Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”All units, check your gear. Prepare to recon the energy source to the east.”

”This mission is more difficult than the last. No one drops the ball!”

”Roger that!”

The members of the Insect Hunter Squad responded in unison and quickly organized their equipment.

Led by Li Chang’an, the two squads advanced swiftly toward the eastern side of the mine.

The acrid stench in the air grew stronger. The surroundings became cold and oppressive, as if heralding an even greater danger ahead.

”How is this place getting creepier and creepier...” Sun Yang whispered, clutching his Pulse Gun and glancing around.

”The air feels wrong. It’s like something’s watching us!”

”Don’t scare yourself!”

Han Ruoxi said in a low voice, her eyes scanning their surroundings vigilantly.

”This is what an Insect Race nest feels like. The closer you get to the core, the weirder the atmosphere gets.”

”You just have to get used to it!”

”Like hell I’ll get used to it!”

Sun Yang rolled his eyes.

”If I could get used to this, I would’ve changed careers a long time ago. It’d be so much better to work in base logistics!”

”Shut your mouth!”

Shen Qiuyue said coldly. Her Dueling Sword remained gripped tight in her hand, her focused gaze sweeping the area.

”There could be an Insect Race ambush ahead at any moment. If you keep making noise, you might be the first casualty!”

”Alright, alright, I’ll shut up, I’ll shut up!”

Sun Yang waved his hands repeatedly, a look of resignation on his face, but he didn’t dare stop moving.

”Captain!”

Bai Lin’s voice came from the rear of the formation. He quickened his pace, his eyes fixed on the screen of his portable terminal.

”We’re getting closer to the energy source—less than five hundred meters away—but I’ve detected an anomaly!”

”What kind of anomaly?”

Li Chang’an asked immediately.

”The fluctuation frequency of the energy source is constantly changing!”

Bai Lin looked up, his expression grave.

”Normally, the energy fluctuations from an Insect Race command unit or a Dominator Level individual should be stable. But this source... it’s like it’s breathing. Or rather, it’s like it’s alive!”

”Alive?”

Han Ruoxi frowned.

”Are you saying it isn’t just an energy source, but some kind of living creature?”

”It’s highly likely!”

Bai Lin nodded.

”Furthermore, the intensity of its energy fluctuations is gradually increasing.”

”If we’re any slower, we might give it more time to gather its strength!”

”Then what are we waiting for?”

Du Feng said icily, his long saber quivering slightly in his hand.

”Let’s just charge in and take care of it, right?”

”Du Feng!”

Li Chang’an glanced back at him, his voice still calm.

”If you like charging in headfirst, that’s your business. But this is Insect Race territory, and a rash move will only put us in greater danger!”

Du Feng snorted but didn’t argue further.

”Keep moving, but stay vigilant!”

Li Chang’an ordered.

”Ruo Xi and Sun Yang, take flanking fire. Shen Qiuyue, cover the center. Bai Lin, stay behind me and provide recon support.”

”Du Feng, your squad will secure our rear flank. Make sure no Insect Race can launch a sneak attack!”

”No problem!”

Du Feng replied reluctantly, waving his hand for the Thunder Eagle Squad members to follow.

As the two squads pushed forward, the environment grew increasingly complex.

Abandoned mining equipment, collapsed tunnels, and slime spewing from all directions slowed their advance.

”Wait!”

Han Ruoxi suddenly stopped and raised a hand, signaling the team to halt.

”I hear movement up ahead!”

Everyone stopped at once, and their surroundings fell silent.

”Something’s moving!”

Han Ruoxi lowered her voice, her gaze fixed on the shadows ahead.

”The sound is faint but rapid, like an Insect Race moving quickly!”

”Bai Lin, any heat signatures?”

Li Chang’an asked immediately.

Bai Lin glanced down at his terminal, his brow furrowing slightly.

”Yes, but they’re very scattered.”

”It’s probably not a full-scale swarm, just scattered individuals!”

”Scattered ones are more trouble!”

Shen Qiuyue said coldly.

