You're standing in front of a massive, glowing gate deep under a waterfall in Liyue, wondering why on earth those Ruin Hunters won't stop spinning. It's frustrating. Honestly, if you've played Genshin Impact for more than a week, you've probably heard the horror stories about the Chi of Yore quest. It used to be called "The Chi of Guyun," but even with a name change, the headache remains the same. This isn't just another "go here, talk to that guy" mission. It’s a multi-stage scavenger hunt that culminates in one of the most brutal combat encounters in the early game.
Most people stumble into it by accident. You’re exploring the beautiful, terrace-filled landscape of Qingce Village, you talk to a random NPC, and suddenly you're deep in a rabbit hole of ancient dragon bones and cryptic statues.
What Actually Happens in the Chi of Yore Quest
The quest kicks off near the Wuwang Hill area. You’ll find a researcher named Yan’er who mentions some ruins. This is the "hook." From there, the game expects you to have a decent grasp of Liyue’s geography and a very sharp eye for environmental puzzles. You have to find three fragments. These aren't just sitting in chests; they are locked behind "geo-statue" puzzles that require you to interact with them in a specific order based on clues about the surrounding landmarks.
One fragment is at the highest point of Qingce Village. Another is near the western shrines. The third is tucked away in the ruins to the south. Each location gives you a snippet of lore about the "Chi"—a monstrous creature defeated by Rex Lapis long ago. The story is actually kinda cool if you stop to read the tablets, detailing how the creature's body became the mountains and its blood became the water. But let's be real: most players are just here for the Primogems and the Adventure XP.
The difficulty spike is real. Unlike the Mondstadt quests that hold your hand, Chi of Yore quest puzzles are famously vague. You’re told to look toward "the ruins," "the snow-capped peak," or "the city of Liyue." If your render distance is low or you aren't familiar with the map yet, you're going to be spinning in circles for a while.
Solving the Qingce Village Shrines
Let's get into the weeds of the statues. The highest peak puzzle is the one that usually stumps people. You have to activate the statues that point toward specific locations: Stormterror’s Lair (the wind-swept ruin), Dragonspine (the snowy mountain), Jueyun Karst (the floating island clouds), and Liyue Harbor.
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It's easy to mess up.
If you click them in the wrong order, nothing happens. No "wrong" sound, just... silence. You have to reset and try again. The western shrine puzzle is a bit more forgiving but requires you to follow a sequence based on the "incomplete writing" found in the center of the circle. This is where the game tests your patience. You aren't just fighting monsters; you're fighting your own ability to interpret flowery, translated dialogue.
The Final Stand in the Vault
Once you have all three fragments, you go back to Granny Ruoxin in the village. She’s the sweet old lady who basically tells you, "Good luck, don't die." She directs you to a hidden vault under a waterfall to the northwest of the village.
This is the part everyone hates.
Inside the vault, you have to defend a "cache" (a glowing monolith) from waves of enemies. It starts easy with a Ruin Guard. Then things get spicy. You have to fight three Ruin Guards at the same time. While they’re trying to stomp you, they’re also dealing damage to the cache. If the cache’s health hits 0%, you fail. You have to restart the entire fight. After the three guards, a Ruin Hunter spawns.
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If you aren't prepared, the Ruin Hunter will fly up into the air and rain missiles down on the cache, ending your run in seconds. It’s a gear check. It’s a skill check. And for many players, it’s a "call a friend for co-op" check.
Why the Combat Part is So Hard
The math of this fight is stacked against you. Ruin Guards have high physical resistance. If you’re a new player relying on Traveler’s normal attacks or Kaeya’s sword swings, you’re going to feel like you’re hitting a brick wall.
Elemental reactions are mandatory here.
You need Freeze (Hydro + Cryo) to keep the guards from moving. You need Overload (Electro + Pyro) or heavy Geo attacks to break their poise. Most importantly, you need an archer. Amber is actually useful here—stop laughing. You need to hit the glowing "eye" of the Ruin Guards to stun them. If you can't stun them, they will perform their "whirlwind" attack. When three Ruin Guards start spinning at once, the sheer AOE (Area of Effect) damage usually vaporizes the cache instantly.
Strategy Adjustments
- Environmental Advantage: The vault has water on the floor. Use this. Bringing an Electro character like Lisa or Beidou can cause Electro-Charged reactions constantly.
- The Freeze Method: If you have Barbara and Kaeya, you can keep one or two guards frozen indefinitely while you focus down the third.
- Food Buffs: Don't be proud. Eat some Adeptus’ Temptation or some DEF-boosting food. It makes a massive difference in your survival rate.
- Co-op: This is one of the few world quests that allows co-op. If you’re World Level 2 or 3 and struggling, just ask a higher-level player to jump in. A Level 80 Diluc can end this fight in ten seconds.
The Rewards and the Aftermath
After you finally defeat the Ruin Hunter and the annoying swarm of Hydro Slimes that follow, you get access to the back of the cave. It’s filled with chests. You get a Luxurious Chest, some Precious Chests, and a bunch of artifacts.
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Was it worth the gray hairs? Probably.
The Chi of Yore quest is a rite of passage. It’s the game’s way of telling you that the honeymoon phase of Mondstadt is over and Liyue is going to require actual strategy. It also finishes a major piece of world-building regarding the "Chi," which fans have speculated might link back to other ancient dragons in the game's deeper lore.
Interestingly, many players find that returning to this spot later in the game feels like a victory lap. Once you have characters like Zhongli or Raiden Shogun, the three Ruin Guards that once felt like gods are now just target practice. It shows how much your account has grown.
Actionable Next Steps for Success
If you're currently staring at the "Quest Failed" screen, take a breath. Here is how you actually beat it without smashing your controller:
- Level Your Talents: Many players forget that talents need leveling, not just the characters themselves. If your talents are at Level 1, you aren't doing enough damage.
- Focus the Hunter First: In the final wave, the Ruin Hunter is the real threat. It moves faster and deals more damage to the monolith. Use an archer to knock it out of the sky the moment it flies up.
- Positioning: Stand away from the cache. If you stand right next to it, the enemies will hit the cache while trying to hit you. Lead the Ruin Guards to the edges of the room.
- Check the "Highest Point" again: If you're missing the final fragment, remember the statues aren't about the direction they face, but which ones you toggle. The one facing the orange crystals (Jueyun Karst) and the one facing the snowy mountain (Dragonspine) are the key markers.
Once the vault is clear, remember to talk to Granny Ruoxin one last time to officially close the quest and get your achievement. You’ve earned it.