Sword Essence is a Trailblaze Continuance and event quest for A Foxian Tale of the Haunted in Honkai: Star Rail. Check out how to unlock this mission, its walkthrough, and all the rewards in this guide!

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Sword Essence Information

Required Level and Location Details

Mission Type	Trailblaze Continuance
Location	Xianzhou Luofu, Alchemy Commission
Required Level	34

How to Unlock Sword Essence

To unlock Sword Essence, you must be at Trailblaze Level 34 and complete the prior Trailblaze Continuance Mission, Percipient.

Percipient Mission Guide

Part of A Foxian Tale of the Haunted Mission

Sword Essence is the fourth quest within the Trailblaze Continuance, A Foxian Tale of the Haunted. The quest involves interacting with several members of the Cloud Knights.

A Foxian Tale of the Haunted Mission

Sword Essence Event Quest Info

Part of A Foxian Tale of the Haunted Event

Sword Essence also doubles as an event quest for A Foxian Tale of the Haunted. The Trailblaze Continuance occurs simultaneously with the event, so quest progress unlocks more event content!

A Foxian Tale of the Haunted Event Guide

Unlocks the Foxian Dream Mission

Completing Sword Essence unlocks the Trailblaze Continuance Mission called the Foxian Dream, which is a continuation of the event.

Note that a mission called Fyxestroll Gathering IV will occur first before the Foxian Dream. This acts like an intermission where all characters involved in the event will gather first before investigating the next key event!

Foxian Dream Mission Guide

Sword Essence Walkthrough

Sword Essence Summary

• Step 1: Head to the Alchemy Commission
• Step 2: Track Down Yanqing's Whereabouts
• Step 3: Follow the Flying Sword
• Step 4: Enter the Illusory Maze: Apyra
• Step 5: Fight a Possessed Yanqing
• Step 6: Seek Jing Yuan's Assistance
• Step 7: Fight Apyra's Illusion
• Step 8: Talk to Guinaifen
• Step 9: Go to the Suppression Tower

Head to the Alchemy Commission

At the start of Sword Essence, you need to head to the Alchemy Commission and locate the delirious Cloud Knight. They can be found near the Medicine Bureau teleporter.

After going to the marked location, a fight will start. We recommend using Wind, Imaginary, and Fire characters since most enemies are weak to those!

Track Down Yanqing's Whereabouts

After subduing the crazed Cloud Knight, proceed to the marked area in order to locate Yanqing. Teleport to the Elixir Research Terrace teleporter to reach the area.

When you reach the marked location, you will find out that Yanqing is not there. One of his flying swords will be there instead.

Follow the Flying Sword

After interacting with the Flying Sword, follow it until you reach the dock for Dragonprayer Terrace. Interact with the sword again to start an Explorary Excursion.

Enter the Illusory Maze: Apyra

To progress the quest, you need to start an Exploratory Excursion tasked by the Flying Sword. We recommend using Lightning, Wind, and Imaginary characters since most enemies are weak to those!

Enemies in the Illusory Maze: Apyra

Enemies	Weaknesses
Cloud Knight Lieutenant: Yanqing

Teams for the Illusory Maze: Apyra

Imbibitor Lunae DPS
Imbibitor Lunae	Pela	Tingyun	Luocha
F2P Team
Serval	Dan Heng	Yukong	Natasha

Since Yanqing is weak to Imaginary, Lightning, and Wind elements, it's best to bring a DPS from one of those elements. Additionally, bring a DPS that specializes in dealing AoE damage like Imbibitor Lunae or Blade.

Fight a Possessed Yanqing

As soon as the Exploratory Excursion begins, you will need to fight a Heliobus-Possessed Yanqing. The battle is similar to any other boss fight that involves Yanqing as the enemy. Defeat the Flying Swords first since Yanqing's weakness is disabled while they are alive.

How to Beat Yanqing

Seek Jing Yuan's Assistance

After fighting Yanqing, seek Jing Yuan's assistance. He is located in Fyxestroll Garden, where Cirrus can also be found. Simply teleport to the area using the Verdant Terrace Entrance teleporter.

Fight Apyra's Illusion

After talking to Jing Yuan and Cirrus, another Exploratory Excursion will begin, which is a fight against Apyra's Illusion. Similar to the previous one, we also recommend using Lightning, Wind, and Imaginary characters.

The second battle against Yanqing is similar to the first one. However, the fight now involves the Exorcismics and Fiendfire mechanics.

Talk to Guinaifen

Once the battle ends, talk to Guinaifen. You will then need to post on Ghostly Grove about the anomaly having been resolved.

Go to the Suppression Tower

Finally, proceed to the marked suppression tower in the Fyxestroll Garden to cast the heliobus into it. Before the quest ends, a group message with the Ghost-Hunting Squad will pop up. Progress through the messages to end the quest.

Do note that your fans will increase and new Investigation Assignments will be available right after!

Ghostly Grove Guide

Sword Essence Quest Rewards

All Quest Rewards

Mission Rewards
Trailblaze EXP x500	Stellar Jade x50	Traveler's Guide x5
Lost Crystal x3	Credit x50000

All Illusory Maze: Apyra Rewards

Illusory Maze Rewards
Traveler's Guide x4	Lost Crystal x3	Credit x30000

Honkai: Star Rail Related Guides

Other A Foxian Tale of the Haunted Guides

A Foxian Tale of the Haunted
1	Sojourners' Ghastly Reverie
2	Fyxestroll Gathering I
3	Twins
4	Fyxestroll Gathering II
5	Percipient
6	Fyxestroll Gathering III
7	Sword Essence
8	Fyxestroll Gathering IV
9	Foxian Dream

A Foxian Tale of the Haunted

All Missions and Mission Types

List of All Trailblaze Continuance

Jolted Wake From a Winter Dream
	Jolted Wake From a Winter Dream	1	Future Market (Prologue)
2	Future Market (I)	3	Future Market (II)
A Foxian Tale of the Haunted
	A Foxian Tale of the Haunted	1	Sojourners' Ghastly Reverie
2	Fyxestroll Gathering I	3	Twins
4	Fyxestroll Gathering II	5	Percipient
6	Fyxestroll Gathering III	7	Sword Essence
8	Fyxestroll Gathering IV	9	Foxian Dream
Crown of the Mundane and Divine
	Crown of the Mundane and Divine	1	When the Stars of Ingenuity Shine
2	Mundane Troubles
Finest Duel Under the Pristine Blue Part I
1	Homecoming Wardance	2	Emissary Mystique
3	From Growls to Grace	4	The Quieting of Quillons
5	By Words of Many	6	March to Mastery: A Star is Born
7	A Startlement of Fur and Feathers	8	Inquisition to Rectitude
9	Rogues on the Run
Finest Duel Under the Pristine Blue Part II
1	At Dawn, To War	2	A Web of Pasts Rewoven
3	Alone in Peril	4	The Red Warcry
5	Novice in Zenithal Duel	6	A Swarm of Carnage
7	Sweep by Merlin's Claw	8	Last Stand of a Lone Wolf
9	I Shall Turn the Tide	10	Comrade in Arms
11	Under the Spell	12	Ebb of Past Sins
13	A Fugue From Beyond
Banana Outrage: Battles Without Ninja and Humanity
1	An Andalusian Monkey	2	The 400 Bananas
3	Reservoir Monkeys	4	A Clockwork Banana
5	Dead Banana Society	6	The Men Who Tread on the Monkey's Tail
7	Asdanian Rhapsody	8	Battles Without Ninja and Humanity

All Trailblaze Continuance