Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”This time, they might not be as easy to take down,” Li Chang’an said in a low voice, waving his hand for the squad to stop.

”We’ll circle around and probe their defensive perimeter. Ruo Xi, maintain drone surveillance. Sun Yang, bring your high-explosive warheads; be ready to sow chaos the moment we engage. Qiuyue, you’re with me on the assault!”

”Roger that!” Everyone moved out swiftly.

The squad silently circled to the other side, using natural rock formations for cover as they observed the area ahead.

Before them was a small clearing with a few simple barricades. A squad of fully armed Alien Martial Artists stood guard, watching over something with vigilance.

Bai Lin scanned the area with his terminal and reported in a low voice.

”Their gear is definitely better than the last group’s. Especially the leader in the center—the energy reading from his armor is intense. Looks like some kind of enhancement device!”

”An enhancement device?” Sun Yang’s eyes widened.

”Haven’t we only ever seen those things in a lab? Where’d they get one?”

”Probably smuggled, or supplied by some other power,” Li Chang’an said, narrowing his eyes at the enemy leader.

”Doesn’t matter how they got it. We can’t avoid this fight. The plan hasn’t changed. Qiuyue and I will lead a frontal assault. Sun Yang, covering fire. Ruo Xi, suppress their ranged fighters. Linzi, keep monitoring for any reinforcements!”

Everyone nodded and quickly got into position.

Shen Qiuyue attacked first. Her Dueling Sword traced a bright arc of light through the air, thrusting directly at a nearby Martial Artist.

The Martial Artist moved to counter, but Shen Qiuyue’s blade flicked out and sent his weapon flying.

Li Chang’an followed right behind her, his Saw Chain Sword roaring as it slashed precisely at another Martial Artist who was trying to dodge.

In just a few seconds, the two of them broke through the enemy’s defensive line and charged straight for the leader in the center.

Han Ruoxi unleashed a powerful electric arc that struck two Martial Artists behind cover, the current instantly paralyzing them.

Simultaneously, Sun Yang’s Pulse Gun rang out, and a high-energy beam struck a target on the far side.

Watching his team get rapidly dismantled, the leader let out an angry roar, raised his hands, and activated the enhancement device on his body.

His frame swelled in an instant, and his movements grew far more swift.

”Captain, watch out!” Han Ruoxi shouted over the comms channel.

Li Chang’an didn’t back down. He raised his Saw Chain Sword and charged forward to meet the leader.

Their weapons clashed, creating a piercing metallic screech as sparks flew everywhere.

”Qiuyue! Cover me!” Li Chang’an shouted through gritted teeth, struggling to hold against the leader’s strength.

Shen Qiuyue quickly circled behind the leader, aimed for his back, and thrust her Dueling Sword forward.

However, the leader’s enhanced armor was astonishingly tough. The sword’s tip only managed to leave a shallow scratch.

”This guy’s armor is too tough!” Shen Qiuyue said with a frown.

”Ruo Xi, find an opportunity to disable his power unit!” Li Chang’an commanded loudly while fending off the leader’s attacks.

”Understood!” Han Ruoxi quickly maneuvered her drone, locked onto a critical point on the leader’s armor, and a high-energy electric arc struck with precision, instantly causing the leader’s movements to slow.

Seizing the opportunity, Li Chang’an pushed forward with all his might, plunging the Saw Chain Sword into the leader’s chest. With a grating sound of shattering machinery, the leader’s enhanced armor finally failed, and his massive body crashed to the ground.

The battlefield fell quiet for a moment. The members of the Insect Hunter Squad, breathing heavily, quickly scanned their surroundings.

”Captain, there’s an Energy Core in this guy’s armor. It looks like High-Tier tech!” Bai Lin said, crouching down to inspect the leader’s equipment.

”Collect it. We’ll take it back for analysis,” Li Chang’an said with a wave of his hand.

”Everyone, get ready. There might be more tough fights ahead!”

Li Chang’an stood beside the fallen leader’s body and scanned the area.

Every squad member was busy organizing their gear and inspecting the spoils of war.

Although the leader’s enhanced armor was destroyed, its scattered components still glimmered with a faint light.

”Linzi, how do we get this thing off?” Sun Yang crouched by the corpse, prodding the massive Energy Core on the leader’s body.

”It looks pretty valuable. Think we could install one on ourselves?”

”You want to wear enhanced armor too?” Han Ruoxi said, rolling her eyes from the side. ”I think you should work on your Spear Technique first. If you really put something like this on, you’d probably blow yourself up before you even got to the battlefield!”

”Hey, don’t underestimate me!” Sun Yang retorted, annoyed.

”I’m the squad’s fire support! Who knows, with an equipment upgrade, maybe I could even be on the front lines!”

”Alright, that’s enough bickering!” Li Chang’an cut them off and looked at Bai Lin.

”Linzi, can you remove this core safely?”

Bai Lin crouched by the body, tools in hand, and studied it carefully for a moment.

”Should be possible. But it’ll take some time. The connection points have an anti-tampering device. If I try to force it, it might trigger a self-destruct sequence!”

”Be as quick as you can,” Li Chang’an said, nodding as he raised his Saw Chain Sword. ”Qiuyue and I will stand guard. Sun Yang and Ruo Xi, cover Linzi while he works on the disassembly. The noise around us is getting louder. We could have trouble at any moment!”

”Roger!” The team moved quickly, each taking their position.

Shen Qiuyue stood by a barricade a short distance away, her gaze sweeping vigilantly over their surroundings.

”Captain, I’m hearing something. I think enemies are approaching!”

”Distance?” Li Chang’an asked immediately.

”Under two hundred meters, I’d guess. It’s faint, but it sounds like mechanical footsteps!” Shen Qiuyue replied.