Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”There are signs of corrosion on the vehicle’s body. It’s likely an acid attack from the Insect Race!”

”I feel it too!” Han Ruoxi raised her hand, electricity dancing at her fingertips.

”There are residual Insect Race energy fluctuations in the area. No more than three days old!”

”Looks like there really is a problem at the mining area!” Li Chang’an tightened his grip on his Saw Chain Sword.

”Everyone, be careful. Shen Qiuyue and Sun Yang, take the lead. Han Ruoxi and Bai Lin, cover the rear. I’ll take the center and command. Advance slowly!”

The group quickly fell into formation, advancing cautiously into the depths of the mining area.

Not long after entering the mining area, the surrounding atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive.

”Captain, there’s a sound up ahead!” Sun Yang suddenly stopped and raised his Pulse Gun, aiming it at the entrance of a dark tunnel.

Li Chang’an raised a hand, signaling for everyone to halt. He listened intently.

”There’s definitely movement,” he said in a low voice.

”Prepare for battle. The targets are probably the Insect Race, or they could be...”

Before he could finish, a series of hoarse roars echoed from deep within the tunnel. Immediately after, a swarm of High-tier Insects—larger than the common ones—burst from the shadows!

”High-tier Insects! Be careful!”

Li Chang’an shouted as his Saw Chain Sword roared to life in his hand.

He calmly scanned the charging swarm and quickly issued his commands.

”Sun Yang, suppressive fire! Shen Qiuyue, flank from the left! Han Ruoxi and Bai Lin, cover our rear! Watch the surrounding exits; don’t let them box us in!”

”Roger!”

Sun Yang immediately shouldered his Pulse Gun and squeezed the trigger, unleashing a torrent of blue-white Energy Bullets that rained down on the enemy.

He didn’t forget to grumble under his breath.

”Why won’t these damn things just die? Aren’t they afraid I’ll blow them to bits with one shot?”

”Less talking, more shooting! Aim straight!” Shen Qiuyue had already charged out from the left, her Dueling Sword flashing like a cold light as she cleanly pierced an Insect’s head. Her movements were crisp and efficient.

”Captain, the rear is clear for now!” Han Ruoxi said while maintaining a protective wall of electricity, her eyes constantly scanning their surroundings.

”But they might circle around through other tunnel exits!”

”Understood!” Li Chang’an cleaved an oncoming Insect in two with one hand, then quickly switched to the squad channel.

”Bai Lin, pull up the mine’s structural layout. Find all possible entrances and exits and mark them, fast!”

”Pulling it up now!” Bai Lin’s fingers flew across the terminal as the image on the screen updated rapidly.

”Found a hidden exit, three hundred meters from our position.

There might be an Insect ambush there!”

”Good. Keep monitoring it!” Li Chang’an’s Saw Chain Sword spun faster and faster, slicing a High-Tier Insect clean in half at the waist.

He glanced at the battlefield and saw that while Sun Yang’s fire was suppressing the bulk of the swarm, more High-tier Insects were closing in from the front.

”Sun Yang, stop firing at the grunts! Take out the commander-type Insects first!” Li Chang’an shouted.

”Roger! You’ve really got a sharp eye!” Sun Yang quickly adjusted his aim, targeting a noticeably larger High-Tier Insect and squeezing the trigger.

”Here’s a little present for you! Let’s see how many seconds you last!”

The blue-white Energy Bullet hit its mark, and the Insect let out a piercing shriek. But instead of falling, it grew even more frenzied and lunged toward Sun Yang.

”Sun Yang, watch out!” In a flash of light, Han Ruoxi quickly unleashed an arc of electricity, blocking the Insect’s path.

The Insect, struck by the current, froze for a moment, its body trembling slightly.

”Whoa! Han Ruoxi, that was a close one!” Sun Yang retreated a few steps, his heart still pounding. He fired a few more shots, finishing the Insect off for good.

”Don’t get careless!” Shen Qiuyue swept her sword sideways, cutting down an approaching Insect.

”There are still three commander-types. We need to take them out quickly, or these Low-tier Insects will just keep swarming us!”

”I’ll take it!” Li Chang’an lunged forward, swinging his Saw Chain Sword down hard, aiming straight for another commander-type Insect’s neck.

Sparks flew as the saw teeth ground against the Insect’s exoskeleton. With a grating shriek, its head was sheared clean off.

