Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”Sigh, life is so hard...”

Early the next morning, as the first glimmer of light touched the base, the Insect Hunter Squad had already assembled.

Sun Yang yawned, complaining nonstop.

”Captain, can’t we leave a little later? It’s so early, I feel like my eyes aren’t even open yet!”

”Shut up!”

Li Chang’an lifted his chin, signaling for everyone to check their gear.

”Superpower Users and tech support, you’re on ranged. Martial Artists, close-quarters combat.

There’s no room for a single mistake today!”

”Easy for you to say, Captain. If the Insect Race really swarms us, I’ll be lucky just to survive!”

Sun Yang muttered under his breath, his Pulse Gun slung over his back.

”If you die, I’ll write up a report for you later!”

Li Chang’an shot him a glance and turned to walk away.

”Keep up. Move out!”

Han Ruoxi covered her mouth with a laugh and patted Sun Yang’s shoulder.

”Stop dawdling, Hero Sun. Let’s go.

If you fall behind, the Captain really might throw you to the insects!”

”Can’t you guys be a little nicer to me?”

Sun Yang followed behind the squad with a look of resignation.

”On every mission, I feel like I’m the sacrificial lamb!”

”Then why don’t you act like a hero for a change!”

Shen Qiuyue retorted coldly from the front, her gaze fixed straight ahead.

The squad advanced toward the southern region with Li Chang’an leading the way, his steps steady and sure.

Meanwhile, Bai Lin was constantly operating the device in his hands, monitoring the surrounding signal fluctuations.

”Bai Lin, what’s the situation?”

Li Chang’an asked without turning his head, still at the front of the formation.

”Everything’s normal for now, but we’re still two kilometers from the target point, and the signal fluctuations are getting much stronger!”

Bai Lin stared at his screen, frowning.

”I recommend slowing our pace. Be careful of an ambush ahead!”

”Keep moving!”

Li Chang’an’s voice was calm, betraying no emotion.

The squad had gone less than five hundred meters when Han Ruoxi suddenly stopped, her ears twitching.

”Listen! There’s a sound up ahead!”

”What sound?”

Sun Yang stopped, looking around nervously.

”Don’t scare me! I’ve got no nerve for this!”

”Don’t move. Be quiet!”

Li Chang’an raised a hand, signaling for everyone to halt. He tightened his grip on his Saw Chain Sword, his eyes fixed on the path ahead.

”It’s the Insect Race. Not many of them, but two signals are abnormally strong!”

Bai Lin said in a low voice, rapidly operating his device.

”Should be two High-Tier Insect Kings!”

”Tsk. Two Insect Kings. Looks like we’ve got a real fight on our hands today!”

Han Ruoxi flexed her wrists, a faint shimmer of electricity flickering in her palms.

”Can’t you ever hope for something good?”

Sun Yang grimaced.

”Two Insect Kings... are we even going to make it back alive?”

”Shut up!”

Li Chang’an shot him a cold glare.

”Everyone, prepare for battle! Split into groups according to the plan!”

The squad quickly dispersed, forming up according to their pre-arranged tactics.

Shen Qiuyue, Dueling Sword in hand, stood at Li Chang’an’s side and asked in a cold voice.

”Clear the small ones first, or go straight for the Insect Kings?”

”Clearing the small fry is a waste of time. We charge!”

Li Chang’an’s gaze was serene. Before his words had even faded, he had already lunged forward, his Saw Chain Sword cutting through the air, aimed straight at the swarm of insects ahead.

’The Captain’s always so brutal with his methods...’

Sun Yang sighed and raised his Pulse Gun.

”Whatever. Let’s get to it!”

The battle erupted in an instant. Li Chang’an charged at the very front. Every swing of his Saw Chain Sword was accompanied by a vicious whistle as it cut through the air, and the insects’ carapaces seemed to offer no resistance against his blade.

Shen Qiuyue followed close behind, flashes of her swordlight clean and precise with every strike.

From the rear, Han Ruoxi and Bai Lin provided ranged support. Han Ruoxi opened her palm, and a massive wave of electricity surged toward the swarm, instantly blasting a charred crater in the ground.

”Sun Yang, concentrate your fire! Don’t just spray and pray!”

Han Ruoxi shouted over her shoulder.

”I am trying!”

Sun Yang squeezed the trigger, and a sweeping Energy Beam from his Pulse Gun barely suppressed a few smaller insects trying to get close.

