Where Winds Meet: How to Leave Sects (Severance Trials)

Table of Contents

Leaving Your Sect: Everything You Need to Know

Not feeling the Sect you joined in Where Winds Meet? Maybe the playstyle doesn’t suit you, or perhaps you’re curious about what other factions offer. Whatever your reason, leaving a Sect is a legitimate part of the gameplay experience—especially during those early levels when you’re still figuring out your preferred combat style and approach.

The good news is that leaving is possible. The less-good news? There are some serious consequences and mechanics you need to understand before you hit that “Betray Master” button. Let’s break down everything about leaving Sects, including the infamous Severance Trials that await most defectors.

How to Leave Any Sect in Where Winds Meet

The actual process of leaving a Sect is straightforward, though what happens afterward is where things get interesting:

betray aster leave midnight blades where winds meet

Step-by-Step Departure Process:

Open your start menu and navigate to the “Sects” option
Look for “Betray Master” in the bottom right corner of the screen
Click “Confirm” when the game prompts you

That’s it for the initial departure. However, you’re not quite free yet—most Sects require you to complete an additional challenge before you’re fully released from your obligations.

Different Sects, Different Exit Requirements

Not all Sects handle betrayal the same way. Here’s what you’ll face depending on which faction you’re leaving:

Location / Trial	Requirement
Sect Exit	Well of Heaven
Severance Trial (Perception Forest)	Silver Needle
Severance Trial (Perception Forest)	Midnight Blades
Severance Trial (Perception Forest)	Nine Mortal Ways
Harvestfall Village	Pay Elder Ni Laoshan 50,000 Coins

Most Sects force you into a Severance Trial, which is a special PvP challenge we’ll discuss in detail below. The Nine Mortal Ways Sect is the exception—they’ll let you buy your way out for 50,000 Coins. If you need to gather that currency quickly, check out our daily and weekly activities checklist for efficient farming methods.

If you’re specifically looking to leave the Midnight Blades Sect, be prepared for that Severance Trial—it’s mandatory for PvP-focused factions.

What You Lose When Leaving a Sect

The moment you betray your master, you’ll lose several things immediately:

Revoked Privileges:

Sect Reputation – wiped completely
Sect Status and Rank – reset to zero
Access to the Sect Shop – you can no longer purchase exclusive items

This is pretty harsh, but it makes sense from a gameplay perspective. You’re literally betraying your masters and walking away from everything they taught you.

What You Get to Keep:

Fortunately, not everything is lost:

All items and cosmetics purchased from the Sect Shop remain in your inventory
The weapon offered upon joining stays permanently unlocked
Martial Arts learned through the Sect continue to be available

This is why it’s crucial to clear out the Sect Shop before leaving—spend all your merits on unique outfits and cosmetics while you still have access. Understanding which Sect you’re joining from the start can help you make better long-term decisions.

Understanding Severance Trials: The Price of Betrayal

For most Sects, leaving isn’t as simple as clicking a button and walking away. You’ll need to face a Severance Trial—a special (and somewhat brutal) variant of the Perception Forest events.

What Makes Severance Trials Different?

Severance Trials aren’t your typical Perception Forest run. Here’s what makes them unique:

Special Bounty System:

When you enter a Severance Trial, you have a special bounty on your head
Any player who defeats you earns extra rewards
This essentially makes you a high-value target for everyone in the match

No Escape Clause:

You cannot leave the Trial until it concludes
Retreat points are disabled—you’re stuck there
The Trial ends when you either win or die trying

Completion Requirements: Here’s the silver lining: you don’t actually need to win to complete a Severance Trial. You just need to stay in the match until it concludes naturally. Whether you’re the last one standing or you get eliminated early, as long as you participate until the match ends, you’ve fulfilled your obligation.

If you’re worried about surviving these trials, make sure you’ve optimized your character stats and attributes and checked out the best weapons and martial arts tier list to give yourself the best chance.

How Severance Trials Start (Spoiler: Not When You Expect)

Here’s something that catches many players off guard: you cannot manually start a Severance Trial. They’re triggered automatically, and the timing is completely out of your control.

Severance Trials Start Screen in Where Winds Meet

The Automatic Matchmaking System:

Once you leave a Sect that requires a Severance Trial, the game begins searching for an active Perception Forest event to place you in. When an appropriate match with available slots appears, the game will forcefully pull you into it without warning.

This forced entry happens regardless of what you’re doing:

In the middle of a quest? Too bad—Trial time.
Fighting a boss? The Severance Trial takes priority.
Just idling and organizing inventory? Surprise!
Playing in Co-op mode? You’ll be yanked out regardless.

