Hearing the old man's words, Xiao Yu composed his expression and asked:
"Senior Zhao, may I ask whether joining the Star Palace would place any restrictions on me? For instance, would I have to stay somewhere specific, or complete certain missions?"
"Rest assured, young friend. We offer rather good treatment to cultivators at the Golden Core stage and above, including several hundred spirit stones each year. You can also choose a cave abode below the seventieth level as your cultivation grounds. Hehe, the spiritual energy around the fiftieth and sixtieth levels of this mountain is much denser than it is farther down. Cultivating here would certainly benefit you greatly.
"As for the matters you mentioned, we impose no such demands. On the contrary, you will receive appropriate compensation based on the difficulty of the assignments you undertake. What do you think, young friend?" The old man smiled as he explained the benefits of joining the Star Palace.
"What would I need to give in return?" Xiao Yu asked without betraying his feelings.
"It's very simple. When the Star Palace faces trouble, you must lend it your strength." After delivering these words lightly, the old man watched Xiao Yu in silence.
The old man made it sound easy: a whole host of benefits, with seemingly only one obligation. Yet Xiao Yu knew that this single obligation amounted to putting his life on the line for the Star Palace! After all, no organization in this world would let people enjoy its benefits without fulfilling their duties. If any did, such treatment would be reserved for a handful of privileged descendants of high-ranking cultivators.
"To be honest, I truly dislike being tied to one place. I would prefer to travel frequently," Xiao Yu said with a bitter smile. In truth, he did not