Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”Captain, we really hit it big this time, huh?” Sun Yang said, sidling up with a wide grin. ”Look, we took out a Commander Level insect and gathered some crucial intel!”

Li Chang’an smiled faintly. ”The credit belongs to everyone. This mission would have been impossible without all of you working together.”

”Ah, Captain, you’re too modest. It was clearly because you led us so well!” Sun Yang’s grin grew even wider.

”Alright, stop sucking up!” Han Ruoxi said with a laugh, patting Sun Yang on the shoulder. ”Go take a shower and get cleaned up. That last fight left you covered in dust!”

”Oh, you’re right, Ruo Xi. I am a real mess!” Sun Yang scratched his head. ”I’ll go take a quick shower then. Let’s all go grab a big meal at the mess hall later!”

Shen Qiuyue, however, put away her Dueling Sword and said flatly, ”You guys go eat. I need to go back and sort out my gear.”

Li Chang’an nodded. ”Everyone, go get some rest. Take it easy today. We’ll see what Command has for us tomorrow.”

The members of the Insect Hunter Squad returned to their respective dorms to rest and recover.

Li Chang’an sat on the edge of his bed in his dorm, his Saw Chain Sword in hand, gently wiping the bloodstains from its blade.

’He knew that even though they had completed the mission successfully, the threat from the Insect Race was far from over.’

The base had entered a state of high alert. All soldiers were preparing for the major battle that might break out next.

”The Insect Race is just too massive!” Li Chang’an muttered to himself. ”We have to find their true weakness to completely halt their expansion!”

Just as he was lost in thought, his communicator beeped again.

Li Chang’an picked it up. It was a call from Commander Liu Na.

”Commander, what is it?” Li Chang’an asked, accepting the call.

”Li Chang’an, the data from your mission has been analyzed.” Liu Na’s voice was as calm as ever, but tinged with gravity. ”The intel shows that the Insect Race is expanding faster than we anticipated.

What’s worse, similar Insect Race buildups have started appearing in several nearby Star Zones!”

”What?” Li Chang’an’s brow furrowed. ”Are they planning some kind of large-scale operation?”

”We can’t be sure yet!” Liu Na’s voice carried a hint of worry. ”But we suspect the Insect Race may be preparing for an all-out invasion.

This situation is more serious than any we’ve faced before!”

Li Chang’an was silent for a moment before asking, ”What’s our next plan of action?”

”Tomorrow, we will hold a general operations meeting to discuss how to counter the Insect Race’s threat.

As the reconnaissance vanguard, your Insect Hunter Squad must be ready to move out at a moment’s notice!” Liu Na said.

”Understood. We’ll be on standby,” Li Chang’an replied firmly.

After ending the call, Li Chang’an leaned back in his chair. ’He knew with even greater clarity that the coming battles would be exceptionally difficult.’

This Insect Race threat wasn’t just about a few small-scale skirmishes; it was a life-or-death struggle for the entire Star Realm.

「The next morning」

The Insect Hunter Squad assembled once again in the base’s conference room. Commander Liu Na and several high-ranking officers were already waiting for them.

”Hello, everyone. Today’s meeting is extremely important,” Liu Na said, getting straight to the point. ”According to our intel analysis, the Insect Race’s expansion has already begun to affect several surrounding Star Zones.

This means we may be about to face a large-scale invasion!”

The conference room fell silent, and everyone’s expression turned grim.

”The Insect Race’s actions aren’t just for plundering resources. They are systematically expanding their sphere of influence!” Liu Na continued. ”We must formulate a comprehensive strategy to prevent an all-out attack!”

Li Chang’an stood up and asked, ”Commander, what is our mission?”

”Your Insect Hunter Squad’s mission is still reconnaissance, but this time you’ll be sent to a more distant Star Zone—the central area of the Insect Race’s buildup!” Liu Na said. ”Your task is to go deep behind enemy lines and obtain more intelligence on the Insect Race’s movements and plans!”

