Chapter 2664: Acquiring the National Treasure
Displaying power proved that not only could he escape the sanatorium, but he could also single-handedly destroy Lian Qingkong’s plan ahead of time.
The chilling aura, like a tangible killing intent, had already surrounded all sides, yet it did not advance further. Seconds later, it retreated together with the darkness.
At this moment, the room was already filled with players. The distance between Xu Huo and the hospital bed had increased, with several players surrounding him tightly, forming a human barricade. Not to mention various props sealing him in a two-meter space, leaving no chance for him to approach Lian Qingkong.
"Cough, cough!" Lian Qingkong’s coughing voice echoed in the room, turning into laughter in an instant. He waved off the players beside him, looked at Xu Huo, and said, "Then I’ll gamble with you!"
Xu Huo stood up and nodded to him slightly in greeting.
"Dai He, you go with him." Lian Qingkong raised his hand slightly forward, and a middle-aged man stepped forward.
The transaction was considered complete at this point.
However, before leaving, Xu Huo said, "I’ve heard that the Supreme God Sect of Yu Country worships darkness and that the God has no definite form. I wonder if this is related to the Assassin Family, Mr. Lian, is your surname Gao, or Peng?"
Lian Qingkong did not answer this question.
Of course, Xu Huo didn’t really want an answer anyway, but after stepping out of the government building, Dai He took the initiative to say, "In Yu Country, everyone can have the last name Gao or Peng."
Xu Huo glanced at him and dialed the contact on the communicator. Upon connection, he straightforwardly said, "I’m going to retrieve the National Treasure. Arrange some people to protect me. I’m currently in front of the Capital City government building and will set off in five minutes. I’ll tell you the address when I leave."
"Xu Zhi!" Xiao Mei came running from afar, hastily asking, "Do you have a way to clear the level?"
"I’m about to go get the National Treasure," Xu Huo replied, "Do you want to join?"
"Of course I do!" Xiao Mei exclaimed in surprise, "I didn’t expect that in just a day or two, it would progress to this extent. Don’t worry; I’ll definitely give my all!"
Xu Huo smiled. After five minutes passed, he sent the address to Wan Ping and then directly used the teleportation prop to go to Mie City.
With the spatial teleportation device, outsiders wouldn’t know his destination. It might take some time to catch up, so after arriving in Mie City, Xu Huo blew up Gao Hui’s old home, which had turned into a garbage mountain. He used a robot to dig underground for over ten minutes before "retrieving" a box.
Once the box was in hand, other players finally arrived late. Spatial devices and instruments interfered with each other, making long-distance teleportation impossible. Thus, Xu Huo, Dai He, Girl in the painting, and Xiao Mei split into two groups to head to Capital City.
There was no definite news to confirm that what Xu Huo found was the National Treasure, but since he left the government building, seemingly met with Lian Qingkong, and had Dai He with him, they quietly went to Gao Hui’s hometown, causing such a big explosion. It’s hard not to suspect.
Suspicion is not confirmation, but it’s enough.
The majority of those arriving were stranded players, regardless of the truth; they all tried to intercept, especially given the commotion Xu Huo caused.
Since stepping out of Mie City, Xu Huo and his group faced continuous pursuit. The remaining advanced players were skilled, and various props constantly emerged, unexpectedly trapping the duo.
Dai He’s strength certainly wasn’t lacking, being close to the next Chief Governor. But against many, even with eight hands, it wasn’t enough.
Although he knew the arrangement at the sanatorium and knew too many people couldn’t be spared now, he still seized an opportunity to call for help from the government side.
Right at that moment, two players’ special powers surrounded him. After being hit to the ground, he lost the chance to escape, forced to open a defensive barrier to withstand attacks. However, to his surprise, these two powers vanished as they approached him, followed closely by bodies dropping from the sky!
In the lush forest, shadows flickered rapidly, moving too fast to capture with the naked eye. By the time he sensed their presence, they had already moved, followed by a player’s corpse.
"Friend or foe?" Dai He asked Xu Huo, who had just freed himself from entanglement with other players.
"Anyone appearing here is here to snatch the National Treasure equipped with no friends," Xu Huo wiped off the blood splashed on his face, "Keep your spirits up; there’s still several days ahead."
Dai He noticed he was smiling. In such circumstances, he could still smile. Despite continued player assaults, even a moment’s negligence could cost him his life. Was it worth risking everything to clear one instance?
A hundred-meter-long Sword Qi Blade swept across, severing numerous trees, and as visibility cleared, about twenty players appeared before them. These individuals were energetic, well-equipped, and obviously wouldn’t retreat easily.
"Brother, need help?" More people arrived from behind, one of whom was a masked player speaking.
"Kidnapper?" Xu Huo raised an eyebrow, "You’re not dead yet?"
"No one born can kill me," the masked man chuckled, "How about it? You give me the National Treasure; I help distract the attention, how about that?"
Xu Huo also chuckled, then took out a sound amplifier prop and said to those around, "The National Treasure has been found. Once this instance ends, it should disappear. Both successful and failed players will smoothly exit Zone 039, and those who haven’t lingered long can seize this opportunity to take a chance."
"Players intending to clear the level and leave can join my team now. The rewards will be split evenly after clearing the instance successfully!"
This was quite a tempting offer, risky yes, but who wouldn’t want to catch a ride?
"Are you guys seriously going to trust him?" The masked man said at the moment, "He’s definitely looking for Lian Qingkong with the National Treasure, with Yu Country government personnel alongside him. Leading people over may not necessarily mean helping you clear the level; perhaps the National Treasure is fake, aiming to eliminate stranded players before Lian Qingkong dies!"
"He’s played this trick once before!"
The reasoning was more plausible; if Lian Qingkong knew the whereabouts of the National Treasure, why wouldn’t he retrieve it himself instead of letting an Outer Zone player do it before dying?
But all things considered, what if it was true?
Those stranded for years, or even more than ten, once someone retrieved the National Treasure and delivered it to Lian Qingkong, it almost sentenced them to death!
"What a pity, not many stand on my side." Xu Huo assessed those around and, after keeping the Black Blade, flexed his wrist, "A moment’s rest isn’t so bad."
He then pressed down with one hand, and every player surrounding the area, no matter who, was smashed to the ground, including several who were expertly concealed.
These few were more than likely sent by the two clans as reinforcements, their appearances and bodies camouflaged to look like Outer Zone players... But their true identities no longer mattered. Once the instance ended, no one in Zone 039 would search for descendants of the two clans.