Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

The doors to the command center were open. Liu Na stood before a massive holographic projection screen, her back to the entrance, seemingly focused on its contents.

”Reporting!”

Li Chang’an led his squad into the command center and gave Liu Na a military salute.

Liu Na turned around. Her expression was grave as her eyes swept over Li Chang’an and his squad members.

”You’re here? Take a look at this first.”

She pointed at the holographic screen behind her.

The screen displayed a desolate planetary landscape. Giant fissures and craters were everywhere, and the air was filled with a gray mist, giving it a lifeless appearance.

”What is this place?”

Sun Yang asked curiously, leaning closer to the screen for a better look.

”The Kars Mine Area.”

Liu Na’s voice was a little low.

”It’s an abandoned mining area on the outskirts of Lion’s Fang Star. It was decommissioned many years ago, but recently, we’ve detected abnormal Energy fluctuations there.”

”Energy fluctuations? The Insect Race?”

Shen Qiuyue frowned, her mind immediately jumping to the Insect Race.

”We’re not certain yet, but it’s highly likely.”

Liu Na nodded.

”According to probe data, the source of the Energy fluctuations is deep within the mine area, and its intensity is steadily increasing. To prevent the situation from worsening, the Combat Group has decided to dispatch a squad to investigate.”

”An investigation? For something this minor, do they really need to send in our Insect Hunter Squad?”

Sun Yang said, puzzled.

”What kind of powerful insects could there be in an abandoned mine? Couldn’t they just send a patrol team to check it out?”

”This situation is a bit special.”

Liu Na shook her head, her tone serious.

”The situation in the Kars Mine Area is more complex than we imagined. Not only are the Energy fluctuations abnormal, but there are also signs of unidentified biological activity.”

”Unidentified creatures?”

Han Ruoxi blinked, asking with a hint of curiosity.

”Aren’t they from the Insect Race?”

”We’re not sure. The detectors picked up some biological signals, but they don’t match the characteristics of any known Insect Race lifeforms,”

Liu Na explained.

”To be cautious, the Combat Group has decided to send an elite squad to investigate. And your Insect Hunter Squad is the most suitable choice.”

”Commander, just tell us straight. What’s the real situation with this mission?”

Li Chang’an spoke up. He didn’t like beating around the bush and preferred to get a direct understanding of the mission’s true nature.

Liu Na glanced at Li Chang’an, a flash of appreciation in her eyes.

”Alright, I’ll be direct.”

She took a deep breath, her tone becoming even more solemn.

”The Energy fluctuations and unidentified creatures appearing in the Kars Mine Area are likely related to an ancient ruin.”

”A ruin?”

The squad members were all stunned for a moment, their faces showing expressions of surprise.

”Are you saying there’s a ruin from an ancient civilization beneath the Kars Mine Area?”

Shen Qiuyue asked, finding it hard to believe.

”It’s just speculation, but it’s highly probable.”

Liu Na nodded.

”The Kars Mine Area has a very long history. It’s said that a long, long time ago, it was the center of a very prosperous civilization. For some reason, it later fell into decline and was eventually abandoned, becoming the mining area it is today.”

”Are you saying the Energy fluctuations and the unidentified creatures are both related to this ancient ruin?”

Li Chang’an’s frown deepened. He had a faint feeling that this mission might be far more complex than he’d imagined.

”It’s very likely,”

Liu Na said with certainty.

”According to the Combat Group’s analysis, the Energy fluctuations in the Kars Mine Area are likely an Energy leak from within the ancient ruin. The unidentified creatures could be Guardians from inside the ruin, or perhaps mutated lifeforms created by the ruin’s Energy.”

”Whoa, an ancient civilization’s ruin? That sounds exciting!”

Sun Yang cried out excitedly, a broad smile on his face.

”Captain, I like this mission! It’s definitely going to be more interesting than just killing bugs!”

”Sun Yang, don’t get ahead of yourself. An ancient ruin isn’t some fun playground.”

Shen Qiuyue shot Sun Yang a glance, her tone serious.

