Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”This place...”

Han Ruoxi surveyed her surroundings, a bit puzzled. ”Why does this feel like an abandoned camp?”

”Bai Lin, scan the area!”

Li Chang’an turned to Bai Lin.

Bai Lin quickly operated their device, brows furrowed. ”Strange. The signal is chaotic. It seems like there’s some kind of jamming device here!”

”Jamming?”

Li Chang’an frowned slightly. ”So, you’re saying we can’t get an accurate read on the enemy’s position?”

”That’s about right!”

Bai Lin nodded. ”But one thing’s for sure—this place is more than it seems!”

”What about that person?”

Sun Yang looked around. ”They were just up ahead a moment ago. How’d they suddenly disappear?”

”It might be a trap!”

Shen Qiuyue said calmly, her High-Energy Sword still at the ready. ”Everyone, be careful!”

Just then, the ground around them began to tremble slightly. An ear-piercing mechanical sound followed, rising from beneath the earth as if something was powering up.

”Not good! Everyone, prepare for battle!”

Li Chang’an shouted instantly, his Saw Chain Sword already in hand. His gaze turned sharp.

As the vibrations intensified, several large holes suddenly split open in the ground. A few bizarrely shaped mechanical creatures rose slowly from below. Their shells gleamed with a metallic luster, and their limbs were long and slender, resembling some kind of high-tech combat weapon.

”What the hell are these things?”

Han Ruoxi’s eyes widened in astonishment. ”These things are definitely not from the Insect Race!”

”They must be combat machines from the Alien Martial Artists!”

Bai Lin rapidly analyzed the data, a hint of tension in their voice. ”The construction of these machines is incredibly complex—far more advanced than any enemy we’ve encountered before!”

”Looks like we’ve run into some tough customers!”

Sun Yang licked his lips, his Pulse Gun already aimed at the nearest mechanical creature. ”Finally, a real challenge!”

”Don’t get careless. Focus on finding their weak points!”

Li Chang’an said in a low voice, then charged forward first. He swung his Saw Chain Sword fiercely at the head of one of the machines, producing a jarring shriek of metal on metal.

”These things have strong defenses!”

Shen Qiuyue joined the fray, her High-Energy Sword slashing at a machine’s torso but leaving only a shallow gash.

”Han Ruoxi, hit their cores with your electric current!”

Li Chang’an commanded quickly while dodging the machines’ attacks.

”Understood!”

Han Ruoxi immediately unleashed a powerful stream of electricity, striking one of the machines precisely in its core. The intense current instantly caused its movements to stiffen for a few seconds.

”It’s working!”

Sun Yang yelled, seizing the opportunity. The beam from his Pulse Gun shot straight into the machine’s abdomen, destroying it completely.

”Everyone, keep hitting their cores!”

Li Chang’an directed the team. The Insect Hunter Squad quickly focused their fire, and the mechanical creatures were gradually destroyed under their combined assault.

”Looks like these things weren’t as tough as I thought!”

Sun Yang said with a triumphant grin. ”As long as we find their weak spots, we can still take them down easily!”

”Don’t get cocky!”

Li Chang’an said flatly, ”This is just the beginning. The real danger is yet to come.”

The words had barely left his mouth when a deep tremor came from the distant cliff face. A moment later, a combat machine even larger than the previous ones rose slowly from within the mountain. Its limbs were thick and powerful, its shell covered in heavy armor, and a strange light radiated from its body.

”This one’s even tougher than the last ones!”

Han Ruoxi’s eyes widened, her voice tinged with anxiety. ”What do we do?”

”What else can we do?”

Sun Yang licked his lips, reloading his Pulse Gun. ”We keep fighting it!”

”Fighting it is a given, but we need a strategy!”

Li Chang’an’s gaze fixed on the enormous combat machine, his mind racing to come up with a plan.

’The previous machines had already drained some of the squad’s stamina and ammunition. Now they were facing this behemoth; a head-on assault probably wouldn’t work.’

”Bai Lin, can you analyze its weak points?”

Li Chang’an asked, turning his head while still observing the battlefield.

Bai Lin worked the device quickly, brows furrowed. ”This machine’s armor is much thicker than the last ones. I haven’t found any obvious weak points yet. You might need to observe it up close!”

”Observe it up close? You mean we have to risk getting blown to bits and go fight it hand-to-hand?”

Sun Yang frowned. ”This is no joke. What if we get close and it just blasts us with one of its cannons?”

”Either find a weak point, or wait for it to kill you.”

Li Chang’an glanced at him and said flatly, ”Which do you think is better?”

Sun Yang clicked his tongue and said no more, silently adjusting the mode on his Pulse Gun, ready to jump into action at any moment.

”All right then. We’ll look for an opening while we fight!”

Shen Qiuyue tightened her grip on her High-Energy Sword, her expression calm. ”Everyone, focus on coordinating. Don’t take risks by acting alone!”

”Got it, Sister Qiuyue!”

Han Ruoxi nodded, and electricity began to gather between her fingers again.

The massive combat machine seemed to have locked onto them. It emitted a low mechanical hum as its huge limbs began to move, closing in on the Insect Hunter Squad.

With every step, the ground shook. It was like a walking mountain of metal.

”Everyone, spread out! Don’t get caught in its line of fire!”

At Li Chang’an’s command, everyone quickly dispersed, each finding a position to engage the enemy.

”I’ll test its defenses first!”

Sun Yang made the first move. He raised his Pulse Gun, aimed at the machine’s side, and fired. A powerful beam shot out, striking its outer shell.