The quick answer
Reach level 32 and complete Chapter 1: Heaven Has No Pier, including its closing For Whom Does He Return sequence. Then track New Arrival in Kaifeng from the main story and follow its travel objective. Reaching the level alone does not replace the story requirement.
On this page
Check the two main requirements
| Requirement | Where to verify it |
|---|---|
| Character level 32 or higher | Character level display. |
| Chapter 1: Heaven Has No Pier completed | Main-story journal, including its closing sequence. |
| Level cap no longer blocking progression | Solo Mode breakthrough requirements. |
| Kaifeng arrival quest tracked | New Arrival in Kaifeng in the main-story list. |
Do not confuse character level with Martial Mastery. One measures character progression; the other reflects developed combat systems. If your level is capped below the requirement, resolve the Solo Mode breakthrough rather than grinding a number that is not the stated gate.
Finish the chapter, not every Qinghe activity
The main-story requirement does not mean you must collect every Qinghe chest or complete every side activity. Open the Chapter 1 list and find the remaining main objective. Continue through the final dialogue and completion step so the next chapter can appear.
If you are struggling with the closing fight, inspect your actual Martial Art levels, equipped gear and available recovery tools. Improve the weak part of the loadout you are using rather than spending materials on an unrelated weapon simply to raise a general score.
Track New Arrival in Kaifeng and take the marked route
- Open the main-story journal after completing the prerequisites.
- Select New Arrival in Kaifeng and make it the active quest.
- Follow its marked travel NPC or departure objective.
- Complete the dialogue that sends you to the new region.
- On arrival, continue toward Wheatwind Bazaar and the opening story encounter.
Use the tracked departure point rather than trying every boat along the shoreline. If the expected travel dialogue is absent, check that the arrival quest is active and the previous chapter is fully complete.
Make the first visit easy to return to
Continue the arrival sequence around Wheatwind Bazaar and activate available travel points as you pass them. Speak to the relevant Wayfarer when the route introduces the regional map. A short pause to establish travel access saves retracing the opening route later.
Keep the main objective tracked until you understand where the arrival sequence is taking you. You can decide how much nearby exploration to do afterward; stopping at every new icon immediately can make it difficult to remember which story interaction was unfinished.
Why Kaifeng may still look locked
| Situation | What to check |
|---|---|
| Level 32 reached but no travel quest | Chapter 1 completion and its final hand-in. |
| Cannot reach level 32 | Solo Mode breakthrough and the current cap. |
| Quest available but boat has no dialogue | Correct tracked NPC and active objective. |
| Visited a Kaifeng scene but cannot freely return | A temporary quest scene is not necessarily the region’s normal unlock. |
| Region open but another district is restricted | That area’s own story or progression requirement. |
Opening Kaifeng does not promise immediate access to every later story area inside it. Read a new restriction on its own terms. Likewise, do not import a later area’s exploration requirement into the initial level-32 region unlock.
What to read next
Common questions
Do I need to finish all Qinghe exploration first?
No. The initial region unlock is tied to the stated level and main-story requirements, not full Qinghe completion.
Why is Kaifeng still unavailable at level 32?
Check Chapter 1 completion and track New Arrival in Kaifeng. Level 32 is one requirement, not the whole unlock.