The 8 Most-Visited Routes
Steam Buyer's Guide
Price, English support, is it worth buying, Steam tags, Deck status.
High IntentBeginner Walkthrough
Difficulty slots, talents, six attributes, opening month, common mistakes.
EssentialChapter 2 Unlock
The #1 'I'm stuck' question. Exact 3 hard requirements + Elder-rank trap.
Most MissedAll 7 Sects
Emei, Xianxia, Wudang, Penglai, Thunderclap, Medicine King, Grand Hidden — each has a dedicated detail page.
Key DecisionBuild Tier List
S/A/B/C/D ranking — Evasion-Combo, Internal, Sword, Suppress, True Damage, Poison.
PopularGold Farming Guide
Day-1 cash tips, Appraisal, Auction House, Merchant trio, cross-city arbitrage.
Top NeedAll 11 Endings
Phoenix Harmony romance ending, unification endings, alignment endings — full trigger conditions.
EndgameFAQ & Common Questions
Is it on Steam? English? Worth buying? How long is a run? Multiplayer?
Quick AnswersWhat is Long Yin Li Zhi Zhuan?
Long Yin Li Zhi Zhuan (龙胤立志传, LYLZZ) is an open-world wuxia RPG that fuses sect management, by TPP Studio (噪点游戏 / SERICA GAMES). Released March 13, 2026 on Steam (App 3202030). The game has NO official English translation — this hub is the most complete English resource available.
Three Pillars of Gameplay
Free Jianghu: Ride freely across Shenzhou (神州), follow your own moral compass. Befriend heroes of the realm, or seek out hidden lands to master a thousand martial arts.
Sect Leadership: Rise from a nobody to a sect master. Plan your sect's buildings yourself, teach disciples by their aptitude, grow your own distinctive faction.
Faction Warfare: In an age of chaos, recruit talented allies and lead your disciples to capture enemy cities — pursuing the grand achievement of unifying Shenzhou.
This is the complete Long Yin guide on a single page — Steam buyer's notes, beginner walkthrough, the six attributes, gold farming, Chapter 2 unlock, all endings and FAQ. The seven sects and the build tier list have their own in-depth pages, linked above. Use the jump links to skip to any section.
Use the sidebar nav to jump to any topic. Each page covers one focus area with full accordion detail, tables, and tier lists.
Browse the Wiki
Sects Database (7)
One detail page per sect — entry requirements, signature skills, build matches, key NPCs.
Builds Database (6)
Each build = a full progression page with talents, weapon-art chain, gear forging path.
Skills Database (180+)
Every martial art catalogued by tier, type, source sect, and breakthrough effects.
Equipment Database
Weapons, armor, accessories — keyword guide, forging recipes, save-load strategy.
11 Endings
Trigger conditions and save-slot planning for every ending.
Is It Worth Buying? (TL;DR)
Steam Page Quick Reference
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Steam App ID | store.steampowered.com/app/3202030/ |
| Developer / Publisher | TPP Studio · 噪点游戏 (SERICA GAMES) |
| Release date | 2026-03-13 |
| Official English? | No — Simplified Chinese only. No community translation mod publicly released. |
| Current price | $19.99 USD full (verify on Steam) |
| Steam rating | Mostly Positive (~77% of 6,170+ reviews) |
| Historical low | ~$12.20 USD on third-party key resellers |
| DLC | None — base game is full experience, free patches |
| Steam Deck | Untested — Windows-based; Proton + Chinese fonts may have issues |
| Average playtime | ~60-100 hours per complete first run |
| Sale Period | Typical Discount | Recommend? |
|---|---|---|
| Steam Lunar Sale (Jan-Feb) | 20-25% | Yes |
| Steam Summer Sale (Jun-Jul) | 25-30% | Best Steam-side |
| Steam Autumn Sale (Nov) | 20-25% | Yes |
| Steam Winter Sale (Dec) | 25-35% | Best Steam-side |
| Third-party key resellers | ~38% (~$12.20 USD) | Lowest but use trusted vendor |
What's Great About It
1. Deep sect-management hybrid
Most wuxia RPGs do open-world OR management — this does both. You inherit a sect, plan buildings, train disciples, AND ride out as a jianghu hero.
