Quick Answer
Purple Cloud Mountain is the big Chapter 4 secret area in Webbed Hollow. You do not unlock it from a single conversation. The route starts when you first meet the Venom Daoist, but it only truly opens after you keep progressing Chapter 4, find the second encounter, defeat him there, and follow the route into the hidden area.
It is worth doing before ending the chapter because it covers a major hidden-area checkpoint and leads to Weaver's Needle, one of the Chapter 4 rewards players most often come back for.
Unlock Order
| Step | What to do | Reminder |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meet the Venom Daoist during the Chapter 4 main route | The first meeting starts the chain, but does not open the area |
| 2 | Continue through Webbed Hollow instead of searching for the entrance immediately | The route needs later chapter progress |
| 3 | Reach the second Venom Daoist encounter and defeat him | This is the real unlock step |
| 4 | Enter Purple Cloud Mountain and unlock the checkpoint right away | It saves a lot of cleanup time |
| 5 | Finish the hidden-area reward line and secure Weaver’s Needle | This is the main reason many players do the route during Chapter 4 |
Three Common Mistakes
Treating the first Venom Daoist encounter as the whole quest
It is not. The first encounter is just the setup. If you leave Chapter 4 after that, you may not realize the secret area is still unopened until much later.
Forgetting to unlock the checkpoint inside the area
Purple Cloud Mountain has bosses, side content, and collectibles worth revisiting. Open the checkpoint first so boss retries and cleanup are less painful.
Treating Weaver’s Needle like a cosmetic extra
Game8 and Game Rant both frame Purple Cloud Mountain around its reward path, and that is the right way to think about it. This is not just optional scenery. The route has practical value for later preparation.
What To Prioritize Inside Purple Cloud Mountain
| Priority | Focus | Why |
|---|---|---|
| High | Unlock the checkpoint and understand the local layout | Chapter 4 vertical routing gets messy fast |
| High | Confirm the Venom Daoist line is fully advanced | Avoid wasting time on partial progression |
| Medium | Plan for poison pressure and vision issues | Many failures here are about control, not raw numbers |
| Medium | Secure the Weaver’s Needle reward line | This is the main payoff of the route |
| Low | Full collectible cleanup | Better after the core route is stable |
If The Area Starts Beating You Up
| Problem | Adjust first |
|---|---|
| Poison or chip damage overwhelms you | Shift drinks, soaks, and curios toward survival |
| Camera and lock-on feel bad | Create space and punish recoveries instead of forcing constant lock-on pressure |
| Phase two keeps collapsing | Save Immobilize and transformation for the real danger point |
| Damage feels too low | Return with better spirits, materials, or gourd setup |
Why This Matters For The Secret Ending Route
Purple Cloud Mountain is one of the clearest hidden-area checks in the broader secret-ending plan. If you want a clean Mount Mei and Erlang setup later, finishing this area during Chapter 4 is much safer than trying to remember it from memory near the finale.
FAQ
Where is the second Venom Daoist encounter?
Different guides label the local sub-areas differently, but the important point is that it is not at the first meeting spot. Push the Chapter 4 route forward, then use your chapter checklist to revisit the second encounter area.
Do I need to clear all of Purple Cloud Mountain in one visit?
No. Lock in the entrance, checkpoint, and reward route first. Then decide whether to keep pushing bosses and collectibles based on your current resources.
Is Weaver’s Needle worth the detour?
Yes. It is one of the strongest reasons to finish this hidden route during the chapter rather than leaving it for later cleanup.