Dragon Keys (also called Loong Keys) are scarce progression items in Where Winds Meet. Each one opens a hidden Dragon Pillar passage tied to powerful Martial Arts and weapons, and in the early hours of Qinghe, you only get a handful. Wasting one on the wrong objective can delay an entire build.
What Dragon Keys do in Where Winds Meet
Dragon Keys interact with Dragon Pillars and pedestals outside locked dojos and Sect hideouts. Using a key on one of these pedestals does two main things:
- Opens a hidden passage into a Sect hideout for a Skill Theft infiltration mission.
- Grants access to specific weapons and Martial Arts tied to that hideout or dojo.
Skill Theft missions let you spy on a Sect master and “steal” their Martial Art without formally joining that Sect. Joining a Sect also grants its Martial Arts, so Dragon Keys mainly matter if you want the technique without the faction commitment, or if you want to unlock certain weapon styles early.
Within Qinghe, there are enough Dragon Keys to open every Dragon Pillar-linked Skill Theft route in the region, but you still need to collect each one from its specific source.
All guaranteed Dragon Key sources in Qinghe
Early in the game, there are three reliable ways to earn Dragon Keys in Qinghe. Each method gives exactly one key and cannot be repeated.
| Method | Requirement | Location / Trigger | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outpost first-clears | Clear specific Outposts once | Bloomveil Monastery, Gourmand's Grove, Tiger Fort | One Dragon Key per listed Outpost on first completion only |
| Skill Theft: Unearned Lesson | Character Level 8+ | South of Moonveil Peak Boundary Stone, Moonveil Mountain | Exploration quest reward |
| Solo Mode Breakthrough Level 2 | Solo character Level 15 and Breakthrough to Level 2 | Breakthrough menu in Solo Mode | Reward for raising Solo Mode world level cap |
Dragon Keys from Qinghe Outposts
Three Outposts in Qinghe award Dragon Keys the first time you clear them. After the first clear, they will never give another key, so these are not farmable.
| Outpost | Region reference | Reward condition | Extra details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomveil Monastery | Near Bodhi Sea | Complete the Outpost once and loot the stronghold chest | Monastery stronghold; ensure you open the final chest after capture |
| Gourmand's Grove | Near Jadebrook Mountain | Complete the Outpost once and loot the stronghold chest | Features combat around a food-themed camp |
| Tiger Fort | Southwest of Qinghe | Complete the Outpost once and loot the stronghold chest | Fortified camp in the southwest corner of Qinghe |
Each Outpost can take around 10–15 minutes to clear. Not every Outpost in the game grants a Dragon Key, so it is worth checking the reward list in the Outpost UI before committing to a lengthy fight. Look for “Dragon Key” listed under first-clear rewards.
After capturing the Outpost, open the large stronghold chest to actually receive the key and associated loot. The key is tied to that chest reward, not only to the progress notification.
Dragon Key from Skill Theft: Unearned Lesson
The Exploration quest “Skill Theft: Unearned Lesson” gives another guaranteed Dragon Key.
| Quest | Type | Level requirement | Where to start | Reward highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skill Theft: Unearned Lesson | Exploration (Skill Theft-related) | Character Level 8+ | South of Moonveil Peak Boundary Stone in Moonveil Mountain | 1× Dragon Key |
Once you reach level 8, head to Moonveil Mountain and use the Moonveil Peak Boundary Stone as your landmark. The quest trigger lies to the south of that stone. Complete the infiltration-focused objectives, and the Dragon Key is granted on completion.
Dragon Key from Solo Mode Breakthrough Level 2
Players using Solo Mode earn one Dragon Key from the Breakthrough system.
| Breakthrough stage | Character Level trigger | Mode | Reward | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breakthrough Level 2 | Hit Level 15, then complete Breakthrough | Solo Mode only | 1× Dragon Key | Extends Solo Mode level cap from 15 to 20 |
After your Solo character reaches Level 15, progression pauses behind a level cap. Completing Breakthrough Level 2 raises that cap and adds a Dragon Key to your inventory. Check the Breakthrough or cultivation menu on your Solo character to initiate the challenge when eligible.
