You’re wandering through the Fright Cliff in Black Myth: Wukong, dodging those annoying spear-wielding rats and trying not to get flattened by a giant rolling rock, when you hear it. A muffled, grumbly voice. It sounds like it’s coming from the ground itself. Follow the noise into a narrow ravine near the Rockrest Flat Shrine, and there he is: the Man-in-Stone.
He’s exactly what the name implies. A guy stuck in a rock.
Honestly, the first time I saw him, I thought he was a boss trap. In a game inspired by Journey to the West, where almost everything wants to bash your head in, finding a helpless NPC feels suspicious. But the Man-in-Stone isn't just a weird piece of environmental storytelling. He is the gateway to one of the most useful transformations in the early game, a secret shop, and a questline that rewards you for being thorough—and a little bit cynical.
Finding the Man-in-Stone in the Fright Cliff
If you’ve reached Chapter 2, you know the Yellow Wind Ridge is a massive jump in complexity compared to the first area. To find the Man-in-Stone, start at the Rockrest Flat Keeper’s Shrine. Instead of heading toward the massive gate where the Stone Vanguard boss lurks, turn right. You’ll see a path leading into a sort of canyon or trench.
Follow it. You’ll deal with some minor enemies, but eventually, you’ll find a cul-de-sac where this guy is wedged into the limestone.
He’s grumpy. He claims he’s been cursed and needs your help to kill a nearby "Mother of Stones" to break the spell. Now, if you’re playing Wukong like a standard boss-rusher, you might ignore him. Don’t. This interaction is the only way to unlock the Azure Dust transformation, which is basically your "get out of jail free" card when an enemy is about to stun-lock you.
The Mother of Stones: A Weirdly Passive Boss
The Man-in-Stone wants the Essence of Stone. To get it, you have to find the Mother of Stones. She’s located in the cave system nearby—specifically the Rock-Clash Platform area.
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Here’s the thing: she doesn’t actually attack you.
It’s one of the strangest "boss" fights in the game. She just sits there, glowing with a dull resonance, while her "children" (smaller stone spirits) jump out of the ground to protect her. You basically just whale on a stationary rock while managing the adds. It’s not hard, but it feels wrong, which is a common theme in Black Myth: Wukong. Once she shatters, you get the Stone Essence.
Take it back to our friend in the cliffside.
The Betrayal (Because Of Course)
Give him the essence. He’ll thank you, the curse will lift, and he’ll stand up. Then, because this is an action RPG, he immediately tries to kill you.
The Man-in-Stone fight is more of a mini-boss encounter. He uses slow, heavy swings and a few geological bursts. He isn't particularly fast, and if you’ve already beaten the Lingxuzi or the Whiteclad Noble back in Chapter 1, this guy is a cakewalk. Once you deplete his health bar, he doesn't die. He cowers. He begs.
This is the crucial part: Do not keep swinging. If you stop and talk to him after beating some sense into him, he becomes a vendor. This is easily missed if you’re just button-mashing.
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Why the Man-in-Stone Shop Matters
The Man-in-Stone sells some items that are genuinely hard to find elsewhere in the early game. Specifically, he sells the Goldflora Hairpin, which increases the amount of Will (the game's currency) you gain from defeating enemies. If you’re trying to upgrade your gourds or buy expensive crafting materials from the shrines, this pin is a godsend.
He also sells the Sobering Stone.
You need the Sobering Stone for a completely different quest involving a drunken boar (the Yellow-Robed Squire). Without it, you can’t access the "Secret" area of Chapter 2, the Sahali Desert, which contains some of the best loot and lore drops in the entire act.
He also sells various shards and ores. His prices are a bit high, but since Will is infinite if you’re willing to farm, it’s worth the investment.
The Azure Dust Transformation
By completing this quest, you receive the Azure Dust spell.
When you activate it, you turn into a massive rock spirit. You can’t dodge well, and you move like a glacier, but you are functionally immortal for the duration. It is a "defensive" transformation. Most players use it to tank through a boss's "enraged" phase or to deal massive stagger damage with the headbutt move.
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In Black Myth: Wukong, transformations aren't just for damage; they are a secondary health bar. If you’re at 5% health and the boss is about to land a killing blow, popping Azure Dust saves your run. The Man-in-Stone is the reason you get that safety net.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
People get confused about the Man-in-Stone because the quest markers in this game are non-existent. There is no "Quest Log" telling you where to go.
- "I killed the Mother of Stones but he won't talk to me." You have to interact with him several times. The dialogue in this game often requires you to "exhaust" it. Keep pressing the interact button until he repeats himself.
- "Is he a traitor?" Yes, but a useful one. In the lore of the game, many NPCs are "Yaoguai" (demons/spirits) who are inherently deceptive. The Man-in-Stone represents the greedy, cowardly side of the spirit world.
- "Can I lock myself out of this quest?" If you progress too far into Chapter 3 or 4 without finishing his dialogue or beating him, some players have reported he disappears or becomes unresponsive. It's best to handle him the moment you arrive at the Fright Cliff.
How to Maximize Your Gains
If you want the most out of this encounter, follow this specific order.
First, talk to him. Second, get the Essence. Third, beat him up. Fourth—and this is the part people forget—buy everything unique he has immediately. The Goldflora Hairpin should never leave your accessory slot during exploration phases.
The game doesn't hold your hand. It expects you to listen to the environment. The Man-in-Stone is a perfect example of how Black Myth: Wukong rewards curiosity over raw speed. If you just ran past that ravine, you'd miss a vendor, a secret area key, and a vital defensive spell.
Next Steps for Your Playthrough
- Check your inventory: If you’ve already beaten the Mother of Stones but haven't gone back to the ravine, do it now. The Azure Dust transformation is waiting.
- Save your Will: You'll need about 6,000+ Will to clear out his important items. Don't waste it all on basic consumables at the Shrine until you've bought his unique curios.
- Head to the Drunken Boar: Once you have the Sobering Stone from the Man-in-Stone, go find the NPC in the Rockrest Flat area who is complaining about a hangover. That is your ticket to the Chapter 2 secret boss.
The world of Black Myth: Wukong is dense. Don't let a grumpy rock man trick you into missing the best parts of the game.