40: Gifts given by Xiao Panxue

No way, maintenance again?

The world announcement echoed overhead.

Su Yan opened his eyes, but before he could even feel surprised...

In the next moment,

his head spun with dizziness, and he was transported back to Asura City.

"Damn, why is there maintenance again!"

"It seems the System discovered the Demon God tampering with the hidden map. This is likely to fix the Ancient Battlefield."

"That's great! The System is awesome!"

"But the world announcement just now seemed to say that Demon Slayer killed the Minotaur Demon General. Was I hallucinating?"

"Brother, you weren't hallucinating! I heard it too! Big Shot Demon Slayer made his move!"

"Incredible! Even the War King couldn't do it... we have to rely on Demon Slayer!"

This unexpected maintenance...

Asura City was immediately packed with Human Race Players again.

Countless figures jostled together in a bustling crowd. Amidst the heated discussions, the occasional scream of a female player could be heard.

Because Su Yan was wearing the special mask from the Demon Slaying Institute,

his appearance and ID were hidden, so he wasn't recognized immediately.

He originally planned to find a quiet place to wait out the System maintenance,

or perhaps head straight to the Auction House to bum some tea from Wang Defa.

But soon, another System announcement rang out over Asura City:

"This emergency maintenance is expected to last 4 hours. The specific time may be moved forward or delayed depending on the actual situation.

We apologize for the inconvenience caused to players. Thank you for your continued support of the Land of Divine Punishment!"

"4 hours? That's so long."

Hearing the System announcement, Su Yan completely lost his temper.

Shouldn't there be some damn compensation for this?

300,000 gold coins is barely acceptable, 500,000 to help clear the air, and 1,000,000 for instant amnesia... "Sigh, I'm out!"

With such a long wait,

it was naturally impossible for Su Yan to just wait around in Asura City.

He immediately chose to log off.

When his consciousness returned to his bedroom,

"Ahhh~"

Basking in the cool air from the air conditioner, every pore in Su Yan's body felt comfortable as he couldn't help but stretch.

His joints made a crackling sound, and a soft groan escaped his lips.

Every time he left the Land of Divine Punishment, Su Yan could clearly feel his own strength increasing.

This time was no different.

In fact, it was especially intense this time.

The most obvious change was his vigorous vitality; his life force was as resilient as a cockroach.

He knew this was because he had just consumed 5,000 attribute pills.

"If I get more rewards like these from hidden maps in the future, I'll really take off."

Su Yan muttered to himself as he climbed out of bed.

Suddenly feeling a bit thirsty, he opened the door without a second thought and went to the kitchen fridge for water... "Gulp, gulp!"

In the living room, Su Yan grabbed a bottle of Pifu Spring water, sat on the sofa, and chugged it down.

Suddenly hearing footsteps,

he turned to look.

He saw his sister, Xiao Panxue, walking out in a nightgown.

Thinking about it, since Divine Punishment was under maintenance, she probably had nothing to do and came out to relax.

"Sister Xue, want some water?" Su Yan asked casually.

Xiao Panxue shook her head and walked straight toward the sofa.

Her chest, exceptionally high and full under the straps of her nightgown, always managed to firmly catch Su Yan's eye.

They jiggled with every step, like two proud white rabbits.

But at this moment,

Su Yan's attention was, for once, quickly withdrawn.

Instead, he secretly pulled out the SSS-rank Skill he had just obtained: [Skill Replication].

With the intention of giving it a try, he used the skill on Xiao Panxue.

Buzz!

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination,

but in that instant, he seemed to feel a slight ripple in the air.

Then... [Congratulations, you have replicated the SSS-rank Skill: Blazing Prairie Big Dipper (Permanent)!]

"Holy crap!"

On the sofa, Su Yan slapped his thigh and stood up abruptly.

This is way too powerful! It actually worked on the first try!

He had replicated Blazing Prairie Big Dipper, the SSS-rank Skill Xiao Panxue had obtained by observing the dungeon's sword seal!

And it was permanent!

In other words,

from now on, he also possessed Blazing Prairie Big Dipper!

By this time, Xiao Panxue had reached him. Seeing him stand up so excitedly,

she frowned in confusion. "Su Yan, what are you doing?"

"Ah, I choked on the water!"

Su Yan quickly sat back down on the sofa and gave an embarrassed laugh.

Xiao Panxue sat down beside him.

"I'm leaving tomorrow. Don't you have anything you want to say to me?"

