How do you get stronger?

[Cheezystix]

I understand that I need to consult with various NPC's in order to learn better moves and cultivation methods but where exactly can I find these people?
Also what are some good places to grind for early game? I've been wandering around for a while just trying to find a decent spot with enemies I can actually kill but have had no luck.
In general I'm just confused on how I'm supposed to actually make progress in terms of character growth since it feels like at every turn there's another wall I gotta climb over in order to get stronger

[AH-1 Cobra]

Early on, you can easily stumble into a side area that's got massively OP enemies, and you got no chance. It's possible to slip past the enemies, and go deeper in to grab some chests though, but it'll be a pain in the ass if you repeatedly get into battles you can't win.

Most of the people you learn the cultivation methods from are in martial arts centers like Wudang, Shaolin, etc. A few are gotten from NPCs in dojos. Access to some of these areas might be main story, or sidequest related. I couldn't enter the Shaolin area immediately, I had to progress a bit.

There's also methods for farming stat and meridian point items that people haven't shared, probably because it'll get nerfed. A couple people said fish up mystery boxes to get some of these items, but I haven't had any luck with that. Or it's certainly not profitable from a time => gains perspective imo.

Getting money is relatively simple, all you gotta do is clear an area with human enemies, and sell the loot, you can also disassemble them for some materials.

Higher level crafting recipes can be gotten by dueling, or from chests in side areas. To get the strongest recipes, you gotta beat the strongest people in duels, but you can get rank V gear pretty early, and craft them with good mods, and it's a significant power boost. Disassemble if it doesn't roll the mods you want, because you get all the materials back, and it only costs money to disassemble and reforge, and that's easy to get.

Use all stat items, meridian point items, and martial arts books on the main character. He really needs them. No reason to bank them, use them immediately as you get them.

[Damon]

Originally posted by AH-1 Cobra:

Early on, you can easily stumble into a side area that's got massively OP enemies, and you got no chance. It's possible to slip past the enemies, and go deeper in to grab some chests though, but it'll be a pain in the ass if you repeatedly get into battles you can't win.

This is still easy and you also have decent chance to flee battle before you lose. However it seems likely you will only find slight better items and possibly techs as well, since it's still in first continent. I tested to see if could go to other continents but it's not possible until the story allows you or something.

Originally posted by AH-1 Cobra:

A couple people said fish up mystery boxes to get some of these items, but I haven't had any luck with that. Or it's certainly not profitable from a time => gains perspective imo.

This is quite easy and profitable actually. Just save before you open chest and load if bad loot. However the loot list seems very limited so not anything overpowered early game.

Originally posted by AH-1 Cobra:

Use all stat items, meridian point items, and martial arts books on the main character. He really needs them. No reason to bank them, use them immediately as you get them.

I doubt this actually. I guess it depends which builds you and companions run so some items fit them better.

[Jozen]

It's a cultivation game, so you want to cultivate as much as possible. In this game that means getting your hands on as many cultivation techniques as you can possibly get. This gives you more HP/MP/Meridian Points(HP & MP only from equipped techniques). Meridian Points give you more stat boosts and some unique buffs as well. A lot of the passives on the higher level cultivation techniques are really good as well.

The MC is very weak to start so find as many cultivation techniques via consult as you can. Start by looking for green cultivation techniques, they should cost about 1300 Martial Points via consult. Level those up to max and then get another, and another. Then repeat for yellow ones. The higher level techniques, I think those that require 70 affinity and above require you to duel the NPC to learn that technique, so be prepared for that. Otherwise it's about stacking as many max cultivation techniques as possible to get as many Meridian points as possible(which also requires a ton of Martial points to purchase and level the techniques).

[blizzcarsten]

Originally posted by Jozen:

Then repeat for yellow ones. The higher level techniques, I think those that require 70 affinity and above require you to duel the NPC to learn that technique

Yellow Skills with 70 Affinity and 3400 Points don't start a Fight.
Guess it's 6900 and above who does.

[Jozen]

Originally posted by blizzcarsten:

Originally posted by Jozen:

Then repeat for yellow ones. The higher level techniques, I think those that require 70 affinity and above require you to duel the NPC to learn that technique

Yellow Skills with 70 Affinity and 3400 Points don't start a Fight.
Guess it's 6900 and above who does.

Must be the 80 affinity and above ones then. So the 6900 and 12900 cost consultations.

[the guy not to worry about.]

Cheat engine 🤣🤣

[Solers]

Just finished the game, few tips I learned along the way.
1.For grinding early Bamboo sea is difficult but good exp.

2.Observe everybody, even in the world map roads. If they have meridian or stat pills gift them a blue for instant +20 and spar them until you have it. Same with equipment blueprints.

3. When you get a bit stronger, or just want to do some easy farming.... the best exp is actually sparring. Pick a place where you can rest (Wudang, or an inn) and spar a challenging opponent that can you can beat a few times, rest do it again.

4. Stacking the right abilities is everything. Get the cultivation method from the masters in Wudang that increases your damage by 25% per stack asap (The alchemist is probably easiest to get it from.) Use that with a style (I preferred Mijang manor sword skills, but it works with any style/weapon) Once you get them and they line up you will be rocking 2-6k hits with mid tier gear. Also, Conception is op.

PS Just because it took me forever to realize, when you start mining Jade, you have to go into your inventory and "use" it to turn it into useful gems for crafting.