Xiao Wenshan was taken aback, and then seemed to understand something, revealing a thoughtful expression. North of the Sky Peak Mountain Range, on the day of advancing five hundred miles, a stretch of tents appeared on the grassland. In the center stood a golden tent where a feast was being held. Sitting in the main seat was a strong man wearing a dark golden magical robe. His neck and arms, along with his back, were inscribed with totem patterns. His slightly yellowish hair was braided into small braids by his ears, with the ends of the braids tied with miniature human skulls, the size of fingers. These skulls were mostly golden, with only two exceptions showing a purple-golden hue. These golden skulls have significant origins, each one is from a Taoist Platform Realm expert, beheaded after being defeated, softened and shrunk via secret techniques, becoming trophies. In the Divine Eagle Empire, the cultivators boast with the skulls of enemies. After defeating powerful foes, they hang the human skulls on their braids to showcase their combat strength. The more skulls and the stronger the skulls, the more they prove one’s combat prowess. The skulls are also color-coded based on the enemy’s strength in life: a golden skull indicates a Taoist Platform Realm, while a purple-golden skull represents a Purple Mansion Realm. The strong man in the main seat had over twenty golden skulls and two purple-golden skulls on his braids, indicating that at least twenty Taoist Platform Realms and two Purple Mansion Realms had fallen by his hand. "Dharma King, the Esoteric Sect has been completely annihilated, their actions ended in total failure." A spy returning from the Da Li Dynasty knelt on the ground, reporting the most explosive news within the Da Li Dynasty territory. "Those bald thieves are utterly useless. We even raided Jade Dragon Pass as a diversion for them, yet they couldn’t even handle the Ghost Ridge Palace." The man called Dharma King wore a cold expression, a fierce light in his eyes. He slammed the table, and the Jade Ice Crystal Table, which should be indestructible even to a Secret Realm Cultivator’s full force, shattered into debris. The originally lively atmosphere at the scene immediately fell silent, and the chiefs of the various grassland tribes became as silent as cicadas in winter. The Divine Eagle Empire operates on a federated system, where major tribes maintain a degree of autonomy but must also respond to the central empire’s summons for activities like priesthood, warfare, tribute, and recruitment. There are five Dharma Kings in the Divine Eagle Empire, each a Purple Mansion Great Power, and one Divine King who is the Common Lord of the empire and the most powerful existence in the Purple Mansion Realm. The Dharma King Bate’er before them was one of the five Dharma Kings and the first among them, known for his erratic and violent temper. Everyone feared angering him. "What exactly is this Su Jie’s background? The Esoteric Sect had three Purple Mansion beings and even weakened, should not have been something a single Purple Mansion could handle!" Someone pondered for a moment, speaking cautiously. "Su Jie is reportedly actually a Purple Mansion Middle Stage Cultivator. He also possesses a top-grade Nine Refinement Gu Insect and a Ninth Grade Fierce Ghost, both possessing combat power not inferior to the Purple Mansion level, causing the Esoteric Sect’s defeat and total downfall." The spy immediately offered a response, detailing the information he had gathered. Upon hearing this, everyone present except Bate’er gasped in shock. "A Purple Mansion realm that’s not enlightened into the Heavenly Palace is ultimately empty. If Su Jie appeared before me, I’d use his head as a wine cup." Bate’er snorted coldly. As a late-stage Purple Mansion Cultivator himself, he boasted he could single-handedly eliminate three Purple Mansions. Thɪs chapter is updated by 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵·𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮·𝓷𝓮𝓽 Despite the Purple Mansion Realm having only three stages—Purple Mansion, Upper Elixir, and Heavenly Palace—unlike the ten levels of Yunling or the five levels of Secret Realm, and the seven layers of Daoist Platform, the difference between each Purple Mansion stage is worlds apart. "In the Dharma King’s presence, of course, the likes of Su Jie cannot flaunt their arrogance." "Indeed, but the Esoteric Sect’s bald donkeys are too inept, while we of the Divine Eagle Empire could have destroyed Ghost Ridge Palace more than ten times over." "Su Jie is merely a Purple Mansion Middle Stage Demon Cultivator. How could he possibly compare with Dharma King Bate’er? Perhaps only the Director of the Heavenly Patrol Department, Zhang Qingcang, the top expert of the Da Li Dynasty, would stand a chance." The chiefs of the tribe buttered up Bate’er, currying favor. "Are you suggesting I’m inferior to Zhang Qingcang?" Bate’er glanced at the chief who just spoke, his gaze cold. "No... no, how would I dare..." The tribal chief, realizing he misspoke, felt a chill in his heart. Before he could finish explaining, Bate’er reached out with a palm. The air quaked, and the upper half of the misspeaking tribal chief exploded, bones and viscera spraying all around, leaving only two legs standing. His primordial spirit was even shattered with a single palm. "Me, not as good as Zhang Qingcang, afraid of him?" Bate’er swept his fierce gaze over the crowd, who were filled with fear, hurriedly lowering their heads like frightened quail. "Remember, I, Bate’er, have never been inferior to anyone, even if that person is named Zhang Qingcang." In the golden tent, only the roar of Batu Bone echoed. At the Da Li Palace, a ceremonial gathering was underway. The Emperor Wei Cheng personally attended, along with a host of officials, nobility, and dignitaries, whose presence made the celebration grand, a rare significant event for the Da Li Royal Family in years. Because today, the Da Li Royal Family’s Eldest Princess Wei Yushuang was advancing to the Purple Mansion, a celebration was specially organized in her honor. The atmosphere, initially lively and harmonious, signified how crucial it was for the Da Li Royal Family to have another Purple Mansion Cultivator after many years to stabilize the precarious situation of the royal family, prompting Wei Cheng to make a grand proclamation throughout the country.