Elsewhere.
With Zhou Yan leading the way.
Ye Li and his companions left the ancient city and continued deeper into Southern Long Marsh.
Less than half an hour later.
A sprawling complex of buildings appeared at the edge of their vision.
From the outside, it looked much like an enormous academy.
Lecture halls of varying sizes stood in orderly rows, with student residences situated behind them.
Broad roads ran through the entire compound, lined with stone steles recording the essential principles of cultivation methods.
But beyond these features.
Towering Mountain Gates and thick walls had also been built around the Golden Virtue Institute.
Array runes flickered throughout the grounds, while several elevated platforms charged with anchoring the Mountain Gate's fortune hung in midair. A few cultivators who looked like managers patrolled back and forth.
At the very top of the Mountain Gate, three large characters glimmered faintly gold in the daylight-
[Golden Virtue Institute].
"Palace Heir."
Zhou Yan stopped and reminded him quietly:
"The Golden Virtue Institute Master entered the Path Opening Realm many years ago."
"He has operated in Southern Long Marsh for years. He must have other trump cards at his disposal."
"If the talks go poorly, please be extremely careful."
"Mm."
Ye Li gave a brief acknowledgment.
He raised his eyes, taking in everything within the Golden Virtue Institute, and walked straight toward the Mountain Gate.
Zhou Yan wanted to say more.
But seeing that Ye Li had already set off, he could only follow.
At the entrance to the Mountain Gate, a student of the Golden Virtue Institute reluctantly stepped forward to stop them:
"Who are you here to see? Do you have an appointment?"
Zhou Yan immediately stepped forward and said gravely:
"These are esteemed cultivators from the Supreme Clarity Palace, here on important business."