Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

The insect swarm was still in pursuit, but their path was blocked by Han Ruoxi’s Electric Grid, significantly slowing them down.

After retreating to the armored vehicle, everyone was panting, drenched in sweat, and looking somewhat disheveled.

”Captain, that mission was brutal!”

Sun Yang leaned back in his seat, gasping for breath. ”The number of insects was more than double what we expected! If we hadn’t set up that Electric Grid in advance, we probably would’ve been goners this time!”

”Don’t celebrate too soon!”

Li Chang’an leaned back in his seat, his gaze cold. ”This is just the outer defense line.

The true heart of the Insect Race’s territory is ten times more dangerous than this!”

”Just hearing that makes my skin crawl!”

Sun Yang sighed. ”Captain, shouldn’t we bring more equipment next time? Otherwise, we really won’t be able to hold out!”

”The equipment isn’t the problem. The problem is your teamwork!”

Li Chang’an glanced at the team. ”Your performance today was barely passing, but it’s still a long way from true battlefield standards.

From now on, we need better coordination and faster reaction times!”

The armored vehicle drove steadily back to the base, but the atmosphere inside was anything but relaxed.

Although the members of the Insect Hunter Squad had managed to complete their mission, everyone knew that today was just the beginning. The real battle was yet to come.

Sun Yang, wiping down his dust- and blood-covered Pulse Gun, couldn’t help but sigh. ”Captain, I’m serious, shouldn’t we get some better gear? Those bugs today had shells as hard as steel plates. I was firing for ages and felt like I was about to run out of Energy!”

”Gear isn’t everything!”

Li Chang’an leaned back, his tone calm. ”With every Energy Shot you fire, the key isn’t the equipment, but how you use it.

You’re low on Energy not because of the gear, but because you waste too much time on ineffective attacks!”

”Ineffective attacks? Captain, my aim is dead-on!”

Sun Yang was instantly indignant. ”Those bugs are so fast! I was doing my best!”

”If you could take down a target two seconds faster, we could have saved at least half our Energy!”

Han Ruoxi, leaning nearby, cut in coldly, ”Your reaction time needs improvement!”

”Great, shot down again!”

Sun Yang spread his hands in exasperation. ”Miss Han, we’re teammates. Can’t you offer a few words of encouragement?”

”Encouragement won’t make your aim any better!”

Han Ruoxi didn’t even look up, focused on checking the remaining Energy in her Electric Gloves.

”Fine, fine, I’ll shut up!”

Sun Yang clutched his chest and leaned back into his seat. ”You’re all so cold-blooded. I guess I’ll just have to work hard on my own!”

Shen Qiuyue shot him a cold glance from the corner. ”Cut the crap.

In battle, the ones who talk the most are the first to die!”

”Sister Qiuyue, I’m just trying to lighten the mood for everyone!”

Sun Yang said with a placating smile, ”I’m just trying to help everyone relax. Don’t always be putting me down!”

”There’s a time and place for lightening the mood!”

Shen Qiuyue replied coolly, then went back to polishing her Dueling Sword.

The armored vehicle reached the base, and the squad members dragged their exhausted bodies back to their dorm.

The moment he was through the door, Sun Yang flopped onto the sofa with a long sigh. ”Today was hell! Captain, I don’t even have the strength to drink water right now!”

”You have the strength to drink water. Stop faking it!”

Li Chang’an called him out immediately, casually setting his Saw Chain Sword aside. ”Today’s mission was just a warm-up.

Next, we need to prepare for a bigger operation!”

”A bigger operation?”

Sun Yang was instantly on alert. ”Captain, we just got back from the Ghost Gate, and there’s another mission already?”

”You think the Insect Race is going to give you a break?”

Li Chang’an shot him a cold look. ”Intel shows signs of unknown Insect Race activity deep in the Vortex Zone. It’s very likely a new type of command unit.

Our mission is to push deeper and investigate their movements!”

”A new type of command unit?”

Han Ruoxi put down her Electric Gloves, her brow furrowed. ”If that thing is more intelligent than a regular insect, our risk will multiply.

Do we have a clear combat strategy?”

”Not yet!”

