When you begin a new game of Wandering Sword you'll find that Yuwen Yi, the main character, is a little on the weak side. Aside from feeding him a steady diet of pills, the best way to change his weakness into strength is to teach him Cultivation Methods. If you want to get through this game you must learn how to use - and strengthen - Yi's Cultivation Methods.
This guide will provide locations for each of the Cultivation Methods in Wandering Sword. First, though, we should have a brief look at just what they are.
What are Cultivation Methods?
Cultivation Methods are a Martial Arts Skill, and are accessible via the Martial Arts submenu. Like other Skills, Cultivation Methods can be used in combat and have a variety of different effects. By far their most important role, however, is boosting the stats of your characters. There are two ways Cultivation Methods can boost a character's stats:
- By upgrading a Cultivation Method's level via Martial Points the character will automatically gain a set amount of HP and MP. Pretty simple.
- By upgrading a Cultivation Method's level via Martial Points the character will also receive Meridian Points. These can be spent on the Meridian Map, striking the character's Meridians and boosting their attributes, as well as granting them additional passive abilities.
It is wise to prioritize upgrading Cultivation Methods the moment you get a new one. Stats play a massive role in how well your team does in combat, and even a small change can greatly affect the outcome of a battle.
Acquiring Cultivation Methods
There are several dozen Cultivation Methods that you can acquire in Wandering Sword. There are several ways to find them:
- Main story events
- Side quest bonuses
- Via Consultation with other characters
The first two methods are self-explanatory. The third, however, is easy to neglect. Whenever you approach an NPC you'll see a series of interaction options, and sometimes you can Observe the character. Look at the bottom of the screen and you may additionally see the Consult option. This opens up a list of that NPC's Life Skills (related to item creation) and Martial Skills (combat only). Cultivation Methods appear under Martial Skills.
When you first meet a character you won't be able to learn anything from them. Give them Gifts or upgrade Yi's Affinity with them from story choices, however, and you may earn the right to learn a skill. This includes Cultivation Methods. You'll also need to expend Martial Points and Stamina to learn new moves, granted, but raising Affinity is typically the hardest part of acquiring new Cultivation Methods. (On the plus side, you can Spar with the character and reacquire any presents you've given them. A bit selfish, but, hey.)
It's important to note that you can't give Gifts to NPCs if your character is too weak. You won't, for example, be able to just sling presents at the heads of the various sects at the start of the game, collect their Cultivation Methods, and then turn Yi into an overpowered monster. You'll have to start with weaker characters, then build your way up as Yi becomes stronger himself. (A good rule of thumb is checking a character's Power, at the bottom of their portrait. If Yi is of equal Power or higher he can probably give them Gifts.)
It is also important to note that some of the higher-level moves, including Cultivation Methods, require you to defeat the NPC before you can learn the skill. If you wanted to learn The Infinte Four Symbols from Daowei, for example, you'd first have to Spar with him. Martial Points are not spent learning the move until you win the Sparring match.
Occasionally there are characters whose Affinity you can't raise. This is usually because their Affinity is capped by story-related events. Either pursue that character's side quests, or wait a little longer to see if the main game unlocks their skills for you.
Cultivation Methods
Basic Cultivation Method
- Taught by Jiang Yinfeng at the beginning of the game
Beggars' Cultivation Method
- Li Yuanxing (Tancheng City, Beggars' Sect, playable character)
- Yan Weihuan (playable character)
- Zuo Jianglong (Tancheng City, Beggars' Sect)
- Wu Tianliu (Tancheng City, Beggars' Sect)
- Hou Jiu (Tancheng City, Beggars' Sect)
Bibo Mental Sutra
- Complete Dance at Qingmu Sect (Qingmu Sect)
- Shangguan Hong (Pingkang City, playable character)
- Mu Haitang (Qingmu Sect)
Breathing Exercises
- Bai Jin (Luo Village, playable character)
- Di Zui (Shaolin Temple, playable character)
- Yuan Jue (Shaolin Temple)
- Yuan Nan (Shaolin Temple)
- Yuan Wu (Shaolin Temple)
- Yuan Ku (Shaolin Temple)
Condor Cultivation Method
- Frosty Condor (Pingkang City, playable character)
- Yin Wujin (Condor School)
Deluge of Blood
- Complete Visiting Condor School (must defeat Yin Wujin while sparring)
- Frosty Condor (Pingkang City, playable character)
- Yin Wujin (Condor School)
Dragon Grappling
- Complete Truth Revealed (Tancheng City)
- Li Yuanxing (Tancheng City, Beggars' Sect, playable character)
- Yan Weihuan (playable character)
- Zuo Jianglong (Tancheng City, Beggars' Sect)
- Wu Tianliu (Tancheng City, Beggars' Sect)
- Hou Jiu (Tancheng City, Beggars' Sect)
Five Balances Sutra
- Complete Re-encounter with Wuqing (Peach Blossom Forest)
Five Immortals' Mental Sutra
- Storyline item (spoilers!)