”Nice one! The Captain’s always so reliable!” Sun Yang couldn’t help but cheer.

”Less chatter, two more to go!” Li Chang’an pulled back his Saw Chain Sword and quickly retreated into the safety of Han Ruoxi’s protective field.

”Han Ruoxi, electrical interference! Shen Qiuyue, prepare to attack from the flank! Sun Yang, keep up the suppressive fire!”

”Sending a jolt!” With a wave of her hand, Han Ruoxi sent several arcs of electricity striking the two remaining commander-type Insects.

The Insects let out sharp shrieks, their bodies convulsing violently in the electrical current.

”Now’s our chance!” Shen Qiuyue shouted, her figure moving like a bolt of Lightning as she struck from the Insects’ flank. Her Dueling Sword plunged forward, pinning one of them to the ground.

”The last one’s mine!” Sun Yang raised his gun and took aim, firing three consecutive Energy Bullets that tore through the Insect’s body.

The shrieks of the High-tier Insects gradually faded, leaving only the corpses of Low-tier Insects and shattered exoskeletons on the ground.

”All clear!” Bai Lin’s voice came over the comms channel.

”No more Insect activity detected at the other mine exits for now!”

”Good work, everyone.” Li Chang’an let out a long breath.

”Han Ruoxi, check the surrounding energy fluctuations. Once we’ve confirmed it’s all clear, we’re pulling out immediately.”

”Understood!” Han Ruoxi nodded and once again released arcs of electricity, scanning the surrounding mine area.

”Captain, this place is seriously dangerous,” Sun Yang said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

”If I’d known the Insect Race was this rampant, I’d have said we should bring more firepower!”

”More firepower wouldn’t have mattered. Teamwork is what’s key,” Shen Qiuyue said, sheathing her sword and giving him a cool glance.

”No matter how strong your firepower is, without backup, you’d still get swarmed and killed.”

”Hehe, you’re right, Sister Shen. I’ll be a better team player next time, I promise!” Sun Yang said, scratching his head with a sheepish grin.

”Alright, that’s enough banter,” Li Chang’an said with a wave of his hand.

”The area’s secure. We’re heading back to base!”

The squad members quickly packed their gear, re-boarded the armored vehicle, and drove toward the base.

”This mission may be over, but the Insect Race’s activity is getting more and more frequent. We have to be ready to respond at a moment’s notice,” Li Chang’an said finally.

By the time the team returned to the base, night had fallen.

The armored vehicle stopped at the entrance to the garage, and the five of them disembarked, each one weighed down by fatigue.

”Agh, my back!” Sun Yang exclaimed with an exaggerated stretch.

”That wave of Insects today was brutal. I feel like I nearly emptied my Pulse Gun!”

”Emptied?” Han Ruoxi, who was walking by with a piece of diagnostic equipment, nearly laughed out loud when she heard that.

”You wish you could empty your gun. The only reason you’re still standing is because my shocks were on target and saved your skin so many times!”

”Hey, hey, hey, Xiaohan, you can’t say that!” Sun Yang quickly waved his hands, feigning seriousness.

”I provide fire support, you provide precision strikes. We complement each other. Neither one is dispensable!”

”Cut the crap and go clean your gear,” Shen Qiuyue cut in coldly.

”The mission’s over, but have you maintained your weapon? Have you restocked your ammo? If you don’t do any of that, what are you going to do next time we run into the Insect Race? Spit at them?”

”Ouch, Sister Shen, that one hurt!” Sun Yang said, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

”I just got back! I was thinking I’d catch my breath first!”

”You can catch your breath after your gear is sorted,” Li Chang’an said, unclipping his Saw Chain Sword and placing it on a rack.

”Nobody rests until all gear maintenance and reports for today are submitted!”

”Roger, Captain!” Han Ruoxi said, sticking her tongue out.

”You’re always so strict. I can barely keep up with my limited stamina!”

”Your ’limited stamina’?” Sun Yang, standing off to the side, couldn’t resist chiming in.

”Weren’t you the one zapping everything all over the mine? With that much energy, you call that ’limited stamina’?”

”Shut up and get to work,” Shen Qiuyue said, tapping his shoulder with her scabbard.

”Less talk, more work!”

Sun Yang immediately shrank back and obediently went to clean his Pulse Gun.