At a glance
- Who gives the quest. Beside the Sha-Chi Tower Summit Bell in Weeping Creek Valley stands Spectral Blade, a friendly Shadow Warden, and he is the one who starts A Severed Mindseal.
- Trio of towers. Soul is asked to bring Primal Stones back from three Sha-Chi Towers: the Valley one, the Pangzhen one and the Crimson Forest one.
- Easy to miss. Unless the first Primal Stone is delivered prior to Soul exiting Weeping Creek Valley, the tale can no longer be completed.
- Trophy. Seeing the tale through unlocks a trophy that carries his name, Spectral Blade.
Overview
A swordsman serving among the Shadow Wardens, Spectral Blade is first encountered up on the Sha-Chi Tower Summit of Weeping Creek Valley.
At first he appears under generic labels, Watchful Shadow Warden and Friendly Shadow Warden, and he is who assigns A Severed Mindseal. Though a minor figure with just one quest line, that line stretches far. It takes Soul through Weeping Creek Valley, Pangzhen and Mirage Estate, then onward to a Crimson Forest gripped by ice, and a trophy is named for him.
In his spoken lines he comes across as someone who volunteers to assist Soul and speaks of keeping the Mindseal's control at bay. Scenes further on cast those statements in a different light.
Role in the Story
Fetching the Primal Stones
Soul approaches the amiable Shadow Warden at the Sha-Chi Tower Summit Bell in Weeping Creek Valley and takes on A Severed Mindseal. First comes a job on the roof: get up there, hop off beside the tall ladder, then defeat whoever carries the Sha-Chi Furnace Inspection Crank. Using that crank, you can unlock the furnace's rear on the Valley Sha-Chi Tower 1st Floor, where the first Primal Stone meant for Spectral Blade is found.
The Pangzhen Sha-Chi Tower, approached along the Meigu Lake route, supplies the second stone, which then goes back up to the Warden on the summit. The final handover happens at the Crimson Forest Sha-Chi Tower, with Spectral Blade standing on the 6th Floor. Once Soul has climbed up and given him the stone, the tale ends.
Spoiler warning: the deception
Later on, Spectral Blade's words overturn what he promised before. He confesses that his claims to Soul, that he could hold the Mindseal's control back and that the cold keeps it down, were false, and he cautions that fellow Wardens have been ordered to return with Soul's head. He adds, too, that he never imagined the Herald of the Thread-Binding Sect might prove crueler than the Order.
Missions Featured
| Appearance | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|
| A Severed Mindseal | Side tale | The tale is given out by Spectral Blade on the Valley Sha-Chi Tower Summit, collects Primal Stones from three Sha-Chi Towers, and wraps up on the Crimson Forest Sha-Chi Tower 6th Floor. Finishing it earns the Spectral Blade trophy. |
Quotes
Initial encounter
“This place is dangerous. I'm coming with you, Master Soul.”
Spoken by Spectral Blade.
“Let me lend a hand.”
Spoken by Spectral Blade.
Lines containing spoilers
“You'd better be careful. My colleagues have orders to bring back your head!”
Spoken by Spectral Blade.
Frequently asked questions
Which first step leads toward the trophy called Spectral Blade?
Take A Severed Mindseal from the Shadow Warden by the Valley Sha-Chi Tower Summit Bell in Weeping Creek Valley, and deliver the first Primal Stone prior to leaving the valley. This trophy is one that can be missed.
At which point does the quest finish?
It finishes on the 6th Floor of the Crimson Forest Sha-Chi Tower, where Spectral Blade receives the last Primal Stone from Soul.