2. 11 endings + Phoenix Harmony grand ending
High replay value. The Phoenix Harmony (鸾凤和鸣) romance grand ending requires romancing all 5 companions simultaneously — a community-favorite long-arc goal.
3. 180+ martial-arts skills across 7 sects
Build variety is best-in-class for the price range. Evasion-Combo, Internal Damage, Sword DPS, Suppress, True Damage, Poison — all viable, all distinct.
4. Free post-launch patches
No DLC paywall. TPP Studio continues active development.
5. Tactical turn-based combat
Rewards study, not reflex. Stance, intent, parity, and positioning matter more than raw stats.
Honest Negatives
1. Steep learning curve
Top Steam negative reviews mention this most. Plan ~5-10 hours before systems click. Use our Beginner Walkthrough to accelerate.
2. Chinese-only UI
100% Chinese. No language switcher in Settings. Plan to play with this guide open as a translation reference.
3. No community translation mod
Even fan translation patches do not exist yet (as of 2026-05). Watch Steam Workshop quarterly.
4. Chapter 2 unlock confusion
Many players get stuck thinking Elder rank is enough (it's not). See our Chapter 2 Unlock Guide for the exact 3 conditions.
5. No Steam Deck verification
Proton + Chinese fonts may break. Not recommended as primary Steam Deck purchase.
Long Yin vs Similar Games
| Game | Strength | Vs Long Yin |
|---|---|---|
| Hero's Adventure: Road to Passion | Polished UI, official English, larger budget | Easier entry but less sect-management depth |
| Taikō Risshiden V | Japanese classic, polished, console ports | Different setting (Sengoku Japan), older systems |
Difficulty & Talent Slots
Your chosen difficulty directly controls how many talent slots you receive for the ENTIRE run. Most impactful early decision.
| Difficulty | Talent Slots | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|
| Novice (初露锋芒) | 9 | First run, story focus |
| Normal (普通) | 12 | 2nd run, balanced |
| Hard (困难) | 13 | Veterans |
| Nine Deaths (九死一生) | 15 | Masochist mode |
Talent Selection — Best Opening Picks
Talents span 7 pages. Many new players only see page 1. The 4 picks below each grant +7 bonus points just for selecting them — don't miss this.
| Talent | Effect | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Unconventional (离经叛道) | Dodge +15%, Recovery −30% | Every run |
| Hidden Blade (笑里藏刀) | Crit +15%, Suppress −30% | First run |
| Supreme Self (唯我独尊) | Suppress +15%, Counter −30% | Ten Hells route |
| Heartless (灭心绝情) | Damage +15% | Alt |
| If you're going... | Pick these talents |
|---|---|
| Evasion-Combo (S) | Unconventional + Hidden Blade + Land Glide + Riding series |
| Internal Damage (S) | Unconventional + Hidden Blade + Internal +8 + Meridians +8 |
| Sword DPS (A) | Hidden Blade + Agility +8 + Sword talent + Heartless |
| Suppress (A) | Supreme Self + Suppress talents + Hidden Blade |
| True Damage (B) | Heartless + Internal +8 + Absolutes +8 + Strength talents |
The Six Core Attributes (六维)
6 base attributes with a max potential of 120 (base/white value). Equipment and skills add green value on top. They are NOT interchangeable when checking skill prerequisites.
| Attribute | Role | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Agility (灵巧) | Dodge rate — single highest impact early | Early #1 |
| Meridians (经脉) | Combo chain rate — massively scales damage | Mid #1 |
| Intelligence (智力) | Hit rate / accuracy | Mid #2 |
| Internal Power (内功) | Internal skill strength; heavily scales gear bonuses | High |
| Movement (轻功) | Movement skills, positioning | Fills naturally |
| Absolutes (绝技) | Ultimate technique tier | Fills naturally |
First In-Game Month — Checklist
- Pick your starting sect (see Sect Selection). Wudang or Emei recommended first.
