Fog Rises

The night wind of Martial Arts Heavenly Capital brushed across Chen Kong's cheeks, carrying a sharp scent of star sand.

He held Liu Ma's Data Terminal, its screen still flickering with the replay of Jing Liuli's livestream.

In the corner of the footage, the outline of the base's observation window, the arrangement of the galaxy outside, even the lingering afterimage of Azure Star Power around Tiandao—all of it was like a key, prying open memories he had sealed away for years.

"It can't be wrong."

Liu Ma stood beside Chen Kong with his arms folded, his sturdy body over two meters tall like a small mountain. His usually rough features were now full of gravity, stripped of some of their flamboyant boldness and replaced by a surprising delicacy.

"The patterns on that observation window, the arrangement of the Star Energy Light Strips—they're exactly the same as the base where we stayed as children."

Liu Ma's Star Source was the Nether Warhorse, while his Star Core was the Golden Demon Bull. Born with violent strength and a tall, powerful frame, he had always appeared rough on the outside but meticulous within to outsiders.

He seemed carefree and boisterous, but he was actually exceedingly thoughtful, especially when it came to the base from their childhood. Its memories had been carved into his bones.

After all, although he had also been a bottom-ranker, he had at least been one of the "successful ones" who had fused with a Star Core back then. He was completely different from Chen Kong, that "anomaly."

Thus, while the other Starborn had not spared the skinny Liu Ma from their share of "bullying" either—

All in all, his days at the base had not been as "difficult" as Chen Kong's.

So, in Liu Ma's eyes, his time at