Chapter 308: On Sniping Techniques

The next day, the atmosphere of the exchange tournament began to liven up, yet Li Hao and Xilian, who were highly anticipated, did not appear. Some people muttered that they were not very famous but knew how to put on airs, while others breathed a sigh of relief.

The excuse Li Hao gave to Class Monitor Zhou Naiyi this time was extremely grand: he had to go find A Youyou. After all, his girlfriend was on the Moon, and it wasn't easy to make the trip; long-distance interstellar relationships were too hard and might fall apart, so he needed the Class Monitor's understanding.

Everyone accepted it by turning a blind eye. Li Hao had already put it very tactfully; he couldn't exactly say that this was training prepared for them, and if they didn't train, who would? It was just that Ma Long and Zuo Xiaotang were shivering in fear.

Yesterday, the Eternal Academy's actions were like opening Pandora's Box. By the evening, several large-scale battles that were not open to the public had already occurred. Li Hao only returned late last night; it was said he fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow, and he went out excitedly early this morning. He still hadn't appeared this morning, and he hadn't reacted to yesterday's events at all, which greatly boosted the confidence of those observing in secret.

Being powerful doesn't scare people; on the contrary, it makes challengers come one after another. Only terror can produce awe, but the Tianqi era is gone forever. Li Hao is now a member of Tianjing Martial Arts, and he can't act like he used to; the rules don't allow it either.

The cells in the human body responsible for recording fear are constantly dying; after all, forgetting is an important skill for human survival.

Arths did not appear either, which disappointed quite a few people. Fan Liweite and Romero had not acted rashly either; they were still waiting and watching.

Tianxing Martial Arts and the Chain Armed had a lively exchange match. It was a standard format, from one-on-one duels to team mecha battles, and it was very intense. They were all using conventional tactics, and no one unleashed any ultimate moves.

The one-on-one between Dita and Ji Yuguang was the most watched. Both Dita and Ji Yuguang chose the Gale Zero. As soon as the mechas appeared, it was clear that neither side had brought out their best mechas. In the end, the two fought to a draw, destroying each other's mechas almost simultaneously. They stopped at the point of contact; both were very sensible.

Under Aofei's suggestion, Zhou Naiyi led the Tianjing Martial Arts group to have a match against Dumela's Wailing Team.

Aside from Cheng Konghai domineeringly winning one match, Wuzang didn't get a chance to play, and Zhou Naiyi, Ma Long, and Zuo Xiaotang were all hammered.

As the first-place team in the TAS Mid-Season Tournament, the Wailing Team displayed a high level of combat and tactical ability. One of them, named Adila, was quite cocky and had a strong desire to show off, claiming he was aiming for Li Hao.

According to Cheng Konghai's usual personality, he would definitely have hammered him, but after being cautioned, Cheng Konghai could only endure it and watch the other party act arrogantly.

As soon as the afternoon began, Romero arrived with a group of team members, immediately attracting everyone's attention. The visitors were not here with good intentions.

"Junior Sister Zhou, I heard that your Tianjing Martial Arts has a miraculous sniper, a master who is the only one to hold a main position without awakening the Golden Zone. My little brother here would like to learn a thing or two." Romero smiled, though his smile was not very convincing. "Barrett, be humble and ask for guidance."

A cold-faced Mars Warrior stepped out. "I am Barrett, a sniper from Wolf Martial, please advise!"

As he spoke, he bowed deeply, directly forcing Zuo Xiaotang into a corner.

This was the kind of request that couldn't be refused.

Zuo Xiaotang was completely bewildered. What kind of situation was this? Even though he was mentally prepared, he hadn't expected it to come so directly.

Under the gaze of everyone, Zuo Xiaotang couldn't retreat and had to bite the bullet. "My level is the worst, let's learn from each other."

"Haha, too humble. People valued by Li Ge are all great talents. Yesterday, that strike from Wuzang was incredibly stunning, making some people lose all face. Haha, please." Romero was quite polite, taking the opportunity to step on Fan Liweite as well.

Zuo Xiaotang's face flushed red. "I... I... let's have a mecha battle."

"Compare mechas, and compare pilot duels too. This guy has thick skin and flesh, feel free to hit him; you don't have to be responsible if you break him. We aren't as sissy as the Moon People." Romero pointed at Barrett and said.

"Romero, shut your stinking mouth. Victory and defeat are common in war. Everyone says Tianjing Martial Arts produced a legendary sniper who performed excellently in the Mid-Season Tournament and won the Most Improved Award. You all should learn well and watch well. Remember how you lost yesterday and keep it in mind. Don't think that just because you won a championship, you can forget yourself!" Fan Liweite also arrived with his team members and gave a stern criticism.

Jialina was also there, his face so dark it could drip water. He glared fiercely at Wuzang. He was actually fine; he had been knocked unconscious but woke up shortly after. The scar on his face looked a bit scary, but it was actually just a superficial wound. He was damn well ambushed; he never dreamed that Wuzang would suddenly unleash a strike far exceeding his normal level.

