Chapter 219

In the midst of packing up and preparing to leave the training ground, Buluowa suddenly asked.

But we need to be faithful, not padded. Let's translate each line.

We'll need to keep the same meaning, not add extra words.

Let's go line by line.

While packing up and preparing to leave the training ground, Buluowa suddenly asked.

While packing up and preparing to leave the training ground.

Your progress over the past two days has been fast; have you already advanced to a full professional?

But we need to be concise. Maybe: "Your progress these two days has been quick; have you already advanced to a full professional?" Keep meaning.

Like other professions, the apothecary's advancement actually has a threshold.

However, for a super apothecary whose panel is loaded with proficiency and excellence, plus perfect and miracle-field stabilizer...

These thresholds are like weight-loss fitness videos on a shelf—mainly serving an existence function.

So Ji Ming, holding the Revival Elixir, had no reason to hide and openly admitted it.

Priority points on strength and agility?

Yes, otherwise how could I keep up with the training intensity?

Buluowa pondered for a moment.

Although it can provide intellect and charm bonuses, as a basic profession the apothecary is simply too weak.

Have you considered advancing your career early, for example to the apothecary's source, the alchemist?

Of course, otherwise why would I be reading in my spare time every day...

Wait, could Lao Nv Shi have something to say?

Ji Ming immediately sprang up from the ground.

"Teacher, I really want to improve!"

"Teacher, I really want to improve!"

As a magical world where the World Will was tricked into disability by the First Savior, and then, halfway through becoming a hermit, turned into the 'Death Game'...

After introducing a game-like level and progression system, profession became the most important core component for every transcendent being.

Normally, after level 50, a diverse transfer system opens up, but before level 50, only basic professions can be chosen.

Namely, warriors, archers, mages, alchemists, apothecaries, and the priests corresponding to each church.

According to advancement, they can be uniformly divided into apprentice, trainee, official, intermediate, and senior.

For example, Edgar, strictly speaking, is an official alchemist.

Unfortunately, as an extremely biased profession template, mages level up by gaining a bit of intellect and then a bit of free attribute.

It directly adds two points of intellect, with no operational space, so in battle they basically rely entirely on the summoned minions.

Even so, it's still stronger than an apothecary.

Aside from having no specialty in brewing potions, leveling just keeps adding charm, a pure waste soft support with zero output, I don't even know...

Wait a moment.

Opening the system, Ji Ming asked the little boss a question.

【Why does your 'apothecary' look so out of place?】

【It is a side profession split from the alchemist by the 135th Savior, who said high charm lets you save the world by face.】

【And then?】

【If you later go to the Beimosi Grassland, you will discover an isolated green-skinned tribe in the northeast corner, whose people look somewhat like humans.】

「……」 Translation: "……"

【By the way, he's also male.】

Although the apothecary profession is a mistakenly split-off profession, for some people adding intellect and charm is not necessarily a wrong path.

Doing one's support job well, picking a suitable partner in an adventurer's party, one can spend life comfortably.

If one is bolder, quickly seeking a rich woman or a godfather, one can avoid thirty years of detours and directly clear life.

But no matter how strong one's power, it belongs to others; in a magical world, only what you grasp is truly yours.

This is also the fundamental reason Ji Ming seeks alchemical knowledge; for him, the apothecary's path has basically reached its end, and it's time to switch.

Fortunately, though the world's laws are cold, they are also merciful, leaving a backdoor especially for those who have mistakenly entered.

——Alchemical Elixir.

If you drink it while possessing the Alchemy Research skill, you gain a chance to transfer your profession to alchemist once.

The downside, or rather the upside, is that it retains the original four stats, especially charm.

Ji Ming: Hah, I'll raise the average looks of the alchemists dragged down by Tou Ge!

Furthermore, as the apothecary's life-saving medicine, its formula is the most public among potions, nearly everyone has a copy.

「……」 Translation: "……"

Because merely having the formula is useless, it requires up to five prerequisite potions as a base, constituting a dual test of the apothecary's finances and ability.

Originally Ji Ming's plan was to first study alchemy knowledge, then after completion see whether to seek church reimbursement using his Divine Chosen identity or other means.

But now...

Taking out a crystal vial from her bracelet, Buluowa shook the green liquid inside.

"I happen to have a bottle of Alchemical Elixir here; you just need to study alchemy with peace of mind and solidify the basics."

"Mom! When did you prepare this?"

"What?"

"I mean... you look great today, much younger; did you try the potion I gave you yesterday?"

"... About the same."

