Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”Hold on. A little longer,” Li Chang’an said, carefully observing the opposing formation and making a calm assessment. ”Wait for them to expose more weaknesses!”

Shen Qiuyue stood by Li Chang’an’s side, ready to strike at any moment.

Her Sword Skill was incredibly fast. She was a close-combat expert, and once she broke through the enemy’s line of defense, almost no one could withstand her attacks.

The standoff continued for several minutes. Finally, Li Chang’an saw his chance. ”Now! Attack!”

Han Ruoxi struck without warning. A brilliant flash of Electric Energy cut through the air, hitting several of the veterans directly. They were knocked down by the blast before they even had time to react.

”Nice one!” Sun Yang yelled excitedly, simultaneously laying down more fire to suppress the enemy’s counterattack.

Shen Qiuyue was right behind him. With movements as fast as lightning, she thrust her sword at their weak points.

Caught off guard, several veterans were quickly forced back by her advance.

Li Chang’an wasn’t idle, either. He swung his Saw Chain Sword, each strike precise and powerful.

Though the veterans were experienced, the Insect Hunter Squad’s coordination gradually put them at a disadvantage.

By the end of the engagement, the veterans were nearly wiped out, while the Insect Hunter Squad had only sustained minor injuries.

”We won!” Sun Yang shouted excitedly.

After the training session, the Insect Hunter Squad returned to the rest area. Despite their victory, Li Chang’an didn’t let anyone relax.

Everyone was adjusting their gear, reviewing the battle, and preparing for the next mission.

Sun Yang was still buzzing with excitement. Wiping down his Pulse Gun, he couldn’t stop replaying the fight in his head. ”Hey, Captain Li, those veterans today were total pushovers, weren’t they? I dropped two of them with one shot. They were nothing special!”

”Don’t get cocky,” Li Chang’an said, giving him a cold glance. ”You were too reckless. You charged in way too hard at the beginning. If the enemy had been any stronger, you would’ve been hit several times over.”

”Come on, Captain Li, that’s harsh!” Sun Yang said with a helpless expression. ”But charging in is what I do best! The more intense the firefight, the more I can prove my worth!”

”That’s not proving your worth, that’s being reckless!” Han Ruoxi said, shaking her head with a scoff. ”Look at you out there. Your tactics were suicidal. If it weren’t for my Electric Energy and Shen Qiuyue’s close-combat support, you would’ve been surrounded and overwhelmed!”

”Hey, Han Ruoxi, give me a break!” Sun Yang whined. ”I was leading the charge for the team! Who else is going to run point?”

”That’s not how you run point,” Li Chang’an cut in, interrupting Sun Yang’s complaining. His tone was calm but held an undeniable authority. ”If you keep charging in that recklessly, I can’t promise I’ll be able to save you next time.”

Sun Yang scratched his head, smiling sheepishly. ”Okay, okay. I’ll tone it down next time.”

Wiping her sword, Shen Qiuyue looked up at Li Chang’an. ”Today’s training was a test. Will the Commander have a new mission for us soon?”

”We’ll probably get a new operation soon,” Li Chang’an nodded. ”But as for the specifics, we’ll have to wait for the Commander’s orders.”

”I hope it’s not another boring mission,” Han Ruoxi sighed. ”I’m tired of all this basic training. Combat is where the Insect Hunter Squad really shines!”

”Combat is our strength, yes, but basic training is just as important,” Li Chang’an said gravely. ”Don’t be impatient. We need to take this one step at a time.

When a bigger mission comes along, it will be our turn.”

Just then, Bai Lin walked over. He had been quietly checking his own equipment. Though he didn’t speak much, he was constantly providing the team with technical support.

He spoke up. ”Captain Li, there’s a message from the Commander.”

”What is it?” Li Chang’an asked, immediately getting to his feet, his expression turning serious.

”The Commander wants us in the command room for a meeting,” Bai Lin said quietly. ”It might be a new mission assignment.”

Li Chang’an nodded. ”Everyone, get ready. Follow me to the command room.”

Han Ruoxi and Sun Yang immediately gathered their gear. Shen Qiuyue also got to her feet. The squad quickly fell into formation and headed for the command room.

Instructor Wei Zhuang was already waiting outside when they arrived at the command room.

”Captain Li, go on in. The Commander is waiting for you,” Wei Zhuang said, nodding at Li Chang’an with a look of appreciation. ”You all performed well today. The Commander is very pleased with your combat effectiveness.”

”Thank you, Instructor,” Li Chang’an nodded in response, then led the squad into the command room.

Commander Chen Hao was standing in front of a map, discussing something with several other officers. When he saw Li Chang’an and his team enter, he stopped his conversation and walked over.

”Captain Li, the Insect Hunter Squad’s performance was outstanding,” Chen Hao said with a slight smile, his voice full of praise. ”You fought well in the training exercise today. It makes me even more excited for your future.”

”Thank you, Commander,” Li Chang’an said, lowering his head respectfully. ”We’ll continue to work hard and live up to your expectations.”

Chen Hao nodded and then pointed to the map. ”I have an important mission for you.

Recently, we’ve detected traces of a group of Alien Martial Artists near Lion’s Fang Star. It seems they’re planning a raid, and their target is our base’s energy station.”

”Alien Martial Artists?” Han Ruoxi frowned. ”Why is their target the energy station?”

”The energy station is a critical part of the base’s infrastructure. If it’s destroyed, our power supply will be severely compromised,” Chen Hao said gravely. ”The enemy obviously intends to weaken our defenses by taking out the energy station.”

”Then what’s our mission?” Li Chang’an asked, his expression as calm as ever.