Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”You must remain vigilant at all times and be ready for the next battle!”

”Understood, Captain!” Sun Yang didn’t dare say more. He quickly adjusted his posture, preparing to get in the zone.

...

That evening, the Insect Hunter Squad’s debriefing was held as scheduled.

Everyone sat around the conference table. Li Chang’an stood at the front, pointing to the combat playback on the large screen as he began to analyze the mission’s successes and failures.

”Our defense during this mission was decent, but our offensive coordination was lacking!” Li Chang’an’s voice was steady.

”Especially when dealing with the Insect Race’s High-tier Warriors. Sun Yang, your firepower wasn’t precise enough, which caused unnecessary delays!”

”Yes, Captain!” Sun Yang replied, lowering his head.

”I’ll train harder and guarantee it won’t be an issue on the next mission!”

”Ruo Xi, you expended too much Energy clearing the insect eggs. It affected your subsequent attacks!” Li Chang’an continued.

”In the next battle, you need to learn how to manage your Energy more effectively!”

”Understood!” Han Ruoxi nodded.

”Qiuyue, your combat rhythm is good, but when facing multiple targets, your reaction speed could be faster!” Li Chang’an said, looking at Shen Qiuyue.

”You need to maintain a flexible combat style in complex environments!”

”Yes!” Shen Qiuyue replied succinctly.

”Bai Lin, your surveillance data was accurate, but we need more advanced warnings at critical moments, especially regarding the direction of enemy reinforcements!” Li Chang’an added, turning to Bai Lin.

”You didn’t provide the most precise feedback in the shortest possible time!”

”I’ll be more careful!” Bai Lin responded quietly.

”In summary, our coordination has improved, but our overall reaction speed and tactical synergy are still not perfect!” Li Chang’an said, straightening his posture.

”Our squad still has many shortcomings when facing the increasingly powerful offensives of the Insect Race!”

”Captain, when are we going back to the mining area?” Sun Yang suddenly asked.

”The intel from the mining area has been sent back to base. The intelligence department needs to analyze it further,” Li Chang’an replied calmly.

”We need to be ready to accept a new mission at any time. But if there are no new orders, we will continue our high-intensity training to improve our combat proficiency!”

”So that means... no rest?” Sun Yang sighed.

”We don’t even get a chance to catch our breath!”

”You know a soldier’s duty is to train constantly and push forward. There’s never any real rest!” Li Chang’an summarized curtly.

”If you can treat every training session like a real battle, rest becomes less important!”

”Captain, we can’t just train for the rest of our lives, can we?” Sun Yang said helplessly.

”I know the missions are demanding, but relaxing once in a while should improve our combat effectiveness, right?”

”Rest is for those who have earned it!” Li Chang’an’s gaze sharpened.

”Before you can rest, you must complete your mission. Only then do you deserve that brief respite!”

Sun Yang fell silent. He knew Li Chang’an was right.

Although every mission left them exhausted, it was precisely this training and these missions that made them stronger and stronger.

...

For the next few days, the Insect Hunter Squad continued their high-intensity training at the base. They simulated a variety of complex combat scenarios, from urban street fights to clearing out nests in the mining area, barely stopping for a moment.

But the exhaustion of the past few days didn’t weaken their combat effectiveness; instead, their teamwork and rapport grew even stronger.

Everyone was constantly pushing their own limits, striving to do their best in every drill.

”Captain, this training session is even harder than the last one!” Sun Yang said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

”I can barely keep up!”

”Can’t keep up? Then prepare to get yourself killed on the battlefield!” Li Chang’an retorted coldly, showing no mercy.

”Hey, can’t you cut me some slack?” Sun Yang complained between gasps for air.

”I remember when you first joined the squad. Weren’t you always exhausted half to death too?”

”Back then?” Li Chang’an chuckled.

”I’ve always trained like this. If you’re not on the verge of death, it doesn’t count as training!”

”Fine, I admit it, I can’t keep up!” Sun Yang said, raising his Pulse Gun.

”But, Captain, is the next mission really going to be this simple? I feel like we’re already reaching our limit!”

”The missions will only get harder. If you don’t want to train to your limit, then get ready to face an even tougher battle!” Li Chang’an stared at him.

”If you think this is hard, then you’d better be prepared to handle even greater pressure!”

”Understood!” Sun Yang pursed his lips, steeling his resolve.

”Captain, I’ll keep up with you all!”

...

「Time passed in a flash.」

”Did they change today’s training schedule? Yesterday’s versus match nearly killed me!” Sun Yang grumbled, stretching his arms as he walked toward the lounge.

”Nope. Same old routine: physical conditioning, combat drills, plus that set of high-intensity Martial Arts that nobody likes to practice,” Li Chang’an chimed in nonchalantly, leaning against the wall with a cup of water.

”I knew it! No way the instructors would have a change of heart,” Sun Yang said, collapsing onto the sofa and rolling his eyes.

”Speaking of which, Captain, you’ve got to get the instructors to change up our training regimen today. If we keep training like this, I feel like my body isn’t even mine anymore!”

”If you don’t like to train, that’s your problem. Don’t drag the rest of us into it!” Shen Qiuyue snapped coldly from the doorway, her arms crossed.

”Instead of wasting time complaining, you’d be better off practicing how to control your firing distance!”