The Severance Trial overrides everything else in the game. It’s the system’s way of ensuring you can’t just ignore the consequences of betrayal.

How Long Until Your Trial Starts?

The wait time for a Severance Trial varies significantly—anywhere from one hour to two full days. The timing depends entirely on:

How many players are actively running Perception Forest matches
How many open slots are available in those matches
Overall server activity at that time

This unpredictability can be frustrating, especially if you’re eager to join a new Sect or just move on with your gameplay. The game is essentially putting you in limbo until justice can be served.

Important Note: You don’t need to wait for the Severance Trial to complete before joining another Sect. You can join a new faction immediately after leaving your old one, but that Trial obligation will still be hanging over your head until it triggers.

Understanding the bounty system and law enforcement mechanics can help you better understand how these justice-based systems work in Where Winds Meet.

Can You Rejoin a Sect After Leaving?

Yes, but there are strict rules governing this to prevent Sect-hopping abuse.

Rejoin a Sect After Leaving in Where Winds Meet

The 24-Hour Cooldown

After leaving any Sect, you must wait 24 real-world hours before you can rejoin that same Sect. This is actual time, not in-game time—attempting to change the time of day won’t speed up this timer.

Fresh Start Policy:

When you rejoin a Sect after leaving, you’re starting completely from scratch:

Your previous reputation is gone
All merits are wiped
Your status resets to zero
You return as a Novice Disciple at the bottom of the hierarchy

Essentially, the Sect treats you like a brand-new member with no history. All that progress you made before? Gone. You’ll need to climb the ranks all over again.

The 6-Day Loyalty Lock

Here’s another restriction that prevents frequent Sect-hopping: after rejoining a Sect, you cannot leave again for 6 days.

This is a hard-coded restriction with no workaround. The developers implemented this specifically to prevent players from gaming the system by constantly switching between Sects for temporary benefits.

So if you’re thinking about rejoining a Sect, make sure you’re actually committed to staying for at least that 6-day period. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck in a faction you don’t really want to be part of.

If you’re trying to decide which Sect to commit to, checking out guides on best early builds and weapon combos can help you understand which faction complements your preferred playstyle.

Strategic Tips for Leaving Sects

Based on how the system works, here are some practical tips:

Before You Leave:

Clear out the Sect Shop – spend all your merits on items, cosmetics, and character customization options
Complete any ongoing Sect quests you care about
Screenshot your Sect achievements if you want a record
Prepare for the Severance Trial by optimizing your constitution and vitality

Timing Your Departure:

If you’re planning to join another Sect immediately, you can do so without waiting for the Severance Trial
Choose a time when you’re not in the middle of important quests or activities
Consider having strong healing charges available for when the Trial triggers

For Nine Mortal Ways Members:

Save up 50,000 Coins if you want a clean, Trial-free exit
This is the only Sect where you can simply buy your freedom

Is Leaving Worth It?

Whether leaving a Sect makes sense depends on your situation:

Good Reasons to Leave:

The Sect’s playstyle doesn’t match your preferred combat approach
You want to try a different faction’s exclusive weapons and martial arts
You’re not enjoying the Sect’s philosophy or quest lines
You want to experience all Sects in the game

Reasons to Reconsider:

You’ve invested significant time building reputation and rank
You haven’t fully explored the Sect’s higher-tier rewards
The Severance Trial seems too daunting
You might want to rejoin later (remember: fresh start with no progress)

If you’re still in the early game, Sect experimentation is much less costly since you haven’t invested months of progression yet. For beginners still learning the game, our tips and tricks guide can help you make informed decisions about which Sect to commit to long-term.

Additional Resources for Sect Members

To maximize your time in any Sect and make informed decisions about staying or leaving:

Combat Optimization:

Skills and Inner Arts:

Weapons to Consider:

Important Quests and Activities:

Boss Battles:

Exploration and Progression:

Game Systems:

Available on Steam and PlayStation, Where Winds Meet continues to offer deep faction systems and martial arts gameplay. Learn more on the official website.

Final Thoughts

Leaving a Sect in Where Winds Meet is a significant decision with real consequences. The Severance Trial system ensures betrayal isn’t taken lightly, and the 6-day lock prevents players from gaming the system through constant Sect-hopping.

Whether you’re leaving because the playstyle doesn’t fit or you’re just exploring all the game has to offer, make sure you’ve cleared out the Sect Shop first and are prepared for that unexpected Trial trigger. Your betrayal will be remembered—at least until you serve your time in the Perception Forest.

Choose your path wisely, wanderer.

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