Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

”The Flame-Splitting Weapon has been activated!”

Bai Lin’s expression changed slightly as he looked at his terminal screen.

”The Energy fluctuations are rapidly intensifying. It has to be destroyed now!”

”Quick, inside!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Li Chang’an was the first to charge through the base’s main gate.

After entering the base, the squad found a massive device in the core area. It pulsed with a dark red glow, and several members of the Rebel Army were operating it.

”Target confirmed. Destroy it on sight!”

Li Chang’an ordered decisively.

Sun Yang quickly set up his Pulse Gun and fired continuously at the device’s key components, while Han Ruoxi’s electric arcs struck its Energy Core with precision.

But the rebels seemed to have been prepared. They quickly shielded the device and launched a frenzied counterattack.

”Cover Sun Yang and Ruo Xi!”

Li Chang’an charged forward with Shen Qiuyue, engaging the rebels in close-quarters combat.

Their teamwork was flawless, but they were simply outnumbered, and the battle reached a stalemate.

”We’re running out of time!”

Bai Lin shouted.

”The Flame-Splitting Weapon is about to discharge its Energy! We have to detonate the Energy Core immediately!”

”Bai Lin, can you detonate it remotely?”

Li Chang’an yelled as he blocked an enemy attack.

”I need thirty seconds!”

Bai Lin’s fingers flew across his terminal’s screen as he worked quickly.

”Got it! We’ll cover you!”

Li Chang’an gritted his teeth and swung his Saw Chain Sword, forcefully suppressing the enemy’s assault.

Thirty seconds felt like an eternity. Finally, Bai Lin’s terminal let out a BEEP, and he looked up and shouted.

”Detonation successful! Fall back, now!”

The squad quickly turned and bolted from the base. Behind them, the Flame-Splitting Weapon exploded with a deafening ROAR, and the entire base was instantly engulfed in flames.

A towering wave of heat washed over them, but no one stopped running.

At last, they reached a safe distance. Looking back at the completely destroyed base, their faces were etched with a mixture of exhaustion and relief.

”Objective achieved. Mission complete!”

Li Chang’an announced calmly, gasping for breath.

Han Ruoxi plopped onto the ground and wiped the sweat from her face.

”I really thought we were dead. That was one hell of a thrill!”

”Don’t get too cocky!”

Shen Qiuyue said coldly.

”There’ll be plenty more missions like this in the future!”

”I’d rather not do that a second time!”

Sun Yang leaned against a tree, shaking his head with a wry smile.

Bai Lin checked his terminal, confirming that all intel had been backed up before looking up at Li Chang’an.

”We can head back now!”

”Good. Let’s move out!”

Li Chang’an nodded.

”You all did a great job. Let’s go back and rest up!”

And with that, the matter was finally over.

「Several days passed.」

The mess hall at the Interstellar Warrior Base was always lively.

”Hey, Bai, can you stop staring at that screen for a second? What the hell are you looking at during mealtime?”

Sun Yang’s voice was loud, muffled by the food crammed in his mouth.

Bai Lin didn’t even look up, his eyes fixed on the light screen in front of him as his fingers swiped rapidly.

”I’m reading a mission briefing!”

His tone was calm, his voice quiet but loud enough for Sun Yang to hear.

”A mission briefing? It’s lunchtime! Can’t the mission stuff wait until after we’ve eaten?”

Sun Yang put down his chopsticks and reached for Bai Lin’s light screen.

”Don’t mess around!”

Bai Lin shifted slightly to the side, dodging Sun Yang’s hand.

”It’s not like a little peek will hurt!”

Sun Yang persisted, reaching out again.

”This is classified information!”

Bai Lin frowned, his tone a little sharper.

”Classified? What could possibly be classified within our squad?”

Sun Yang pouted, his face a mask of disbelief.

”It’s just some mission background data and enemy intel analysis!”

Bai Lin explained, but his eyes never left the light screen.

”Tch, you’re being so secretive, acting like it’s some huge deal!”

Sun Yang muttered, then picked up his chopsticks and went back to eating.

”I’m telling you, Sun Yang, can’t you eat a little slower? You’re eating like a starving man!”

Shen Qiuyue’s voice cut in, tinged with disgust.

