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Sect joining route

Where Winds Meet Velvet Shade: How to Join

The current Global route has two practical invitation triggers: change a cosmetic after opening the Kaifeng clue, or form and sever an Online partnership through Shi Yimo. Use this page to pick the lower-cost route, wait the right timer, and avoid treating old Zuihuayin values as current requirements.

Velvet ShadeZuihuayin / 醉花陰Cosmetic invitationPartnership severance

Maintained byHeavenskiss

Pinned answer

Try one Appearance change first; use partnership severance when the invite still does not appear.

checked · 2026-07-13

Reach level 10, enter Kaifeng, and progress the Velvet Shade clue state around Shadows in Bloom and Gathering of Heroes. Open Appearance, change a hairstyle or face preset, confirm it, and return to the overworld. If no invitation appears after the clue gate is active, use the Online partnership route through Shi Yimo rather than buying more cosmetics.

Older Zuihuayin guides use 2,000 Elegance, full accessories, Fanlou, and several NPC routes. Those details explain old screenshots and search terms, but they do not override the current Global clue or invitation state.

Minimum level
10
Story gate
Kaifeng
Fast trigger
Appearance change
Fallback
Partnership severance

Route selector

Choose the trigger that matches your current social state.

3 route states

RouteUse it whenWhat to doStatus
Cosmetic invitationYou are level 10 or higher, have reached Kaifeng, and want the route that does not require another playerProgress the Velvet Shade clue state, change a hairstyle or face preset in Appearance, return to the overworld, and check the invitation or Sect screen.Try this first
Partnership severanceThe cosmetic trigger still does not produce an invitation and you can use Online social systemsReach Companions Intimacy with another player, form a partnership through Shi Yimo at Crimson Cliff, begin severance, wait the live 24-hour cooldown, then complete the severance.Current explicit fallback
Old Zuihuayin walkthroughYou are matching a Chinese guide, an old Fanlou screenshot, or a 2,000 Elegance claimUse 醉花陰 / 醉花阴, Fanlou, Shui Liuli, Qin Ruolan, and the old Elegance threshold only as name and version bridges. Follow a live Global objective if one appears.Reference only

No-partner route

Test the cosmetic invitation without turning the guide into a shopping list.

5 steps

  1. 01

    Reach level 10

    Level 10 is the minimum Sect gate in the current English route. If the Sect system itself is still locked, no cosmetic change can produce the correct invitation state.

  2. 02

    Reach Kaifeng and progress its side-quest state

    The Velvet Shade clue is tied to Kaifeng and the side quests Shadows in Bloom and Gathering of Heroes. Progress the tracked clue before testing invitation triggers.

  3. 03

    Open Appearance

    Use the normal Appearance menu. Do not start by buying an old named outfit or chasing a source-side score threshold.

  4. 04

    Change one visible cosmetic setting

    The current English route was able to trigger the invitation after changing a hairstyle and customizing a face preset. Make a real change, confirm it, and leave the menu.

  5. 05

    Return to the overworld and check the invite

    The trigger is evaluated after leaving Appearance. Check the invitation and Sect screens. If nothing appears after the story gate is satisfied, use the partnership route instead of buying cosmetics blindly.

This is an eligibility trigger, not a reason to spend Echo currency. A cosmetic purchase cannot prove that your level and Kaifeng quest state are correct.

Online social route

Form the partnership correctly, then let the severance timer finish.

7 checkpoints

  1. 01

    Switch to Online Mode and form a team

    The partnership route requires another player. Team with the intended partner before traveling so the social interaction is available in the correct mode.

  2. 02

    Raise Intimacy to Companions

    The current route requires at least the Companions Intimacy level before Shi Yimo can complete a partnership between the two players.

  3. 03

    Go to Shi Yimo at Crimson Cliff

    Fast travel to Crimson Cliff in Qinghe while still in Online Mode and approach Shi Yimo with the teammate who will become the partner.

  4. 04

    Complete the partnership oath and pictorial

    Enter the oath and finish the character pictorial step. The severance option will not represent a valid partnership until this setup is complete.

  5. 05

    Speak to Shi Yimo again and choose Sever Partnership

    Return to the same NPC after the partnership is established. Start the severance process and use the timer shown by the live social interface.

  6. 06

    Wait for the 24-hour cooling period

    The current English route records a 24-hour cooldown. Do not keep repeating the NPC conversation while the timer is active; return after the displayed period ends.

  7. 07

    Complete severance and open the Velvet Shade invitation

    Choose the available unilateral or negotiated method after the timer. The current route records the Velvet Shade invitation appearing when the partnership ends.

Official Version 1.2 notes say negotiated severance no longer deducts Flower Points. That patch makes older penalty tables stale; it does not replace the consequence text shown by your current client.

Blocked invitation

Match the fix to the last checkpoint that actually worked.

8 stuck states

01

Velvet Shade has no Entry Clue

Reach level 10, enter Kaifeng, and progress the clue state around Shadows in Bloom and Gathering of Heroes. An appearance change does not bypass an unopened story gate.

02

I changed an outfit, but no invitation appeared

Confirm the change, leave Appearance, and return to the overworld. Try a hairstyle or face-preset change after the Kaifeng clue is active. If the invite still fails, switch routes instead of spending more.

03

An old guide says I need 2,000 Elegance

That number comes from the older Zuihuayin source. It is useful for explaining CN screenshots, but the current English route does not publish it as a fixed Global requirement. Do not buy an outfit solely to hit it.

04

I cannot form a partnership

Check Online Mode, team membership, and Companions Intimacy. Shi Yimo cannot complete the route when the required player or social state is missing.

