Where Winds Meet: How to Join Nine Mortal Ways Sect

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The Tricksters’ Sect: Joining Through Deception

The Nine Mortal Ways Sect in Where Winds Meet operates differently than any other faction in the game. While other Sects have straightforward recruitment processes, these scoundrels deal in treachery, disguises, and elaborate schemes.

You won’t find an honest recruiter waiting to welcome you with open arms. Instead, the Nine Mortal Ways have infiltrated other Sects’ recruitment missions, and the only way to join them is to either deceive others or be deceived yourself. It’s a faction that rewards cunning over strength, and trickery over honor.

If you’re looking for a Sect that embraces the shadowy side of the martial world, this is it. Let’s break down exactly how to find these masters of disguise and gain entry into their ranks.

All Methods to Join the Nine Mortal Ways Sect

Join the Nine Mortal Ways Sect in Where Winds Meet

There are currently two confirmed methods to join the Nine Mortal Ways in Where Winds Meet, both involving infiltration of other Sects’ recruitment missions:

Well of Heaven Recruitment Mission (involves theft and deception)
Midnight Blades Recruitment Mission (requires a Rouge Token)

Both methods reveal Nine Mortal Ways members disguised as recruiters for legitimate Sects. Your willingness to go along with their schemes determines whether you’ll be welcomed into their fold.

The Elder Ni Mystery

There’s an interesting piece of flavor text worth mentioning: during the Mortal Rope Dart Skill Theft mission in the Martial Hall in Kaifeng, Elder Ni mentions he’d be willing to recruit you into the Sect at the Ghostlight Market.

However, at the time of writing, no one has found a quest that actually lets you join through this route. It’s unclear whether this is simply narrative flavor text or a feature planned for a future update. For now, stick to the two confirmed methods below.

Method 1: The Well of Heaven Questline (Theft Route)

This method involves tracking down what appears to be a Well of Heaven recruiter, only to discover it’s all an elaborate con. Here’s the complete walkthrough:

The Well of Heaven Questline (Theft Route) in Where Winds Meet

Step 1: Find the Informant

Head to Harvestfall Village
Locate a waiter named San Qian
Ask him about recruiters for the Well of Heaven Sect
Pay him 200 Coins for the information

Step 2: Meet the “Elder”

Follow the quest marker to find the supposed Well of Heaven Elder
He’ll be waiting under the big elm tree
Initiate conversation and select the option to pay him 999 Coins

Already you’re out 1,199 Coins—consider it an investment in joining one of the game’s most unique Sects.

Step 3: The Theft Mission

Follow the new quest marker to find the Elder’s “friend” Zhang Yihao
He’ll be standing by a chest on a nearby mountain
Use Celestial Seize to steal the Large Pile of Jewelry from him

If you haven’t unlocked Celestial Seize yet, check our guide on how to get Celestial Seize before attempting this method. The theft skill is essential for this questline.

Step 4: Return with the Goods

Go back to the Well of Heaven Elder
Hand him the stolen jewelry
He’ll reveal the truth: he’s actually a member of the Nine Mortal Ways

Step 5: Make Your Choice When the Elder reveals his true allegiance and offers to recruit you, you’ll face a critical decision:

Select “Fine, I’ll go with the flow” to join the Nine Mortal Ways
Select “Not happy! I quit!” to reject them and join the Well of Heaven instead

Critical Warning: If you choose to quit and end up killing the Elder in the ensuing fight, this route to join the Nine Mortal Ways becomes permanently locked. You won’t be able to use the Well of Heaven questline method again on that character.

However, even if you lock this route, you can still join via the Midnight Blades method described below.

Method 2: The Midnight Blades Questline (Rouge Token Route)

This method is arguably simpler and doesn’t involve theft—just a bit of deception and a special item called the Rouge Token.

Step 1: Travel to Halo Peak

Head to Halo Peak in the northern part of Qinghe (Sundara Land)
Locate the Seriously Injured Swordsman on the rocky outcropping
Speak with him (he’ll reveal he was killed by the Midnight Blades)

Step 2: Find the Ferryman

Follow the trail of blood from the dying swordsman
Locate Icchantika, the Ferryman of the Midnight Blades
He’ll be sitting cross-legged on a stone outcropping

Step 3: Begin the Recruitment Process

Talk to Icchantika
Select “My heart is of the Asura Heart” when prompted
He’ll give you a token and instruct you to “bloody” it by killing someone

Step 4: The Deception

Instead of completing the kill mission for the Midnight Blades, give Icchantika the Rouge Token
This special token triggers a different outcome

Step 5: The Mysterious Letter

You’ll receive a note from the “Midnight Bladez Chief Elder” (notice the intentional misspelling)
The letter requests you send them some money—another hint something isn’t quite right

Step 6: The Rendezvous

Follow the quest marker to meet the “Midnight Bladez” at the rendezvous point
Choose “Present the letter from the Sect”
Select “Accept the welcome gift”
Congratulations—you’ve joined the Nine Mortal Ways through their infiltration scheme

How to Get the Rouge Token

The Rouge Token is essential for this method. You can purchase it from the Honest Merchant in Harvestfall Village (ironically named, given you’re using it for deception).

