At the old man's words, Xiao Yu composed his expression and asked:
"Senior Zhao, if I join the Star Palace, will it impose any restrictions on me? For instance, would I have to stay somewhere in particular, or complete certain assignments?"
"Rest assured, young friend. The Star Palace treats cultivators at the Golden Core stage and above quite well. You'll receive several hundred Spirit Stones every year. You can also choose a cave abode below the seventieth tier as your cultivation site. Hehe, the spiritual energy on the fiftieth and sixtieth tiers of this mountain is much richer than down below. Cultivating here will certainly bring great benefits.
"As for what you mentioned, we won't force you. On the contrary, you'll receive compensation according to the difficulty of the duties you undertake. What do you think, young friend?" Smiling, the old man explained the benefits of joining the Star Palace.
"What would I have 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 saying this lightly, the old man watched Xiao Yu in silence.
The old man made it sound easy: a whole host of benefits, seemingly with only one obligation. But Xiao Yu knew that this single obligation was effectively the same as pledging his life to the Star Palace! After all, no faction in this world would let someone enjoy its benefits without fulfilling any obligations. If such treatment existed, it would be reserved for a handful of privileged descendants of high-ranking cultivators.
"To be honest, I really dislike being tied to one place. I'd like to travel outside often," Xiao Yu said with a bitter smile. In truth, he did not want to remain right under the Star Palace's