- Talk to all NPCs in the starting yard — establish relationships before you leave.
- Train your starting martial art to Lv. 5 minimum — combat survival depends on it.
- Raise Scholarship (学识) + Smithing (锻造) — unlocks Appraisal (鉴宝), the highest-paying early skill.
- Take EVERY sect bounty (悬赏) quest — guaranteed gold + combat XP + sect contribution.
- Do NOT sell skill books to shops — disassemble at Sutra Hall (藏书阁) for parts.
- Tame your horse fully (100%) before sprinting — empty-stamina sprint kills tameness.
Top 5 Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
| # | Mistake | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grinding mobs for gold | Lowest gold/hour activity. Use Appraisal instead. |
| 2 | Learning Remnant (残本) Orange/Red skills | Heavy XP penalty — wastes a top-tier slot. |
| 3 | Stopping at Elder (长老) rank, waiting for Ch. 2 | Chapter 2 needs Vice Sect Leader. See Ch.2 Unlock Guide. |
| 4 | Spreading attributes too thin | Below 80 base in any core stat = stuck at low-tier skills forever. |
| 5 | Building decorative buildings in Chapter 1 | Wastes budget — blocks key cultivation building upgrades. |
Fast Gold — Day 1 Cash Path (Highest Priority)
The single fastest way to escape early-game poverty. Most new players grind mobs for hours and stay broke — this is the community-tested optimal path.
| # | Action | Why It Works | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raise Scholarship (学识) + Smithing (锻造) ASAP | Unlocks Appraisal (鉴宝) — highest-paying early skill. | Foundation |
| 2 | Take EVERY sect bounty (悬赏) quest | Guaranteed gold + combat XP + sect contribution. | Medium-high |
| 3 | NEVER sell skill books to shops — disassemble at Sutra Hall | Shops pay junk prices. Disassembly returns parts to resell or craft. | Always positive |
| 4 | Smithing 30+: forge weapons → Auction House, NOT shops | Auction prices 3-5× shop buyback. List at slight discount for fast sales. | Massive scaling |
| 5 | Grab Merchant (富商) talent if you have a free slot | Passive bonus on every transaction. Cheapest talent ROI in the game. | Compounding |
Gold by Game Phase — Long-Term Strategy
Zero-cost gold kings early on. Raise Scholarship (学识) and Smithing (锻造) as early as possible. Appraisal income far outperforms mob grinding — community-tested optimal early path.
Display Gallery (个人展厅) for passive income. Once Auction House (拍卖行) unlocks, forge weapons and list there — prices far exceed shop buyback. Never sell Blue+ skills to shops — disassembling gives more value.
Arbitrage routes between cities. Buy region-specific cheap goods, sell in regions where they're scarce. Long-distance routes (3+ days travel) typically yield 50-100% markup.
| Route example | Goods | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| Jiangnan → Northern Plains | Silk, tea, paper | +70-90% |
| Coastal cities → Inland | Salt, seafood preserves | +50-70% |
| Mining regions → Capital | Refined ores | +80-110% |
Production buildings = ongoing passive income. Official government position = monthly salary (higher rank = more). Territory control = tribute income from captured cities.
