Chapter Twenty-Six: Advancement of the Professional

“Many monsters are not particularly strong, yet they are born with combat prowess—each one can become a warrior capable of killing other creatures…”
“But blockfolk cannot. Those without combat professions, or the so-called free blockfolk, find it exceedingly difficult to overcome the terror of monsters that is etched into their very bones…”
Among the blockfolk, the ratio of those who awaken combat professions to those with ordinary professions is about one in forty, sometimes even less. This makes it hard for the blockfolk as a race to pose any significant threat to monsters before they have grown into a considerable force.
On the contrary, monster factions can track down blockfolk by their aura and kill them, as if they were living, breathing radars—utterly revolting.
Mo Fangyuan’s brows were tightly furrowed; he had never imagined that the survival environment for the blockfolk would be so harsh.
If a blockfolk force and a monster force of equal rank went to war, without question, the monsters would emerge victorious.
Monsters had an inexhaustible supply of troops.
For the Kingdom of Blocks to have twenty-one combat professionals already placed it among the top human factions of equivalent size.
“My poor head!”
Mo Fangyuan was never a particularly clever man, nor adept at using cunning means. Faced with such a situation, just thinking about it made his head ache.
“If only I’d attended more classes and wasted less time…”
“Maybe I should focus on an elite corps approach…”
Mo Fangyuan’s mind drifted away.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty… Good news!”
Good news?
Mo Fangyuan suddenly heard a faint voice calling him from afar, growing steadily closer.
Bang!
The door swung open and a shining bald head caught his eye.
Old Fu hurried in, nearly tripping over his own feet.
“Your Majesty, there’s good news!”
Catching his breath, Old Fu continued,
“Zhu Youxiao, the carpenter next door, has just advanced to a junior woodworker and received a divine gift—a synthesis diagram!”
“Zhu Youxiao? That name sounds familiar, I think I heard it mentioned the other day…”
Mo Fangyuan was briefly stunned, then realization dawned.
In this block world, there were two kinds of blockfolk.
One kind was the professional, or as Mo Fangyuan called them, villagers.
They usually had no hair, large noses, and wore robes of various colors.
Each professional would awaken their profession in their fifth year, gaining potential in a specific field—some became carpenters and acquired carpentry knowledge, some became warriors or archers and gained the ability to grow stronger in battle…
Professions were classified by the world’s rules into several ranks: Novice, Apprentice, Junior, Intermediate, and Senior; above Senior were further ranks without names, for no one knew what to call them.

In “Professionals,” those above Senior were called Masters, and it was said that Masters, working together, could create an “Era”; Redstone technology was likely their invention.
Each professional could reach higher levels through their understanding of knowledge—this was called advancement.
Zhu Youxiao’s recent advancement was a successful example.
Upon advancing, a professional had a two or three in ten chance of receiving a synthesis diagram.
The other kind of blockfolk was like Mo Fangyuan himself: the professional people, resembling the “Steve” character from his previous life’s “Minecraft.”
These people were generally more attractive but were not bound to a profession.
They could learn all sorts of knowledge and wield all kinds of tools and weapons, unrestricted by any profession.
Much like humans, they possessed limitless potential.
Comparatively, the former group was more specialized, learning only one professional skill but progressing rapidly and mastering it thoroughly, gaining higher knowledge without exploration.
The latter group was more versatile, able to learn everything, explore, and create, fitting into many occupations…
“What?! Someone advanced?!”
Mo Fangyuan leapt from his leather armchair in delight.
This was a major event! The Kingdom of Blocks had not seen a junior professional emerge in a long time.
Now, with a new one finally born, how could he not be excited?
Zhu Youxiao worked at the lumber mill, which Mo Fangyuan had designed himself, filled with elements of modern factories and his own strange ideas—a bit of a Frankenstein’s monster, really.
Most villagers were bald, and Zhu Youxiao was no exception; as Mo Fangyuan entered the mill, the shiniest bald head among the crowd immediately caught his eye.
It gleamed so brightly, so smoothly, so… but enough of that digression.
“Your Highness, greetings. I am Zhu Youxiao, a humble carpenter.”
Zhu Youxiao’s striking little moustache fluttered in the breeze.
Unsure how to address Mo Fangyuan, he chose the most familiar term, “Your Highness,” to show respect.
Blockfolk civilization was still incomplete in this world, so no formal etiquette system had developed. Most people spoke plainly, and as a modern man, Mo Fangyuan didn’t much care for pomp.
“Congratulations, Carpenter Zhu. May I ask what synthesis diagram you received?”
Gradually growing accustomed to such straightforward conversations, Mo Fangyuan found his own words becoming fewer and more direct.
“Your Highness, I received this!”
At the mention of the synthesis diagram, Carpenter Zhu puffed up like a proud rooster, chest out, his tall figure adding to the effect.
He produced a sheet of parchment from somewhere on his person.
The parchment itself wasn’t a divine gift—only the diagram was inscribed by the world, and on what material depended on luck. Zhu Youxiao was fortunate; his diagram was on parchment.
Some people, after all, had their diagrams inscribed in less… convenient places.
“This is a crossbow, a ranged weapon!”

He pointed to the materials listed above and continued,
“It requires a universal workbench and a junior carpenter like myself. The materials are two spider silk threads, three wooden rods, one iron ingot, and one tripwire hook!”
“So it’s this item…”
A spark of joy shone in Mo Fangyuan’s heart. This was precisely the powerful attack weapon the Kingdom of Blocks needed at this stage.
In his past life’s vanilla game, the crossbow was a formidable weapon, usually obtained by killing pillagers.
Its attack power was considerable—fully drawn, a basic arrow dealt 9 points of damage, a critical hit 10. Fitted with special firework rockets, critical hits could reach 18 points of area damage, enough to instantly clear a small group of monsters, making it a mid-game clearing tool.
Of course, it had other special uses—such as propelling flight with elytra wings…
“Carpenter Zhu, how long would it take you to make one?”
“One hour!”
Zhu Youxiao seemed to anticipate the question, answering instantly as Mo Fangyuan finished asking.
“One hour…”
Of the Kingdom’s twenty-one warriors, five were archers and one was a free man capable of wielding any weapon.
That free man was Lin Ye.
Thinking of Lin Ye, Mo Fangyuan couldn’t help but recall his delicate, smooth skin, handsome features, and tall figure.
“Hm, perfect material for women’s clothing.”
Far away in another realm, while completing a trial, Lin Ye suddenly sneezed.
“Feels like someone is talking about me…”
He muttered, busy inciting a group of cultists to tear each other apart.
He had already taken the Instigator’s Elixir, but, unaware, didn’t realize another step forward would plunge him into the abyss…
Back to the matter at hand, the Kingdom of Blocks now had six people who could be equipped with crossbows—a small demand.
Frankly, Mo Fangyuan wished the demand were higher.
“Well then, Carpenter Zhu, do your best…”
With this matter settled, Mo Fangyuan hurried off; there were still many things he needed to deal with.
Moreover, during his conversation with Zhu Youxiao, a thought had struck him—education.
Education is the foundation of a nation’s prosperity; it could not be neglected.
Yet as for how to implement education in the block world, Mo Fangyuan had not the slightest clue.