”Their movements are erratic, making them harder to guard against!”

”Everyone, be careful!”

Li Chang’an said in a low voice, his Saw Chain Sword already in hand.

”Scattered units are usually just a delaying tactic. The real danger is still to come!”

Just then, several strangely-shaped Insect Race members shot out from the shadows ahead.

Their bodies were slenderer than those of common insects, but their limbs were exceptionally sharp. They moved so fast they were little more than afterimages.

”Here they come!”

Han Ruoxi raised her hand and fired an arc of electricity, striking one of the creatures with pinpoint accuracy and killing it instantly.

But the other insects were completely unaffected. They moved quickly, fanning out and lunging directly at the squad’s flanks.

”Sun Yang, left flank!”

Li Chang’an barked. His Saw Chain Sword drew an arc of light, slicing an insect lunging at him in half at the waist.

”Got it!”

Sun Yang immediately swiveled his gun and opened fire wildly at the insects on the left. A rain of Energy Bullets covered the entire area.

”These things are too fast!”

Sun Yang yelled through gritted teeth.

”I can barely aim!”

”Don’t panic!”

Shen Qiuyue said coldly as she impaled an insect trying to circle behind her.

”They’re fast, but their defenses are weak. A precision strike will take them down!”

”Jeez, you call this ’weak’?”

Sun Yang couldn’t help but complain, but his hands didn’t slow in the slightest, blasting another insect to pieces with a few shots.

The Thunder Eagle Squad was also engaged in combat, but they clearly weren’t having as easy a time as the Insect Hunter Squad.

Several of their members seemed flustered by these speed-type insects and were constantly forced to retreat.

”Thunder Eagle Squad, coordinate your attacks!”

Li Chang’an said coldly.

”Don’t act alone, or you’ll just create openings for the Insect Race!”

Du Feng gritted his teeth and cut down an insect, but his expression was ugly.

”I don’t need you to command me!”

”I don’t care if you need my command, but if your entire squad gets wiped out, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Li Chang’an’s voice was devoid of any emotion.

Du Feng didn’t argue back this time, merely snorting as he led his team to barely stabilize their formation.

The battle lasted less than five minutes before all the speed-type insects were eliminated.

But everyone on the team was already panting slightly. Clearly, the high-intensity combat had taken its toll.

”These things are so annoying!”

Han Ruoxi wiped the sweat from her forehead, a hint of exhaustion on her face.

”They’re not strong, but there are so many of them. A few more waves and we’ll be worn down to nothing!”

”This is just the prelude!”

Shen Qiuyue stated coldly.

”The real threat is still ahead!”

”Everyone, conserve your Energy!”

Li Chang’an said calmly, but his gaze was exceptionally cold.

”This type of insect is just stalling for time, which proves we’re very close to our objective!”

”Captain, the target is two hundred meters ahead!”

Bai Lin’s voice suddenly cut in, the screen of the terminal in his hand glowing faintly.

”But the energy fluctuation has reached its peak. The situation might be worse than we thought!”

”Everyone, prepare for battle!”

Li Chang’an took a deep breath and tightened his grip on his Saw Chain Sword.

”This next fight is the most critical one. No one lets their guard down!”

The two squads slowly approached the location of the energy source.

The sight before them made everyone freeze in their tracks.

It was a massive underground cavern. The surrounding walls were covered with Insect Race nests that pulsed with Red light, and in the center of the cavern, a colossal insect was coiled.

Its body nearly filled the entire space. Its carapace was covered in vicious-looking spikes and flowing Red light. Its head resembled a giant, fleshy flower petal, which was slowly unfurling to reveal writhing tentacles within.

”This is... the target?”

Sun Yang’s voice trembled, clearly startled by the sight.

”That’s it!”

Li Chang’an’s gaze was ice-cold. He raised his Saw Chain Sword, his voice low and powerful.

”All units, on my command—prepare for battle!”

At Li Chang’an’s command, the two squads quickly fanned out, taking up optimal combat formations.