Sun Yang swallowed his mouthful and said defensively,

”What? I’m hungry! We trained so hard today, you’re not hungry?”

”I am hungry, but you should chew your food slowly. It’s better for you!”

Shen Qiuyue ate from her plate slowly and deliberately, her movements graceful.

”Fine, fine, Your Highness. I get it. You’re always right!”

Sun Yang rolled his eyes and started eating even faster.

”Ruo Xi, why are you eating so little today? Are you not feeling well?”

Li Chang’an asked, looking with concern at Han Ruoxi, who was sitting beside him.

Han Ruoxi shook her head, her voice soft and sweet.

”I’m not unwell, I just don’t have much of an appetite!”

”No appetite? Was training too exhausting?”

Li Chang’an was a little worried.

”Maybe!”

Han Ruoxi nodded and took another small bite of rice.

”If you’re not feeling well, you have to say so! Don’t just push through it!”

Li Chang’an urged her.

”Mhm, I know, Captain!”

Han Ruoxi replied obediently.

”Hey Captain, you’re being awfully caring toward Ruo Xi. Watch out, or Qiuyue might get jealous!”

Sun Yang chimed in, his tone teasing.

Shen Qiuyue glanced up at Sun Yang, a hint of coldness in her eyes.

Sun Yang immediately shut his mouth and buried his head in his food, not daring to say another word.

”Don’t talk nonsense!”

Li Chang’an shot Sun Yang a glare, then turned back to Han Ruoxi.

”Eat more. Building up your stamina is important too!”

”Okay!”

Han Ruoxi nodded and began to eat in earnest.

Just then, the mess hall doors were pushed open, and a man in a military uniform walked in.

The man was tall with a stern face. The insignia on his shoulders—two bars and three stars—indicated his rank as a Lieutenant Colonel.

The mess hall fell silent at once, and all eyes turned to the man.

The man scanned the room, his gaze finally settling on Li Chang’an’s table.

”You’re the Insect Hunter Squad, right?”

The man’s voice was deep, laced with authority.

Li Chang’an put down his chopsticks, stood up, and faced the man.

”Yes, sir!”

”Come with me to the command center. Commander Liu wants to see you!”

With that, the man turned and walked away.

Li Chang’an glanced at his teammates and nodded.

”Let’s go!”

He took the lead, and Han Ruoxi and the others quickly got up to follow him.

The group followed the man to the command center.

Inside the command center, a woman in a military uniform sat at a desk, looking at a light screen.

She was tall and slender with refined features and a sharp gaze. Her shoulder insignia indicated she held the rank of Colonel.

This was the commander of the 42nd Combat Group, Liu Na.

”Reporting, Commander! The Insect Hunter Squad is here!”

The man saluted Liu Na and reported.

Liu Na looked up, her eyes sweeping over Li Chang’an and his team.

”So, you’re the Insect Hunter Squad?”

Her voice was cool and appraising.

”Yes, Commander!”

Li Chang’an answered again.

”I hear your squad performed well during the last insect swarm battle.”

Liu Na asked.

”It was all thanks to the team’s hard work!”

Li Chang’an replied humbly.

”Mm, good. Humility is a virtue!”

Liu Na nodded, her tone softening slightly.

”I’ve called you here today because I have a new mission for you!”

Liu Na said, pointing to the light screen in front of her.

”Take a look at this!”

Li Chang’an and his team stepped forward to look at the screen.

A mission briefing was displayed on the screen.

Mission Name: Border Patrol.

Mission Location: Lion’s Fang Star Border Region.

Mission Objective: Patrol the border region and prevent incursions by unknown forces.

Mission Description: Recently, unknown forces have been active in the border region. They are suspected to be Alien Martial Artists or Rebel Army organizations. Your squad is required to patrol the border region and ensure its security.

Mission Reward: To be determined based on mission completion.

”Border patrol?”

Sun Yang frowned as he read the mission briefing.

”I thought it was going to be an important mission. It’s just a patrol?”

”Patrol missions are important too!”

Shen Qiuyue said.

”What’s so important about it? Isn’t it just walking around and looking? What’s the point?”

Sun Yang scoffed, his expression disdainful.