Make sure you grab this token before starting the Midnight Blades recruitment questline if you want to join the Nine Mortal Ways instead. If you’re interested in actually joining the Midnight Blades Sect legitimately, don’t use the Rouge Token—complete their kill mission instead.

Joining Nine Mortal Ways After Rejecting Them

Here’s some good news: you won’t be permanently locked out of the Nine Mortal Ways even if you reject them during either questline.

Icchantika, the Ferryman, remains at Halo Peak indefinitely. As long as you meet these conditions, you can join at any time:

Requirements:

You must not be a member of another Sect currently
You need a Rouge Token (purchasable from the Honest Merchant)

The Process:

Travel to Halo Peak
Find Icchantika at his usual spot
Give him the Rouge Token
You’ll be recruited into the Nine Mortal Ways

This backup method means even if you mess up during the initial questlines or change your mind later, you still have a straightforward path to join these tricksters. Just understand that if you’re currently in another Sect, you’ll need to leave that Sect first before Icchantika will accept your Rouge Token.

How to Leave the Nine Mortal Ways Sect

When it comes to leaving, the Nine Mortal Ways handle betrayal differently than other factions. While most Sects force you into a dangerous Severance Trial when you betray them, the Nine Mortal Ways prefer a more straightforward approach: pay us 50,000 Coins and you’re free to go.

No forced PvP, no risky Perception Forest encounters—just cold, hard currency.

Step-by-Step Departure Process:

Step 1: Initiate the Betrayal

Open the Sects menu from the start menu
Select “Betray Master” in the bottom right corner
You’ll receive the quest “Find the Elder to leave the Nine Mortal Ways”

Step 2: Locate Elder Ni Laoshan

Elder Ni can be found west of Harvestfall Village
He’ll be standing next to a wooden house
Follow your map marker to his exact location

Important Note: Elder Ni Laoshan only appears at this location during this specific betrayal quest. Outside of this, he can be found in the backyard of the Nine Mortal Ways Martial Hall in Kaifeng City (during the Rope Dart Skill Theft mission).

Step 3: Pay Your Exit Fee

Talk to Elder Ni
Hand over 50,000 Coins
You’ll be immediately released from the Sect

Is 50,000 Coins Worth It?

That’s a hefty sum, but consider the alternative: most other Sects force you through a Severance Trial where you’re marked as a high-value target in a Perception Forest match with no escape option. The Nine Mortal Ways’ monetary approach is actually far more convenient if you have the currency.

If you need to farm coins quickly, check out our daily and weekly activities checklist for efficient farming strategies.

What You Lose and Keep

Like leaving any Sect, you’ll lose:

Sect Reputation – completely wiped
Sect Status and Rank – reset to zero
Access to the Sect Shop – no longer available

But you’ll retain:

All items and cosmetics purchased from the Sect Shop
Martial Arts learned through the Sect (including that Mortal Rope Dart skill)
Any weapons obtained during your membership

Nine Mortal Ways: Is This Sect Right for You?

The Nine Mortal Ways Sect offers a unique experience focused on cunning, theft, and unconventional methods. Here’s what to consider:

Reasons to Join:

You enjoy the trickster/rogue playstyle
You want access to unique theft-based skills like Celestial Seize
You prefer Sects with morally gray philosophies
You want the easiest exit option (just pay 50,000 Coins—no Severance Trial)
You’re interested in experiencing all the game’s Sect content

Reasons to Choose Another Sect:

You prefer straightforward, honorable combat
You want a PvP-focused faction (consider the Midnight Blades instead)
The deception-based recruitment feels unsatisfying
You don’t want to invest in theft-based skills

Understanding the character stats and attributes system will help you determine if the Nine Mortal Ways’ playstyle aligns with your build.

Maximizing Your Nine Mortal Ways Experience

To get the most out of your membership in the Nine Mortal Ways:

Essential Skills and Arts:

Master Celestial Seize for theft-based gameplay
Explore the Fivefold Bleed Inner Art for damage over time
Learn the Sword Horizon Inner Art for versatility
Unlock the Drunken Poet Mystic Skill for unique combat options

Weapon Recommendations: Check out the best weapons and martial arts tier list to find which weapons complement the Nine Mortal Ways playstyle. Some excellent options include:

Character Optimization:

Increase your Constitution for survivability
Maximize your Vitality for sustain
Understand how to break through level caps to access higher-tier content

Important Quests and Activities:

Progression Systems:

Boss Encounters:

Exploration and Content:

Game Mechanics:

Additional Skills to Master:

Customization:

For beginners still learning the game, our comprehensive tips and tricks guide and best early builds can help you make the most of your Nine Mortal Ways membership.

Where Winds Meet is available on Steam and PlayStation. For more information, visit the official website or check out the Wikipedia page.

Ending Note

The Nine Mortal Ways Sect offers one of the most unique recruitment experiences in Where Winds Meet. Rather than proving your combat prowess or completing heroic deeds, you gain entry through deception, trickery, and a willingness to embrace morally gray methods.

The Rouge Token route provides a straightforward backup method if you reject them initially or lock yourself out of the Well of Heaven questline. And when it’s time to leave, the 50,000 Coin exit fee is far more convenient than the dangerous Severance Trials other Sects require.

Whether you’re drawn to the trickster archetype or just want to experience all the game’s Sect content, the Nine Mortal Ways welcome those cunning enough to find them—and wealthy enough to leave.

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