The Merchant Talent Trio
| Talent | Effect |
|---|---|
| Hoard (囤积居奇) | Buy price discount, sell price premium when holding stock |
| Merchant (富商) | Passive bonus on every transaction (buy/sell/auction) |
| Silver Tongue (舌灿莲花) | Negotiation success rate +; auction listing fees reduced |
The 3 Hard Requirements (All Must Be Met)
| # | Requirement | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | In-game year ≥ Year 5 | Triggers between Year 5 spring and Year 6 (randomized by 1-2 months). Don't stress the date — just advance time via cultivation and sect duties. |
| 2 | Complete all Chapter 1 main quests | Must win BOTH battles at Baling (巴陵决战), find and return the lost senior brother, AND reach Vice Sect Leader rank (副掌门) — not just Elder. |
| 3 | Clear all timed branch quests | In the Rumor tab, any quest with a countdown must be completed before it expires. Non-timed quests can wait. |
How to Reach Vice Sect Leader (副掌门)
- Sect contribution (贡献): Take ALL bounty (悬赏) quests every in-game week. Each one gives contribution + gold + combat XP.
- Combat reputation (武名): Win 1v1 sect duels (师兄妹切磋). Even losing 5+ duels raises reputation if you're under-leveled.
- Personal cultivation (修为): Your average base attribute level must be high enough (~80+ in 4+ stats).
- Sect-leader favor: Gift items the sect leader likes (different per sect). Check via dialogue prompts.
- Complete Chapter 1 main quests in order: Some branch quests gate the promotion event.
Story Mode vs Sandbox Mode
If you're playing Sandbox Mode, Chapter 2 unlock doesn't apply the same way. Make sure you know which mode you're in.
| Feature | Story Mode (剧情模式) | Sandbox Mode (沙盒模式) |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter progression | Gated 1→2→3 with unlock conditions | No chapter gates — open world from start |
| NPC storylines | Full NPC arcs, companions, romance routes | Limited — many story NPCs absent |
| 11 endings | All 11 accessible | Fewer ending routes available |
| Recommended for | First-time players — the intended experience | 2nd+ runs, build testing, free exploration |
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause + fix |
|---|---|
| I'm at Vice Sect Leader, year > 5, but nothing happens | Check Rumor tab for unfinished timed quests. Even one expired-but-incomplete quest can block. |
| I won Baling once, not both battles | Both Baling battles required. The second comes via follow-up event a few in-game weeks later. |
| Senior brother is dead, not 'lost' | Some choices kill him in Ch.1 — Ch.2 still unlocks but with reduced NPC roster. Not a blocker. |
| My save is in Sandbox Mode | Chapter 2 unlock doesn't apply. Sandbox has open exploration from start. |
The 11 Endings — Quick Index
| Ending | Category | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Phoenix Harmony (鸾凤和鸣) | Grand | ★★★★★ |
| 2. Single-Companion Romance · 水清秋 | Romance | ★★★ |
| 3. Single-Companion Romance · 曲佩环 | Romance | ★★★ |
| 4. Single-Companion Romance · 殷雨霏 | Romance | ★★★ |
| 5. Single-Companion Romance · 柳如月 | Romance | ★★★ |
| 6. Single-Companion Romance · 北冥雪 | Romance | ★★★★ |
| 7. Unification Grand · 一统神州 | Unification | ★★★★ |
| 8. Unification Partial · 占地为王 | Unification | ★★ |
| 9. Righteous Path · 正道伏魔 | Alignment | ★★★ |
| 10. Evil Path · 魔道称尊 | Alignment | ★★★ |
| 11. Hidden Ending · 归隐山林 | Hidden | ★★★ |
Phoenix Harmony (鸾凤和鸣) — The 5-Companion Romance
Phoenix Harmony is the romance grand ending — requires romancing all 5 companions simultaneously. Build favor from Chapter 1 — late starts miss key branch quest windows.
| Companion | Preferred gifts | Key dialogue |
|---|---|---|
| 水清秋 | Elegant / cultural items | Poetry-themed responses |
| 曲佩环 | Martial arts items, swords | Combat-philosophy responses |
| 殷雨霏 | Rare herbs, medical items | Healing / compassion responses |
| 柳如月 | Music instruments, art | Cultured responses |
| 北冥雪 | Rare weapons, hidden treasures | Mysterious / cryptic responses |
Unification Endings (一统结局)
The world unification progress bar appears mid-Chapter 2. Two unification endings exist depending on completion level.