05

Shi Yimo has no partnership option

Make sure both players are present at Crimson Cliff in Qinghe, the team is still active, and the Intimacy gate is met. Reopen the social screen before retrying the NPC.

06

Sever Partnership is unavailable

Finish the oath and pictorial first, then speak to Shi Yimo again. The severance route begins only after the partnership has been fully created.

07

The severance timer is still running

Wait for the live 24-hour cooling period to end. Old posts often compress this into one sentence, but the timer is a real checkpoint rather than a dialogue retry puzzle.

08

The partnership ended, but I still see no invitation

Return to the overworld, reopen the Sect and invitation screens, and confirm the Kaifeng clue gate. Also read the current Sect status before leaving any other membership; do not betray a Sect just to test an untracked invite.

Before accepting

Join for a social Sect loop, not for a shortcut to one outfit.

current commitments

Weekly expectation

100 Charm Points

The current Sect reference records a weekly Charm Point target. Treat the number shown by the live Sect screen as authoritative after future patches.

What contributes

Partnerships, profile likes, and gifts

Velvet Shade progression is built around social activity. It is a poor fit when you want a purely solo combat obligation.

Joining benefit

Vernal Umbrella access

The current route reference records access to the Sect's Vernal Umbrella Martial Art after joining. It is a ranged umbrella option, not proof of a complete build by itself.

Leaving

Betray Master, then Perception Forest

The current route records a Severance Trial completed through one Perception Forest match. Read the live confirmation before leaving.

Current references describe a weekly social obligation. Check the live Charm Point counter, rank, and shop before committing; old Flower Point penalties and outfit prices are patch-sensitive.

Name and route bridge

Translate old Zuihuayin instructions without starting from a stale NPC route.

9 lookup rows

LookupCurrent answer or bridge
Current Global SectVelvet Shade
Older nameZuihuayin / 醉花陰 / 醉花阴
Current clue regionKaifeng
Current quest-state bridgeShadows in Bloom / Gathering of Heroes
Current social NPCShi Yimo
Current partnership locationCrimson Cliff, Qinghe
Current no-partner triggerAppearance change, then return to overworld
Older appearance gate2,000 風華 / 风华 and full accessories
Older NPC routeFanlou, Shui Liuli, Wang Ping'an, and Qin Ruolan

Player FAQ

Short answers for Velvet Shade invitation, timer, and old-name searches.

availability · cosmetics · partnership · names

Is Velvet Shade available on Global now?

Yes. Velvet Shade arrived with the Version 1.1 Timeless Bonds window, and official Version 1.2 notes continued to update its partnership-severance behavior.

What level do I need to join Velvet Shade?

Reach level 10, then progress into Kaifeng and the Velvet Shade clue state tied to Shadows in Bloom and Gathering of Heroes.

Can I join Velvet Shade without ending a partnership?

Try the cosmetic invitation first. A current English walkthrough triggered it by changing a hairstyle and face preset, so the partnership route is a fallback rather than the only option.

Does any cosmetic change guarantee a Velvet Shade invitation?

No universal guarantee is documented. Complete the level and Kaifeng clue gates, make a confirmed change, return to the overworld, and switch to the partnership route if the invitation still does not appear.

Do I need 2,000 Elegance to join Velvet Shade?

The 2,000 value belongs to an older Zuihuayin source. It should not be treated as a fixed Global requirement unless your current client explicitly shows that target.

Where is Shi Yimo?

Shi Yimo is at Crimson Cliff in Qinghe. Use Online Mode, bring the intended teammate, and reach Companions Intimacy before trying to form the partnership.

Why do I have to wait 24 hours?

Partnership severance has a recorded 24-hour cooling period. Start severance through Shi Yimo, then return when the live timer ends to choose the final method.

Is Zuihuayin the same Sect as Velvet Shade?

Yes for guide lookup. Zuihuayin is the romanized older name for 醉花陰 / 醉花阴, while Velvet Shade is the current Global English name.

Do I still need Fanlou, Shui Liuli, or Qin Ruolan?

Those names belong to older Zuihuayin routes. Do not use them as the current first step. Follow them only when a live tracked objective explicitly sends you there.

How do I leave Velvet Shade?

Use Betray Master in the Sect screen, read the current consequence notice, and complete the recorded Severance Trial through one Perception Forest match.

Source ledger

Current Global triggers lead; old Zuihuayin details explain the search mismatch.

6 checked references

Official Version 1.1: Timeless Bonds overviewPrimary release-window record for the update that made Velvet Shade part of the current Global Sect landscape.Official Version 1.2 January notesPrimary current-system evidence that Velvet Shade partnership severance remained live and that negotiated severance no longer deducted Flower Points after the patch.Current Velvet Shade routeCurrent English reference for level 10, Kaifeng clue gates, Appearance changes, Online partnership, Companions Intimacy, Shi Yimo, the 24-hour cooldown, Charm Points, Vernal Umbrella, and leaving trial.Original 醉花陰加入方法Editor-authorized Chinese source retained for the older 2,000 Elegance, full-accessory, Beauty Asks Love, partnership, 24-hour, and social-task wording.Original 醉花陰門派加入方法Editor-authorized source retained for old outfit, one-week partnership, Fanlou, Qin Ruolan, Shui Liuli, Wang Ping'an, six-clue, key, token, and meditation-route searches.Original faction overviewEditor-authorized overview used to cross-check the old Elegance and severance summary while keeping its relationship-penalty value out of current fixed guidance.

Most useful next check

Identify the last state that worked: Kaifeng clue visible, Appearance change confirmed, partnership formed, cooldown ended, or invitation delivered. The fix follows that checkpoint.

Masked Troupe routeSect index