"Wuzang, you won by luck with one strike yesterday, but I have been deeply educated. Do you have the guts to have a best-of-three today!" Jialina walked out and said.

Zhou Naiyi looked calm and waved her hand. "Wuzang's injuries haven't healed. If you want to spar, wait until he's available."

Jialina ignored Zhou Naiyi. "It's just a small injury, no need to groan and moan, right? And didn't you spend all night getting treatment yesterday? I asked the doctor, there's no major problem. Who hasn't been injured? Everyone here is a veteran of a hundred battles. Or is it that you Tianjing Martial Arts are the type to run away after winning? Can't you afford to lose?"

Zhou Naiyi was not angry. "Team Leader Fan Liweite, your team member is too impolite. We came to participate in the exchange tournament; you said to fight, so we fought yesterday, and today you come again. Are we here for an exchange or to be sparring partners? Or does winning one championship make you superior, allowing you to command other teams without any manners? I really don't know who can't afford to lose."

Zhou Naiyi was truly not afraid of anyone in a war of words. If Wuzang weren't injured, even if the other party were overbearing, she wouldn't be afraid. But now that he was injured, there was no need to take the risk.

Jialina chose to ignore Zhou Naiyi directly; he wasn't here to reason in the first place. "Wuzang, stop dawdling. I'll say it straight: I don't accept my loss. If you want to admit defeat, I won't make things difficult for you. Do you dare to fight or not!"

Jialina didn't take Zhou Naiyi seriously at all; he just wanted to fight to the death, otherwise, where would he put his face? His social circle was exploding. A main Vanguard of a championship team losing a duel to an Earth rookie—this damn news spread fast. A bunch of people sent messages asking him about the situation: what kind of big shot was Wuzang? Was the Wu Family descendant going to dominate again? There were even rumors that the Baiwu Style was inferior to the Wu Family.

Bullshit! It almost made Jialina pass out from anger. This time also gave him a profound lesson: from now on, regardless of the opponent's strength, he would crush them to death.

"Jialina, let's get close and personal." Cheng Konghai immediately stepped out.

"Ant, looks like you've recovered. Let's get close and personal, the two of us." Klein of Hailong appeared with a face full of smiles. His soft, handsome, and cute face made people feel good. He looked at Cheng Konghai affectionately. "Long time no see, I've missed you dearly. Rather than letting others have the pleasure, why not let me."

Cheng Konghai was not afraid at all. "One by one!"

Wuzang stepped out. "Jialina, let's settle this!"

Wuzang was never someone afraid of trouble, but he respected Zhou Naiyi very much. When Li Hao was away, the team listened to the Class Monitor.

"Good, got some backbone!" Jialina shouted.

Zhou Naiyi also knew that they had to fight; the Moon People were all in the same boat. "Fighting is fine, but limited to one match, mecha battle."

Jialina nodded. "One match is enough!"

He wanted to crush Wuzang to death, to beat him until he was utterly destroyed.

"Jialina, first come, first served. Get in line, the first match is mine." Barrett glanced sideways at Jialina.

Jialina also had a violent temper. A Martian bumpkin dared to glare at him? Just as he was about to fire, he was stopped by Fan Liweite. "It's fine, it's an exchange tournament, everyone can take the opportunity to observe carefully. This is the purpose of the exchange. Let us enjoy a high-level duel."

Under Zhou Naiyi's insistence, Barrett and Zuo Xiaotang chose a mecha battle for the first match. All the teams participating in the exchange tournament gathered, looking at Tianjing Martial Arts with a bit of pity. Yesterday it was Eternal's targeting, today even Wolf Martial joined in, and Hailong didn't seem like a good bunch either. Talking about old friends, yet one couldn't feel any warmth from these old friends. It seemed it would be difficult for Tianjing Martial Arts to get through today.

"Go for it, beat him hard!" Lu Lingxiao kept cheering for Zuo Xiaotang, which made Zuo Xiaotang feel a little better, but he was still uneasy inside. If it were a shooting competition, he really wouldn't be afraid, but in a confrontation, his confidence wasn't that high. However, it was much better than before; he wasn't so nervous that he couldn't move.

The two entered the EMP combat room, and the holographic virtual image immediately appeared in the Arena where everyone was, with the same effect as the EMP VIP viewing experience.

Zuo Xiaotang chose his signature Gray Reaper, and Barrett chose the Martian signature sniper mecha, "Lihuo Mecha."

Lihuo Mecha.

Configuration: Medium mecha, 70-ton class.

Dual-Engine Nuclear Fission Drive, Lihuo R12 heavy sniper Titanium Blade.

The Martian Lihuo Mecha had a very strong reference to the Lunar Eagle Eye mecha; its overall performance was quite balanced. The Gray Reaper mecha's firepower was fierce, but its recoil was too large and its stability was a bit poor. Both mechas had their own advantages and disadvantages, and both were entry-level mechas for sniper pilots.

