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"Those two things from earlier turned out that way because the crafting failed. Normally..." Song Xiaozhu looked at the iron axe that had been scrubbed clean and said, "I can use wood and stone to make a stone axe!"

A stone axe...

One Awakening Stone could buy a mountain's worth of stone axes!

Qiu Shuyu grew even more reluctant to reveal the "truth." She could not bear to discourage Song Xiaozhu.

Actually...

"Artisan" was a pretty good class. It was better than awakening as a "Warrior" who killed without batting an eye.

Qiu Shuyu rallied her spirits and explained things to Song Xiaozhu even more earnestly.

She claimed she did not know much, but what she had told her already described a world ordinary people had never encountered.

Song Xiaozhu was very interested in "Artisans," and all her questions revolved around them. She wanted to learn as much as possible, then match everything up against the Synthesizer's characteristics, one by one.

"Sister Shuyu, is there anything special about the things 'Artisans' make?"

"It depends on the person. Some work more efficiently, some make more refined things, and then there are chef-type 'Artisans.' When they put their hearts into cooking, the ingredients become more delicious."

"That's great! I really like cooking. When I get the chance, I'll cook for you!"

"Well..." Qiu Shuyu hesitated. "If you can make tools, then you can probably only make tools..."

Song Xiaozhu had deliberately steered the conversation here. This point was crucial. She asked, "Isn't it all making things? Can an 'Artisan' who makes tools not cook as well?"

At that moment, Qiu Shuyu's greatest fear was that Song Xiaozhu would lose hope in life. She searched her memory and encouraged her. "That probably isn't the case. I've seen 'Warriors' who specialize in firearms and are pretty good at hand-to-hand combat too... 'Artisans' should be about the same, right? It's all making things..."

Song Xiaozhu could tell that Qiu Shuyu knew far more about the "Warrior" class than any other.

It seemed she had once had close ties to that class.

Song Xiaozhu picked up the conversation. "It's fine. I'll try more things in the future. Maybe I can do them all."

Qiu Shuyu hurried to encourage her. "Exactly! As long as you're willing to explore and research, you're bound to discover more uses!"

Song Xiaozhu nodded emphatically, then asked, "By the way, Sister Shuyu, what is Force? Can overusing it seriously damage your body?"

At that, Qiu Shuyu's expression grew much more solemn. "I haven't awakened, so I can't sense Force. You should be able to feel it, right? It's that mist that came out of your palm earlier..."

Compared with other classes, "Artisans" were far too much like ordinary people. The only reason they were not classified as ordinary people was the distinct presence of Force within their bodies.

When crafting items, they could draw upon Force to alter certain aspects of an item's composition, producing some wondrous changes.

The so-called improvements in efficiency, more refined finished products, more delicious food...

All came from channeling Force.

And when Force took tangible form, it became the white mist that had spilled from Song Xiaozhu's hand earlier.

This was also what made "Artisans" so underwhelming. Other classes could put Force to better use, such as combat, purification, reconnaissance... a whole range of things beyond ordinary people.

But "Artisans" could only use Force to craft items.

Song Xiaozhu grew curious as she listened. "If it's all the same Force, why can't 'Artisans' use it to fight?"

Qiu Shuyu said quietly, "That's the restriction imposed by a 'class'..."

Song Xiaozhu nodded, understanding.

So that was it...

No wonder the divisions between "classes" were so clear.

They were all awakened, but differences in how they used Force gave rise to different "classes."

"Warriors," for instance, could only use Force to fight.

"Purifiers" could only use Force for purification.

And "Artisans" could only use Force for crafting.

If Force were compared to gold, then the so-called advanced classes traded that gold for a house, while "Artisans" traded it for cheaper copper coins.

No wonder "Artisans" were so poorly regarded. The class was something of a waste of resources.

Especially in this cruel world, where combat strength mattered more than anything, the so-called craft-

ing of items that "Artisans" did could be accomplished entirely by machinery, with greater efficiency and better quality...

That made "Artisans" even more underwhelming.

On closer consideration, "Artisans" were not even as well off as ordinary people.

At least ordinary people had yet to awaken and still had hope of soaring to great heights, whereas "Artisans"... could only remain "Artisans" for the rest of their lives.

Awakening happened only once.

Even acquiring another Awakening Stone could not change one's "class."

Qiu Shuyu could not bring herself to say these things. Song Xiaozhu was only sixteen, and her life was just beginning. After finally receiving a legacy and obtaining a precious Awakening Stone, she had actually...

Master Bai probably did not know yet.

He would be upset when he found out too. After all, she was his "bodily successor."

Qiu Shuyu imagined so much on her own that her nose stung and her eyes reddened. She did not even dare look at Song Xiaozhu...

Meanwhile, the person in question was thinking only: Not bad. Great. Just lovely.

The "Artisan" class was practically tailor-made for her.

With this shield, she would no longer have to hide so many things, leaving her much more room to maneuver.

What was so interesting about fighting and killing?

The greatest value of this Synthesizer was: making a fortune!

Song Xiaozhu asked again, "Sister Shuyu, then what counts as overusing Force?"

That question really did stump Qiu Shuyu. "Well... I haven't awakened..."

The implication was that only the awakened could sense Force. It was like a person's stamina; they themselves should know best whether they had overdrawn it.

Song Xiaozhu said, "I don't feel anything in particular..."

Well, in fact, she could not even sense this so-called Force, let alone tell whether she had overused it.