”Ruins are filled with unknown dangers. They could turn out to be even harder to deal with than the Insect Race.”

”Qiuyue is right.”

Li Chang’an nodded in agreement with Shen Qiuyue’s point.

”Ancient ruins are full of unknowns. We must be cautious and not let our guard down.”

”Don’t worry, Captain. We know what’s at stake.”

Shen Qiuyue nodded, her tone firm.

”We will give this mission our all and guarantee its completion!”

”Very good.”

Liu Na nodded in satisfaction.

”The objective of this mission is to investigate the abnormal situation in the Kars Mine Area, determine the source of the Energy fluctuations, and identify the unknown creatures. If possible, explore the interior of the ruin as much as you can and gather more intelligence.”

”Understood!”

The squad members responded in unison once more.

”One more thing. Besides your Insect Hunter Squad, others will be participating in this mission,”

Liu Na said suddenly, her tone carrying a deeper meaning.

”Others? Who?”

Sun Yang asked curiously.

”People from the Galaxy Group.”

Liu Na uttered the name, causing everyone present to falter for a second.

”The Galaxy Group? What are they doing here?”

Shen Qiuyue’s brow furrowed, her voice tinged with displeasure.

”Aren’t they a commercial enterprise? What does a ruin Exploration have to do with them?”

”The recent Energy fluctuations have attracted the Galaxy Group’s attention,”

Liu Na explained.

”They believe the ruin in the Kars Mine Area may hold immense commercial value, so they’ve sent people to participate in the investigation, hoping to get a piece of the pie.”

”Commercial value? These business types really get into everything, don’t they!”

Sun Yang pursed his lips, his tone laced with disdain.

”They won’t even leave an ancient ruin alone. They’re so greedy.”

”It can’t be helped. That’s the nature of business people.”

Liu Na sighed helplessly.

”The Galaxy Group has quite a few connections within the Interstellar Warrior Corps. They proactively requested to join the investigation this time, and the Combat Group was in no position to refuse, so they had to agree to let them send people to ’assist’.”

”’Assist’? I bet they’re here to steal the credit.”

Shen Qiuyue sneered, her voice full of contempt.

”These business people are all talk. The moment real danger appears, they’ll run faster than anyone.”

”Qiuyue, don’t say that. Not everyone from the Galaxy Group is the same,”

Han Ruoxi said softly, as if wanting to put in a good word for the people from the Galaxy Group.

”Ruo Xi, you’re just too kind.”

Shen Qiuyue shook her head, a hint of resignation in her voice.

”I’ve seen the true colors of these business people too many times. They only care about profit; they couldn’t care less if others live or die.”

”Alright, that’s enough.”

Li Chang’an cut off his squad’s discussion, his tone calm.

”It doesn’t matter what the Galaxy Group’s people are here for. We have only one objective: complete the mission the Combat Group has given us.”

”The Captain’s right.”

Shen Qiuyue nodded, her displeased expression vanishing as her tone grew serious.

”We just need to do our jobs. We don’t have to worry about those business people.”

”Mm.”

Li Chang’an nodded, his gaze returning to the Kars Mine Area on the holographic screen.

”Commander, who is the Galaxy Group sending for this mission?”

”The second young master of the Galaxy Group, Zhou Ze,”

Liu Na said.

”Zhou Ze?”

Shen Qiuyue frowned again, the name seeming to ring a bell.

”You mean that notoriously spoiled brat, the good-for-nothing heir of the Zhou Family?”

”That’s the one.”

Liu Na nodded, a trace of resignation in her tone.

”Zhou Ze might not have any real skills, but his family background is significant. During the mission, do your best to cooperate with him and avoid any conflict.”

”Cooperate with him? Commander, are you sure?”

Sun Yang’s eyes widened as he asked in disbelief.

”You want us to cooperate with a spoiled brat? This has to be a joke, right?”

”I know you’re not happy about it, but this is an order from the Combat Group. You must obey,”

Liu Na said, her voice stern.