Five Immortals' Sorcery
- Jiang Xiaotong (Valley of Dragons' Slumber, playable character)
- Thom Lief (Wuxian Sect)
Great Mountain Cultivation Method
- Complete Wei Huo's Promise (Wei Huo - 60 Affinity)
- Wei Huo (Wutong Village, playable character)
Golden Bell Cocoon
- Di Zui (Shaolin Temple, playable character)
- Yuan Jue (Shaolin Temple)
- Yuan Nan (Shaolin Temple)
- Yuan Wu (Shaolin Temple)
- Yuan Ku (Shaolin Temple)
- Hui Ping (Shaolin Temple)
- Hui Kong (Shaolin Temple)
Guiyuan Cultivation Method
- Complete Trip in Pingkang (Wudang Sect)
- Jiang Yinfeng (Wutong Village, unobtainable)
- Mowen (Wudang Sect, playable character)
- Master Qingxu (Wudang Sect)
- Master Qingxiao (Wudang Sect)
- Daotong (Wudang Sect)
- Daowei (Wudang Sect)
- Daomiao (Wudang Sect)
- Daoxuan (Wudang Sect)
Healthcare Method
- Complete A Technique to Prolong Life (Luo Village, Wei the Physician)
Heavenly Silkworm Method
- Jiang Xiaotong (Valley of Dragons' Slumber, playable character)
- Thom Lief (Wuxian Sect)
Hunyuan Holy Swordplay
- Ouyang Xue (Mingjian Manor, playable character)
- Ouyang Jianying (Mingjian Manor, playable character)
- Ouyang Heng (Mingjian Manor)
Illusion Gu Mental Sutra
- Jiang Xiaotong (Valley of Dragons' Slumber, playable character)
- Thom Lief (Wuxian Sect)
Jianghu Cultivation Method
- Chest (Wild Boar Woods)
- Wei Huo (Wutong Village, playable character)
- Kong Liang (Yanfu Town, playable character)
- Shangguan Hong (Pingkang City, playable character)
- Lü Xian'er (Wutong Village, playable character)
- Zhi Wu (Shaolin Temple)
- Liu Xiong (Liushan School)
- Wei Cunxu (Gusu City)
- Mu Haitang (Qingmu Sect)
- Dome Ripoche (Fancheng City)
Light Cultivation Method
- Received during Approaching Battle
- Yao Ji (Xuanhuo Cult, playable character)
Liushan Cultivation Method
- Zhan Wuxing (Liushan School - complete Birthday Banquet in Tianshui)
Mingjian Cultivation Method
- Ouyang Xue (Mingjian Manor, playable character)
- Ouyang Jianying (Mingjian Manor, playable character)
- Ouyang Heng (Mingjian Manor)
Muscle-Changing Scripture
- Yuan Jue (Shaolin Temple)
- Yuan Wu (Shaolin Temple)
Primordial Scripture
- Zhan Wuxing (Liushan School - complete Birthday Banquet in Tianshui)
Qingmu Dance
- Shangguan Hong (Pingkang City)
- Sima Ling (Qingmu Sect)
- Mu Haitang (Qingmu Sect)
- Lianlian (Qingmu Sect)
Shangqing Wind and Cloud Method
- Storyline item (spoilers!)
Sleeping Arhat Method
- Zuo Jianglong (Tancheng City, Beggars' Sect)
- Wu Tianliu (Tancheng City, Beggars' Sect)
Tai Chi Marvel Force
- Taught during Wudang Contest (Wudang Sect)
- Mowen (Wudang Sect, playable character)
- Master Qingxu (Wudang Sect - knows and carries the manual)
- Master Qingxiao (Wudang Sect)
- Daotong (Wudang Sect)
- Daowei (Wudang Sect)
- Daomiao (Wudang Sect)
- Daoxuan (Wudang Sect)
The Infinite Four Symbols
- Complete Become Martial Disciple (Wudang Sect)
- Jiang Yinfeng (Wutong Village, unobtainable)
- Master Qingxu (Wudang Sect)
- Master Qingxiao (Wudang Sect)
- Daotong (Wudang Sect)
- Daowei (Wudang Sect)
- Daomiao (Wudang Sect)
- Daoxuan (Wudang Sect)
The Six Knacks
- Complete Re-encounter with Wuqing (Peach Blossom Forest)
- Leng Wuqing (Gusu City)
The Yoga Sutras
- Liu Xiong (Liushan School)
Tianlong Cultivation Method
- Complete Return to Mount Wanzi (Bai Jin, Luo Village)
Undying Cultivation Method
- Lü Xian'er (Wutong Village, playable character)
- Huo Changqing (Fancheng City, playable character)
- Complete Money Does Buy Happiness (Pingkang City)
- Mu Haitang (Qingmu Sect)
Whale Breath
- Ouyang Xue (Mingjian Manor, playable character)
- Ouyang Jianying (Mingjian Manor, playable character)
- Ouyang Heng (Mingjian Manor)
Wintry Blow
- Chen Linxi (Pingkang City, playable character)
Wudang Cultivation Method
- Complete Joining Wudang (Wudang Sect)
- Mowen (Wudang Sect, playable character)
- Moqi (Wudant Sect, playable character)
- Master Qingxu (Wudang Sect)
- Master Qingxiao (Wudang Sect)
- Daotong (Wudang Sect)
- Daowei (Wudang Sect)
- Daomiao (Wudang Sect)
- Daoxuan (Wudang Sect)
- Yuanchen (Wudang Sect)
- Yuanmu (Wudang Sect)
Xuanhuo Cultivation Method
- Complete Trial of Xuanhuo (Yanfu Town)
- Yao Ji (Xuanhuo Cult, playable character)
Zen Demon-Subduing Spell
- Di Zui (Shaolin Temple, playable character)
- Yuan Jue (Shaolin Temple)
- Yuan Nan (Shaolin Temple)
- Yuan Wu (Shaolin Temple)
- Yuan Ku (Shaolin Temple)
- Hui Kong (Shaolin Temple)