"Then why not send more next time?"

"...... Probably."

Ji Ming was still seeing the awkward old lady reveal such a strange expression for the first time, about to continue asking, when he suddenly felt...

Hold on, why does this conversation feel somewhat familiar?

A distant memory surfaced in his mind, urging him to lower his voice and ask quickly.

Lady Buluowa, you haven't also been afflicted by a vicious curse, have you?

"No."

The opponent answered quickly, but it was almost too fast.

"Um, I mean, if you're under a curse, I can actually treat it."

"You might not know, but I cured AdaiEr's curse! That's a bloodline curse……"

Buluowa's eyes lit up a bit, but after hearing the specific description, they dimmed again.

"Not needed……"

Seeing Ji Ming about to ask another question, she picked up the practice spear nearby that was almost about to be swung and broken.

"You just said you were tired, didn't you? How come you still want to practice a bit more?"

"No, no! You…… just remember to take care of your body!"

Rushing out of the church, Ji Ming sent a message to the little boss.

【Online? How is Madam Buluowa doing?】

Yangyue didn't reply, but sent an emoji.

Drink more SpiritGathering Liquid. jpg

Alright, let me see which clueless bastard dares to break ground on the High God's head.

And so, over the next few days, Ji Ming lived a painful but unhappy life.

In the morning, deliver SpiritGathering Liquid to Lao Nv Shi.

"Don't send it again next time—what use is this sugar‑water‑like stuff?"

Though she said that, Buluowa still carefully put it away each time.

Beaten up by Lao Nv Shi during the day.

"Isn't that enough? I've just gotten a bit warmed up—if you don't get up, I'll spank your butt!"

"Are you sure the old lady is cursed? I feel like she's been blessed by the war god!"

In the evening, return to the Clinic to brew SpiritGathering Liquid.

"Snivel, fuck, constantly pricking my fingers—it's about to kill my dad."

Then go find Ge Ruis en for a wooden box as big as a suitcase, and pack the SpiritGathering Liquid that's been increased to beer‑bottle size.

As for the night……

Fei Erluo's efficiency is high, or rather, the players' efficiency is high—they opened a new instance for themselves.

When hearing Silvia's report that all players were mustering and preparing for a full‑scale assault,

Ji Ming instinctively thought it was those few subhuman players who leaked the news, and the players decided to pull a big job, selling all the bandit mercenaries to himself.

But when he opened the map he saw that the players' spearhead was aimed at a place that had barely registered before.

That is the Scale Armor Tribe located in the northern part of the Underground Plains, built on a stretch of gravel.

As for why the players have a grudge against these lizardfolk, it's because we need to roll the clock back to this morning.

The ox‑headed people's Iron Hoof Tribe, the mole people's ore vein cavern, the southern stream teeming with wild monsters……

After three days of effort, the president of the Starry Sky Guild, Howard, finally used a splendid crossbow cart to pry open the gate of the Sharp Tooth Tribe.

The Pioneers representing the underground city reached a strategic cooperation agreement with the batfolk.

"From now on we'll stand united and share resources."

"Sure, sure!"

Thus the tribe situated at the easternmost edge of the southern plains also became an interaction point lit up by the players.

Consequently, all the major guilds shifted their focus to the northern part of the Underground Plains, beginning a new round of diplomatic competition.

As more players arrived here, some previously hidden locations were discovered.

A small detachment from the Gunblade faction found a strange structure resembling a termite nest, made entirely of earth, straw, and stone.

The NPCs inside were both timid and shy; they finally managed to spot one, but as soon as we greeted them they got scared and shrank back.

"I saw clearly—it's a little dwarf!"

"A dwarf? Could it be a dwarf? Then we've struck it rich!"

"Are there multiple dwarves in the northern part of the Underground Plains? This news directly shocked Guild President Fan Taoju, who hurriedly brought people over."

With the help of basic favor from the 【Dog Dog Village Guardian】, they successfully opened dialogue with the creatures living inside.

Although they aren't the dwarves we expected, but… there's actually a large group of gnomes, and they still form a tribe?

After confirming that "Code Name: Yangyue" is a fantasy world, enthusiasts of the related theme compiled the universal setting of the fantasy world into a book and distributed it to every player.

Besides emphasizing dragons, giants, and elves as the top three, what comes next are dwarves and gnomes.

Nothing else, as a race extremely similar to humans and highly skilled at intricate construction, perhaps it's not noticeable in ordinary games.

But in this game with such high freedom, where players can even advance technology to craft weapons themselves, their abilities become especially important.

