Xianzhou Zhuming

Lore & Background

The history of the Xianzhou Zhuming is deeply intertwined with the legacy of Yancheng, an artisan who fused heliobi energy lifeforms into swords to create powerful weapons. This obsession resulted in a proliferation of cursed blades that eroded human nature and sparked a violent riot within the Flamewheel Octet Hall. The tragedy left Yunli's father, Yancheng, missing or with an ambiguous fate, before she was rescued by General Huaiyan, her grandfather, who raised her to become a sword huntress. Under his guidance, Yunli learned to retrieve these cursed swords and cast them into furnaces for destruction. The ship remains a hub of military activity, where leaders organize events such as the Wardance, a traditional martial arts tournament on the neighboring Xianzhou Luofu, to foster cooperation between different factions, including the Cloud Knights and the IPC.

In Their Own Story

During the Wardance arc, Yunli traveled from the Zhuming to the Xianzhou Luofu with General Huaiyan. En route, she repelled borisin attackers on an Interastral Peace Corporation transport ship. Upon arrival, a conflict arose when she seized Yanqing's flying sword after he missed a strike against a fleeing prisoner, believing his skill did not merit possession of the weapon. General Huaiyan mediated by arranging joint training for Yunli and Yanqing to prepare March 7th for the competition. Later, in the companion mission "Swords to Plowshares," a delegation returned a treasure sword named Guyun, forged by Hanguang. Despite its historical value, Yunli judged it dangerous due to her father's legacy and attempted to destroy it. After learning of Guyun's memories and its wish to no longer be a tool of war, she melted the blade down, reforged it into other objects, and built graves for both the sword and the Cloud Knight soldier who once wielded it.

Reader's Guide

Visitors or players encountering the Xianzhou Zhuming in Honkai: Star Rail should understand its role as the primary source of weaponry for the Alliance. The ship is led by General Huaiyan, who oversees the Flamewheel Octet. Key figures associated with this location include Yunli, a five-star Physical-damage character who walks the Path of Destruction in gameplay but the Path of The Hunt in lore, and her grandfather, the general himself. The Zhuming's cultural identity is reflected in its artisans and the tragic history of Hanguang's cursed swords. For players engaging with the story, the ship represents a place of heavy industry and military tradition, contrasting with the more diplomatic or agricultural roles of other Xianzhou ships. Yunli's gameplay mechanics, centered on counterattacking after being hit, mirror her narrative role as a hunter who endures strikes to deliver decisive blows.

Did You Know?

• Yunli wields a sword named "Old Mettle" which she uses to hunt down cursed blades.
• Approximately sixty to seventy percent of the Xianzhou Alliance's weapons are forged on the Zhuming.
• Japanese voice actress Shion Wakayama suggested Yunli's superior strength comes from her big appetite and lack of food pickiness.
• The Flamewheel Octet is a group of eight master swordsmiths/artisans, not an elite military group, and Yunli is not a member.
• In the story mission "Swords to Plowshares," Yunli melted down the treasure sword Guyun to fulfill its wish to no longer be a tool of war.

Tragic Origins and the Cursed Blade Legacy

Yunli's life is defined by the actions of her father, Hanguang, an artisan from the Xianzhou Zhuming. He fused heliobi into swords, creating cursed weapons that corrupted human nature and caused a riot in the Flamewheel Octet Hall. Both parents died during this chaos. Rescued by General Huaiyan, Yunli was raised to hunt these cursed swords, melting them in furnaces. She later encountered Guyun, a sword made by her father, which she initially tried to destroy. After learning its history of fighting alongside a Cloud Knight soldier against the borisin and its desire to stop being a tool, she melted it down and reforged it into peaceful items, building graves for the sword and the soldier.

Visual Design and Cultural Aesthetics

Yunli is depicted with a petite figure wearing Dunhuang tennin-style clothing, creating a sharp contrast with her enormous greatsword, "Old Mettle." Critics note this juxtaposition of her small stature and massive weapon enhances her image. Her design includes bare feet, twintails, and a color scheme of red, blue-green, yellow, white, and black, evoking both moe traits and divinity. The name "Yunli" references clouds and lapis lazuli, fitting the Xianzhou Zhuming's cultural adaptations. Japanese voice actress Shion Wakayama described Yunli as quiet and gentle but also possessing a large appetite and lack of pickiness regarding food, suggesting this might be the secret to her strength.

Dynamic Rivalry and the Wardance Arc

Yunli's relationship with Yanqing began in conflict when she took his flying sword after he missed a borisin. They argued repeatedly until General Huaiyan arranged for them to train March 7th together. During an uprising by the borisin Hoolay, Yunli, Yanqing, and March 7th fought alongside each other aboard the Skysplitter. After Feixiao swallowed the Crimson Moon and lost control, the three helped restrain her until she killed Hoolay. Following the incident, their relationship improved significantly. Before leaving the Luofu with Huaiyan, Yunli invited Yanqing to bring his sword to the Zhuming for a rematch.

Combat Mechanics and Strategic Gameplay

Yunli is a five-star Physical-damage character on the Path of Destruction, though lore places her on The Hunt. Her combat revolves around counterattacks; she automatically retaliates when hit. Her Skill restores HP and deals area-of-effect damage. Her Ultimate forces enemies to attack her, putting her in a parry state where she launches a stronger counterattack if hit, or a weaker one if not. This design was praised by critics for its strategic depth. She was released as a playable character in version 2.4 on July 31, following the release of her story trailer "Ichor of Two Dragons, A Furnace of Fire" on July 25 and her character trailer "Serendipity" five days later.