up.
Take any of the two, and here, defeat the archers and the melee attackers. From here, look at the path going up on the right. There will be an archer next to a chest. Defeat him to get The Broken String Bow, and a Blackstone Shard. This will also be a good time to loot the treasure chest next to him and get the Token of Pursuit – one of the 7 accessories in Weeping Creek Valley.
Returning to the Brooding Old Archer
With that in hand, return to the Brooding Old Archer. He will fix the bow for you, while reminiscing on the days when he had first crafted the bow. The Feather Bow is one of the 7 weapons and Phantom Edges in the Weeping Creek Valley. Once done, Purge the Sect is complete, and you have a bow to do both – take care of enemies at range, as well as shoot objects that are hanging and get key upgrade materials from them.
