Nine Sols Story Explained: A Taopunk Journey

In the mystical Taopunk world of Nine Sols, players are thrust into an epic journey filled with cosmic intrigue, spirituality, and the pursuit of revenge. Our protagonist, Yi, goes off on a path of vengeance against the Nine Sols, former mentors & leaders who betrayed him, seeking retribution for the fall of his people and the death of his family. Yet, his tale is more than a simple revenge story—it’s a meditation on life, death, spirituality, and the consequences of unchecked ambition.

You can learn more about obtaining the game if you haven’t played yet here: Nine Sols from RedCandleGames. Heavy spoilers ahead, including the all endings explained.

The Ancient Planet of Penglai: A World in Peril

Set on the alien planet Penglai, a civilization flourished under the life-giving power of the Primordial Roots, a vague mystical plant that connects all life. These roots provided not only sustenance but were also seen as sacred, earning the reverence of Penglai’s ruling race, the Solarians. This cat-like species rose to power under the shadow of the Nine Kingdoms, an era defined by rapid technological progress; advances in biological modification, artificial energy, and transmutation. However, ambition has a dark side which is where this hero’s journey comes about.

The Solarians’ technological breakthroughs came at the cost of their own nature. The Tianhuo Virus, an accidental byproduct of genetic experimentation led by the luminous yet misguided scientist Eigong, ravaged the planet. Millions perished as the virus spread uncontrollably. Eigong, fixated on immortality, became blind to the devastating consequences of her work. Instead of retreating, she doubled down, sparking the events that lead to the present turmoil.

Yi’s Revenge: The Battle Against Fate

Yi, a former disciple of Eigong, was a brilliant scientist whose body was torn apart in an experiment. Miraculously, the Primordial Roots regenerated him, tethering him to a deeper connection with Penglai’s natural order. His anger, however, would lead him down a dangerous road. Under Eigong’s tutelage, he was used as a pawn in her quest for eternal life. But when Yi uncovers the truth about Eigong’s responsibility for the pandemic that wiped out his people—including his sister, Heng—his journey shifts from one of discovery to vengeance.

Emerging from 500 years of recuperation, Yi sets out to dismantle the Eternal Cauldron Project, the system that preserves Solarians in a simulated dream state while their physical bodies remain in hibernation. The project’s true aim?? To sustain the Solarians long enough to find a cure for the Tianhuo Virus, but at a horrifying cost: human brain matter harvested from an alien species to power their vital sanctums.

A Spiritual Awakening – Nine Sols

As Yi confronts each of the Nine Sols, former allies now enemies, his spirtual awakening grows stronger. Through battles, conversations, and visions, he starts to question his rigid worldview and embrace a more spiritual perspective, softening his worldview. His connection with Shuanshuan, a young alien child from the planet Apen, and his interactions with the Daoist teachings represented by the Primordial Roots, challenge his devotion to pure reason and logic.

Yi’s emotional journey is not merely about getting revenge but understanding the fine line between science and faith, reason and superstition. His encounters with the other Sols, who each have their own reasons for supporting the Eternal Cauldron Project, show him that their actions—while misguided—stem from a place of fear and survival.

Nine Sols – True Ending

Nine Sols presents players with two possible outcomes for Yi’s story, each hinging on his ability to grow emotionally. In the first, Yi submits to his vengeful impulses and ultimately assumes control of New Kunlun, continuing the experiment in a desperate bid to save his people. In doing so, he continues the cycle of suffering.

There is a better ending, one that requires a bit of sacrifice…

To achieve the true ending, Yi must follow a specific path involving key decisions and quests. He must complete Shennong’s questline, which involves giving him poisons and progressing through a series of steps that deepen your relationship with the Apemen. Alongside that, Yi collects crucial artifacts and murals that reveal hidden lore about the past​.

The true ending arrives when Yi, having gained empathy for the Apemen and others around him, decides to save the Apemen rather than pursue his vengeance-driven goals. This decision leads to a confrontation with Eigong, his former mentor. After the final battle, Yi uses the Rhizomatic Arrow gifted by Kuafu to ensure the safety of the Apemen, thus halting Eigong’s plan to infect the Primordial Roots with the Tianhuo Virus, a catastrophic mutation​.

In this ending, Yi sacrifices himself to destroy New Kunlun, the superstructure responsible for leeching energy from the sun and threatening the very planet. By doing so, he not only ends the Solarian race but also restores balance to the universe, allowing the Apemen to thrive. This outcome highlights Yi’s full transformation from a revenge-fueled warrior to a figure of redemption, embodying the Daoist principles of accepting the natural cycle of life and death.

The game’s true ending is both bittersweet and philosophical. It contrasts the normal ending, where Yi’s actions further prolong the Solarian’s plight, keeping them trapped in a state of artificial existence.

The Philosophy of Nine Sols: Between Science and Spirituality

The game marries Eastern philosophy, particularly Daoism, with cutting-edge science and transhumanism. The Dao, which emphasizes harmony with nature and the principle of effortless action, is contrasted with the Solarians’ fascination with controlling their fate through technology. Characters like Eigong represent the pitfalls of unchecked ambition, where the drive for immortality leads to ruin. Meanwhile, Yi’s journey toward spiritual awakening highlights the tension between progress and tradition, reason and faith.

By the end of Nine Sols, players are left to ponder the penalties and consquences of living outside the natural cycle of life and death. Is it truly possible to transcend mortality without losing one’s soul? And at what cost does immortality come?

That’s the story of Nine Sols, want more game stories? Try Armored Core VI Ultimate Story, Factions, Character and Ending Guide next.