Unorthodox Manual

Unorthodox Manuals are manuals that can only be learned in moderation. All unorthodox manuals are not part of a Supreme Law.

Unorthodox Manuals allow the Cultivator to obtain additional boosts to their Properties and Five Attributes, above what is possible through learning only Orthodox manuals alone. However, the Attainment from Unorthodox Manuals can only be at most 1/4 of the Attainment from Orthodox Manuals. There are a number of different classes of Unorthodox Manuals, each of which has a different set of properties. Some Unorthodox Manuals are significantly more powerful than others.

## Regular Unorthodox Manuals

Regular Unorthodox Manuals can be obtained from transcribing Unorthodox Laws, or from Soul Inquiry. Their power randomly varies depending on the level of the Unorthodox Law from which the Manual is obtained, and can vary by -30% to +30% of the base values stated. They fall into 7 categories (which also apply to the special Unorthodox Manuals):

### Artifact Mastery

Listed as Type 1 in the game code, improve various artifact battle statistics.

### Spell

Listed as Type 2 in the game code, improve Spell battle statistics.

### Protect

Listed as Type 3 in the game code, improve Barrier Power.

NpcFight\_ShieldConversionRate
 Barrier Power Bonus (Percent)
NpcFight\_ShieldConversionRateAddP

### Alchemy

Listed as Type 4 in the game code, improve Alchemy properties.

### Artifact Crafting

Listed as Type 5 in the game code, improve Artifact Crafting properties.

### Practice

Listed as Type 6 in the game code, improve various miscellaneous properties.

### Misc

Listed as Type 7 in the game code, improve various miscellaneous properties.

## Boss Loot Unorthodox Manuals

The three Boss Loot items Flood Dragon Forbidden Scale, Phoenix Fire Jade, and Chaos Jade can all produce unorthodox manuals when comprehended after their respective Orthodox Manual is learned. They consume 4-9 Unorthodox Attainment when learned from the Manual Pavilion. Learning it from comprehending the item itself does not add Attainment nor does it require any Inspiration. The power multiplier for Boss Loot Unorthodox Manuals ranges randomly from 0.6-1.5, with higher powered Manuals consuming more Attainment.

Flood Dragon Forbidden Scale provides Unorthodox Manuals of the Water element regarding Artifact Mastery.

Phoenix Fire Jade provides Unorthodox Manuals of the Fire element regarding Spell.

Chaos Jade provides Non-elemental Unorthodox Manuals of all types.

## Ancient Cultivator Unorthodox Manuals

When successfully Negotiating with an Ancient Cultivator, there is a chance that an Unorthodox Manual is received.

Learning it from the Ancient Cultivator directly does not add Attainment nor does it require any Inspiration. The power multiplier for Ancient Cultivator Unorthodox Manuals ranges randomly from 1.0-1.5. All manuals require 9 Attainment when learned from the Manual Pavilion, and are at the Primordial Spirit Level. The Unorthodox Manual will be of the Ancient Cultivator's Element, and can be of any type.

## Spirit Root Unorthodox Manuals

Unorthodox Manuals learned from Spirit Roots are significantly more useful than those learned from regular Unorthodox Laws as they only consume 1 Unorthodox Attainment when learned from the Manual Pavilion. Learning it from the tree itself does not add Attainment nor does it require any Inspiration. The power multiplier for Spirit Root Unorthodox Manuals is fixed at 2. The element of the Unorthodox Manual matches the Element of the Spirit Root.

### Blessed Unorthodox Manuals

Blessed Unorthodox Manuals can be one of the following types (4-7):

* Alchemy
* Artifact Crafting
* Five Attributes
* Various auxiliary properties such as Qi Absorption Efficiency or Recreation Consumption Bonus

### Cursed Unorthodox Manuals

Cursed Unorthodox Manuals can be one of the following types (1-3):

* Artifact Mastery
* Spell
* Protect

## NPC Unorthodox Manuals

Unorthodox Manuals can also sometimes be obtained from NPCs, or by Interrogating them after they are killed. To obtain the Manual, you must discover the NPC's Secret Knowledge in the Social Minigame, either by asking someone else about it or by asking the NPC after exceeding 60 Relationship Score in the Talk Minigame. These Manuals are also known as Friendship Manuals, as they are obtained through the Social Minigame.

When asked about the topic Secret Knowledge, if the Relationship Score exceeds 60 and the topic has been revealed, the NPC will drop the Manual as an item, and it must be picked up before leaving the map. They are significantly more useful than those learned from regular Unorthodox Laws as they only consume 1 Unorthodox Attainment when learned from the Manual Pavilion.

Killing the NPC provides Unorthodox Manuals with required Cultivation Level equal to the NPC's Cultivation Level, while talking to the NPC provides Unorthodox Manuals with required Cultivation Level equal to their Cultivation Level-2, with a minimum of 1. The power of the Unorthodox Manual is randomly generated, based on the NPC's Seed's `l` property. This property ranges from 0 to 9, this variable also determines the NPC's Cultivation Level. The higher the Cultivation Level of the NPC, the stronger the Manual will be, with Sect Elders having a multiplier that ranges from 1 to 1.25.

The properties of the Unorthodox Manual depends on the NPC's Secret Knowledge as well as their Unorthodox Law. The manual will be the same type as the NPC's Secret Knowledge, and will be the same element as the law practiced by the NPC.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Settings\Esoterica\EsotericaLables.txt
2. ↑ `XiaWorld.EsotericaMgr.RandomEsoterica`
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 As of version 1.23, the English translation incorrectly states "Reduces Spell Cast Delay", although the in-game variable as well as the Chinese original text specify that it reduces Spell Qi cost.
4. ↑ Does not reduce cooldown, but instead the casting time.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Settings\MapStories\MapStory\_Item.xml
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 `XLua\ObjectTranslator.cs` (line 51747, \_\_gen\_param\_count == 9)
7. ↑ Settings\MapStories\MapStory\_Special.xml
8. ↑ Scripts\MapStory\MapStory.lua
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 `XLua\ObjectTranslator.cs` (line 51793, \_\_gen\_param\_count == 5)
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Wnd\_JianghuTalk.TalkAbout
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Wnd\_JianghuTalk.LingHunTalkAbout
12. ↑ `XiaWorld.JianghuMgr.JHNpcLocaltionSeed2Data`
13. ↑ `XiaWorld.JianghuMgr.GetNpc` (0,6,7,8,9 result in Outer Disciples, 1 results in Qi Shaping, 2 results in Core Shaping, 3 results in Golden Core, 4 and 5 result in Primordial Spirit (Sect Elders).)