"We previously discussed the difference between jobs and classes. Whether it's a hunter, blacksmith, lumberjack, or woodcutter, they're all merely [jobs], not [classes]. You need to understand that clearly.
This game has a high degree of freedom and doesn't strictly limit the types of skills players can learn.
In other words, theoretically, you can learn any type of skill as long as you meet the requirements.
But classes do exist.
The main purpose of classes is to provide additional proficiencies and exclusive class quests.
To truly obtain a [class], you have to wait until level 10, when the system generates one for you.
The system will provide class options based on your gameplay experience before level 10. Usually, you get to choose one out of three. What exactly appears depends on how you reached level 10 and what skills you learned along the way.
If you used a sword to kill monsters and level up, then at level 10, you'll most likely get classes such as swordsman, swordfighter, or Sword Hero.
You previously mentioned that you have Axe Weapon Proficiency. If you use an axe in battle to kill monsters and level up, then you'll probably get classes such as Battle Axe Warrior or Mountain Splitter.
But now that you've learned Archery, if you use a bow to kill more monsters, then you'll most likely get an archer-type class.
In other words, your primary combat experience before level 10, as well as the combat skills you're best at, will determine which classes become available when you reach level 10.
So if there's a specific class you want to develop, make sure to use that type of weapon and skill more often in combat, so you don't end up without the class you want."
Xiao Jie was quite surprised. He hadn't expected the game's class system to be designed this way. It really was unconventional.
Good thing he had learned about it in advance. Otherwise, if he carelessly mixed up his weapons while leveling, who knew what kind of class he might end up with?
Classes in online games usually pursued balance, trying their best to avoid classes that were too strong or too weak. Even so, every game had stronger classes, commonly known as the meta picks.
Some classes were weaker, commonly known as bottom-tier trash.
And according to what Wang Kai had said before, this game's classes were even more unbalanced. If three garbage classes appeared, he'd really cry himself to death.
Good thing he had learned these Rules ahead of time.
I Want to Become Immortal had definitely gotten his money's worth trading that Ebony Sword for this information.
"So that's how it is!" I Want to Become Immortal said in sudden realization. "Then what should I do if I want to switch to a Magic Class? Do I need to use spells to kill monsters and level up?"
"In theory, that's indeed the logic," Ye Luo said. "But if you want to learn spells, you first need a similar Serendipitous Encounter. Those encounters are often impossible to seek out, which is why Magic Classes are so difficult to obtain.
"Of course, there are shortcuts. For example, there was once a rich player who spent tens of millions buying a huge pile of Talismans, then used them to kill monsters and level up. In the end, he successfully unlocked the Talismaster class. It barely counted as a Magic Class."
I Want to Become Immortal couldn't help clicking his tongue. Tens of millions, and it only barely counted. His brother had left him some money, but it was only a little over a million. Using that method was completely impossible for him.
Xiao Jie didn't even consider that kind of approach.
He was still somewhat confident about unlocking a Magic Class. So far, he had already encountered two Serendipitous Encounters.
Although one of them had been triggered by I Want to Become Immortal.
Still, Serendipitous Encounters didn't seem quite as impossibly rare as people made them out to be.
With his gaming skills and I Want to Become Immortal's luck, there would surely be a chance.
As long as it was a game, there had to be patterns to follow. With his ten years of experience as a professional gamer, he was confident he could solve this mystery.
But I Want to Become Immortal asked again, "If a Magic Class doesn't show up at level 10, does that mean there's no hope at all?"
"Not necessarily. This game assigns classes every ten levels, so you'll have opportunities at levels 20, 30, 40, and 50.
"But leveling becomes harder and harder in the later stages of this game—mainly because the monsters are too powerful, while players only have one life. You can't mindlessly grind monsters to level up like in ordinary games.
"So level 30 already makes you an expert. Level 40 players are exceedingly rare. Most players are in their teens or twenties, so every opportunity to obtain a class is especially valuable."
Hearing this, Xiao Jie thought of a question.
"Will the classes that appear each time be connected? For example, if I choose to become a swordfighter at level 10, then continue using a sword to kill monsters and level up, will swordfighter appear again at level 20? Or are there advanced classes for swordfighters?"
Ye Luo smiled in surprise. "You're quite good at making connections. That's right, advanced classes do exist. If you have a basic class and make tremendous progress and breakthroughs in that class's skills between levels 10 and 20, then at level 20, you may get an advanced version of that class.
"And at level 30, you can even advance a second time.
"For example, you might obtain the swordfighter class at level 10, Sword Master at level 20, and Sword Saint at level 30.
"Every advancement unlocks more powerful proficiencies and exclusive quests, resulting in a qualitative leap in strength.
"Besides that, there's another powerful type: dual-class advancement.
"A dual-class advancement is a special advancement derived from combining two basic classes.
"For example, a player might become a Martial General at level 10, gain Divine Prayer as a secondary class at level 20, and then, if they improve the skills of both classes, have a chance to unlock the hidden class—Divine General—at level 30.
"The strongest players in the game right now either have second-stage advanced classes or dual-class advancements.
"And the worst way to play is to dabble in everything without mastering anything, then end up with three completely unrelated classes: one main class and two garbage secondary classes, like Spearman + swordfighter + archer. While all three skill branches can be enhanced, none can reach the very highest level. Even at over level 30, players like that are still useless—at best, they're high-level cannon fodder."
Xiao Jie listened very attentively, and when she finished, he felt as though everything had suddenly become clear.
So this game's class system was this profound.
In that case, his goal was clear as well: either a second-stage advanced class or a dual-class advancement.
Xiao Jie couldn't help becoming interested. He would have to study it carefully later and use his ten years of gaming experience to map out a perfect class path.
But Ye Luo continued, "Besides that, there's also a rumor among players. Supposedly, there are triple-class advancements, hidden classes unlocked at level 40 by combining three basic classes, as well as third-stage advanced classes, unlocked at level 40 after advancing three times.
"But both are only rumors. So far, no one has ever actually seen either of those two types of classes."
Before you continue