A few minutes later, the two Insect Kings finally appeared before them. They were massive, covered in thick carapaces, their gazes filled with ferocity.

”They’re here!”

Shen Qiuyue tightened her grip on her sword, whispering from her position beside Li Chang’an.

”Shen Qiuyue, you take the front. I’ll take the flank. Han Ruoxi, provide ranged suppression. Bai Lin, monitor our rear!”

After giving his simple orders, Li Chang’an was the first to charge one of the Insect Kings.

The Insect King let out a piercing shriek and lunged at Li Chang’an, swiping with its massive claws.

The Saw Chain Sword scraped across its claw, splattering green fluid, but the Insect King’s carapace was clearly much tougher, and the attack didn’t inflict much damage.

”This thing’s defense is too high!”

Sun Yang shouted from a distance.

”Captain, should we change strategies?”

”No need!”

Li Chang’an replied coldly, once again swinging his sword at the Insect King’s head.

The other Insect King was tied down by Shen Qiuyue. Her Swordsmanship was fast and precise, each strike aimed at the creature’s vitals. Although she couldn’t fully pierce its defense, it was enough to keep it from getting close.

”Han Ruoxi, increase your output!”

Li Chang’an roared over his shoulder.

”Got it!”

Han Ruoxi spread her hands, and a powerful current erupted from her fingertips, striking the Insect King’s body directly and causing it to seize up for a moment.

”Now!”

Li Chang’an seized the opportunity, leaping into the air and plunging his sword into the Insect King’s eye.

The Insect King let out a horrifying screech, flailing its claws wildly, but Li Chang’an had already nimbly retreated, coldly watching it struggle.

”One more to go!”

Shen Qiuyue’s cold voice rang out. The other Insect King’s assault was clearly more ferocious, but it still couldn’t gain an advantage against her flashing blade.

After a fierce battle, both Insect Kings finally fell, and the surrounding insects were cleared out.

”Mission complete. Back to base!”

Li Chang’an sheathed his Saw Chain Sword, tossed out the flat command, and turned to lead the way back.

”I knew it would end like this!”

Sun Yang grumbled under his breath as he packed up his gear.

”This kind of grind every day is going to kill me...”

No one paid him any attention. The squad members silently fell in line, heading back toward the base.

By the time they returned to the base, it was nearly dark.

Li Chang’an walked at the very front, his steps steady and his face showing no sign of fatigue. The others, however, dragged their exhausted bodies behind him. Sun Yang, in particular, was practically half-limp as he staggered back.

”We’re finally back... This day totally wiped me out!”

Sun Yang plopped down on the steps of the main gate, pounding on his legs.

”Captain, is your stamina made of iron or something? We’re all about to fall apart, but you’re not even breathing hard.”

”If your stamina is bad, train more!”

Li Chang’an stopped and glanced back at him.

”If you have time to complain, you might as well go run an extra five kilometers!”

”No, no, no!”

Sun Yang immediately leaped up from the ground, waving his hands in surrender.

”Captain, I was just talking! No need to be so strict! Today’s mission was intense enough. Any more training and I’ll really kick the bucket here!”

”Back to the dorms to rest. Routine training tomorrow morning. Assemble at 0600!”

Li Chang’an didn’t say anything more, just tossed out the order and headed straight for the command room.

”0600 again!”

Sun Yang’s eyes went wide as he stared at the Captain’s retreating back, grumbling through gritted teeth.

”Can’t you be a human being for once? Show a little humanity?”

”Sun Yang, stop talking. Don’t you know when to quit?”

Shen Qiuyue glanced at him coldly while polishing the blade of her sword.

”Keep complaining, and the Captain really will make you do extra training!”

”Like I’d dare!”

Sun Yang raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

”I was just worried he couldn’t hear me... Hey, you think the Captain was born a Devil?”

Walking alongside them, Han Ruoxi couldn’t help but laugh.

”A born Devil, leading a bunch of born-useless grunts.

If you really think he’s a Devil, why are you still sticking around in the squad?”

”Hey, it’s because I can’t bear to leave you bunch of terrible friends!”

Sun Yang put on a wronged expression.

”If it weren’t for our camaraderie, I would’ve requested a transfer ages ago!”

”Oh, please. With your skill level, you’d probably be trained to death on any other team, too!”

Han Ruoxi rolled her eyes and stepped into the dorms.

”Get some rest. Don’t be late tomorrow morning!”

”Late? Who would dare be late?”

Sun Yang followed her inside, dragging his feet toward his bunk as he spoke.