Han Ruoxi couldn’t help but ask, ”Is this mission more difficult than the last one?”

”Yes,” Liu Na nodded. ”The central area of the Insect Race is more heavily fortified, and the risks are higher.

But this mission is crucial. Your success or failure will directly determine whether we can preemptively stop the Insect Race’s offensive!”

”We will complete the mission,” Li Chang’an said, his tone resolute.

Liu Na glanced at him, a flicker of admiration in her eyes. ”I have faith in your abilities.

The success of this mission rests in your hands. You must proceed with caution!”

After the meeting ended, Li Chang’an led the Insect Hunter Squad out of Command. The expressions of the squad members were exceptionally grave.

’They knew this mission was more dangerous than any they had faced before, but they had no other choice.’

”Captain, this time we’re really going exploring in a giant Insect Hive!” Sun Yang’s words were light, but he couldn’t hide the tension on his face.

”Don’t worry. We’ll stick together. Nothing will happen,” Li Chang’an said, clapping him on the shoulder.

”Alright, Captain. I’m counting on you then!” Sun Yang scratched his head and sighed softly.

”Everyone, get ready. Sort out your gear tonight. We leave first thing tomorrow morning,” Li Chang’an said to the others, his expression serious.

”Understood!” Han Ruoxi, Shen Qiuyue, and Sun Yang nodded in unison, their expressions firm.

The Insect Hunter Squad was busy with final preparations for the next day’s departure. A tense, pre-deployment atmosphere filled the dorms.

”Hey, Captain, about tomorrow’s mission... going deep into the Insect Race’s core territory sounds pretty damn dangerous!” Sun Yang said with a soft sigh as he wiped his gun barrel. ”Are you confident?”

”No one can be a hundred percent sure on a mission like this,” Li Chang’an said calmly, continuing to inspect his gear. ”But we can’t back down.

The best we can do is be prepared and use every skill we have!”

Sun Yang pursed his lips and scratched his head. ”Yeah, the Captain’s right.

But the level of the Insect Race we’ll be facing this time might be even higher than last time. It’s enough to make my skin crawl!”

”Stop complaining,” Shen Qiuyue said coldly. ”This mission is our responsibility to bear.

Complaining won’t change reality!”

Han Ruoxi chuckled and said jokingly, ”Don’t worry. You always manage to get out alive by some stroke of luck. I’m not worried about you!”

Sun Yang immediately retorted, ”That’s because I’m skilled! I may joke around, but when we’re in the field, I’m always the first one to charge in!”

”Alright, alright, that’s enough bickering for now!” Li Chang’an cut off their idle chatter. Just as he was about to continue discussing the next day’s operation, his communicator suddenly rang.

Li Chang’an picked it up. It was an urgent message from Command.

”What’s going on?” Sun Yang keenly noticed the puzzled look on Li Chang’an’s face. ”Are there new orders from Command?”

Li Chang’an didn’t answer right away. Instead, he looked down at the message on his communicator, his brow furrowing.

”Mission aborted,” Li Chang’an said curtly, his voice filled with confusion. ”We’re not leaving for now.”

”What?!” Han Ruoxi, Sun Yang, and Shen Qiuyue exclaimed almost in unison, clearly taken aback by the news.

”Why was the mission suddenly aborted?” Shen Qiuyue’s tone was still calm, but a trace of confusion flickered in her eyes.

”Command didn’t explain. They just told us to stand by,” Li Chang’an sighed softly and sat back down in his chair. ”They didn’t give a reason, only that all squad operations are temporarily suspended, pending further orders.”

”That’s so strange!” Han Ruoxi frowned, her face a mask of confusion. ”We were all ready to go, and the threat from the Insect Race is this huge. Why would they abort the mission now?”

”Yeah, could they have discovered something new?” Sun Yang also grew uneasy. ”This was supposed to be our most important mission in a long time. How could they just call it off like that?”