Sensing the commotion from the mountain base, Spider remained calm. The news just received indicated that the second wave of the blockade had failed, with two out of three elite snipers lost. Such losses were significant, though not entirely unexpected, yet it cast a pall over everyone's expressions.
After a moment's thought, Spider turned away from the open ground and headed towards a villa. Upon arriving at the villa, he found several martial artists guarding the entrance.
"What's the situation?" a burly middle-aged man in a purple training suit asked, his brow furrowed.
"Chen Tianjiao has broken through the second layer of defense and is heading up the mountain." Spider replied, "I need a few words with Senior Gao."
The guards parted to let him pass. Entering the villa and proceeding to a quiet room, he saw an imposing elder seated cross-legged on a couch. His eyes were partially closed, and with each breath, a long, lingering resonance could be felt. He remained as still as a rock.
Only when Spider entered did the elder open his eyes. The moment his eyes opened, they were like lightning, momentarily illuminating the quiet room. He looked at Spider with a placid expression.
With just a simple glance, Spider's heart pounded, feeling as though all his cultivation and abilities were laid bare before the elder, with no secrets concealed.
"Senior Gao!" Spider bowed and said, "Chen Tianjiao has broken through the second layer of blockade and has reached the mountainside!"
Grandmaster Gao nodded slightly.
"Heavy troops and firepower are deployed halfway up the mountain, intended to fully deplete Chen Tianjiao's inner energy and condition," Spider continued. "When he reaches the summit, please take action and kill him in one blow!"
"You're here to instruct me?" Grandmaster Gao's voice was indifferent, his tone not at all pleasant.
This simple sentence put immense pressure on Spider, causing his heart to tremble involuntarily. This was the might of a Martial Arts Grandmaster. However, Spider was no ordinary person. He straightened up, his face still wearing a smile, and said, "I am merely here to remind Senior!"
"Chen Tianjiao defeated Ba Zhuo in the battle at Guishi Pass, so it's impossible to be too cautious. This time, it's not a normal sparring match within the martial arts world."
Spider cursed inwardly but spoke smoothly, "Kill Chen Tianjiao, and any conditions can be discussed. Everything promised to Senior will be fulfilled. With the Six Harmonies Sect rising from this, it will become a prominent sect in the martial world, and prosperity will be within reach!"
"If Chen Tianjiao is not killed, we might not be able to fulfill the promises made to Grandmaster!"
"I understand," Grandmaster Gao said flatly.
Spider snorted inwardly but still bowed and turned to leave the quiet room. He had come to remind Grandmaster Gao. These Martial Arts Grandmasters possessed their own pride and adhered to certain old martial world rules. He feared that when Chen Tianjiao attacked, Grandmaster Gao might cling to his stubbornness and pride, leading to failure. Hence, he had to brave this unpleasantness.
Only after personally engaging with Chen Tianjiao would one understand how terrifying this man was. In fact, ordinary Martial Arts Grandmasters could potentially be ambushed and killed with modern weaponry. However, Chen Tianjiao, having come from the military and experienced countless barrages of gunfire, was unlike typical martial artists. The times had changed, yet many in the martial arts world still clung to outdated notions that were of little use in this era.
As a martial artist who was also proficient in various firearms and weapons, Spider knew firsthand the formidable nature of Chen Tianjiao. Stepping out of the villa, Spider let out a long sigh, telling himself that with a Martial Arts Grandmaster taking action, this battle could not be lost. Yet, deep down, a sense of unease lingered. As long as Chen Tianjiao remained alive, he would not be at peace.
...
Halfway up the mountain, several buildings stood in a rectangular formation. This was the only path leading to the summit; there was no other way. Chen Tianjiao looked at the buildings, his gaze sharpening. He now understood why Spider had chosen Hawk Mountain for this confrontation.
The buildings, constructed with countless steel bars and concrete, were extremely robust, clearly designed as military-grade fortifications. It seemed Fan Songnian had made thorough preparations for his development here. Each building had small windows, perfectly suited for shooting. The high parapets on the rooftops provided natural firing positions. Within Chen Tianjiao's line of sight, an unknown number of individuals were hidden inside these structures, and the rooftop positions offered an advantageous vantage point, effectively sealing off the route. Even Chen Tianjiao found himself somewhat troubled by such architecture. With his abilities, it wasn't entirely impossible to bypass them, but that was not the outcome he desired.
After observing from the shadows for a while, he picked up his Barrett rifle. He raised the barrel and scanned. A sniper rifle barrel emerged from a window, searching for Chen Tianjiao's position. Suddenly, the shooter spotted the glint of a scope and, with a surge of joy, immediately shifted his aim. But in that instant, he saw the glass in front of him shatter as a bullet pierced his eye socket. A single, precise shot.
"He's here!"
"Be careful, he's hiding below the slope ahead."
"Open fire and level the vegetation in front!"
The fortress-like buildings erupted into a cacophony of voices. On the rooftops, machine guns were mounted, and rocket launchers were also in position.
*Da-da-da...*
At the commander's order, gunfire rained down like a deluge. Chen Tianjiao calmly shifted his aim.
*Bang!*
The sound of the Barrett was like a thunderclap. A machine-gunner had just stood up on the roof when his head exploded like a watermelon.
The rain of bullets poured in, and simultaneously, rocket-propelled grenades whistled through the air.
*Rumble!* A helicopter suddenly ascended from the mountaintop and began to circle high above. Chen Tianjiao pulled the trigger again. The powerful recoil of a large-caliber sniper rifle like the Barrett, which could shatter a person's shoulder in the hands of an ordinary individual, felt no different than a toy in his hands.
*Bang!* His shot took down a leader on the rooftop who had been shouting commands and directing the gunfire.
At that moment, multiple rocket launchers were aimed at his position, unleashing a barrage of projectiles. Chen Tianjiao arched and straightened his back, darting out like a leopard. After a roll, he escaped the onslaught of fire. Changing his position, he was about to peek out when another rocket attack came. Chen Tianjiao retreated, glanced at the helicopter circling in the sky, and disappeared into the grass, bushes, and trees.
The helicopter began to descend slightly, attempting to pinpoint Chen Tianjiao's location to provide accurate targeting for the artillery. Learning from the lesson of the previous aircraft, this helicopter maintained a safe altitude and distance from Chen Tianjiao's suspected area. However, as it lowered its position slightly, a bullet suddenly flew out. Immediately after, the helicopter's fuel tank exploded, engulfing it in flames mid-air. The explosion's roar vibrated throughout Hawk Mountain. Countless Brotherhood gunmen watched in shock.