Golden Turtle Island

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Golden Turtle Island
Original Name	金鳌岛
Affiliation	Jie Sect / Shangqing lineage
Role	East Sea headquarters and gathering place of the Jie Sect
Status	Active; closed for seclusion and internal investigation during the Investiture crisis
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background / History

Golden Turtle Island is located in the East Sea and serves as the home of Biyou Palace, the central seat of Master Tongtian’s Jie Sect 1. After the Three Pure Ones separated, Tongtian traveled east to establish the Jie Sect there, with Zhao Xuan following him from the earlier Shangqing lineage on Kunlun Mountain 1.

At the beginning of the Investiture of the Gods crisis, Jie Sect core disciples gather at Biyou Palace on Golden Turtle Island after news spreads that Haotian, Taiqing, Yuanshi, and the Western Sect Saints have gone to Zixiao Palace 1. Zhao Xuan later proposes that the Jie Sect recall its disciples, retreat to Golden Turtle Island, and stop intervening in outside karma unrelated to the sect 4 7.

A Supreme Clarity Dharma Decree from Biyou Palace orders all Jie Sect disciples serving in the Heavenly Court—whether suppressing demons, patrolling lower realms, managing water veins, or assisting with star affairs—to return to Golden Turtle Island for seclusion and calamity avoidance 7 8. This withdrawal exposes the Heavenly Court’s dependence on Jie Sect manpower, causing crises across the East Sea, North Star Domain, lower realms, South Sea, and Green Gauze Island 10 21.

Golden Turtle Island becomes the negotiation ground between Zhao Xuan and the Heavenly Court during the Qingxiaozi affair. Xuan Lang, Taibai Jinxing, Haotian, Dragon Palace envoys, and Guangchengzi all appear outside the island as Zhao Xuan demands evidence, formal petitions, karmic accounting, and recognition of Jie Sect contributions 11 13 16 17 19.

After the Heavenly Court shifts pressure onto living beings by allowing them to beg the Jie Sect directly, Zhao Xuan raises three stone steles outside Golden Turtle Island to force supplicants to record the origin of their disaster, the responsible authority, and who will bear merit and karma after Jie Sect intervention 22. When the Heavenly Court attempts to erase the steles, Old Merit Karma linking the Heavenly Court and Jie Sect is forced into view 24.

During the confrontation with the Investiture of the Gods List, Golden Turtle Island becomes the stage for the Jie Sect’s collective awakening. The Ten Thousand Immortals reject the list’s advance condemnation of the Jie Sect, while the Three Steles and Zhao Xuan’s Accountability Ledger help challenge the charges placed upon the sect 26 27 28 29.

Following the Dao Ancestor’s intervention and the temporary sealing of the ledger, Zhao Xuan orders Golden Turtle Island closed for internal investigation. Tongtian grants him full authority over Investiture-related matters, including disciples descending the mountain, dealings with outside sects, and investigation of crimes within the Jie Sect 33.

Location & Structure

• Region — East Sea of the Primordial World 1.
• Central palace — Biyou Palace, the seat of Master Tongtian and main meeting place of the Jie Sect 1 33.
• Side halls — Used for Jie Sect discussions outside Biyou Palace 5 16.
• Outer sea area — Frequent site of confrontations with Heavenly Court envoys, Dragon Palace officials, and Chan Sect visitors 11 13 16 17.
• Three Steles — Stone monuments raised from the seabed outside Golden Turtle Island to establish rules for outside requests and karmic accounting 22 24.
• Closed mountain gates — Shut during the internal investigation ordered after the Investiture ledger is temporarily sealed 33 34.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Jie Sect Retreat

Golden Turtle Island becomes the refuge point for all recalled Jie Sect disciples once Zhao Xuan and Tongtian order the sect to pull back from Heavenly Court duties and worldly affairs 7 8. The recall reframes the island from a sect headquarters into a strategic defensive base.

Heavenly Court Accountability

The island serves as the venue where Zhao Xuan forces the Heavenly Court to confront the Qingxiaozi case. Evidence is displayed outside Golden Turtle Island, including formation maps, receipt seals, spiritual tide records, and injury imprints proving Qingxiaozi’s innocence and service at the Third Sea Eye 12 13.

Haotian’s Visit

Haotian personally comes to Golden Turtle Island after the Third Sea Eye worsens, marking a major loss of face for the Heavenly Court 16. There, Zhao Xuan forces the Heavenly Court to issue formal sealed petitions assigning Qingxiaozi authority, merit, karmic responsibility, and compensation terms 19 21.

Three Steles

After the Heavenly Court redirects desperate living beings to beg the Jie Sect directly, Zhao Xuan raises three steles outside Golden Turtle Island as a procedural barrier against vague appeals and hidden karmic traps 22. The steles later reveal the Old Merit Karma tying the Jie Sect’s past labor to the Heavenly Court and the Investiture of the Gods List 24.

Investiture Challenge

Golden Turtle Island is the physical center of the Jie Sect’s challenge against the Investiture of the Gods List. The Ten Thousand Immortals witness their predicted fates, reject the list, and rally behind Zhao Xuan’s Accountability Ledger 26 27. The island’s Three Steles later reflect the declaration: “Past Merits Are Not Crimes. Shangqing Is Innocent.” 29.

