Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”Did we just stumble into the Insect Race’s main territory?”

”It’s highly likely!”

Bai Lin stared down at his terminal screen, fingers flying as he rapidly analyzed the data. ”The Insect Race’s Energy fluctuations are abnormally active here. The area is too large for an ordinary Insect Hive. This might actually be the periphery of their command center!”

”The periphery of their command center?”

Han Ruoxi frowned. ”If that’s the case, the Insect Race’s intelligence could be far beyond our estimates. They’ve probably already taken precautions against our movements!”

”Doesn’t that just mean we’re in for a direct fight?”

Sun Yang leaned back in his seat and gritted his teeth. ”Captain, this isn’t going to be an easy battle!”

”No one said it would be!”

Li Chang’an looked up, his gaze calm. ”But we’re here, so we have to fight. Cut the chatter. Double-check your gear and make sure everything is perfect!”

”Understood!”

The squad members nodded in unison and began their preparations.

The war chariot halted on a patch of high ground. After disembarking, the Insect Hunter Squad quickly took cover.

Li Chang’an pulled out the mission briefing and pointed to a spot on the map. ”This is our objective. There are three defensive lines on the perimeter. Our mission is to clear them and open a breach for the follow-up research units!”

”Captain, is the Insect Race’s defensive structure complex?” Shen Qiuyue asked in a low voice.

”Very complex!”

Li Chang’an nodded. ”The first line consists of Sentinel Insects, responsible for reconnaissance and defense. The second line is made of the Mutated Insect Race, possibly with higher-Level individuals in charge of interception. The third line is a guardian swarm, likely the most numerous and difficult part to deal with!”

”They really keep piling it on!”

Sun Yang frowned. ”Captain, if we try to brute-force our way through, I’m afraid we don’t have enough firepower!”

”That’s why we’re not going to brute-force it!”

Li Chang’an looked at Bai Lin. ”Bai Lin, can you interfere with their warning system and create an opening for us?”

”I can try, but I’ll need to get close to their signal jamming source for a direct infiltration!” Bai Lin’s voice was calm and low.

”Good. Then we proceed as planned!”

Li Chang’an scanned the team. ”Han Ruoxi, prioritize deploying the Electric Grid to cut off their movement paths. Sun Yang, provide ranged fire suppression and prioritize eliminating the Sentinel Insects. Shen Qiuyue, protect Bai Lin and ensure his operational security. I’ll draw their fire and divert the swarm’s attention!”

”No problem!”

The team members responded in unison and moved out swiftly.

The Insect Hunter Squad silently approached the objective.

In the distance, Insect Race sentinels were already on patrol. Their carapaces reflected a gloomy luster, and their sharp claws scraped against the ground with a piercing sound.

”Three Sentinel Insects, two o’clock!” Han Ruoxi warned in a low voice, the Electric Gloves on her hands already beginning to glow faintly.

”Take them out first. Don’t alert the rest of the swarm!” Li Chang’an ordered under his breath. He drew his Saw Chain Sword and quietly circled to the Sentinel Insects’ flank.

Sun Yang raised his Pulse Gun and adjusted his aim. ”Captain, I have a target locked. Just waiting for your command!”

”Fire!”

The moment Li Chang’an gave the order, Sun Yang’s Pulse Gun fired a beam of blue Energy, precisely hitting one of the Sentinel Insects in the head.

Another Sentinel Insect turned its head quickly, but before it could raise an alarm, Li Chang’an was already on it, his Saw Chain Sword swinging horizontally to sever its head.

The last Sentinel Insect reacted, letting out a sharp screech in an attempt to summon its companions.

Han Ruoxi instantly released an arc of electricity that struck its chest. The current made its body go rigid, and it crashed to the ground with a thud.

”Nice work!”

Li Chang’an glanced at Han Ruoxi. ”Keep moving. Watch your step!”

They advanced rapidly to the second defensive line, where the presence of the Mutated Insect Race was noticeably stronger.

”Five mutated ones ahead, ten o’clock!”

Shen Qiuyue stood at the front of the group, tightening her grip on her Dueling Sword.

”These things look bigger than the last batch, and their carapaces are thicker!”

