Hello everyone! This is Ninth Leaf Studio.

First of all, we owe you an apology.

Earlier, we mentioned that we would evaluate the current build in early February to see whether a release before the Chinese New Year might be possible.

After several rounds of internal testing and discussion over the past few days, we have to be honest with you: the game is not yet ready to be released before the holiday. As a result, the release window will be adjusted to a time after the Chinese New Year.

The reason is simple—after playing the current build ourselves, we can clearly feel that many parts of the game still need more refinement.

The overall flow is not yet as smooth as we want it to be, balance still requires careful tuning, and our testing coverage is not yet sufficient. Inevitably, there are still bugs that have not been discovered.

At the same time, while the main storyline has largely taken shape, we still feel that the pacing of the narrative presentation and its emotional impact fall just a little short. The writing itself also needs further polishing.

Most importantly, the true ending is the part we are least willing to compromise on.

It bears the responsibility of bringing the entire story to a proper conclusion—bringing together all major plot threads, character motivations, and the world’s underlying truths. This section is still undergoing repeated revisions and adjustments.

If we were to rush the release in its current state, we simply wouldn’t feel at ease putting it in your hands.

That would mean asking players to bear the unresolved issues on our behalf—and that is not the outcome we want.

So this time, we’ve chosen to press pause. For that, we would like to sincerely apologize to everyone who was hoping for a release before the Chinese New Year.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Current Development Progress

Since the release date needs to be adjusted, we’d also like to take this opportunity to share more about our current development progress.

Beyond refining the main storyline, we’ve been working on gradually revealing the true shape of the world—particularly the factions and relationships that were only briefly hinted at in the demo.

・Let’s start by looking to the southwest corner of the map: Chengdu Prefecture.

In the demo, you’ve already met Sang Linger, and you know she comes from the Yao-Dong Village in the Miao regions. However, Chengdu Prefecture is home to far more than just one faction. In the full version of the main story, this area will also host one of the three great martial sects of the Jianghu—the XuanDao Sect—which will play a significant role.

・This is also the sect from which the romanceable character Duan Hongtang originates.

The XuanDao Sect is not merely a name in the background lore. It will actively participate in the progression of the main story. Duan Hongtang’s stance, her choices, and her evolving relationship with the protagonist will gradually unfold here.

As for when—and in what manner—she will truly step into the protagonist’s story… we’ll leave that as a mystery for now.

(Please note that the timeline of events in the full release will differ slightly from the demo. We hope you’ll look forward to it!)

If Chengdu Prefecture represents a more restrained yet quietly sharp corner of the Jianghu, then further northwest lies a region with a completely different atmosphere: Xingqing Prefecture.

・This region is home to HeLan Sect as well as the desert-based LiuSha Sect.

Located in arid terrain, the environment and conduct of the sects here differ greatly from those of the Central Plains. Whether in visual design or narrative presence, we hope these factions will leave a strong and memorable impression.

HeLan Sect, in particular, is one of the three great sects mentioned by the opening storyteller as having participated in the great martial conflict thirty years ago. Related storylines will be revealed later on.

A long journey through the Jianghu demands not only resolve, but also strength.

In terms of combat design

we’ve defined the Spear as a versatile weapon focused on internal damage, delaying enemy actions, counterattacks, and breaking enemy resistance.

Its basic operation is relatively intuitive and approachable, but once mastered, it allows for elegant combat loops through rhythm control and resistance-break management. Our goal is to make this weapon accessible without being shallow—easy to learn, yet deep enough to reward strategic play.

If you enjoy controlling the pace of battle, the spear is a weapon well worth exploring.

Meet Two New Companions

・Deng Xiaoyu – The Girl from DengYing Sect

Deng Xiaoyu wields the Rolling Lantern, a signature symbol of the DengYing Sect and a weapon with striking visual flair.

In combat, the Rolling Lantern can trigger chain mechanics such as Follow-Up Attacks, dealing respectable damage. At the same time, it provides versatile support options, including healing and action acceleration for allies—allowing Xiaoyu to fluidly shift between offense and support.

More importantly, we designed a distinct and independent system centered around the Rolling Lantern itself.

・During battle, the Rolling Lantern exists as a persistent effect, granting continuous buffs to allies.

・This gives Deng Xiaoyu a unique strategic value in team composition, far beyond that of a traditional support character.

・Huiguang – The Young Monk

Huiguang may appear somewhat similar to Ye Luo in terms of base role, but we never intended him to be “another version of Ye Luo.”While keeping his raw damage output in check, we’ve given Huiguang a stronger focus on stable buffs and team support, leading to the introduction of an entirely new system: Formations.

・Depending on the ultimate techniques chosen by the player, Huiguang can deploy different types of formations, each granting the entire party distinct enhancements.

・This flexibility allows Huiguang to serve as a reliable back-line supporter or, at key moments, decisively influence the course of battle.

That’s everything we wanted to share at this stage.

Once again, we sincerely apologize to everyone who was hoping for a pre–Chinese New Year release. We will continue pushing forward with development and optimization while holding ourselves to the quality standards we believe in. We’ll keep sharing more updates on the world, story, and systems as development progresses.

Thank you all for your understanding and patience.

Until the next update—see you then!