Li Chang’an shook his head. ”Intel is limited for now. Command is drawing up a plan.

But regardless, we need to get into top form quickly to handle a more complex situation!”

”Top form?”

Sun Yang grimaced. ”Captain, we train every day. My condition is already borderline superhuman. How much better can we get?”

”Your condition does surpass a normal human’s—the bare minimum standard!”

Han Ruoxi mocked him mercilessly.

”Miss Han, I...”

Sun Yang looked like he wanted to cry but couldn’t shed a tear. Finally, he just waved his hand in defeat. ”Forget it. I give up. Let’s not argue, okay?”

”Captain!”

Shen Qiuyue suddenly spoke up, her tone calm. ”A mission deep in the Vortex Zone will require stronger weapons and equipment. Our current loadout will make it difficult to deal with potential evolved forms of the Insect Race.

If we don’t get support from Command, our chances of success won’t be high!”

”I’ve already submitted a request!”

Li Chang’an nodded. ”New weapons and equipment are being allocated, but whether they’ll arrive in time depends on Command’s arrangements!”

”Then we’ll just have to rely on ourselves!”

Shen Qiuyue said coolly, her gaze sharp. ”I’ll make some adjustments to our existing gear to try and improve our combat effectiveness!”

”Excellent!”

Li Chang’an gave her a satisfied look. ”Each of you needs to focus your training on your own weaknesses.

Starting tomorrow, we’re adding extra practice on tactical coordination, especially reaction speed against high-speed targets!”

”More extra practice?”

Sun Yang let out a wail. ”Captain, isn’t this extra training a bit much?”

”The Insect Race’s evolution won’t wait for you!”

Li Chang’an said flatly, ”If you want to survive, less talk, more training!”

Sun Yang opened his mouth, but ended up closing it.

Night fell, and the dorm grew quiet.

Everyone was making their own preparations.

Han Ruoxi sat at a desk, calibrating her Electric Gloves. Shen Qiuyue sharpened her sword in the corner. Bai Lin was absorbed in checking the terminal equipment. And Sun Yang, leaning against the sofa, was cleaning his Pulse Gun, the usual playful look in his eyes replaced by a rare focus.

”Captain!”

Sun Yang spoke up suddenly, his tone much more serious than usual. ”This mission... are we really going to make it back alive?”

”Making it back alive isn’t about luck!”

Li Chang’an looked up, his gaze like a knife. ”It’s about every choice you make, every action you take.

If you perform well enough, you’ll live.

If you don’t, you’ll die!”

”Alright, I’ll remember that!”

Sun Yang nodded and went back to cleaning his Pulse Gun.

The next morning, the Insect Hunter Squad was once again geared up and ready to go.

A resilient strength shone in everyone’s eyes, as if they were fully prepared to face any challenge.

”Remember!”

Li Chang’an stood before the squad, his voice low yet full of power. ”There’s no retreat on this mission.

You have to give it your all and not make a single mistake!”

”Understood!”

They all answered in unison, their voices firm with resolve.

The Insect Hunter Squad’s armored vehicle drove deeper into the Vortex Zone. The scenery outside grew increasingly oppressive. The ground was covered in black slime, strange points of light flickered in the distance, and a low, intermittent rumble vibrated through the air, as if the entire area was saturated with the aura of the Insect Race.

”Captain, I feel like the air here could bite you!”

Sun Yang leaned against the window, frowning at the view outside. ”Could a normal person even survive in a place like this?”

”Stop worrying about whether you can survive or not!”

Li Chang’an sat in the front, his eyes fixed on the map inside the vehicle. ”Focus on the mission.

Our objective is to clear the perimeter and acquire operational data on the Insect Race command unit.

Surviving is a prerequisite for completing the mission, not the goal itself!”

”Easy for you to say, but everyone wants to live a few more days!”

Sun Yang muttered, then turned to look at Han Ruoxi. ”Miss Han, are you all ready to shoot me down again? I’m used to it. Go ahead, I promise I won’t talk back!”

Han Ruoxi shot him a cold glance but didn’t respond, merely lowering her head to check the Energy output of her Electric Gloves.