Chapter 95 – Division of Labor

“Currently, we have eighty-three people who have transitioned to blacksmiths and ninety-six who have become carvers in our territory,” Yu Kai reported. “Although these individuals have completed their secondary profession transitions, many aren’t particularly enthusiastic about them. After all, gathering stone or ore for spiritual energy isn’t as fast as killing monsters.”

Cheng Yang nodded, “That’s actually a good sign. It shows our combatants have largely overcome their fear of demonized beasts and are actively hunting them. As for their enthusiasm for secondary professions, we can’t force it. The prices I’ve set for raw materials are already quite fair, considering there’s no danger in gathering them. It’s natural that the rewards are lower than monster hunting. However, our equipment situation needs to change.”

Yu Kai frowned, “If we want to solve the equipment problem, focusing on raw materials won’t help much. The biggest challenge for everyone with secondary professions is obtaining blueprints or formulas. A few of us have managed to buy basic manufacturing blueprints thanks to the spiritual energy we’ve earned from accompanying you. But for others, a single blueprint costs a thousand spiritual energy points, which is out of reach for most.”

Cheng Yang smiled confidently, “That’s not a big issue. First, tell me what secondary professions you’ve chosen and what formulas you’ve learned.”

Yu Kai went first, “I’m a tailor. I’ve learned leather armor crafting and can make apprentice-level leather armor for archers. My skinning skill has also reached level 2, allowing me to harvest hides from late-stage first-order demonized beasts.”

Liu Hao followed, “I’m a blacksmith. I’ve just learned iron sword forging. But it’s frustrating because I haven’t found any iron ore deposits yet, so my mining skill remains unused.”

Niu Bing, Li Wanshan, and Zhao Chuan then shared their professions. Besides Li Wanshan, who had become a carpenter, Niu Bing and Zhao Chuan had chosen blacksmith and alchemist respectively.

Cheng Yang chuckled, “You’ve distributed yourselves quite evenly. That means we can start producing equipment. Blacksmiths will handle iron weapons, carpenters will make staffs, rods, and bows, while craftsmen focus on jewelry. As for the ore you need, I know some locations. I’ll take you there tonight.”

Liu Hao and the others were thrilled. His frustration with the lack of iron ore had been mounting. If this were a normal game, he would have already filed a complaint with the GM.

“What about me?” Yu Kai suddenly realized he might have chosen a less useful profession.

Cheng Yang explained, “Simple. Bows require animal tendons, so that’s your responsibility. Also, some animal leg bones can be used for staffs. You can stockpile these materials to sell later. If you have spare time, you can also make some armor to practice your skills.”

Yu Kai raised a concern, “But even with all of us working, the equipment we produce daily won’t match what we get from dungeons, let alone meet the territory’s needs.”

Cheng Yang had a solution, “That’s where others come in. While each person might not have much spiritual energy individually, collectively it’s a significant amount. You can organize groups where someone interested in a secondary profession receives spiritual energy from others who need equipment. In return, they craft items for those contributors. Problem solved.”

The group had an epiphany. The solution was simple, but they had been too focused on individual spiritual energy gains to see it.

As they were discussing, Liu Xiyue and Pang Shan approached, laughing together. Their cheerful demeanor made the scene feel almost normal, a stark contrast to the post-apocalyptic world they lived in. Liu Xiyue’s beauty, enhanced by her radiant smile, was particularly striking.

Cheng Yang couldn’t help but reflect on how different Liu Xiyue’s life might have been without the apocalypse. She would have been a goddess in everyone’s eyes, but now she had to fight for survival like everyone else.

“Leader, I didn’t realize you were so attentive to Xiyue,” Pang Shan teased, her eyes curved like crescent moons.

Cheng Yang deflected, “It’s nothing special. Xiyue is your good friend, and considering Niu Bing’s position, I couldn’t treat her poorly, could I?”

