Criteria to achieve the secret ending/true ending


SPOILER
Criteria to achieve the secret ending/true ending (SPOILERS)
There is a lot of confusion regarding this topic, so I would like to make a post regarding how to achieve the secret ending (true ending/good ending).

There are only TWO endings to this game. In the bad ending, the player receives the golden headband and becomes a new Wukong, and the cycle continues. In the good ending, the player receives the sixth relic and does not wear the golden headband, thus achieving Wukong’s desire to be free from control (it is the golden headband that controls him).

The requirement to achieve the true ending is very simple, you must first finish the secret quest of chapter 1 through chapter 5.

The five secret quests are the following:

Chapter 1: Whiteclad Noble will tell you about three bells. Ring all three bells around the map to be teleported to Ancient Guanyin Temple and defeat Elder Jinchi to receive the Fireproof Mantle.

Chapter 2: Yellow Robe Squire (the drunken boar NPC) will tell you about a lost kingdom of gold. Complete his questline and be teleported to the Lost Kingdom of Sahali and defeat Fuban to receive the Wind Tamer.

Chapter 3: The treasure hunter with a green rice farmer hat will tell you about a watermelon field that was planted by Buddha hundreds of years ago. Complete his questline and meet the real Maitreya Buddha, who will teach you the Spell Binder ability.

Chapter 4: Defeat the Venom Daoist in both locations, and he will open a painting that teleports you to Purple Cloud Mountain. Defeat Duskveil there to receive the Sewing Needle.

Chapter 5: The Pale-Axe Stalwart will ask you to defeat the five element carts. Upon defeating all five element carts you will be able to enter Bishui Cave. Defeat Bishui Golden Eyed Beast in Bushui Cave to learn about the truth behind the birth of Red Boy.

After finishing all five secret quests, go to the Great Pagoda in Chapter 3. Maitreya Buddha (the little kid) will be waiting there. Maitreya Buddha will not appear unless you’ve completed the five secret quests. A good way to check how many quests you’ve done is by looking at the murals on the walls of the Great Pagoda, as completing the secret quest of a chapter will fill the mural. For Maitreya Buddha to spawn every mural except the center mural must be filled. Speak with Maitreya Buddha and he will fill the center mural, which will transport you to Mount Mei for a secret boss fight with Erlang and the Four Heavenly Kings (warning, very hard fight). Upon defeating Erlang, he will give you the sixth relic, and you are free to proceed to the ending as usual. Upon finishing the game, you will realize that the player character does not accept the headband in the ending cinematic, and you achieve the true ending. In NG+ you will be able to select a passive perk for your sixth relic at the center of the circle.

Note that the NPC related to the secret quest of each Chapter (Whiteclad Noble, Drunken Boar, Treasure Hunter, Venom Daoist, Pale Axe Stalwart) are Erlang’s friends sent to test you to see if you are worthy to become a successor to Wukong. Finish all five quests and face Erlang himself for the sixth relic, and you achieve the true ending.

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