Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”Anyway, I’m calling it. I’m definitely going to be first in this test!”

”You? First?”

Han Ruoxi rolled her eyes.

”First from the bottom, maybe?”

”Alright, stop arguing. Everyone get ready, the test is starting!”

Li Chang’an clapped his hands, silencing the group.

”Bai Lin, you’re in charge of recording the test data. Don’t miss anything. Note down any equipment issues, and we’ll go over them in the meeting tonight!”

”Got it, Captain. Don’t worry!”

Bai Lin put away his terminal, stuck in his earbuds, and moved to the side to start calibrating the equipment.

For a moment, the only sounds in the training yard were the quiet murmurs of the team and the hum of the equipment. Before long, the test began.

Sun Yang, as expected, didn’t disappoint. He managed to last over a minute longer on the treadmill than usual. Although he ended up collapsing on the ground, gasping for breath, he still shouted triumphantly at the others.

”See that! I said I’d be first, and I was!”

”At your level? You’ll probably get a ’Persistence Award’ for that.”

Han Ruoxi tossed him a bottle of water, not missing a beat with her teasing.

”Stop bickering and switch out! Bai Lin, how’s the data?”

Li Chang’an asked, assigning the next group their exercises.

”No major problems, but the maximum defensive capacity is still a bit low. I think we can optimize it further!”

Bai Lin said, looking up after staring at the screen for a moment.

”Alright, report on that tonight!”

Li Chang’an nodded and looked at Shen Qiuyue and Han Ruoxi, who were already prepared.

”Next up, you two. Together. Don’t hold back. Give it everything you’ve got!”

”Shen Qiuyue, let’s go. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, I’m not holding back this time!”

Han Ruoxi stood in the center of the testing area, rolling her shoulders. She was practically buzzing with anticipation.

”Don’t worry, I won’t hold back either!”

Shen Qiuyue replied nonchalantly. Her High-Energy Dueling Sword was already active, emitting a faint ripple of Energy. She lowered the tip of the sword slightly, her eyes locked on Han Ruoxi, her stance as steady as a mountain.

”Alright, looks like Eldest Miss Shen plans on teaching us mortals a lesson today!”

Sun Yang shouted, still panting at the edge of the area. He even slapped the nearby Bai Lin on the back.

”Hey, bro, wanna bet? My money’s on Han Ruoxi. Shen Qiuyue is tough, but from the looks of it, something’s different about Han Ruoxi today. I feel like she’s about to pop off!”

Without looking up from recording data, Bai Lin replied coldly.

”Not betting. Not interested.”

”Tch, what a killjoy!”

Sun Yang pouted, then turned and shouted to Li Chang’an.

”Captain, what about you? Who do you think will win?”

”I think...”

Li Chang’an rested one hand on his hip, casually glancing at the two on the field before speaking slowly.

”Neither of them is thinking about saving their strength. They won’t be satisfied until they’ve fought tooth and nail.

If you have to ask me who’ll win, it’ll be whoever makes fewer mistakes and thinks faster on their feet.”

”Captain, that’s so ambiguous!”

Sun Yang complained, but then grinned as he looked back toward the center of the field.

”Whatever, I don’t care. It’s a good show either way, and this is gonna be a great one!”

In the center of the area, the two had already taken their stances.

Han Ruoxi made the first move. She raised her hands, and an arc of electricity shot from her palms, speeding straight toward Shen Qiuyue.

”Is that all you’ve got?”

Shen Qiuyue dodged to the side with a quick slide step, easily avoiding the electric arc. At the same time, she swept her High-Energy Dueling Sword out horizontally, a sharp trail of light streaking toward Han Ruoxi’s shoulder.

Han Ruoxi quickly stepped back and flicked her right hand. More electric arcs surged from her fingertips, lunging toward Shen Qiuyue like a great net. She didn’t forget to retort.

”Don’t be in such a hurry, we’re just getting started!”

Shen Qiuyue sneered. Pushing off with her foot, she shot toward Han Ruoxi like an arrow loosed from a bow. Her sword carved a precise arc, tearing an opening straight through the net of electricity.

”Nice! Eldest Miss Shen is in top form today!”

Sun Yang shouted excitedly, leaning forward so as not to miss a thing.

”Shut up and watch!”

Li Chang’an reached out and pulled Sun Yang back. His eyes were fixed on the field, his tone turning serious.

”They’re both just probing right now. Don’t think this is their full strength. If they really start fighting, it’ll be way over your head.”

”Fine, fine! You keep watching, Captain. I’ll shut up!”

Sun Yang reluctantly shrank back and obediently leaned to one side.

The two on the field fought faster and faster. Shen Qiuyue’s Swordsmanship was precise and fierce, each move carrying immense pressure. Meanwhile, Han Ruoxi’s electric arcs seemed like extensions of her own body, constantly weaving across the area as she searched for an opening to counterattack.

”You think you can win like this?”

Shen Qiuyue suddenly let out a sharp cry. Stomping her foot, she leaped into the air and brought her sword down in a vicious chop, aiming straight for the top of Han Ruoxi’s head.

”I never thought that, but I can’t let you have it too easy either!”

Han Ruoxi jerked back a step, simultaneously raising her hand to release a powerful arc of electricity to meet Shen Qiuyue’s descending sword.

BOOM—

The moment the arc and the sword collided, a blinding flash of light erupted, and the very air seemed to tremble.

”Was that a draw?”

Sun Yang’s eyes widened, and he took another step forward as if terrified of missing something.

”More or less!”

Li Chang’an nodded slightly, watching as the two on the field gradually slowed down, both of them clearly starting to pant.