Internal Purge

After Zhao Xuan realizes outsiders may use individual disciples’ crimes to condemn the entire sect, Golden Turtle Island is closed for internal investigation 33. The island becomes the base for clearing hidden faults within the Jie Sect before the Heavenly Court, Chan Sect, or Western Sect can weaponize them 33 34.

Notable Events

Event	Chapter	Notes
Biyou Palace reacts to Zixiao Palace news	1	Jie Sect disciples fear Zhao Xuan’s prophecy of the Investiture of the Gods List is coming true.
Jie Sect begins retreat strategy	4–7	Zhao Xuan proposes recalling disciples and withdrawing to Golden Turtle Island.
Supreme Clarity Dharma Decree issued	7	Jie Sect disciples serving the Heavenly Court are ordered back to Golden Turtle Island.
Heavenly Court realizes its dependence	8–10	The recall causes operational chaos across the Three Realms.
Qingxiaozi defended outside the island	11–13	Zhao Xuan confronts Heavenly Court accusations and presents evidence.
Haotian arrives personally	16	The Heavenly Emperor comes to Golden Turtle Island over the Third Sea Eye crisis.
Heavenly Emperor petitions sealed	19, 21	Qingxiaozi receives formal authority and protection from blame.
Three Steles erected	22	Zhao Xuan establishes rules for supplicants seeking Jie Sect help.
Old Merit Karma exposed	24	Heavenly Court’s attempt to erase the steles reveals karmic ties.
Ten Thousand Immortals reject the list	26	Golden Turtle Island erupts in collective refusal of the Investiture charges.
Accountability Ledger remains open	32–33	The Investiture List withdraws, but the debt is only temporarily sealed.
Island closed for investigation	33–34	Zhao Xuan begins internal cleansing of the Jie Sect.

Associated Figures

• Master Tongtian — Jie Sect Saint and master of Biyou Palace; establishes the Jie Sect on Golden Turtle Island and later delegates Investiture authority to Zhao Xuan 1 33.
• Zhao Xuan — Eldest Senior Brother of the Jie Sect; uses Golden Turtle Island as the strategic base for recall, accountability, negotiations, and internal investigation 4 7 21 33.
• Daoist Duobao — Senior Jie Sect disciple involved in early debates over retreating to Golden Turtle Island 4.
• Holy Mother Guiling — Major defender of the island’s position; confronts Dragon Palace envoys and supports Zhao Xuan’s hard line 12 16 21.
• Holy Mother Jinling — Participates in discussions on Golden Turtle Island and supports the sect’s response to Heavenly Court pressure 5 22.
• Zhao Gongming — Discusses the consequences of the Jie Sect’s withdrawal and later volunteers to investigate disciples traveling abroad 10 33.
• Yun Xiao, Qiong Xiao, Bi Xiao — Assist in the post-ledger internal investigation, including karmic entanglements and fleeing disciples 33.
• Qingxiaozi — Jie Sect disciple recalled to Golden Turtle Island after guarding the Third Sea Eye for two thousand years; his case becomes the first major accountability battle 11 19.
• Haotian — Heavenly Emperor forced to visit Golden Turtle Island personally and issue sealed petitions acknowledging Jie Sect labor 16 19 21.
• Taibai Jinxing — Heavenly Court envoy repeatedly sent to Golden Turtle Island to negotiate amid the Heavenly Court’s manpower crisis 13 15.
• Guangchengzi — Chan Sect representative who arrives outside Golden Turtle Island to challenge Zhao Xuan during the Third Sea Eye crisis 17 18.
• East Sea Dragon Palace — Sends envoys to Golden Turtle Island for help with the Third Sea Eye and is later forced into its own reckoning over debts owed to Qingxiaozi 16 21.

Rules Established on Golden Turtle Island

• Jie Sect disciples may act, but the requester must sign their name 21.
• The party benefiting from Jie Sect action must bear the karma 21.
• Attempts to deny debts are to be recorded on jade slips 21.
• Supplicants must record:
  • the origin of the disaster,
  • who was responsible for managing it,
  • who will bear merit and karma after Jie Sect intervention 22.
• Golden Turtle Island is closed for internal investigation after the ledger is temporarily sealed 33.
• Offenses investigated include:
  • bullying the weak under the Shangqing Orthodoxy,
  • slaughtering living beings and seizing foundations,
  • occupying caves or spiritual veins through Jie Sect prestige,
  • accepting outside benefits and leaking sect information 33.

Trivia

• Haotian initially resists going to Golden Turtle Island because a personal visit would damage the Heavenly Emperor’s face, but the collapse of the Third Sea Eye forces him to go 14 16.
• The Heavenly Court’s crises after the Jie Sect recall show that many “small matters” handled by Jie Sect disciples formed the practical foundation of Primordial World order 8 11.
• The island’s Three Steles become more than monuments: they expose Old Merit Karma and help support the Jie Sect’s challenge to the Investiture of the Gods List 24 26 29.
• After Tongtian delegates authority, Zhao Xuan’s word becomes final on Investiture-related matters concerning Golden Turtle Island and the Jie Sect 33.