Version 1.7, called The Imperial Palace, went live on May 28, 2026 (UTC+8) across all platforms for Where Winds Meet. The headline addition is a sprawling new Kaifeng zone built around the inner palace, packed with story content, mini-games, two new world bosses, and a fresh batch of cosmetics. Getting inside is gated behind a single questline, so the first thing most players want is the exact unlock path.
Quick answer: Reach Character Lv. 32 and finish Kaifeng Main Chapter I, New Arrival in Kaifeng - The Welcoming Crowd. That lets you accept the Kaifeng Lost Chapter Throne and Tempest, which opens access to the Imperial Palace.
How to unlock the Imperial Palace in Version 1.7
The Imperial Palace is the newest Kaifeng area, and entry depends on two requirements being met at the same time. You need the right character level and the right story progress before the unlock quest becomes available.
Step 1: Push your character to Lv. 32. The palace content scales for higher-level play, and the unlock quest will not appear before you hit this threshold.
Step 2: Complete Kaifeng Main Chapter I, New Arrival in Kaifeng - The Welcoming Crowd. This is the prerequisite that flags the new Lost Chapter as available.
Step 3: Accept and begin the Kaifeng Lost Chapter Throne and Tempest. Starting it grants access to the Imperial Palace map, and clearing Throne and Tempest I awards an Imperial Service Token and Lingering Melody x1.
You know it worked when the Imperial Palace becomes selectable as a destination, and the palace activities appear. Completing Throne and Tempest I also unlocks the new Sealed Treasury campaign, which is your next step once you're inside.
Imperial Palace activities, mini-games, and the Golden Echoes Oddity
Beyond the main path, the palace is built around everyday court life and a set of entertainment activities. These are spread across the grounds and don't require the harder endgame content to enjoy.
- Cricket Fighting
- Ultimate Slap
- Chef Cleaver
- Imperial Decree
- Step into Bloom
- Ice Games
The update also adds new Meow Meow Challenges, puzzle chests, prison rules, and palace-related illnesses to interact with. A new Oddity, Golden Echoes, is hidden across four secret spots: Jade Steps, Incense Candles, Imperial Warden, and Auspicious Rain. Exploring the palace also rewards appearances such as Cricket's Delight, Justicar's Barrel, Palace Crimson, A Fish Come True, Demon Queller, Gourd Gone Wild, and Jadestep Spring, alongside Hero Titles, Decorations, Inscriptions, and Lingering Melodies.
New quests, campaigns, and challenges in Version 1.7
The palace ships with a stack of new questlines and group activities, each with its own unlock condition. Several are tied directly to reaching the palace first.
| Content | Type | Requirement | Notable rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Throne and Tempest I | Kaifeng Lost Chapter | Complete The Welcoming Crowd | Imperial Service Token, Lingering Melody x1 |
| Grand Nuo Ritual | Jianghu Legacy | Unlock the Imperial Palace | Demon Queller, Echo Jades |
| Sealed Treasury | Campaign | Complete Throne and Tempest I | Peace Seal accessory (on re-clear) |
| Resounding Majesty | 10-player Hero's Realm | Reach Lv. 91, join Wandering Paths | Top 750 Phase 1 leaderboard rewards |
| Skyward Bond | Guild Challenge | Reach Lv. 95 | Guild and Personal First Clear rewards |
Resounding Majesty features Everdeer and Moongazing Maiden and opened at 05:00:00 Server Time (UTC+8) on May 28, 2026. You can take it on through Smart Matchmaking or with friends. Skyward Bond starts with its first 5 floors available, where teams of up to 10 must defeat Twin Lions and Ghost Master within the time limit; higher floors unlock over time with new boss mechanics.
New world bosses: Gilded Lament and Cat Emperor
Two world bosses arrive with the palace, and both become challengeable once you've unlocked the area. First-time clears hand out the bulk of the rewards.
| Boss | First-clear rewards |
|---|---|
| Gilded Lament | Gilded Bond, Medicinal Tales x3, Inner Way Note: Custom Chest x5, Echo Jade x20 |
| Cat Emperor | Meow Magistrate, Medicinal Tales x3, Inner Way Note: Custom Chest x5, Echo Jade x20 |
You can also run Sword Forge challenges through the Trial interface for boss Avatars, Trial Badges, and Echo Jades.