Pang Shan’s eyes sparkled with mischief, “Is that really all there is to it?”

Liu Xiyue, embarrassed, pinched Pang Shan’s waist, “Xiao Shan, stop talking nonsense! Not everyone thinks as complicatedly as you do.”

Pang Shan laughed, “Look at this! She’s already defending him!”

The two girls started playfully fighting, while Cheng Yang exchanged a helpless look with Niu Bing. He understood Pang Shan’s implication but couldn’t explain his true reasons for favoring Liu Xiyue – her extraordinary talent. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust his companions, but Liu Xiyue’s abilities were too extraordinary, and she still lacked the strength to protect herself. The fewer people who knew, the better.

“Alright, go and select people for profession transitions,” Cheng Yang instructed.

Liu Hao asked, “What do we do after transitioning?”

Cheng Yang laid out the plan, “After transitioning, split up. Haozi, take your team to Xianghe Village and clear out large groups of demonized beasts during the day. As a high-level apprentice warrior with good equipment and plenty of potions, you shouldn’t have any problems. Old Niu and Old Li, combine your teams and enter Xiangcheng City to rescue more civilians. We’ve saved nearly thirty thousand people so far, but that’s not enough to support three settlements. We’ll need more people as we establish additional settlements.”

“What about me, Leader?” Zhao Chuan asked.

“Your task is to clear demonized beasts around our territory. This will be a rotating duty among your five teams, one team per day,” Cheng Yang explained.

Zhao Chuan initially thought clearing nearby beasts wasn’t a great assignment, but hearing it would rotate daily made it acceptable.

Finally, Cheng Yang addressed Yu Kai, “After helping with the profession transitions, gather some wood. Then I’ll accompany you to Dongshan Village. Once you reach high-level archer apprentice, stay there and clear out large groups of demonized beasts in the area.”

After receiving their orders, the group dispersed, leaving only Liu Xiyue with Cheng Yang.

“Leader, about what Xiao Shan said earlier…” Liu Xiyue began to explain.

Cheng Yang interrupted with a smile, “No need to explain. I know she was just joking. Our territory might be a haven in this world, but we still lack laughter and joy. Having people like her to lighten the mood is good.”

Liu Xiyue looked at Cheng Yang, feeling both relieved and strangely empty, though she couldn’t quite place why.

While waiting, Cheng Yang summoned Chen Yun and others to join him in the Nightmare-level Bloody Church dungeon. He had considered bringing Liu Xiyue but decided against it due to her current weakness. In a Nightmare-level dungeon, she could be killed instantly.

Having cleared the dungeon once before, they moved through it with ease, completing it in under half an hour. The smiles on their faces showed their satisfaction with the results.

This time, the boss didn’t have the life-for-life exchange skill they had encountered previously, making the fight much easier. The rewards were excellent, including a valuable piece of equipment.

Another silver-grade weapon! In just two Nightmare-level dungeon runs, they had obtained three weapons, an incredible stroke of luck. Besides this silver-grade item, they also acquired two bronze-grade pieces.

Cheng Yang’s first thought was to give the Spiritwood Staff to Liu Xiyue, but he quickly reconsidered. Even with the staff, Liu Xiyue wouldn’t be able to instantly kill late-stage first-order demonized beasts. Using it against mid-stage beasts would be wasteful.

Moreover, Zeng Yue was still using a bronze-grade staff. Since they had cleared the dungeon with her help, giving the silver staff to Liu Xiyue might cause resentment, even if Zeng Yue didn’t show it.

After careful consideration, Cheng Yang gave the Spiritwood Staff to Zeng Yue and passed her old bronze staff to Liu Xiyue. Combined with her +1 magic attack ring, Liu Xiyue’s magic attack reached 9 points, allowing her to instantly kill mid-stage first-order demonized beasts with her Holy Word skill.

PS: Five more days until release! Please support me! I’m not planning to rest during the New Year, so expect more updates!