Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

The group sprang into action.

Shen Qiuyue was the first to charge, her High-Energy Dueling Sword slashing a vicious arc of light as she lunged for the nearest insect.

The blade flashed, and before the insect could even react, it collapsed to the ground.

Han Ruoxi followed close behind. With a wave of her right hand, an arc of electricity precisely struck a second insect. The current spread across its carapace, felling it in an instant.

”Be careful! Two more on the left!”

Sun Yang raised his Pulse Gun, fired two quick shots at the targets on the left, and accurately struck one of the insects in the chest.

The insect shrieked and fell to the ground, struggling.

”Not bad, Sun Yang! Nice aim!”

Han Ruoxi glanced at him, but couldn’t resist a taunt.

”But really, isn’t your marksmanship just a little bit lucky?”

”Luck? Who do you think you’re looking down on?”

Sun Yang retorted indignantly. He raised his weapon again and fired a follow-up shot, killing another insect that was trying to approach.

”See that? That’s called skill, not luck!”

”Alright, focus. There’s still one target left!”

Li Chang’an’s voice came from the rear. He gripped his Saw Chain Sword, his gaze fixed on the insect in the very center.

This one was clearly a Commander Level entity. It was a full size larger than the other insects, and the weapon in its grasp was a Bone Blade that glinted with a cold light. It stared at them with blood-red eyes.

”I’ll take this one!”

Without the slightest hesitation, Shen Qiuyue strode forward. Her Dueling Sword and the Bone Blade instantly clashed, sending a shower of sparks into the air.

The Insect Race commander was incredibly fast, each of its attacks carrying immense power. But Shen Qiuyue’s Sword Skill was just as precise. Every one of her parries was perfectly timed, completely neutralizing her opponent’s assault.

”Qiuyue, can you hold it?”

Han Ruoxi gathered her power from the rear, ready to provide support at a moment’s notice.

”I can handle it, don’t worry!”

Shen Qiuyue’s tone was calm. The sword in her hand carved another arc, forcing the insect commander back.

Then, she kicked off the ground explosively, shooting forward like an arrow released from a bow. The light of her blade stabbed straight for the creature’s chest.

The insect commander tried to dodge, but Shen Qiuyue was too fast. It had no time to react before the tip of her sword pierced its carapace.

”Done!”

Shen Qiuyue withdrew her sword and turned to the others.

”All clear!”

”Nice. Clean and efficient.”

Li Chang’an nodded, then turned his head to look at Bai Lin.

”What’s the status of their communications terminal?”

”Completely disabled. They can’t send out any alerts!”

Bai Lin put away his terminal and looked up.

”But we need to pull out quickly. There might be other Insect Race reinforcements in the area!”

”Right. Mission complete. Everyone, fall back!”

With a wave of his hand, Li Chang’an led the squad in a swift departure from the reconnaissance point.

Just as they reached the cave entrance, Han Ruoxi suddenly stopped, her brow furrowed.

”Wait. Do you guys hear something?”

”What sound?”

Sun Yang cautiously raised his gun, scanning his surroundings.

”Don’t scare me like that. I don’t want to run into anything we shouldn’t be running into!”

”Quiet!”

Li Chang’an raised a hand, signaling for everyone to stop.

He tilted his head and listened for a few seconds, his expression darkening slightly.

”There’s movement. Must be Insect Race reinforcements!”

”Dammit, they’re fast!”

Sun Yang couldn’t help but curse.

”Captain, what do we do? Fight them head-on or retreat?”

”Retreat. The mission is complete. No need to get bogged down in a fight.”

Li Chang’an made a quick decision.

”Back the way we came. Avoid contact as much as possible!”

The team immediately got moving, rapidly retreating toward their scout ship.

The faint roars of the Insect Race could be heard from behind, growing closer and closer.

”Pick up the pace! We can’t let them catch us!”

Li Chang’an urged them on while keeping a close watch on their rear, his Saw Chain Sword gripped tightly, ready to deal with any sudden developments.

The Insect Hunter Squad quickly retreated along the path they had come. In the valley outside the cave, a light breeze kicked up a cloud of dust, and the squad’s footsteps sounded urgent and heavy.

The roars of the Insect Race grew nearer, a sound so skin-crawling it felt like it could seep into your very bones.

