The moment Zhang Tie heard the black-robed elder's words, he knew this was Dragon Emperor Temple's final gamble after the Dragon Emperor's disappearance. Though Zhang Tie did not know what terms other temples offered when recruiting divine generals, Dragon Emperor Temple's monthly pay of ten elemental crystals according to a divine general's rank had to count as a "high salary" in the Sky-Piercing Realm. The logic behind it, setting aside polite talk of the Dragon Emperor's return, was that some major figure within Dragon Emperor Temple was likely hoping to advance to the Saint rank within a century. That was why they were spending so lavishly, recruiting a great many divine generals while Dragon Emperor Temple was beset on all sides, in order to stabilize the temple's foundations.
Anyone who was not an idiot could probably figure that out after turning it over in their mind once.
The divine generals in the room were naturally all clever. In the blink of an eye, they had grasped the crux of it—sure enough, there was no such thing as a free lunch. Dragon Emperor Temple's high salary was indeed not so easily earned.
"I can swear an oath to join Dragon Emperor Temple, but I have one condition. For every year I serve the temple after joining it, I need one year for secluded cultivation. During my cultivation, I have the right to refuse Dragon Emperor Temple's assignments!"
The haughty Earth Divine General in the room spoke up. Hearing those terms, Zhang Tie smacked his lips. This fellow wanted both high pay and a long vacation—work one day, rest one day. If Dragon Emperor Temple agreed to his terms, how could it manage all the other divine generals it recruited? And without such treatment, why would anyone else join?
"Are you a