Should You Ring the Three Bells in Black Myth: Wukong? Yes, Here's Why

In Black Myth: Wukong, the first chapter hides a strange secret behind three unassuming bells. When a player rings the first bell in the Forest of Wolves, a forest spirit sage warns that the demons are now alarmed. That sounds like a mistake, but it really is not. Ringing all three bells is one of the best early decisions a player can make. Instead of making things harder, the bells open a hidden path to a secret boss and a fantastic reward. As of 2026, this hidden mechanic still works as a clever detour for any player exploring Chapter 1.

Should You Ring the Bells?

Yes, absolutely. The warning from the forest spirit sage is misleading. Ringing the bells does not trigger extra enemies in the main path, does not lock players out of content, and does not raise the difficulty. The real effect is much more exciting. After all three bells are rung, a cutscene transports the player to a secret version of Guanyin Temple, called Ancient Guanyin Temple. There, they can fight Elder Jinchi, a secret Yaoguai King boss. Defeating him grants the Fireproof Mantle, a key item that negates fire damage when activated.

This item is a massive advantage for the final boss of Chapter 1, Black Bear Guai, who uses plenty of fire attacks. With the Fireproof Mantle equipped, the fight becomes far more manageable. Players who skip the bells miss one of the best tools in the early game.

Bell	Nearest Shrine	Required Boss	Reward or Unlock
First Bell	Outside the Forest	Guangzhi	Opens the bell sequence
Second Bell	Snake Trail	Guangmou	Progresses the secret
Third Bell	Marsh of the White Mist	Whiteclad Noble	Teleports to Ancient Guanyin Temple

Bell One: Outside the Forest

The first bell is in the Forest of Wolves near the Outside the Forest shrine. Players will likely meet the Wandering Wight in this area, but the bell is tied to a different fight. To ring it, they need to defeat Yaoguai Chief Guangzhi. His arena is not hard to miss if players follow the wooden bridge with the archer. After crossing, they reach a clearing with a large Buddha head at the entrance. Guangzhi waits inside. Once he is defeated, the first bell sits at the end of his arena.

Bell Two: Bamboo Grove

The second bell is in the Bamboo Grove, near the Snake Trail shrine. This time the required boss is Yaoguai Chief Guangmou, who appears as part of the main story. From the Snake Trail shrine, players should head up the stairs, cross the bridge, follow the path down to the river, and continue into the bamboo grove. Flaming lanterns mark the way. Guangmou is just past a passage with two stone statues. After defeating him, players should resist the urge to continue through the cave to the right. Instead, they should go up the stone steps next to the arena. The second bell is waiting there.

Bell Three: Marsh of the White Mist

The final bell is close to the Marsh of the White Mist shrine in the Bamboo Grove. Players will naturally reach this point after defeating Guangmou and continuing along the main path. The area is a shallow, watery space near a large waterfall, where the Whiteclad Noble boss waits. After that fight, the forest spirit sage directly mentions the bells and hints that they are linked to the burning of Guanyin Temple. That is a strong clue. The third bell is just off to the side of the boss arena, down a narrow passageway. A small group of wolf yaoguai kneels in front of it, but they are basic enemies and easy to clear. Ringing the third bell triggers the cutscene.

The Secret Reward

After the cutscene, players are transported to Ancient Guanyin Temple, a past version of the location where they fought the white wolf Lingxuzi. Here, the secret boss Elder Jinchi awaits. He is similar to the Wandering Wight, but with his own twists. Defeating him unlocks the Fireproof Mantle. From that point on, the Chapter 1 finale against Black Bear Guai becomes much easier. The mantle can be activated to negate fire damage, which is exactly what is needed against a fire-breathing bear.

In short, players should ring all three bells, complete the hidden boss fight, and grab the Fireproof Mantle before tackling the final battle. It is a smart detour that pays off immediately.