Opening the Gift Packs

[Notice: A player with VIP Level 3 status has been detected. According to Rule DF-2291, the player's highest VIP privilege system takes precedence. The player has one opportunity to transfer VIP privileges. Would you like to transfer them to Liu Zhi?]

[Notice: VIP privilege transfer successful. Liu Zhi's privileges have been upgraded to V3. V1–V3 gift packs have been issued.]

[Notice: The Novice Quest—Survival Game has undergone a minor change. Survive for 180 days near the player's Nether Palace. (39/180)]

[Notice: The Identity Compulsory Quest—Curse of the Golden City has been completed, but a new competitor has appeared. Handle the competitor with care.]

[Details: VIP privileges—Level 1 (adjust game time, with the maximum game-to-reality time ratio adjustable to 10:1; daily roulette draw unlocked); Level 2 (increased time-adjustment limit, maximum ratio 24:1; ten consecutive roulette draws unlocked); Level 3 (increased time-adjustment limit, maximum ratio 48:1; one VIP quest unlocked)]

Liu Zhi merely glanced at the VIP privileges and didn't bother reading further. He was more interested in the gift packs in his hands.

Besides the usual Novice Gift Pack and the three VIP-level gift packs, he seemed to have another pack he could open.

After looking closely, he realized it was the Competitor Chest (Beginner) he had received after defeating his competitor last time.

He'd searched for the Competitor Chest before, but hadn't found anything. He'd thought the system notification was an error, but it turned out it had been waiting here for him.

Liu Zhi didn't have time to worry about that now. He wasn't one to wash his hands or burn incense before opening gifts. He simply sat down on the rubble and opened all five packs and chests.

As he watched the items keep dropping at his feet, Liu Zhi wore an expression that said, *I knew this would happen.*

A dozen or so oddly shaped items appeared on the ground, along with a huge pile of red-and-white coins marked with the character for "currency."

Once everything had spilled out, Liu Zhi began sorting through it.

Naturally, the first thing he picked up was the 20-slot backpack. It was obviously one of those items handed out just for playing the game. It had 20 slots and could hold a great many items by stacking them. Its appearance would also draw plenty of attention if he carried it around, and since it was soul-bound, it couldn't be stolen. It wouldn't even let water in while diving, making it a nice little perk.

If he'd had a backpack like this earlier, he wouldn't have needed to worry so carefully about keeping the quicklime dry when fighting the Fishmen.

The Appraisal Magnifying Glass was essentially like an appraisal scroll. Shiny items obtained by looting corpses in the game weren't actually game equipment, so they couldn't be taken out of the game.

Only equipment and items received through loot notifications could be taken out. But when first obtained, they had no attributes. They needed to be appraised with an Appraisal Magnifying Glass before their attributes were confirmed and they could be used.

Of course, someone with the right knowledge could identify an item without a magnifying glass. But few people could do that, so Appraisal Magnifying Glasses were fairly common among players.

Next, Liu Zhi picked up the items meant for players.

"Learn it!"

Sensing the energy flowing through his arms and body, Liu Zhi drew his longsword and swung it rapidly before him. As he swung faster and faster, a pale blue Wind Blade really did take shape at the tip of his sword.

Liu Zhi was delighted, but then he lost control. The Wind Blade shot forward, carving a sword mark thirty centimeters deep into the rubble nearby.

"This is amazing! If I'd had this ability from the start, I wouldn't have been afraid of a damn thing in those earlier fights."

As he spoke, Liu Zhi looked over the other items.

Looking at the qualification requirements manual, Liu Zhi nodded firmly. "Given how things are going, I'm destined to become a Sword Saint. From now on, everyone can call me Sword Saint Mage."

After carefully putting away the qualification requirements manual, Liu Zhi turned his attention to the remaining items.

The two profession items and two pieces of profession equipment weren't scrolls. Like the Golden Pyramid model from before, they were shaped like little models.

Liu Zhi noticed a golden object among them: a humanoid statue. Only half of its body was visible, making it look as if a four-armed female creature were climbing out of the ground.