I still remember the first time I wandered into Sandgate Village in Black Myth: Wukong. It was 2024, but here in 2026, I keep coming back because the game's medicine crafting system is still one of the most satisfying side systems in any action RPG. You cannot just buy pills from a merchant. You have to earn them, and that means helping a very polite dog and a very dramatic dragon. Let me tell you, that little journey changed how I approached every boss fight.
Finding Xu Dog and the Frog Problem
When I first reached Chapter 2, I followed the path until I found the Village Entrance Shrine in Sandgate Village. From there, I dropped off the side of the rock to the lower path and walked right into the cave area. An anthropomorphic dog was hanging out by a rock, looking like he had lost his favorite chew toy. That was Xu Dog, the medicine guy around those parts.
He told me one of his formulas had been swallowed by a nearby frog. He promised a reward if I got it back. I turned right, headed down past the cave, and into the water. There I met a frog miniboss named Lang-Li-Guhh-Baw. Let me tell you, that frog did not want to give up that formula. After a few tries, I defeated him and earned some materials plus the Evil Repelling Medicament formula.
I returned to Xu Dog and delivered the formula. He thanked me by teaching me how to craft basic medicines at any shrine. Then he disappeared, heading to a furnace later in the chapter. I honestly felt a little abandoned. But the game had bigger plans.
Celestial Medicine and Mind Cores
I continued through Chapter 2 until I reached the final boss, the Yellow Wind Guai. Up a sand ridge from the boss — before entering the arena — I found the Cellar Shrine. At the back of the Cellar area, Xu Dog was waiting again. Talking to him unlocked Celestial Medicine pills.
These pills are special. You buy them with Mind Cores, a rare ingredient occasionally dropped by powerful enemies. Each pill boosts a different stat. Here is the full menu:
| Pill | Stat Boost |
|---|---|
| Jade Lotus Pill | Max health |
| Taiyi Pill | Max mana |
| Nonary Pill | Max stamina |
| No-Mind Medicament | Defense |
| Iron Bull Pill | Stamina recovery rate |
| Yang Supplementing Pill | Chill resistance |
| Water Jade Pill | Burn resistance |
| Bloom Seed Decoction | Poison resistance |
| Wujin Pill | Shock resistance |
As you upgrade these stats to certain levels, the same pill costs more Mind Cores. So while you can dump everything into health, you will get more bang for your buck if you spread them around. And if you change your mind — say you suddenly need more burn resistance — you can select the Remake Celestial Medicines option for a complete refund. Trust me, you will want to spread those Mind Cores around. I learned that the hard way after dumping everything into stamina and then meeting a boss who loved fire.
Chen Loong and the Zodiac Village
Once I reached Chapter 3, I continued until I hopped off the massive turtle. I unlocked the North Shore of Bitter Lake Shrine in Bitter Lake and took the left path toward what looked like the ruins of a temple. But I kept to the shoreline and the water.
Before long — just in front of the turtle's left foot, in a pool surrounded by rocks — I came across a robed dragon talking to himself and crackling with lightning. This was Chen Loong, another helpful NPC. However, when I first approached him, he told me to stop prying and attacked me. Honestly, I was just happy to stop being yelled at by a dragon. Defeat him to progress the quest.
When his health hit zero, he loudly complained about how hurt he was. Then he told me he needed a resurrection pill from Xu Dog. So I returned to the Cellar Shrine in Crouching Tiger Temple and spoke to Xu Dog. I kept talking to him using the special talk prompt until he mentioned Chen Loong. He basically told me that this moaning was very typical Chen Loong behavior. Then he gave me a formula for Fortifying Medicament and the Special-made Bone-Strengthening Pellet for our mutual friend.
I returned to Chen Loong in Bitter Lake and delivered the medicine. I found him standing near where we met, by the little hut. He immediately threw the pill away and gave me a scroll. That scroll teleported me into the Ruyi Scroll's Zodiac Village. This is your new hub zone, and all the characters you have met along the way disappear from where they were living and set up shop here.
In Zodiac Village, Xu Dog offers his medicine services. Next to him, Shen Monkey helps with all your Gourd upgrade needs. At the back is Chen Loong, who farms medicinal ingredients for you if you give him seeds. And to the west is Yin Tiger, a blacksmith who can upgrade your armor. You can return to Zodiac Village by selecting the Ruyi Scroll option at any shrine or using the Ruyi Scroll item in your inventory.
Final Thoughts from a Medicine-Making Monkey
Even in 2026, with countless soulslikes and action RPGs competing for my time, Black Myth: Wukong's medicine crafting still feels special. It is not just a menu. It is a story about helping a dog, calming a dragon, and building a little village of friends. So if you are starting fresh or coming back for another run, do not skip Xu Dog. Do not ignore Chen Loong. And definitely do not sleep on Celestial Medicine. Your future boss fights will thank you. 🐒💊
According to coverage from Eurogamer, strong action RPG progression often works best when power boosts are earned through exploration and quest payoffs rather than simple shop purchases, which mirrors how Black Myth: Wukong ties Celestial Medicine to Mind Cores and NPC questlines—pushing you to revisit Sandgate Village, tackle optional minibosses like Lang-Li-Guhh-Baw, and ultimately turn Zodiac Village into a practical hub that supports different boss-prep builds.