Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

’So they had a backup plan after all!’ A slight smirk appeared on Li Chang’an’s lips.

"Linzi, faster.

Qiuyue, you take the left. Ruo Xi and Sun Yang, watch the right!"

"Understood!" Shen Qiuyue drew her Dueling Sword and ducked behind cover.

Han Ruoxi adjusted her drone’s detection range and spoke in a low voice.

"Three heat sources on the right. They aren’t fast, but their direction is clear—they’re heading right for us!"

"Sun Yang, prepare to engage!" Li Chang’an glanced back.

"Control your fire. Don’t burn through all your ammo right at the start!"

"Don’t worry, Captain!" Sun Yang set up his Pulse Gun, his eyes fixed on the path ahead.

"I know how to handle this. Those three kills are mine!"

A sudden RUSTLING sound came from the bushes ahead, and several black shadows gradually emerged.

The leading Alien Martial Artist held a Long Spear, followed by two squadmates carrying heavy rifles.

Their movements were clearly more organized, and their gear looked much more advanced.

"Here they come!" Han Ruoxi warned softly.

"Captain, these guys look more like special forces than the patrol we just fought!"

"All the more reason to be careful!" Li Chang’an tightened his grip on his Saw Chain Sword.

"Sun Yang, draw their fire! Ruo Xi, provide cover! Qiuyue, prepare for a flanking surprise attack!"

The words had barely left his mouth when Sun Yang’s Pulse Gun fired its first beam. It struck one of the rifle-wielding Martial Artists, who staggered as sparks flew from their Armor, but they didn’t fall.

"This Armor is tough!" Sun Yang exclaimed.

"Captain, their gear is way better than the last group’s!"

"Less talk, more shooting!" Li Chang’an said as he charged the enemy, buying time for his teammates.

Han Ruoxi maneuvered her drone to the side and unleashed a swift arc of electricity, striking the other rifleman’s shoulder and causing him to freeze for a moment.

Seizing the opportunity, Shen Qiuyue closed in at high speed from the other flank. She thrust her sword into the enemy’s chest, and with a low, muffled thud, the Martial Artist collapsed.

The remaining Long Spear-wielding Martial Artist let out a roar, raised his weapon, and charged at Li Chang’an.

He was incredibly fast. The tip of the spear traced a shining arc through the air, aimed straight at Li Chang’an’s chest.

However, Li Chang’an just sneered, sidestepped the attack, and swung his Saw Chain Sword in a smooth, horizontal sweep that struck the enemy’s side.

The Martial Artist cried out in pain. The Long Spear slipped from his grasp as he fell to the ground.

"Done!" Li Chang’an retracted his Chain Sword and looked up at Bai Lin.

"Linzi, how’s it going?"

"Almost there, just give me thirty more seconds!" Bai Lin replied, his hands flying over his console.

"This thing’s lockdown protocol is a little complex, but it’s nothing I can’t handle!"

Li Chang’an nodded.

"Hurry up. There could be more enemies behind them.

Everyone, stay alert!"

Sun Yang gritted his teeth, muttering under his breath as he kept watch.

"Captain, you think these guys are intentionally luring us into their base? A force this small can’t stop us. It feels wrong!"

"It’s very likely!" Li Chang’an’s gaze was cold.

"But regardless, our mission is to clear the perimeter and ensure the follow-up forces can enter smoothly.

Whatever tricks they have up their sleeves, we just have to take them out!"

"Captain, disassembly complete!" Bai Lin shouted excitedly, holding up a faintly glowing Energy Core.

"This thing looks pretty high-tech. We’ll definitely have to study it back at base!"

"Nice work!" A satisfied smile touched Li Chang’an’s lips.

"Stow it. Prepare to pull out!"

Just then, Han Ruoxi’s drone sounded another alarm.

"Captain, bad news! I’m detecting a large number of heat signatures behind us—at least twenty! The main enemy force is here!"

"Damn it!" Shen Qiuyue quickly ran back to the group.

"Captain, there are too many of them. A direct fight is out of the question. We have to find a way to escape!"

"Fall back!" Li Chang’an ordered decisively.

"Maintain formation, use the terrain for cover, and minimize contact.

Linzi, try to jam their communications and buy us some time!"

The squad members quickly packed their gear and began their retreat.

