Some of the best gear and the path to the true ending sit behind fights the main route never mentions. They are not hidden by difficulty so much as by *attention* — most are behind a side path you had no reason to take.
Still to verify. Still to confirm in-game: which secret bosses exist, where each one is, and the exact chain of requirements for the secret ending.
Don't miss
- Complete Yaoguai questlines to unlock their transformations and secret arenas.
- Chapter 3 hides an extended questline that leads to a major optional boss.
- Finishing the game's hidden objectives across all chapters unlocks the true ending.
- Meditation spots and hidden areas often gate the toughest optional encounters.
Unlocking them
- Talk to and follow NPCs (like the drunk Chief and various monks) across a chapter.
- Explore thoroughly — many secret arenas hide behind breakable walls and side paths.
- Some fights only appear after you've beaten specific optional bosses in order.
- Track the true-ending steps carefully; missing one usually means an NG+ cleanup run.
Rewards worth it
- Optional bosses drop unique transformations, Spirits and Celestial materials.
- Several gate the best staves and armour sets in the game.
- The hidden objectives across chapters unlock the true ending and Erlang Shen.
- Because they're missable, follow a checklist so you don't need an NG+ cleanup.
Why they matter
- Several hold the materials for the strongest staves and sets in the game.
- The secret ending is gated behind a chain of them spread across chapters.
- They are tuned harder than the chapter boss you are about to face, which makes that boss easier.
How to find them without a guide
Follow the paths that look decorative
This game hides content behind scenery that reads as background rather than behind obvious doors.
Go back after you get a new spell
Some routes only open once you have the tool that reveals or reaches them.
Finish a chapter's side content before its boss
Beating the King moves you on, and some optional content becomes awkward or impossible to return to.
The warning that matters
It is easy to lock yourself out of the secret ending without noticing: the chain starts in the early chapters. If you are going for it, learn the requirements before you finish Chapter 1.
💬 Community Strategies & Discussion
Did you find a hidden chest? Struggling with a boss? Share your tips and questions with other mercenaries below!