”Faster, faster! Sun Yang, can’t you run any faster, you big oaf!”

Han Ruoxi glanced back and glared at Sun Yang as she ran. Seeing him panting like a bellows, she couldn’t help but press him.

”I... I am running!”

Sun Yang gasped for air, the Pulse Gun on his shoulder bouncing violently.

”Han Ruoxi... cut the crap! You try running with something this heavy on your back! We’re built differently! Don’t compare your scrawny frame to mine!”

”How come I don’t see Bai Lin running any slower than you with all his gear?”

Han Ruoxi rolled her eyes and turned to speed up.

”Hurry up! If an insect snatches you away, we’re not responsible for the rescue!”

”Han Ruoxi! You’re insulting my dignity!”

Sun Yang yelled between gasps, but he didn’t dare slow his pace, terrified of actually being left behind.

”I’m telling you, even if the insects show up, I’ll be the first one to blast them to bits!”

”Stop arguing! The commotion behind us is getting closer. The Insect Race reinforcements are catching up!”

Li Chang’an said coldly, his voice carrying an undeniable authority.

”Sun Yang, can you keep running? If you can’t, you can stay behind and cover our retreat!”

”No, no, no! I can run! I can still run!”

The moment Sun Yang heard those words, he was instantly re-energized. His pace picked up noticeably, so much so that he nearly tripped over his own feet.

”Captain, don’t scare me like that, okay? I’ve got enough stamina to last half a day!”

”Then use that energy to run, not to talk!”

Li Chang’an shot him a glance, then looked at Bai Lin.

”Bai Lin, any change in the insect signals? Have they called for more reinforcements?”

”Scanning... wait, there’s a problem!”

A string of complex code flashed on Bai Lin’s terminal screen, and his brow furrowed slightly.

”There’s an anomaly in the Insect Race’s communication frequency. It looks like they’re coordinating a small pursuit team. Based on the signal strength, they’re only five hundred meters away!”

”Five hundred meters?!”

Han Ruoxi’s eyes went wide.

”That close? They’re not going to just drop on us from the sky, are they?”

”The Insect Race doesn’t have a winged pursuit unit. They should be ground-based, but they’re faster than us!”

Bai Lin said calmly, his fingers still flying across the screen.

”If we delay any longer, they’ll catch us!”

”Captain, what do we do then?”

Sun Yang looked at Li Chang’an with a nervous expression, his steps already becoming unsteady.

”We can’t really leave someone behind to cover the rear, can we? How about you give the order, and we find a place to set an ambush and take them out?”

”An ambush isn’t a bad idea, but not here!”

Li Chang’an scanned their surroundings, his eyes quickly sweeping over the valley’s terrain. He then pointed to a rock face up ahead.

”There. Behind that rock face is a blind spot that can briefly halt their advance. Everyone, move!”

The group immediately picked up their pace and rushed in the direction Li Chang’an had pointed.

Behind the rock face was a slightly sunken area, just enough to form a concealed defensive position.

”Ruo Xi, set up a defensive perimeter! Get your electric arc ready!”

Li Chang’an quickly assigned tasks.

”Shen Qiuyue, cover the left flank. Sun Yang, suppressive fire. Bai Lin, keep monitoring the insect signals and make sure there are no more reinforcements!”

”Roger!”

Han Ruoxi immediately raised her hand. The electric arcs on her gloves CRACKLED, looking like a web of lightning ready to be unleashed at any moment.

”Don’t worry. I won’t let a single insect break through the left flank!”

Shen Qiuyue drew her High-Energy Dueling Sword and stood coolly to one side, her gaze locked on the Black Shadows gradually approaching in the distance.

”Leave the suppressive fire to me! These insects are about to get a taste of my Pulse Gun!”

Sun Yang dropped to one knee and propped his Pulse Gun on a rock, the muzzle already aimed into the distance.

”They’re here!”

Bai Lin warned in a low voice, his fingers sliding rapidly across his terminal.

”Distance one hundred meters! They’re fast!”

The words had barely left his mouth when a dozen insect figures charged out of the darkness ahead.

They were small but agile, with clawed limbs and the swift movements of a predator.

”Open fire!”

At Li Chang’an’s command, the entire squad instantly entered a combat state.