God of Wealth Returns Walkthrough in Where Winds Meet

The “God of Wealth Returns” quest in Where Winds Meet is a world exploration mission that becomes available after you reach a certain point in the main story, and completing it rewards you with a unique accessory and a large amount of in-game currency. This walkthrough covers how to start the quest, the full step-by-step solution to its puzzles, and the exact locations you need to find. Whether you’re stuck on the compass puzzle or can’t find the final treasure, this guide has the answers.

How to Start the Quest

Before you can begin “God of Wealth Returns,” you must first complete the main story chapter “The Golden Age” and reach reputation level 3 with the Qinghe faction. Once those requirements are met, travel to the Qinghe district and look for a beggar near the eastern bridge, just south of the main market square. He will be marked with a yellow quest indicator on your map. Speak to him, and he will tell you about a legendary merchant who hid his fortune before being exiled, asking you to find three clues that lead to the treasure.

The Three Clue Locations

The quest is divided into three clue-hunting segments, each with its own puzzle. You can complete them in any order, but the game will guide you to them sequentially. Here is where to find each clue and how to solve the puzzle:

Clue 1: The Merchant’s Shop

The first clue is inside the abandoned merchant’s shop, located in the northern part of Qinghe, near the old city wall. Enter the shop and look for a loose floorboard under the counter. Interact with it to reveal a small box containing a torn map. The map shows a drawing of a pagoda with a red X marked on its top floor. This clue points to the second location.

Clue 2: The Pagoda Puzzle

Travel to the Qinghe Pagoda, which is northwest of the city center. Climb to the top floor, where you will find a locked chest. To unlock it, you must solve a simple compass puzzle: rotate the four rings on the chest so that the symbols align with the directions shown in the clue map. The correct order, from outer ring to inner ring, is: Dragon (East), Phoenix (South), Tiger (West), Turtle (North). Once aligned, the chest opens, revealing a jade token and a riddle: “Where the water meets the stone, the third pillar hides the bone.”

Clue 3: The Waterfall Cave

The final clue is in a cave behind the waterfall on the eastern side of Qinghe Lake. Swim through the waterfall and enter the cave. Inside, you’ll find three stone pillars. Examine the third pillar from the left, and you’ll find a hidden compartment containing a bronze key. This key opens the treasure vault, which is located in the basement of the merchant’s old shop—the same building where you found the first clue.

Opening the Treasure Vault

Return to the merchant’s shop and look for a trapdoor behind the counter, which is now highlighted after you have the bronze key. Use the key to unlock the trapdoor and descend into the vault. Inside, you will find a large chest surrounded by a simple pressure-plate puzzle. You must step on the plates in the correct order to disable the trap and open the chest. The correct sequence is: left plate, right plate, center plate, then the two side plates simultaneously. If you step on the wrong plate, a poison arrow shoots from the wall, dealing moderate damage but not killing you. After solving the puzzle, open the chest to receive your rewards.

Rewards and Completion

Completing “God of Wealth Returns” grants you the following rewards:

10,000 in-game coins (a significant sum for early-to-mid game)
The “Merchant’s Lucky Charm” accessory, which increases your critical hit rate by 2%
50 Qinghe reputation points
A small amount of experience points

After you claim the treasure, return to the beggar at the bridge to close the quest. He will thank you and give you a small bonus of 500 coins, and the quest will be marked as complete in your journal.

Common Mistakes and Tips

Many players get stuck on the compass puzzle because they rotate the rings in the wrong direction. The rings must be rotated so that the symbols face the cardinal directions as if you were standing in the center of the chest looking outward. Also, if you miss the clue map, you can still solve the puzzle by trial and error, but it’s much easier to find the map first. Another common mistake is trying to open the vault before you have the bronze key—the trapdoor is not interactable until you have it, so don’t waste time searching for a way in earlier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I start this quest after finishing the main story?

Yes, the quest remains available after the main story ends. As long as you have met the reputation requirement and have not already completed it, you can start it at any time.

What happens if I fail the pressure plate puzzle?

If you step on the wrong plate, you’ll take some damage from the arrow trap, but you can simply try again. The puzzle resets after a few seconds, and there is no penalty other than the health loss.

Is there a time limit for this quest?

No, there is no time limit. You can pause the quest and come back later without any consequences.

Can I get the rewards multiple times?

No, this quest is a one-time reward. Once you complete it, the chest will not respawn, and the quest will not be repeatable.

What if I lose the bronze key?

The bronze key is a quest item and cannot be dropped or lost. It will remain in your inventory until you use it to open the trapdoor.

Are there any hidden achievements tied to this quest?

Yes, completing the quest without taking damage from the arrow trap unlocks the “Ghost” achievement, which grants a title and a small cosmetic reward. If you want to earn it, save before stepping on the plates and reload if you get hit.

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