The two chose a 500-meter obstacle-free sniper map, also jokingly called the sniper's melee map.

The two Mobile Suits entered the combat scenario. Zuo Xiaotang had already regained his calm. This map was relatively favorable to him. The Golden Zone had very little room to play in this kind of duel; it still came down to basic skills.

"Nothing to be afraid of!" Zuo Xiaotang whispered to cheer himself on.

Outside the arena, everyone was staring with full concentration. Except for the Round Table Knights and Tianxing Martial Arts, who knew the truth, others were still a bit uncertain about this special sniper from Tianjing.

Countdown 3 seconds, 3... 2... 1!

The two mechas appeared. The moment the gray M5 heavy sniper and the Lihuo R12 were raised almost simultaneously, Zuo Xiaotang's Gray Reaper fired while side-flying, while the Lihuo Mecha remained motionless and fired at the same time.

Boom, boom.

Accompanied by two explosions, the Gray Reaper was headshot...

Barrett wins!

Without a shred of suspense, the Martian shouted almost immediately, as if no one else were around, "Great shot!"

"Didn't feel like much, they're completely not on the same level!"

"Barrett is our number one Sniper, using a butcher's cleaver to kill a chicken—one shot, one kill!"

"Why didn't it hit? Did he miss?"

Ariel had the staff pull up the slow-motion footage immediately; it was true that both fired at the same time, and both locked onto their targets instantly, with the time difference between the two being roughly zero. They fired simultaneously, and after firing, Zuo Xiaotang's Gray Reaper tried to dodge, but Barrett did not. After firing the first shot, he immediately followed up with a second, striking directly at the landing spot where the Gray Reaper was shifting laterally, achieving a headshot, while Zuo Xiaotang hadn't managed to fire a second shot because of his movement.

As for their first shots, an exaggerated scene occurred: the bullets collided and exploded in mid-air.

Barrett displayed the touch, insight, and judgment possessed by a top-tier Sniper, along with sufficient self-confidence, to immediately deliver a more precise second shot; by comparison, Zuo Xiaotang... is just an ordinary Sniper.

One must know that this kind of duel is actually particularly unfair to Barrett; Barrett's Zone Value has considerable ability to resist and entangle even if he is closed in on, while someone like Zuo Xiaotang, whose Golden Zone hasn't awakened yet, is completely a sitting duck once approached, and the survival of a Sniper is crucial for a team in group battles.

Martians themselves have arrogant personalities, so there was bound to be a round of mutual commercial praise, and the others also offered applause; the victory itself didn't count for much, but the "dueling technique" of needle-against-wheat that Barrett performed for everyone was an absolute crushing in terms of rank.

This shot was also a warning to all the Snipers present.

Anlita looked at Davalishi, who was usually indifferent to everything, and saw that he had actually become interested. "Don't provoke the Martian yet. Yin."

Davalishi glanced at Anlita. "Yes, that, that fat-fat-fat·fatty, I want him."

Anlita's eyes turned stern; Davalishi stuttered whenever he got excited, and she couldn't let him ruin things. She glared at him coldly. "The boss said this little fatty cannot be touched. You better settle down for me; if you make the boss unhappy, you know the consequences!"

Davalishi wore a look of regret; it was rare to encounter someone who could actually fight.

Barrett, sitting in the Cockpit, had not a shred of joy on his face; it felt more like he had been slapped in the face.

What the hell is this little fatty?

In the slow-motion footage, he saw that the opponent had actually used a piece of junk like the Gray Reaper to perform a Hovering maneuver in mid-air, performing the hover the moment he fired to ensure accuracy. After the shot, the Mecha perfectly absorbed the Gray Reaper's exaggerated recoil, without affecting the lateral movement in the slightest...

More importantly, he hadn't prepared for a dueling technique at all, because he couldn't do it!

His second shot was entirely a shooter's instinctive reaction; the first shot had no effect, so he subconsciously grabbed for a second shot quickly.

This bastard possesses such technique, yet is so cowardly???

The cheers from outside reached his ears, almost all praising his dueling suppression method, which made Barrett's face burn. He could have fooled people in other positions, and in another setting, he definitely would have just played along—he wasn't stupid—but there were several top-tier Snipers present; if he put on this act, it would be even more embarrassing.

The two walked out of the EMP training pods. Zuo Xiaotang kept his head low, looking embarrassed. Naturally, he was greeted by the playful gazes of some people. Zuo Xiaotang was used to this and basically felt nothing; according to his past personality, the fact that the level of those mocking him had risen was actually something to be happy about.

Barrett walked out with a livid expression. As soon as he looked up, he saw the amused expressions of Davalishi, Alzi, the Eternal's Mozhe, and others; clearly, his peers knew what was really going on.

Winning felt even worse than losing.