The Palace of Annals is a captivating Campaign side quest in Where Winds Meet, taking you deep beneath the Moonveil Mountain in Qinghe. This dungeon is filled with ancient machinery, multi-level corridors, and a formidable boss, offering some of the most valuable rewards for a side quest.
This complete walkthrough will guide you through every step, from finding the entrance to claiming your hard-earned prizes.
How to Start the Palace of Annals Quest
Your journey begins by speaking to Long Wu at the Front Mountain in Qinghe. He will direct you to the Hall of Seasons. Head to the second floor of the hall and locate a breakable hole in the floor. Use your landing ability (like the Roll) to safely drop down into the first area of the Palace of Annals, officially starting your descent.
Full Exploration Walkthrough
1. Following the Sound and Finding the Lift
Upon landing, the environment will be dark and confusing. Your primary guide is a subtle, machine-like humming sound.
Follow the Sound: Move in the direction where the humming grows louder.
Re-orient Yourself: If the sound weakens, stop and do a full 360-degree turn to find the correct path again.
This will lead you to a large, non-functional lift.
2. How to Fix the Lift
The lift is initially broken, but you can begin the repair process.
Activate the Lever: Use your Ember Cry ability on the lever near the lift to call it down to your level. However, the control mechanism is still damaged.
Find the Contraption: From the lift, walk straight ahead on the same level and take the first right turn. You will find a small room containing a broken contraption.
Perform the Repair: Interact with the contraption to repair it.
Once repaired, return to the lift. It will now be operational.
3. Descending to the Boss Arena
Use the now-functional lift to descend to the lowest level. This area features dimmer lighting, denser architecture, and a group of small enemies. Defeat them as a warm-up and proceed down a long corridor that ends with a large door—the entrance to the boss arena.
Lucky Seventeen Boss Strategy
The guardian of the Palace of Annals is the mechanical boss, Lucky Seventeen. This fight tests your mastery of parrying and dodging.
Phase 1: Learning the Patterns
The first phase is slower, designed to let you learn the boss’s attack patterns.
Red Attacks: These are your prime opportunities for a Parry. Successfully parrying these attacks will deplete the boss’s Qi (Stamina) bar.
Golden Attacks: These are unblockable. Your only option is to Dodge out of the way.
Use Silk Binding: When the boss’s Qi bar is low, use your Silk Binding ability to deal significant bonus damage.
Focus on defense, learn the timing, and whittle down its first health bar.
Phase 2: Aggressive Onslaught
After you deplete its first health bar, Lucky Seventeen becomes much more aggressive.
Faster Combos: Its attacks are quicker and its patterns are harder to read.
Look for Openings: The core strategy remains the same—parry red attacks and dodge golden ones.
The Execute Move: The boss’s Qi bar will deplete faster in this phase. When it becomes exhausted, it will be vulnerable to a powerful Execute move. Use this opportunity to deal massive damage and end the fight.
Key Tip: Patience is crucial. Do not get greedy with attacks. Wait for your openings, especially the exhausted state, to land your most powerful blows.
Palace of Annals Rewards
Completing this quest yields a massive haul, making it one of the most rewarding side activities in the game. Upon defeating Lucky Seventeen and completing the quest objectives (speaking to the boss, reading the inscription, and interacting with the Loong statue), you will receive:
Jadeware Set x2
Palace of Annals Cosmetic Chest
Crimson Leaves Chest
Bellstrike Splendor Tips x2
Oscillating Jade x2
Zhou Coin x3200
Character EXP x4000 (+400 per level)
Lore Collectibles
During your exploration, keep an eye out for two Dark Surge Fragments:
“Khitan and Tang Sever Ties”
“In the Name of Chunqiu”
These items are essential for players interested in the deeper lore of Where Winds Meet.
FAQ
Q: Where exactly is the Palace of Annals entrance?
A: It’s on the second floor of the Hall of Seasons on Moonveil Mountain. Look for a breakable hole in the floor.
Q: What do I do if I get lost after dropping down?
A: Follow the machine-like humming sound. If it gets quieter, stop and turn until you find the direction where it’s loudest.
Q: The lift is broken. How do I fix it?
A: Use Ember Cry on the lever to call it down, then go straight and take the first right to find and repair a small contraption.
Q: What is the most important tip for the Lucky Seventeen boss fight?
A: Master the parry for red attacks and dodge the golden ones. Your biggest damage window is when the boss is exhausted, so use your Execute move then.
Conclusion
The Palace of Annals is a brilliantly designed dungeon that perfectly encapsulates the challenge and reward of Where Winds Meet. By carefully navigating its halls, solving its mechanical puzzle, and triumphing over the aggressive Lucky Seventeen, you are rewarded with a wealth of resources and cosmetics that significantly boost your progression. Follow this guide, keep a cool head during the boss fight, and claim the treasures that await beneath Moonveil Mountain.