Chapter 2356: Chapter 2356: Sealing Door’s Debut

The effect of this prop is quite good, but the drawback is that it’s only one meter long, so it can trip just one person at most. Still, it’s much better than other worthless small props.

The Girl in the painting isn’t very interested in props she can’t use. After searching around the room, she asks, "Are there any instruments here?" 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Probably only available on higher levels," Xu Huo replies. Though the room is filled with props, even if gathered together, they wouldn’t fetch much on the market. The more valuable items are likely upstairs.

"Should we go out and find them now?" the Girl in the painting asks.

Xu Huo has no intention of staying in the room for long. It’s best to figure out the rules here upon arrival. With so many people, it’s uncertain whether the Gourmet is here. Nonetheless, for the strong, this place is indeed a good spot for a long stay.

Hopefully, they’ll find clues about the Gourmet here.

Upon exiting the room, they encounter three players probing the room opposite. Seeing them come out and with no sign of a fight inside, one of the players charges forward, grabbing the door frame before forcing a smile at Xu Huo and the Girl in the painting, "Could you let us have this room?"

Xu Huo hasn’t responded yet when the other quickly pulls out some props, "You can have all these. We just need a place to stay."

Xu Huo looks at the now dimly lit corridor and calmly relinquishes the room.

"Thank you! Thank you!" the player stuffs the props into the Girl in the painting’s hand and hurriedly slips into the room, followed promptly by his two companions.

Once the door is closed, a Piranha mask leaning against the corner of the corridor lets out a sneer before turning away.

"Is he mocking us?" the Girl in the painting turns to Xu Huo.

"Probably," Xu Huo replies indifferently, already starting toward the stairs.

"Why mock us? Is it because we gave up the room?" the Girl in the painting continues.

"Not necessarily; he might be jealous of others because he arrived too late for the room," Xu Huo responds seriously.

The Girl in the painting nods, "He’s really petty."

Not yet far down the corridor, the player actually doubles back, glaring at them with a dark expression, "What did you say!"

Already at the lead corner, both Xu Huo and the Girl in the painting turn back, calmly waiting for his reply with their eyes locked on him.

Facing a potential adversary, even advanced players will certainly take precautions—whether defensively or offensively—because the best tactic is always to strike first. No player would stand passively and wait to react after their opponent makes a move... Such an idea would never appear in player confrontations. Unless...

The Piranha mask’s expression suddenly changes, and he instantly turns and flees.

"People here aren’t easily fooled," Xu Huo remarks.

The Girl in the painting nods, "Then let’s go upstairs. There must be fools to con up there."

They ascend from the first floor to the fourth floor, then from the fourth to the eighth. Players on the previous floors, seeing the Octopus mask, wisely avoid them by detouring through the corridors that run in all directions, with several staircases and elevators available. It’s easy to bypass them.

However, upon reaching the eighth floor, two players ambushed them. Both wore Octopus masks, clearly intending to kill and seize the invitations.

Ten Piranha invitations can be merged into an Octopus, and perhaps an Octopus can be merged into an even higher-level mask.

The two players are cautious, maintaining a certain distance even in the narrow corridor, probing Xu Huo’s props and gauging his strength.

This time, Xu Huo does not activate the Spiritual World or use the Water Cube Barrier, instead opting for lesser-used Rank-B props paired with several common Rank-A props to engage them. After trades, both sides roughly understand each other’s level.

Compared to Xu Huo, who capably plays with props, the two players focus more on the Girl in the painting, as general long-range limiting props don’t affect her. Close-combat situations render her defenses apparently fragile, easily torn.

This suggests she must have excellent defense props, as she wouldn’t be so brazen otherwise.

The two players exchange glances, bypassing Xu Huo to encircle the Girl in the painting.

As they passed, Xu Huo intercepted one of them. The Water Cube Barrier not only stopped the attack but also enveloped his fist, smashing the opponent’s defensive barrier. The ensuing high-intensity attack primarily used Secant Line and Materialized Item, with the Black Blade as a backup.

In the face of all-invasive Materialized Item attacks, the best defense is to use defensive props, but they have a flaw. Large-range props prevent outsiders from attacking, and holders can’t attack outside through the barriers unless the prop clings to them without hindering combat.

However, such props have another issue: if the barrier isn’t solid, they can injure the holder when disrupted.

Secant Line and Black Blade are among the good-quality Rank-A props, able to destroy props of the same level. But as Rank-B players, these people aren’t without good props—a mere injury is not fatal.

Yet quickly, the player pays the price for his confidence when Xu Huo brings out the "Sealing Door."

"Sealing Door" is an advanced instrument obtained by Xu Huo after killing players from Outer Zone 014. It’s primarily used to disrupt Transmission Channels and can destroy even props, effortlessly dismantling barriers, lowering dimension magnitude. It can’t break the Water Cube Barrier, but simpler prop barriers are easily pierced.

From a few meters away, Xu Huo strikes a nail toward the player.

A force pierces through the opponent’s three-layer defensive barriers, penetrating a life-saving passive prop while breaking through the heart. A deep hole is left in the opposite wall, a player following it up, smearing the hole with his blood.

Of course, the player isn’t dead yet, but escaping becomes challenging. Xu Huo steps up to him and uses Secant Line to wrap him up.

"I’ll give you the invitation and mask, just spare my life," the player gasps, spitting blood as he produces items, including props.

Yet as Xu Huo’s gaze shifts to the props, the opponent suddenly lunges, using a defensive prop to break free from the Secant Line before slashing a short blade toward Xu Huo’s throat!

His speed is rapid, and the prop sharp, but it’s unable to breach the Water Cube Barrier. In the next moment, the Secant Line decapitates him.