Black Tortoise Hall

Biodata

Organization and Teachings

• Black Tortoise Sea-Suppressing Art — The hall’s internal art. Its True Essence circulates steadily, making it suited to prolonged combat and less prone to deviation 69.
• Black Tortoise Mountain-Suppressing Palm — A palm art that receives and redirects force. Its documented forms include Mountain-Supporting and Mountain-Bearing 67 69.
• Training and assessment — The hall issues resources monthly, accepts applications for additional supplies, and assesses disciples each quarter. Those who fail to meet the standard are returned to the Inner Sect 53.

Grounds

• The hall lies west of the Inner Sect’s Martial Practice Ground, along a wooded flagstone path. Its entrance is smaller and plainer than those of White Tiger Hall and Vermilion Bird Hall 53.
• Its main hall serves as the hall master’s meeting and teaching space; disciples also have quarters and a martial practice ground 53 64 94.

History

Decline and the resource dispute

Black Tortoise Hall ranked last among the Four Halls’ disciples and had performed poorly in recent competitions. It generally received lower-ranked entrants or disciples passed over by other halls. Ye An’s assignment after placing third in the Inner Sect Grand Competition was therefore unusual; Fang Heng joined in the same intake 53.

The hall initially received 20% of the Four Halls’ resources, equal to Azure Dragon Hall’s share but below White Tiger and Vermilion Bird Halls’ 30% each 56. Tensions sharpened when Azure Dragon disciples led by Sun Hong defeated several Black Tortoise disciples on their own practice ground 64. Later, Azure Dragon Chief Disciple Song Qinglin challenged Zhou Zhong over the allocation. Zhou lost after nearly sixty moves, but his effort rallied the hall’s disciples. A Sect Master’s Order limited the loss to five percentage points, leaving Black Tortoise Hall with 15% 67 68.

Ye An’s leadership

When Zhou Zhong could not attend a later allocation meeting, Ye An represented the hall and challenged its 15% share 94. He defeated Song Qinglin in the resulting match. Zhou then voluntarily yielded the Chief Disciple position, while agreeing to continue handling the hall’s daily affairs 97 98.

Hall Master Shi Jian gave Ye An a Century-Old Cangwu Spirit Fruit and urged him to prioritize reaching the Gathered Origin Realm and protecting Black Tortoise Hall 108. After Shi Jian’s death, Ye An’s breakthrough was confirmed privately to the sect’s leaders, and he succeeded Shi as Hall Master. The appointment became public, but his cultivation advancement was kept secret 185 187. Zhou Zhong later resumed the Chief Disciple position and managed most of the hall’s affairs 205.

Notable Members

• Shi Jian — Former Hall Master. He taught the hall’s core arts and remained its strongest advocate through its decline; he died before Ye An’s succession 53 69 185.
• Ye An — Joined after placing third in the Inner Sect Grand Competition, became Chief Disciple after defeating Song Qinglin, and later succeeded Shi Jian as Hall Master 53 97 98 187.
• Zhou Zhong — Chief Disciple during the resource dispute. He yielded the title to Ye An, continued managing daily affairs, and later resumed the position 67 98 205.
• Fang Heng — Joined alongside Ye An after deliberately seeking the hall for its palm techniques 53.
• Qi Yue — Challenged Sun Hong during Azure Dragon Hall’s visit, despite having remained at Late Meridian Opening for three years 64.
• Elder Yuan — A former Black Tortoise Hall member who guards the Four Symbols Origin-Returning Array and offers guidance on the hall’s internal art 100 187.