One of the most secretive factions in Where Winds Meet is Nine Mortal Ways, and it is not as easy to join them as it is for the other sects. Nine Mortal Ways’ path is disguised by a clever ruse that starts off in Harvestfall Village and takes time to reveal their true nature. In this guide, we will walk you through the entire initiation process and what the sect ultimately provides.
Understanding Sects in What Joining Nine Mortal Ways Offers
By pledging your allegiance to Nine Mortal Ways, you obtain the Mortal Rope Dart, the sect’s martial art for close combat. You also gain access to the sect’s internal advancement path and the three activity systems they are known for.
- A Thousand Faces, centered on disguises and role-shifting
- Deceiving Heaven, where failed tricks or jail time reduce 10 Virtue
- Jianghu Fun, which rewards playful antics
Who They Really Are
Nine Mortal Ways thrives on mischief and theatrics, and a fascination with things that stand between the mortal realm and ghostly one. They recruit quietly and act unpredictably and prefer clever manipulation rather than overt confrontation. San Qian in Harvestfall Village appears to be their unsuspecting conduit to the world outside.
The Hidden Entry Route to Nine Mortal Ways
Nine Mortal Ways is not out in the open, unlike most sects. The initiation is masked and comes in the shape of a deception where it initially looks like a recruitment quest for a different group altogether — the Well of Heaven Sect. The only entrance to Nine Mortal Ways is following this deception.
You begin in Harvestfall Village on the western section of Qinghe. In this small settlement, there is a waiter, San Qian, who seems to have a knack for hearing things that no one else is hearing. He can easily be bribed to talk, and once you do, he discloses that he saw an elder from the Well of Heaven pass through recently, and set up a temporary spot near an old elm tree that is overlooking the village.
If you decide to investigate, you’ll find a man near the elm tree who claims to represent Well of Heaven. He offers to help you join but immediately asks for something suspicious — a pile of jewelry he says belongs to an old acquaintance of his. For a sect rooted in righteousness, the request makes very little sense… but pursuing it is necessary if you want to see where the situation leads.
Uncovering the Real Elder Through Wind Sense
The person holding the jewelry can be located nearby. When you interact with him:
- Activate Wind Sense (hold the right stick)
- Browse the items you can inspect
- Highlight “Large Pile of Jewelry”
- Select “request”
It’s at this moment that the twist becomes clear: this man is actually the legitimate Well of Heaven elder. The one who sent you is the impostor.
A Trick from Nine Mortal Ways
Returning to the first elder triggers the confession. He never belonged to Well of Heaven, he had no authority to recruit you, and the entire setup was a trick arranged by Nine Mortal Ways. Without realizing it, you’ve already helped their faction. The game then gives you a choice:
- Leave the deception behind and formally join Well of Heaven by reporting to the real elder
- Or accept the scheme and step into Nine Mortal Ways
