The Rise of the Black Plain

"Regarding what you would have to give us, that is support.

In order to keep our members well-informed, we need people to collect and send information. So the first thing you would have to do upon joining our group would be to create a line of communication between the temple and your empire.

In your case in question, you would help us collect information about relevant things happening in the Central Continent.

But this is just the basics. As a group with access to the best contacts in the Spiritual World, our members also have to support each other, make partnerships, create opportunities and help with our main purpose.

So, in summary, young Minos, you would have to provide us with your strengths, information, and resources, all in the interest of achieving our goal. In exchange, you would get everything I have already said and more, depending on your commitment to us."

Minos didn't think this exchange was unfair to the members' side.

What this organization was was very much like the format of guilds and associations of spiritual professionals.

The guild usually offered more to its members, while individually, each had to give only a little of what they had. But by pooling that little bit from each member, the organization could reach new heights and make things possible that alone these people could not achieve.

As associations, they didn't demand exclusivity, but there was the possibility for it.

Guilds and associations also had similar goals. All these groups sought to develop their professions and had their methods of bringing like-minded people over to their side.

In the case of the Pantheon of Honor, its purpose was to facilitate the advancement of Spiritual Demigods to the 11th stage and to increase the number of Gods in the Spiritual World.

Upon understanding how this organization worked, Minos immediately realized what kind of relationships should exist within this group.

Just like guilds and associations, these people were probably subdivided into factions that competed for power in the organization.

Meanwhile, some might indeed facilitate agreements with other members, but the opposite should also be true. So not all the contacts Julian was talking about that one could access in this organization could be easily obtained.

There was definitely the possibility, and it would be easier for a group member to reach some contacts, but it was not as easy as Julian talked about.

At the same time, this information, resources, etc., were certainly subdivided into levels. A beginner in the organization would only receive access to the basics and would have to achieve merit or something to get the best of this group.

Minos pondered this and asked. "Why me? How would I benefit you by joining your organization?"

Julian was straight to the point. "You would benefit not only me, young Minos, but the entire group. With a talent as refined as yours, perhaps you could help us answer our questions and get closer to our goal.

If you don't die prematurely, you will certainly reach my level one day. But what would happen then?" He asked with a smile, feeling somewhat anxious at the thought of it. "You would be an unstoppable monster!

No offense..."

"It did not offend ."

"Then, if you join our group, we can develop our knowledge of this world, of cultivation, deeper and faster. Maybe, just maybe, we'll have a chance to facilitate the advances of future generations with your help." He said with sincerity.

He obviously preferred to enjoy for himself the benefits of having Minos on his side, but for someone who had lived as long as he had, this man would not believe that his group would get answers so quickly on this young man's account that, in his generation, it would be useful.

He had not given up his dream of reaching level 100, but he thought that if one day he would reach this level, it would not be because of some kind of help that Minos would give his group.

So even though he was not so kind as to act only for the good of the generations yet to come, this man felt that Minos' participation would be more important for future generations than for his own.

"But of course, I cannot deny that I could benefit in other ways by bringing you into our group." He smiled at Minos. "As the one who would appoint you, you would enter the Pantheon Of Honor under my wings.

That would mean that for the time being, I would help you more than you could give me in return, but in return, you would be part of my group, and every good deed generated by you would help my faction."

He looked into Minos' eyes and said sincerely. "Your presence would give me influence now, but it would give me much more in the future. That's what I expect from you."

It was natural that every action had a cost. If this man said he would do something to help Minos, anyone with a functioning brain would feel suspicious and naturally not believe it.

So Julian preferred not to insult Minos' intelligence and to expose his intentions to him from the beginning.

He was not afraid of Minos, but he respected him. Someone with such talent deserved to be treated as an equal, even if he was as weak as this brown-haired young man still was.

Julian was not afraid of what Minos would become. After all, as strong as he might become, none of it would matter if someone killed him in the middle of his journey...

But he would not deny the benefits of being by the side of someone so promising!

Minos saw no problem in giving something back to someone who would lend him a hand and help him. It was only natural that one hand would wash the other!

There were no free lunches in the world, and he preferred to pay his debts whenever possible!

"If I can join your group without giving up my freedom, I am not against these things you have told me about, elder Julian. But would your group accept a mere Spiritual Sage like me?" Minos asked.

Julian became more serious. "Indeed, that will be a hindrance. But you're not normal, so I think it's worth a try. We have to talk to someone before that."

With those words, he controlled Minos' surroundings and moved, carrying Emperor Stuart to that city below them.

Minos could barely observe that place as he saw the space in his surroundings moving so fast that all he could see were bright spots amidst the darkness.

When he felt his body slowing down, he and Julian were already inside that majestic temple, where several auras of level 99 Demigods could be felt.

Sensing that, Minos contained the urge to vomit as he felt the greatest spiritual pressure he had noticed in his entire journey.

'These people are really out of the ordinary... Great! I'll join this group and try to build up my contacts for the sake of the future!'

As he was thinking about this, a level 99 Demigod appeared in front of him and Julian.

...