| Ending | Progress Bar | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| 一统神州 (Full Unification) | 100% | Capture all enemy cities + maintain Vice Sect Leader+ rank + complete all faction war chains |
| 占地为王 (Partial Lord) | 50-99% | Capture some cities, settle for warlord status. Easier — no all-faction requirement. |
Alignment Endings (正魔结局)
Your accumulated morality score over the run determines alignment endings. Specific choice events have large morality impacts — track these via in-game journal.
| Ending | Required Morality |
|---|---|
| 正道伏魔 (Righteous Demon-Subduer) | High positive (+500+) |
| 魔道称尊 (Demonic Supreme) | Low negative (−500+) |
Save-Slot Planning
- Slot 1 — main playthrough save (frequent overwrite)
- Slot 2 — pre-Chapter-2 backup (one-time save before Ch.2 trigger)
- Slot 3 — mid-Ch.2 branch save (just before alignment-defining choice)
- Slot 4 — pre-ending-trigger save (before final faction battle)
- Slot 5 — Phoenix Harmony attempt save (highest-stakes commitment)
Buying & Language
Yes — Steam App ID 3202030. Released March 13, 2026 by TPP Studio (噪点游戏 / SERICA GAMES). Sold globally at $19.99 USD. See our Steam Buyer's Guide.
No official English translation. Simplified Chinese only. No community translation mod publicly released as of 2026-05. English players play with this guide open as a translation reference, plus real-time MT overlay tools like PCOT for in-game menus.
Steam Winter Sale (Dec) typically gives the largest discount at 25-35% off ($13-15 USD). Summer Sale (Jun-Jul) gives 25-30%. Third-party key resellers reach ~$12.20 USD.
Unknown. Watch Steam Workshop quarterly. Without a public release as of 2026-05, English players should plan to use this guide + PCOT MT overlay.
Playing the Game
60-100 hours for a complete first run with story focus. 200+ hours if you pursue all 11 endings. Veteran speedrunners report ~40 hours to a single ending.
Story Mode. Sandbox skips most of the NPC arcs and reduces accessible endings. Story Mode is the intended experience.
Evasion-Combo (闪避连击流) — S-tier, fastest power spike. See the full Evasion-Combo Build Guide.
Emei (峨眉) for the +20% breakthrough bonus that stays after leaving. See the Emei guide.
3 hard conditions: year >= 5, reach Vice Sect Leader (NOT just Elder) + complete Baling battles + recover senior brother, clear all timed branch quests. Full guide: Chapter 2 Unlock.
Yes — save-load on critical breakthrough rolls and weapon forging keyword rolls is community-accepted practice. Always save before high-stakes RNG events (meridian damage fights, key breakthroughs, weapon forge attempts).
Technical & Platform
No. Single-player only. The 11-ending narrative and sect management wouldn't translate well to multiplayer.
Untested by Valve. Runs on Windows; Proton + Chinese fonts may have rendering issues. Not recommended as primary Steam Deck purchase until verified by community.
Steam Workshop is enabled. Currently mostly balance mods + UI tweaks. No comprehensive English translation patch yet.
Yes — TPP Studio has committed to save compatibility across all patches. Major content updates have not broken existing saves to date.
Lore & Naming
立志传 (lì zhì zhuàn, Japanese: risshiden) literally means 'aspiration chronicle' or 'ambition biography'. The term was popularized by Koei's Taikō Risshiden series. Chinese indie games like Long Yin Li Zhi Zhuan and Da Xia Li Zhi Zhuan use the naming convention as a nod, but are separate IPs by different studios.
Not narratively. Both are Chinese indie wuxia games using the 立志传 naming tradition, but Long Yin is by TPP Studio while Hero's Adventure is by Half Amateur Studio. Different developers, different worlds, similar genre.