You’ve probably seen it. That massive, looming structure in the Pagoda Realm during Chapter 3 that makes your skin crawl. Honestly, the first time I stumbled into the Great Pagoda in Black Myth: Wukong, I thought it was just another set piece designed to make me feel small. It’s oppressive. The snow is thick, the atmosphere is heavy, and if you're like most players, you probably spent more time trying not to fall off narrow ledges than wondering what the building actually does.
But here’s the thing. The Great Pagoda isn't just a landmark. It is the literal mechanical heart of the game’s "True Ending."
If you finish the game without fully interacting with this space, you’ve essentially played a demo. That sounds harsh, I know. But Game Science buried the most significant boss fight and the actual narrative resolution behind a series of requirements that all converge right here, in this freezing, silent hall. Most people just walk in, see a few empty murals, and leave. Big mistake.
Finding the Great Pagoda Without Losing Your Mind
Getting there is sort of a trek. You’ll find it in the Snow-Veiled Trail area of the New Thunderclap Temple region. It’s easy to miss because Chapter 3 is a labyrinth of white-out conditions and verticality that feels designed to disorient you. You’re looking for a specific path that veers off the main progression towards the end of the chapter.
Once you step inside, the vibe shifts. It’s quiet. Way too quiet for a game that usually tries to kill you every ten seconds.
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There are these massive wall paintings—murals—that depict your journey. If you’re early in the game, they’ll look incomplete. Shadows. Gaps. This is the game's way of tracking your progress toward the secret ending. Each mural corresponds to one of the "Secret Areas" found in the previous chapters. If you haven't visited the Ancient Guanyin Temple in Chapter 1 or the Kingdom of Sahali in Chapter 2, those walls are going to stay stubbornly blank.
The Mural Mystery and the Secret Boss
Let's get real about what needs to happen here. To "activate" the Great Pagoda, you need more than just a map marker. You need the relics. Specifically, you need to have completed the secret questlines in Chapters 1, 2, 4, and 5.
- Chapter 1: You have to ring the three bells and take down Elder Jinchi.
- Chapter 2: You need to find the drunken boar and enter the Sahali kingdom to beat the Fuban.
- Chapter 4: The Purple Cloud Mountain area is mandatory.
- Chapter 5: You must find the Bishui Cave.
Once these are done, and once you’ve reached the end of the game, a specific NPC—The Maitreya Buddha (the small, energetic monk you met earlier)—will appear at the Great Pagoda. This is the trigger. He doesn't just stand there to give you a pep talk. He opens the way to Mount Mei.
Mount Mei is where the real final challenge lives. Erlang, the Sacred Divinity.
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Erlang Shen is, hands down, the hardest fight in the game. Forget the final boss of the main story. Erlang is a multi-phase nightmare that tests every single mechanic you’ve learned, from parrying to spell timing. But more importantly, beating him here—after triggering the Great Pagoda's hidden cutscene—is the only way to unlock the cinematic finale that actually explains Wukong’s fate.
Why the Great Pagoda Matters for the Lore
In Journey to the West, the source material, the concept of a pagoda is often linked to imprisonment or spiritual refinement. In Black Myth: Wukong, the Great Pagoda serves as a trophy room of sorts, but a somber one. It represents the Destined One’s progress in reclaiming the lost senses of the Great Sage.
There's a lot of debate in the community about whether the Destined One is actually Wukong or just a successor. The murals in the pagoda lean heavily into the cyclical nature of the story. As you fill them in, you aren't just recording your own deeds; you’re reconstructing the history that the Heavens tried to erase.
It’s about memory.
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The game’s standard ending is pretty bleak. It suggests a cycle that can't be broken. The Great Pagoda is the "out." It’s the mechanical manifestation of breaking the cycle. By visiting every secret corner of the world and then returning to this central hub, you’re proving that the Destined One has the wisdom—not just the strength—to surpass the original Wukong.
Practical Tips for the Great Pagoda Questline
Don't wait until the very last second to check your progress. If you reach the final boss of Chapter 6 and beat him, the game will offer to start New Game+. Don't do it. You can choose to continue your current journey. This allows you to go back, finish the secret areas you missed, and then head to the Great Pagoda to trigger the Erlang fight.
- Check your murals. Walk up to each wall in the Great Pagoda. If a section is grayed out or looks like "sketch work" rather than a finished painting, you missed a secret boss in that chapter.
- The Treasure Hunter Quest. Make sure you’ve finished the quest involving the NPC who is looking for the "fire" in Chapter 3. This is often a prerequisite for the monk appearing at the pagoda.
- Level up. Seriously. Entering the portal at the Great Pagoda leads to a boss fight that makes the rest of the game look like a tutorial. I’d recommend being at least level 80, preferably 90+, with fully upgraded gourds.
- The Jingubang. You really should have the staff from Chapter 6 before attempting the secret ending triggered here. It makes the combat flow much better.
The Great Pagoda acts as a gatekeeper. It’s Game Science’s way of rewarding players who actually explored the world instead of just rushing from boss to boss. It is the difference between a 30-hour action game and a 60-hour masterpiece of storytelling.
Actionable Next Steps
If you’re currently standing in the Great Pagoda and nothing is happening, here is exactly what you need to do:
- Teleport to Chapter 1 (Wolf Forest - Outside the Cave). Ensure you’ve beaten Elder Jinchi in the secret area accessed by the bells.
- Teleport to Chapter 2 (Rockrest Flat). Find the Man-in-Stone and the Drunken Boar to access the Sahali kingdom.
- Teleport to Chapter 4 (Webbed Hollow - Upper Hollow). Follow the path to the Venomous Armless boss to unlock the Purple Cloud Mountain.
- Teleport to Chapter 5 (Furnace Valley - Rakshasa Palace). Complete the Five Element Carts quest to enter the Bishui Cave.
Once those four tasks are marked off your list, return to the Great Pagoda. The center mural will finally be ready, and the path to the game's true climax will be open. You’ve got a long fight ahead of you, so make sure your build is optimized for stamina recovery and spell cooldowns before you step through that portal.