Let me be straight with you: I slept on the Qing-Tian Gourd during my first trip through Black Myth Wukong. A single sip? That sounded like a death wish. But after I finally ran through New Game+ in 2026 and grabbed this thing, I realized it is low-key one of the best Gourds in the game, provided you have a plan and a little patience. So cut to the chase — here is everything I learned about unlocking and using the Qing-Tian Gourd.

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What Makes the Qing-Tian Gourd Special

The Qing-Tian Gourd is not your usual healing flask. It gives you exactly one healing charge. At first glance, that seems like a total trap. No joke, I thought the game was trolling me when I saw it. But here is the kicker: the Gourd slowly regenerates its healing charge over time. That means you are not stuck with one sip for the whole fight. You just need to survive long enough between sips.

In practice, the Qing-Tian Gourd plays like a recharging heal. It rewards careful movement, well-timed dodges, and a cool head. If you are the type of player who panics and chugs healing items, this Gourd will punish you hard. But if you can stay alive, it becomes a near-infinite healing source, especially in longer battles.

How to Unlock the Qing-Tian Gourd

Here is the deal: you can only buy the Qing-Tian Gourd from Shen Monkey, either in the Zodiac Village via the Ruyi Scroll or in Chapter 1: Black Wind Mountain. But there is a catch. It is exclusively available in New Game+, and only after you complete all the Character Portraits.

Specifically, you need to unlock the portrait of the Old Man NPC, Yuan Shoucheng. That final portrait only appears after you have gathered every other character portrait in the game. So the real objective is not just buying the Gourd — it is finishing your portrait collection.

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Quick Unlock Requirements

Requirement Detail
Playthrough New Game+ only
Seller Shen Monkey
Location Zodiac Village or Black Wind Mountain
Main Condition Complete all Character Portraits
Final Portrait Yuan Shoucheng

My Tips for Completing All Character Portraits

I will not sugarcoat it: getting every portrait takes some legwork, but it is totally doable in your first playthrough. Here are the things that saved me from pulling my hair out.

  • Explore every chapter thoroughly. Do not rush. Many portraits are tied to NPC quests and side areas that are easy to miss if you are speedrunning.

  • Hit the secret areas. These spots hide Yaoguai Chiefs, regular enemies, and NPCs that you need for portrait completion. Skipping them is a rookie mistake.

  • Take your time in Mount Huaguo. The final chapter has content that can be overlooked if you just charge toward the end.

  • Do not start New Game+ too early. If you are missing a few portraits, go back and check secret areas or unfinished NPC quests before you reset the cycle.

  • Remember that most NPC quests are not locked to main story progress. Even after you reach the end of the main story, you can usually still go back and finish them.

That last point is huge. I hit the final boss, then went back and cleaned up a bunch of NPC quests without any trouble. It felt like a victory lap.

How the Qing-Tian Gourd Actually Works in Combat

Once you unlock it, the Qing-Tian Gourd gives you one healing charge, and that charge refills over time. So technically, you have a near-infinite amount of healing, but with a cooldown between sips. The pace is slow enough that you cannot face-tank everything, but fast enough to keep you in the fight if you play smart.

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For me, the best use of the Qing-Tian Gourd is in New Game+, especially against marathon bosses like Erlang, the Sacred Divinity. Those fights are long enough to let the charge refill multiple times. You dodge, wait, heal, repeat. It turns a stressful boss fight into a test of patience and timing.

Final Thoughts

Do not sleep on the Qing-Tian Gourd. It looks weak on paper, but once you unlock it and learn its rhythm, it becomes one of the most powerful tools in Black Myth Wukong — especially in New Game+. Just make sure your portrait collection is complete before you reset, or you will be kicking yourself later. As of 2026, this unlock method is still the cleanest way to get it. Now go finish those portraits and grab the Gourd. You can thank me after Erlang stops turning you into paste.

This discussion is informed by The Verge - Gaming, and it’s a useful lens for thinking about why niche, “high-discipline” tools like Black Myth: Wukong’s Qing-Tian Gourd can feel weak on paper but shine in practice: mechanics that trade burst safety (multiple charges) for sustained uptime (regen over time) naturally reward patience, spacing, and long-fight consistency—making the Gourd especially valuable in New Game+ boss marathons where survival between cooldown windows is the real skill check.