Velvet Shade is currently one of the most talked-about sects in Where Winds Meet, not because it’s hard to find on the map, but because it has a very different way to join than every other sect in the game. There’s no quest marker, no obvious NPC to talk to, and for many players, the invite won’t arrive when expected. That confusion is intentional to a point, but there are also some rough edges at the time of this writing. Below, we’ll explain how Velvet Shade membership works in Where Winds Meet, what you need before you can join, and the current known way to get into this sect.
How to Join Velvet Shade in Where Winds Meet
To join any Where Winds Meet Velvet Shade sect, you need to be at least level 10, which is where sects unlock. Further, you must have reached the Kaifeng region, because the sect clue and background activities are linked to Kaifeng’s side content, mainly Shadows in Bloom and Gathering of Heroes quests.
Once the requirements are met, Velvet Shade will appear in the sect menu, but once you click it there, it won’t track a quest or side activity to join like other sects. Instead, you get a special invitation from the sect after completing certain requirements. When the letter appears, it plays out a short interaction that asks whether you want to join the sect. You must choose the option to join the sect because if you pick “I’ll think about it,” the invitation will disappear, and you’ll have to wait for another one to trigger.
Right now, there are two known triggers for the invitation.
Earn Elegance Points for Invitation
Velvet Shade values elegance and appearance above all else. To qualify, your character needs a high equipped Elegance score, which comes mainly from cosmetics. To earn Elegance points, you need to equip as many cosmetics as possible until you receive an invitation to join the sect, not owned ones. That includes outfits, hairstyles, accessories, capes, and cosmetic weapon skins.
Each piece adds an Elegance value you can see in the appearance menu. You need to stack as much of it as possible at once. Some additional ways to collect Elegance Points are to pet cats around the world, complete some side activities/encounters, and unlock event and achievement cosmetics.
In the Chinese game version, players reported invitations to arrive with the collected Elegance Points in between 800 and 2000, and many received the sect message with around 1,700–1,800 points. In the global version, some players have exceeded 5,000+ Elegance but haven’t received the letter. Since the Velvet Shade sect is newly included in the global game version, the Elegance trigger is likely inconsistent or bugged at the moment. If it does work for you, the invitation will arrive automatically after some time. When you receive the message, accept Velvet Shade’s invitation immediately.
Marriage with a Partner, and Divorce
This is currently the most reliable method to join Velvet Shade. The game tracks relationship upheaval as part of Velvet Shade’s identity. You need to partner with another player and take a vow at Crimson Cliff by speaking to Shi Yimo to complete the marriage. Once done, talk to Shi Yimo again and formally sever the partnership with a divorce.
After the relation is ended, a 24-hour cooldown begins, and once the time is over, you will likely receive a Velvet Shade invitation. If it does not arrive, repeat the process—marry again, then divorce again. Some players have seen success after one cycle, others after two, and it might take you a few tries before you earn their respect. This relationship method is awkward, but now seems to be the only most consistent way to enter the sect.
Why the Invitation Sometimes Won’t Appear
A few things can block or delay the Velvet Shade invite:
- You already have too many active Encounter quests; make sure to keep only two Encounters at once.
- You ignored or dismissed an already sent invitation.
- The Elegance trigger is not processed correctly due to a bug.
- The event window or server state is not refreshed yet.
If you suspect a missed invite, clear your encounter list, relog, and give it some time. Velvet Shade invitations are not instant.
Once you accept the invitation, the game directs you to a short interaction about Velvet Shade’s history and values. After that, the sect will be unlocked like any other joinable martial school. Velvet Shade leans heavily on elegance, emotional restraint, and indirect influence rather than brute martial force. If that appeals to you, the effort is worth it, but the process can be tricky to be a part of the sect.
