The quick answer
Find Sleeping Daoist beneath the red maple tree on Jadebrook Mountain in Qinghe. Start at a readable distance, deflect the projectile patterns you recognise and avoid standing behind the donkey. In the dream phase, watch for follow-up attacks and move through gaps in the charging herd.
On this page
Find the red maple clearing
Travel to Jadebrook Mountain in Sundara Land and follow the mountain route to the red maple tree. Entering the clearing starts the world-boss encounter. Prepare your medicine and skill slots before walking into the arena.
Cloud Steps is useful when its contextual opening appears. A ranged weapon can also let you take a short attack without remaining beside the donkey, but changing to an unfamiliar weapon is not a prerequisite for a clear.
Read the projectile rhythm from a little farther away
Give the wind projectiles enough travel distance that you can see them separately. Deflect the shots you recognise and watch for the close-range follow-up. Do not chase immediately when the boss moves away; that movement can precede another volley.
| Cue | Response |
|---|---|
| Repeated donkey jumps | Treat each landing as a separate impact. |
| Long red-glint wind-up | Wait for the committed hit before deflecting. |
| Gold glow at the donkey’s rear | Move out of the kick; do not try to parry it. |
| A Cloud Steps prompt after a pattern | Use the contextual opening, then reassess your position. |
Expect additions to familiar patterns in the dream
The later arena retains recognisable attacks but adds pressure around them. Projectile sequences can lead into a rushing sweep, and the donkey’s landing can create an area effect. After defending the first part, check whether the pattern has actually ended.
Our recommendation is to keep the same short counter you used successfully earlier, then extend it only after observing the new follow-up. This avoids relearning every input while still respecting the phase change.
Watch the brush and the herd’s lanes
When the illusion sequence obscures the field, look for the figure with the glowing brush to identify the real target. When the boss retreats to the tree and the donkey herd appears, shift attention to the arena edges and the routes the herd is taking.
Move into a visible gap rather than chasing the boss through the stampede. Keep your next escape direction in view. A stationary ranged attack is only useful if you can finish it before a charging lane reaches you.
Diagnose the attack that ends your attempts
| Repeated failure | Adjustment to try |
|---|---|
| Caught by the rear kick | Stop circling directly behind the donkey. |
| Hit after a projectile parry | Watch for a trailing shot or rushing follow-up. |
| Hit while using medicine | Wait until the whole string or herd sequence ends. |
| No Endurance for the last dodge | Replace repeated rolls with one deliberate response to each cue. |
These are practice adjustments, not a requirement to use one particular build. Change one response at a time so you can tell which adjustment actually improves the attempt.
What to read next
Common questions
Can I parry the gold donkey kick?
No. Move out of its line and avoid remaining directly behind the donkey.
Is ranged combat mandatory?
No. It can make spacing easier, but reliable defensive responses and awareness of follow-ups matter with any weapon pair.