Weapons and Martial Arts that use Dragon Keys
Dragon Keys connect directly to several of Qinghe’s signature weapons and Skill Theft routes. Each listed weapon or style is locked behind a Dragon Pillar pedestal that consumes a key when activated.
| Weapon / Martial Art | Location reference | Use of Dragon Key | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panacea Fan | Near Northern Bamboo Grave Boundary Stone | Unlocks a locked dojo entrance to its Skill Theft route | Fan-based Martial Art and weapon style |
| Heavenquaker Spear | Wildsmane Ranch, across the river from General's Shrine | Opens access to the spear’s Skill Theft infiltration | High-impact spear technique in Qinghe |
| Inkwell Fan | Buddha Village, far northwest edge of Sundara Land in Qinghe | Activates a Dragon Pillar to reach the fan’s dojo | Paired with Verdant and scholarly-themed builds |
| Infernal Twinblades | Midnight Mercy Sanctum, southern Moonveil Mountain | Opens a hidden passage for Twinblades Skill Theft | Dual-blade offensive style |
| Strategic Sword | Strategic Sword Sanctum, south of the Qinghe region | Consumes a Dragon Key to enter the Sanctum | Sword style focused on calculated strikes |
All of these are tied to Skill Theft infiltration missions. Activating the pedestal near each dojo or Sanctum consumes a Dragon Key and opens the route into the hideout where the Martial Art is taught. Once inside, completing the infiltration sequence adds the style to your arsenal.
Additional Sect hideouts in Qinghe also accept Dragon Keys, but not every Sect requires one. Only hideouts with a visible Dragon Pillar or similar pedestal consume keys.
Skill Theft missions that require Dragon Keys
Several specific Skill Theft missions in Qinghe are known to sit behind Dragon Pillar locks:
| Skill Theft target | Category | Dragon Key usage | Faction context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infernal Twinblades | Martial Art | Unlocks hidden entry to the Sect hideout | Dual-blade Sect hideout reached via Midnight Mercy Sanctum |
| Heavenquaker Spear | Martial Art | Opens Skill Theft route near Wildsmane Ranch | Linked to a spear-focused Sect route in Qinghe |
| Panacea Fan | Martial Art | Activates Dragon Pillar at Northern Bamboo Grave | Fan technique hidden near a Boundary Stone |
| Inkwell Fan | Martial Art | Key unlocks a Buddha Village passage | Fan style accessible from Sundara Land’s northwest edge |
| Strategic Sword | Martial Art | Opens Strategic Sword Sanctum | Sword style tied to a southern Qinghe Sanctum |
Each of these missions can also be bypassed by simply joining the associated Sect, which grants its Martial Arts through normal progression. Dragon Keys exist to give you another path: take the style without binding yourself to the Sect’s politics or questline.
How to track Dragon Key weapon locations from the menu
The in-game Develop menu makes it easier to find the dojos and Sanctums that consume Dragon Keys.
- Open the menu, then go to the Develop section.
- Select the Weapons category.
- Hover over the weapon you want (for example, Heavenquaker Spear or Inkwell Fan).
- Use the Obtain button prompt shown at the bottom right of the screen.
Using the Obtain shortcut zooms the world map to the relevant clue or region for that weapon’s dojo, often highlighting the general location of the associated Dragon Pillar or Sect hideout. From there, you can place your own marker and ride or glide to the area.
When to spend Dragon Keys and when to hold them
Dragon Keys are technically optional for Martial Arts you plan to unlock by joining their Sect, but they are extremely useful if you want to:
- Test a Sect’s core style without formally joining it.
- Pick up several early-game weapons in Qinghe to experiment with hybrid builds.
- Explore multiple Sects’ techniques on a single character without constant allegiance swaps.
Within Qinghe, there are enough Dragon Keys to access every Dragon Pillar-linked Skill Theft mission if you pick up the three Outpost rewards, complete “Skill Theft: Unearned Lesson”, and perform the Solo Mode Level 2 Breakthrough. That said, you still need to decide which Martial Arts matter most to your build order, since each key is a one-time decision.
For infiltration-heavy Skill Theft missions, Mystic Arts such as Touch of Death work especially well. Touch of Death lets you remove unaware guards quickly, making stealth sections inside Sect hideouts much less punishing. Veil of Stillness is another Mystic Art that can support stealth runs by helping you avoid detection while you navigate the hideout’s interior.
With the three Outposts cleared, the Unearned Lesson quest finished, and your Solo character pushed through Breakthrough Level 2, you hold enough Dragon Keys to open Qinghe’s Martial Arts playground. Decide which styles you want to steal, ride out to their Dragon Pillars, and turn each key into a new chapter in your character’s build.
