Where Winds Meet: How to Join Nine Mortal Ways Sect (Complete Guide)

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.

Prerequisite: You must reach at least Level 10 before you can join any Sect in Where Winds Meet, including the Nine Mortal Ways.

All Methods to Join the Nine Mortal Ways Sect

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

1. Well of Heaven Recruitment Mission (involves theft and deception)
2. 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:

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
• Steal the Large Pile of Jewelry from him using one of two methods:

• Celestial Seize — approach from outside his line of sight and use the skill at range. Check our Celestial Seize guide if you haven’t unlocked it yet. Note: you only get two attempts per day — if both fail, you’ll need to wait until the next day to try again.
• Wind Sense — approach undetected, activate Wind Sense, locate the glowing “Large Pile of Jewelry” in his inventory, and select “Request” to swipe it without combat.

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 in Harvestfall Village)

The Process:

1. Travel to Halo Peak
2. Find Icchantika at his usual spot
3. Give him the Rouge Token
4. 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.

Nine Mortal Ways: Sect Benefits and Rules

Once you’re in, here’s what membership actually looks like:

What You Get Immediately:

• Mortal Rope Dart — given to all members upon joining. This melee DPS weapon has strong persistent effects and pairs well with Infernal Twinblades and other melee weapons.
• Access to the Nine Mortal Ways Sect Shop (coins and reputation currency)
• A Sect title that upgrades as you rank up

How to Earn Reputation:

Unlike most Sects, the Nine Mortal Ways rewards mischief and social chaos, not combat prowess. You earn Sect reputation and weekly Jianghu Fun Points through:

• Tricking NPCs and other players
• Sending fake messages
• Bluffing in card games
• Wearing disguises (“A Thousand Faces” — participate in disguise activities to experience diverse lives)

Sect Rule to Watch:

• “Deceiving Heaven” — failed tricks or jail time deduct Virtue by -10. Don’t get caught.

Higher Rank Perks (Inner Disciple and above):

• Exclusive hairstyles and armor from the Sect Shop
• Eligibility to participate in weekly Sect elections (Faction Masters can register; the winner holds the Clan Master title for one week)

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. Note that this payment is mandatory: Ni Laoshan will issue a life threat if you refuse to pay, and you cannot leave until you do.

One Warning: The Nine Mortal Ways are tricksters to the end. When you attempt to leave and join another Sect, they may try to trick you back in — presenting you with something that appears to be from your new Sect but actually re-enrolls you as an Initiate Disciple of the Nine Mortal Ways. Read every prompt carefully during the process.

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 and earning reputation through mischief
• 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.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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 — just watch out for their parting tricks.

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.

Related Guides:

• All Sects and How to Join
• How to Join the Midnight Blades Sect
• How to Get Celestial Seize
• How to Unlock the Mortal Rope Dart
• How to Leave Sects

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