Version 1.7 events and dates
Several limited-time events run alongside the launch, with a couple staggered into early June. Most are accessible at low character levels, so returning players can jump in quickly.
| Event | Window | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Palace Chronicle | May 28 – 04:59:59 on June 25, 2026 | Unlock the Imperial Palace |
| Palace Unveiled | May 28 – 04:59:59 on June 25, 2026 | Reach Lv. 10 |
| Marching to War | May 28 – 04:59:59 on June 25, 2026 | Reach Lv. 10 |
| A Day in the Imperial Service | May 28 – 04:59:59 on June 25, 2026 | Reach Lv. 10, unlock Kaifeng |
| Time-Limited Exploration: A Returning Friend / A Familiar Shade | June 1, 00:00 – June 7, 23:59, 2026 | Reach Lv. 10, complete Qinghe Main Chapter: Another New Wing |
| Palace Collection | 05:00:00 on June 5 – 04:59:59 on June 25, 2026 | Character level requirement |
Palace Unveiled, Marching to War, and A Day in the Imperial Service feed into a shared Prestige track that pays out Lingering Melodies and the exclusive pose Play Cuju. Palace Chronicle ties into Chrono Exploration and the Chronicle of Shadows photo events for rewards like Ever-Lasting Light, Resonating Melodies, Ebon Irons, Inner Way Note: Chests, and Echo Jades.
Forest Sovereign Battle Pass and new appearances
The new Battle Pass set, Forest Sovereign, runs from the May 28 update through 04:59:59 on June 25, 2026. The Elite tier unlocks extras such as Forest Sovereign, Moving Shadows, Glistening Waves, Roaring Mountain Wind, Lingering Melodies, and Echo Jades. The Premium tier instantly adds 10 levels and grants Celestial Secret, Ink Cloudfall, and Lingering Melodies.
A range of cosmetics is available through the Draw Shop, Echo Shop, and the in-game store. A few are staggered to release after launch.
| Appearance | How to get | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Graceful Fox | Harmonic Core x2 (Draw Shop) or Draw | May 28 – Aug 26, 2026 |
| Glassy Expanse | Harmonic Core x2 (Draw Shop) or Draw | May 28 – Aug 26, 2026 |
| Radiant Majesty | Harmonic Core x2 (Draw Shop) | May 28 – Aug 26, 2026 |
| Crimson Cloud | Harmonic Core x1 (Draw Shop) | May 28 – Aug 26, 2026 |
| Bluebird's Blade | Sound Jade x2 (Echo Shop) | May 28 – Jul 26, 2026 |
| Crystal Surf | Sound Jade x2 (Echo Shop) | May 28 – Jul 26, 2026 |
| Moonlit Howl | Echo Bead x1,280 (Shop) | From May 28, 2026 |
| Clear Frost | Echo Beads x680 (Store) | From May 28, 2026 |
| Imperial Stag | Echo Bead x1,280 (Shop) | From May 28, 2026 |
| Broom and Rooster | Echo Bead x60 (Shop) | From May 28, 2026 |
| Silent Night Bell | Echo Bead x300 (Shop) | From May 30, 2026 |
| Goose Buster | Echo Bead x180 (Shop) | From June 1, 2026 |
Graceful Fox, Radiant Majesty, Moonlit Howl, and Silent Night Bell support separating the top and bottom pieces, plus dyeing. Glassy Expanse and Crimson Cloud support hairstyle dyeing and come with Dynamic Avatars.
Draw System change for Epic rewards
Version 1.7 reworks what happens when you pull duplicate Epic rewards past your possession limit. Instead of dismantling into Essence of Heaven x5, the reward now becomes Prime Essence x1.
Prime Essence can be exchanged for Taiyi Stones, Sound Jades, or Timeless Hairdyes, or converted back into Essence of Heaven x5. The Prime Essence Shop restocks monthly, and leftover stock rolls over before hitting the cap. Based on your historical Celestial Echo draw count, including Lingering Melody draws made before the update, every 10 draws grants 1 reverse-exchange chance for Prime Essence, and anything under 10 draws still grants 1 chance.
If you're just returning, the fastest route into everything new is the same as the unlock path: hit Lv. 32, clear The Welcoming Crowd, and start Throne and Tempest. From there, the campaigns, world bosses, and Prestige events open up in order. Full details on the rollout are posted on the official Imperial Palace update overview.