Sun Yang observed with a frown. ”Captain, this won’t be easy!”

”Distract them!”

Li Chang’an commanded coolly, ”Han Ruoxi, set up an Electric Grid to block their paths. Sun Yang, target their joints to limit their mobility!”

”Roger!”

Han Ruoxi quickly manipulated her Electric Energy, deploying an Electric Grid across the paths the insects were likely to take.

Sun Yang aimed at the hind leg of one of the mutated insects and fired repeatedly. The blue Energy beams struck its joint, successfully slowing its movements.

”Shen Qiuyue, the one on the right is yours!”

Li Chang’an ordered, leading the charge with her.

Without a word, Shen Qiuyue rushed forward, her Dueling Sword accurately piercing the insect’s neck. But the creature struggled tenaciously, swinging its massive claws wildly.

”I’ll finish it!”

Li Chang’an leaped onto the insect’s back, bringing his Saw Chain Sword down with force and finishing it off for good.

”Three left, finish them quickly!”

Li Chang’an shouted, immediately diving back into the fray.

After a fierce battle, the mutated insects of the second defensive line were finally cleared out.

”Bai Lin, have you located the signal jamming source?” Li Chang’an asked, looking back.

”Locked on. One hundred meters ahead!”

Bai Lin pointed at his screen. ”That’s the Insect Race’s main surveillance node!”

”All units, on alert! Move to the objective!” Li Chang’an commanded, and the squad continued its advance.

Upon reaching the objective, the scene before them made everyone pause for a moment.

The ground was covered with the Insect Race’s jamming devices. The contraptions were strangely shaped and emitted a faint fluorescent glow, surrounded by a large number of guardian insects.

”At least twenty guardian insects!”

Bai Lin said in a low voice. ”We have to clear them out to shut down the jamming devices!”

”Twenty?”

Sun Yang sucked in a sharp breath. ”Captain, we don’t have the numbers for that!”

”Less talk!”

Li Chang’an said coldly, ”Stick to the plan. Clear the perimeter and advance step by step!”

The battle erupted once more as the Insect Hunter Squad engaged the swarm in a fierce fight.

Sun Yang’s Pulse Gun fired beam after beam of Energy, felling one guardian insect after another.

Han Ruoxi used her Electric Grid to block the swarm’s attack routes, successfully slowing them down.

Li Chang’an and Shen Qiuyue fought side-by-side, wielding their Saw Chain Sword and Dueling Sword in a head-on clash with the most ferocious insects.

”Bai Lin, hurry up!” Li Chang’an yelled during a lull in the fighting.

”I need fifteen seconds!”

Bai Lin was hunched over his terminal, rapidly cracking the jamming device’s signal system.

”Hold them off!”

Li Chang’an gritted his teeth and sliced through an insect’s carapace with his sword.

A dozen or so seconds later, Bai Lin finally completed the task. ”The jamming device is off!”

”Retreat!”

At Li Chang’an’s command, the Insect Hunter Squad quickly pulled back and jumped onto the war chariot.

The chariot sped away from the battlefield, the screeches of the Insect Race gradually fading behind them.

Inside the vehicle, everyone collapsed into their seats, panting for breath.

”Captain, we really put our lives on the line that time!”

Sun Yang said with a laugh, still gasping for air. ”But we pulled it off! We’re awesome, right?”

”Awesome my ass!”

Han Ruoxi snorted. ”If we hadn’t held back the swarm, you would’ve been pounced on and killed long ago!”

”Alright, alright, I’ll shut up!”

Sun Yang waved his hands in surrender, then sat up straight and wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve. ”But seriously, Captain, we were lucky this time. If a few more waves of Insect Race reinforcements had shown up, I’d probably be sending a post-battle report to command—as a eulogy!”

”If you keep jinxing us like that, I can write your will for you ahead of time!”

Han Ruoxi shot him a cold glance. ”Next time, use your brain more and your mouth less when you fight!”

”Miss Han, I’m just relieving stress!”

Sun Yang threw his hands up, a helpless look on his face. ”Don’t you think the atmosphere is too tense? A little humor now and then helps everyone relax!”

”We’d relax a lot more if you made fewer mistakes in battle!”