Su Yan thought hard for a moment and said seriously,

"Have a safe trip?"

Xiao Panxue rolled her eyes in annoyance. "I'm taking the Teleportation Array; I'll be there in the blink of an eye. You're talking nonsense."

"Then..."

Su Yan said with a double meaning, "Then thank you, Sister Xue, for giving me a skill!"

"Are you talking about the SS-rank Skill?"

Xiao Panxue naturally didn't know that her proudest SSS-rank Skill, Blazing Prairie Big Dipper, had already been copied by someone.

She wiped her lips and smiled. "But as we agreed, I'll only give it to you once you get into university."

"Don't worry, I'll definitely get into university!" Su Yan promised.

Xiao Panxue looked at him, unsure whether to believe him or not.

Suddenly, she reached out and patted his head.

"Sister Xue, I'm all grown up now. Can you give me some Face and stop always patting my head?"

Su Yan immediately protested.

Xiao Panxue smiled playfully. "You're my younger brother. If I don't pat your head, where else am I supposed to pat?"

"..."

Su Yan thought to himself,

it seemed there really wasn't anywhere else appropriate to pat.

She couldn't possibly pat *that* head, could she?

Xiao Panxue's beautiful eyes flickered, and her expression turned serious.

"Listen to me, Su Yan. After I leave this time, it might be a long time before I can return. I'm afraid I won't be able to accompany you for the National College Entrance Examination."

Su Yan nodded. "It's fine. It's just the National College Entrance Examination; I can handle it alone."

Xiao Panxue looked at him:

"If... you're absolutely sure you can get into university, then it's best to apply to one in the Imperial Capital.

Whether it's first-rate or third-rate, as long as I'm in the Imperial Capital, I can look after you at any time."

Su Yan nodded again. "I was thinking the same thing. Either I don't go to university, or if I do, I'm definitely going to the Imperial Capital!"

Hearing this, Xiao Panxue's eyes narrowed into crescents. "Mhm, Su Yan is so good~"

"Alright, I'm going back to my room. Doesn't your school have an activity tomorrow? Get some rest early."

Xiao Panxue rose from the sofa, her long hair cascading down. The lines of her buttocks, wrapped in the silk nightgown, were fully revealed.

"Goodnight, Sister Xue."

Su Yan felt his Face redden slightly and quickly spoke to hide it.

Afterward,

he sat alone on the sofa for a while, then went to the balcony to feel the night breeze.

Su Yan's thoughts drifted, full of expectations for the future.

After staying there for about half an hour,

he finally returned to his bedroom.

Just as Xiao Panxue had said, he didn't plan on waiting for the maintenance to end anymore.

He just wrapped himself in the air-conditioned blanket and slept until dawn... The next day.

Because he went to sleep early, Su Yan woke up early as well.

"Su Yan, wait!"

Just as he had finished changing his shoes and was opening the door to head to school,

Xiao Panxue suddenly rushed out of her bedroom and called out urgently.

Su Yan turned back and asked in surprise, "Sister Xue, is something else the matter?"

Xiao Panxue walked up to him, and with a flash of light in her slender, white palm,

a Deep Blue Greatsword appeared before Su Yan's eyes.

"This is..."

Su Yan was astonished.

Xiao Panxue smiled slightly. "It's not safe outside right now. Take this weapon for self-defense; you must protect yourself."

Su Yan was silent for a moment, then looked up at Xiao Panxue's Face.

Seeing her somewhat haggard expression, he couldn't help but feel a pang of pity. "Did you stay up all night?"

Xiao Panxue didn't deny it. "I used all my gold coins to upgrade my skills. I didn't have enough gold when I wanted to buy this weapon, so I stayed up all night doing some bounty missions."

Su Yan said nothing more. He reached out, took the greatsword, and strapped it to his back.

"Thank you, Sister Xue."

"And..."

Suddenly, Xiao Panxue stopped him again.

Su Yan listened intently.

The space by the doorway was slightly cramped.

Xiao Panxue tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her Face tinged with a slight blush as she softly urged him,

"Listen well, Su Yan. Don't put any pressure on yourself for the National College Entrance Examination; just do your best.

If you really can't get in, it doesn't matter. At worst, I'll just take care of you for the rest of your life."

Su Yan was stunned and stood frozen on the spot.

Then, he patted his chest and said,

"Don't worry, Sister Xue. To make sure you don't have to take care of me for the rest of your life, I'll get into university no matter what!"