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Hidden Mountain is Where Winds Meet's next major expansion, launching globally on July 23 (UTC). The update brings a new vertically-stacked region built around Eastern Steampunk aesthetics, the crafting-focused Mohist Hill Sect, the new Gauntlet weapon, a fresh campaign titled Changeless Heart, and new world bosses including Ci & Cuo and the Ironheart Centipede.
How to Start the Hidden Mountain Expansion Quest and Unlock the New Region
Access to Hidden Mountain begins in Kaifeng, so head there first. The unlock quest Yingying's Invitation is long and story-driven - nothing complicated, but with plenty of moving parts. Here's the full walkthrough.
Head into an inn in Kaifeng, where you'll overhear a storyteller describing "the Haven" - a reclusive, secret place said to be full of peace and prosperity, where immortals supposedly live. Most of the room doesn't believe him. This is where you'll find Yingying, who asks what you make of the tale.
Sit down and talk with her. You lay out your theory: this information was deliberately kept secret, and the fact that it's suddenly the talk of the town means someone is spreading it on purpose. Yingying reveals that the Water Lady is currently in the Haven and asks if you're going. You say yes.
Master Jin and the Mechanical Bird
A nearby stranger, Master Jin, overhears the conversation. He's looking for a companion for his own journey to the Haven and claims to have a lead on how to get there. Before you and Yingying can compare notes with him, someone bursts in looking for her, and she flees the scene.
In her place, you find a small mechanical bird left behind on the table - it turns out to be the lead you need. Follow it as it flies towards the Golden Escort Agency quarters.
Once the bird lands inside the building, follow it in and investigate the area. This triggers the first secret passage, rigged with mechanical traps that match the expansion's steampunk theme.
Continue following the bird into the main secret room below, where inspecting a nearby chair reveals a hidden wall and opens the way forward.
From here, keep following the bird through the underground section:
- Make your way through the library, dealing with guards along the way.
- Climb the stairs, continuing to follow the bird's path.
- In a room ahead, inspect the chair and pull the lever. This triggers a mechanism back in the central room where you first entered the passage.
- Follow the bird to another on the opposite side and repeat the same inspect interaction. This triggers the mechanism in the central room and opens yet another secret passage.
- Follow the bird once more, inspect another chair, and you'll be routed back to the central room, ready to investigate the next passage.
Reuniting With Master Jin
Opening the next hidden passage triggers a cutscene reuniting you with Master Jin. The Escort Agency's leader is alerted to your presence and confronts you both, and this is where the story really opens up:
- You learn that the Haven is hidden somewhere within Hidden Mountain.
- You learn Master Jin's true motivation for wanting to reach the mountain.
- You get your first mention of the Mohist Sect, the crafting faction tied to this expansion.
Solving the Lock Puzzle
After the cutscene, you'll hit a short lock puzzle. The solution is simple: move the central piece all the way to the left, then move the vertical piece.
Solving it triggers another cinematic, after which you depart with the cargo and arrive near Hidden Mountain, where you'll need to arrange transport across the river.
Crossing the River to Hidden Mountain
At the port, inspect the largest boat to kick off a new water-traversal mechanic as you begin sailing across the river.
Heavy fog rolls in, so simply steer toward the quest marker on screen. Your first attempt won't succeed - instead of reaching Hidden Mountain, you'll be pulled back to port. Talk to the flagged NPCs to learn more about the fog and how to actually make the crossing. You'll discover you need firewood and torches, but even with torches lit, the fog forces you back to shore again.
The Whirlpool Mechanism: On your second attempt, you'll realise the fog isn't the real problem, rather it's a network of hidden whirlpools created by the Mohists, invisible in the fog, that pull boats back to the shore they departed from. To get across, use Wind Sense to track and follow these whirlpools toward Hidden Mountain's shore. Even armed with this knowledge, you'll be turned back partway through the crossing once more.
Third Time's the Charm: On your third attempt, you'll also help a group of refugees cross the river with you. Use Gift of Gab to convince one of them that you should all cross together. This attempt fails too, but it clears the way for you to continue toward Hidden Mountain.
Board the boat one last time to make the crossing. A story cutscene plays out, and you'll finally make landfall on Hidden Mountain's shore. From here, the questline continues into the new region properly, and you're free to explore Hidden Mountain's map, take on its new world bosses, and dig into the rest of the expansion's story.