The Insect Hunter Squad moved swiftly through the field of jagged rocks, every member on high alert.

The sound of footsteps behind them grew faster. The shouts of the Alien Martial Artists and the clang of their equipment grew closer and closer, as if they would overtake them at any second.

"Captain! They’re really catching up!" Sun Yang yelled anxiously, adjusting the angle of his Pulse Gun as he ran.

"If we have to keep running like this, we won’t be able to conserve any ammo!"

"Cut the crap! If you could run a little faster, they might not have caught up at all!" Han Ruoxi retorted from the rear of the formation, piloting her drone as she ran.

The drone’s feed showed the enemy’s main force: at least twenty individuals, including several burly, heavily armored Martial Artists.

"Linzi, is the comms jam ready yet?" Li Chang’an glanced back at Bai Lin.

Bai Lin was cradling his terminal, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he ran.

"Almost! These guys are using a low-grade frequency, but they’ve got multiple layers of encryption. I have to break through them one by one!"

Shen Qiuyue kept to the left flank of the team, periodically glancing back to check the enemy’s pursuit.

She said coolly.

"If they try to surround us, we’ll have to force our way through.

This rock field is too complex. The longer this drags on, the worse it’ll be for us!"

"Captain!" Han Ruoxi suddenly called out.

"There’s a pass up ahead! The terrain is narrow—perfect for a bottleneck! We can use it to slow them down!"

Li Chang’an scanned the terrain ahead. It was a natural, narrow pass flanked by high rock walls, only wide enough for two or three people to pass through at a time.

"Good, that’s the spot!" Li Chang’an ordered decisively.

"Ruo Xi, deploy the tactical drone! Sun Yang, take a vantage point and provide suppressing fire! Qiuyue and I will hold the front line! Linzi, keep working on that comms jam!"

"Understood!" they all answered in unison and sprang into action.

After reaching the pass, Sun Yang quickly dropped prone behind a massive boulder and adjusted the angle of his Pulse Gun.

He gritted his teeth.

"Captain, I’ll hold them off as long as I can. You guys better wrap things up fast. Don’t leave me holding the bag for too long!"

Han Ruoxi deployed a tactical drone, which circled above the pass, providing real-time surveillance of the enemy’s movements.

She said quietly.

"These Alien Martial Artists are moving with more discipline than the patrol. They look like well-trained soldiers.

We need to be careful!"

Shen Qiuyue stood beside Li Chang’an, her Dueling Sword in hand, her expression frosty.

"Captain, what’s the plan? If they launch an all-out assault, how long can our front line hold?"

"We stall for as long as possible!" Li Chang’an said in a low voice, tightening his grip on his Saw Chain Sword.

"As soon as Linzi gets that comms jam up, their pursuit will slow down significantly.

We just need to hold out until then!"

Bai Lin sat behind a rock, furiously tapping away at his terminal.

His voice was strained.

"Two more minutes! Just give me two minutes and I’ll have it!"

"You hear that?" Li Chang’an shouted.

"Two minutes! Everyone, hold on!"

No sooner had he spoken than the enemy’s figures appeared in their line of sight.

Leading the charge were several lightly armored Martial Artists. They were agile, armed with Short Blades and light firearms, and were rapidly approaching the pass.

"Here they come!" Sun Yang squeezed the trigger. A high-energy beam shot straight toward the foremost Martial Artist, who dodged with a flicker of movement, narrowly avoiding the first shot.

"Tch, damn, he’s fast!" Sun Yang cursed, adjusted his aim, and fired again.

This time, the beam struck its target squarely. The enemy let out a grunt and collapsed to the ground.

"Don’t get cocky, there are more behind them!" Han Ruoxi commanded her drone to release an arc of electricity, which exploded among the enemy, forcing them to retreat temporarily.

Shen Qiuyue seized the opening, dashing forward with her blade aimed at a nearby light Martial Artist.

Her opponent tried to parry with a dagger, but her Sword Momentum was too fierce. It shattered his weapon before continuing on to pierce through his chest.

"Qiuyue, two more on your left!" Li Chang’an shouted, simultaneously blocking another Martial Artist’s attack with his Saw Chain Sword.

His movements were clean and efficient. The Chain Sword roared as it sliced through the enemy’s weapon, and he followed up with a kick that sent the foe flying.

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