The year is 383 AD, when the Jin Empire controlled the southern part of China.
In the great battle of Feishui, the Han (ethnic Chinese) nations of the Jin
Empire fought against the non-Han country of Qin. As we know today from
history books, the Jin people emerged victorious. But what if history could
change?..

One thousand years before the Feishui battle, there lived a young girl named
Che Yun, who was born in Linghu, at the outskirts of the country of Jin. Her
grandfather was once a minister and a scientist who invented the Wooden Shield
Technique, which allowed to make animated wooden creatures. He was falsely
accused of treason and killed. Che Yun inherited the secret teaching of her
grandfather. With the help of Yunhu, a fox she made out of wood, Che Yun
decides to clear her grandfather’s name and find out what forces are behind
the war in China.

Xuanyuan Jian Waizhuan: Cang zhi Tao is a side story to Xuanyuan Jian 4.
Traditionally, side stories are games which are made with the same engine as
their predecessors, but have their own setting and plot. Like most Xuanyuan
Jian installments, the game features both historical and fictional
characters. It looks very similarly to the fourth game, and uses the same 3D
exploration engine with 180 degree camera rotation, re-vamped turn-based
battle system, stamina- and magic-based techniques, and the Heavenly Book
system , which allows the player to capture monsters in battles, build
settlements for them, use them to create own weapons, armor, accessories, and
items, and recruit them later during combat. One of the playable characters
can also learn magic from captured enemies.

Like in the previous installment, player-controlled party contains three
active combatants, each specializing in his or her own special abilities,
martial art techniques, or magic spells. Che Yun can use various techniques
that damage or sabotage mechanical enemies encountered in the game. A new
feature is the player’s ability to upgrade Yunhu, Che Yun’s wooden fox who
represents her in battles. Special points are awarded beside the regular
experience, and can be allocated by the player to teach Yunhu new skills and
techniques, as well as increase his attributes. Yunhu cannot be healed by
conventional means and must rely on special repair kits or Che Yun’s
techniques for that.

Xuanyuan Jian Waizhuan: Cang zhi Tao