Looking at the delicate small crossbows on the gnomes' backs, Fan Taoju didn't directly state his purpose, but decided to test the waters first.

Then, after a brief chat, he presented the chieftain Ge Laf with a flintlock rifle he had just bought from the 【Embroidered Night Walk】.

After the other party quickly disassembled the weapon and accurately explained its principle and ingenuity, he took out a paper cartridge and loaded a single round.

"Please move aside, please move aside, this thing is very dangerous."

"Hahaha, can it spew fire after burning? With this structure it can't shoot very far, after all I've seen everything…"

He hadn't finished speaking when—Bang!

Watching the wooden target blown to pieces, the old gnome's eyes almost popped out.

……I've never seen anything like this!

He yanked off the gold ornament hanging from his chest and shoved it straight into Fan Taoju's hand.

"Hurry up, I want to buy this—quick, take my money!"

Well, these are all small cases; I'll take you to see a big deal!

Under Fan Tao Zhu's warm invitation, Ge La Fu reluctantly……

Hey, run faster, we won't be able to catch up!

No, how can these short legs run so fast!

The whole afternoon, the dwarf tour group was like they'd gotten a new voice pack.

From the continuous stretch of the eastern first wall, to the high-tower castle of the forward base, and then to their first operation of the giant machinery.

No matter what the dwarves saw, they all let out a single cry.

Wow!

Waiting for them to leave the increasingly prosperous Dog Dog Village, passing through the vast underground farmland of the farming-players, filled with crops,

Sitting in the farmstead at the center of Holy Tree Lake, several dwarves were already dazed.

Ge La Fu tightly grabbed Fan Tao Zhu's sleeve, tears streaming in his eyes.

Sir, I want to shoot a firearm!

Just like that, they effortlessly freeloaded the NPC's productivity, gaining their own little subordinate as players.

Fan Tao Zhu's face naturally bore an extremely sincere smile, and he also grasped the other's hand.

Of course, we will be forever friends.

After hearing his promise, Ge La Fu fainted with a satisfied smile.

Seeing another friendly faction appear on the map, Fan Tao Zhu belatedly realized.

No wonder the first dungeon is the mole people's coal mine cavern; it seems the officials are hinting that we can also recruit NPCs as our subordinates!

Well, the Great Holy Seat is truly an amazing company; they clearly said nothing, yet somehow seemed to have said everything.

Originally, the story progressing to this point should have been a happy ending where you're fine, I'm fine, everyone's fine.

The players obtained a batch of technical talent capable of freeloading productivity; many tech development projects that originally couldn't proceed due to manpower shortage can now be scheduled.

The dwarves obtained an absolutely safe shelter where they could freely develop their specialties, from then on no longer needing to live day-to-day uncertainly.

But the dwarves were having too much fun; after being knocked out by a series of surprises, they forgot to tell the players something very important.

Unlike the extremely hidden coal cavern, their mud huts had long been discovered.

So when the players happily sent the tour group back to the Iron Lump Tribe, letting them prepare for tomorrow's move, they happened to encounter the Scale Armor Tribe coming to collect taxes here.

The players' impression of these lizard folk is not good; clearly they just have a few extra scales, yet they are arrogant in their conduct.

Even if the Dog Village Guardian came, it would be useless; they simply refuse to communicate normally with the players.

Moreover, as soon as they speak, every three sentences mention the Dragon God, and they even call themselves some damn dragon species, blowing their own horn loudly.

The number of transactions normally completed is even rarer; they find various excuses to haggle and press prices, basically refusing to spend money.

Even to say, if the players don't bring more people on their side, not being killed and robbed by them would already be good.

This is how it is when facing the mighty Pioneers group; let alone facing those weak tribes.

Especially the dwarves of the Iron Lump Tribe, they have been exploited to the extreme.

At the very least, even the Scale Armor Tribe's houses are built by forcibly conscripting dwarves.

Otherwise, how could this bunch of extremely barbaric, crude big claws build such fine earthen stone structures?

Thus, on a daily basis, the lizards treat the dwarves with shouting and yelling, not regarding them as people at all.

Seeing that the chief of the Iron Lump Tribe is absent today, they even beat them one by one, completely just playing around to vent anger.

The players are all law-abiding good people; how could they accept their own subordinates being bullied like this?

"Grandma's, you've rebelled against me!?"

Naturally, they all drew their swords, ready to go up and negotiate.

Added a patch explaining why Yangyue World is a game-like system, in Chapter 5 of Volume 1, but it doesn't affect reading.