Face the Inner Self sits at position 130 in Crimson Desert's main quest chain, tucked inside Chapter 9: The Sage of the Desert. It's one of those quests where the journey matters more than any combat encounter. You're climbing to the highest peak in South Demeniss, stepping through a hidden abyss gate, and sitting with a boy who tells you something surprisingly simple. Here's exactly how to get through it without getting lost on the mountain.
How do you reach the pagoda atop the peak?
From Serpent Marsh, glide toward the mountain to the south-west. This is a proper climb, not a short hop. You need to reach the very top of the mountain, not just the mid-section. The objective autocompletes once you get close enough to the summit, so you'll know when you've gone high enough.
The glide approach saves a lot of time compared to trying to path up from the base on foot. Launch from an elevated point in Serpent Marsh and aim for the upper ridgeline. From there, the remaining climb is manageable.
How do you enter the Jijeong Temple Pagoda Abyss?
Once you reach the top, enter the temple building. Only one side of the temple will be accessible, so there's no guesswork about which door to use. Walk in and interact with the Abyss Gate inside. That interaction sends you into the abyss sequence.
The moment you arrive in the abyss, a fast travel point activates automatically. You don't need to do anything to trigger it.
How do you achieve enlightenment and finish the quest?
Inside the abyss, you'll hit a flooded cave section. Take the right path through it. After that, head upstairs to the top of the area. A cutscene triggers automatically.
The cutscene features a boy who delivers the quest's central message: keep doing what you're doing, and don't overthink it. It's a deliberately understated payoff for a quest with a dramatic name, but it fits the tone of the chapter well. After the cutscene ends, Face the Inner Self is complete.
Here's the full path broken down:
- Arrive in the abyss (fast travel point auto-activates)
- Move forward through the area
- In the flooded cave, take the right path
- Go upstairs to the top of the area
- Watch the cutscene
What do you unlock after completing Face the Inner Self?
Finishing this quest delivers two concrete rewards:
- Jijeong Temple Pagoda Spire is completed, ticking off one of the game's collectible spire challenges
- Ascetic's Rest Abyss fast travel point is permanently unlocked, giving you quick access to this area for anything that follows in Chapter 9
The next quest in the chain is Fragments of Darkness, which continues the sub-chapter narrative.
Right path through flooded cave
Where does this quest fit in Chapter 9?
Chapter 9 runs a gauntlet of training-focused quests before this one. Path of the Disciple and True Strength both precede Face the Inner Self, and the whole sub-chapter is structured around testing Macduff through increasingly demanding trials at Jijeong Temple. This quest is the payoff for all of that: the gate that was sealed throughout the training finally opens, and the abyss sequence acts as the spiritual conclusion to the arc.
For more guides covering every quest, boss, and collectible in Crimson Desert, browse the full guides library to keep your playthrough on track.