Chen Kong

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Chen Kong (尘空)
Alias(es)	Old Kong
Species/Race	Starborn
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Ember Organization's Star Project; later associated with Vivian, Liu Ma, and Yu Qianxia's training
Status	Body taken over by Qiong 517
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Mark of the Void manifests	12 21	Awakens his first Star Core during the Final Assessment; it nullifies and assimilates Star Energy. His second power remains uncooperative.
Twin Star Cores revealed	21	Revealed to possess two Star Cores, an exceptional trait among Starborn.
Star Source: The Visionary activated	51	Replicates Jing Liuli's Daytime Dream, temporarily enhancing himself and suppressing pain.
Rank Two Visionary / Perfect Awakening	113 114	Purifies his Star Energy through Perfect Awakening and becomes able to maintain up to two replicated Star Sources simultaneously.
Star Core: Mark of the Void — First Awakening	181	Develops a visible Star Mark and a stronger, clearer Void imprint after Yu Qianxia's training.
High-output Visionary use	400	Matches a quasi-Calamity-class Star Beast with copied abilities, but suffers destabilizing side effects.
Qiong's full takeover	517	Qiong fully awakens through Chen Kong's body, transforming half of it into skeletal form.

Background / History

Chen Kong was the lowest-ranked trainee of Ember Organization's 36-person Star Project, unable to achieve even basic Star Energy Sensing after two years. Other trainees bullied him and stole his meals; he internalized the label of “The Weakest” and kept to himself. His older sister, Chen Xing, publicly disparaged his apparent inability, though she also repeatedly protected and worried about him 2 6 14.

Tiandao Siming was the first prominent trainee to insist that Chen Kong's Star Core was not inactive but unusually powerful. Tiandao's encouragement gave Chen Kong hope before the Final Assessment, where Chen Kong initially froze in fear before awakening the Mark of the Void and discovering another arrogant power within himself 2 12 20 21.

His willingness to protect civilians during Molten Mountain's supermarket attack changed how others viewed him. Though terrified of death and severely injured, Chen Kong chose to stay behind, rescue a child, and buy strangers time to escape 50 51.

Afterward, he became more composed and capable, working alongside Vivian and Liu Ma in the Rust Iron District. Yu Qianxia took both Chen Kong and Liu Ma under her wing, where Chen Kong refined his control, learned through imitation, and later awakened his Mark of the Void 106 141 149 150 181.

Appearance

Chen Kong was initially a short, gaunt boy whose oversized training uniform had worn-white cuffs. He had messy hair and a visibly timid bearing, often lowering his head or physically shrinking from attention 2.

• Short and gaunt during his Star Project trainee days 2
• Wore an oversized, heavily worn training uniform 2
• Has black hair 138
• Later carries the Seconds Hand Rapier and the Void Weaver 113 181
• Develops a silver-white Star Mark on his right palm after his Mark of the Void's First Awakening 181

Personality

Chen Kong began as deeply insecure, introverted, and self-deprecating. He expected to be ignored or bullied, feared confrontation, and initially considered fleeing the Final Assessment rather than facing the Earth Dragon Lizard 14 20.

His defining quality is not fearlessness, but acting despite fear. He repeatedly prioritizes others' safety over his own: protecting civilians from Molten Mountain, standing against Tiandao for Vivian, bringing vulnerable children through an assessment, and promising to clear Vivian's name despite the political danger 50 51 139 179 395.

As he grows, Chen Kong becomes more strategic and confident. He learns to probe opponents, negotiate payment for dangerous work, set restrictions on Mi Yao's challenge, and exploit copied abilities creatively rather than relying only on raw power 106 114 344 346.

Abilities & Skills

Mark of the Void

Chen Kong's first Star Core is an assimilation-type power derived from Qiong's far more dangerous ability. It can reduce matter and energy to attributeless Star Energy, though its rate of assimilation has limits 162 517.

• Neutralizes Star Energy attacks, including Molten Mountain's magma 50
• Erases his presence from enemies unfamiliar with him 113
• Can extend Presence Erasure to his weapon for surprise attacks 114
• Uses Return to Dust to dismantle obstacles such as a Quantum Door Lock 180
• Can form Mark of the Void bullets through a modified Star Energy gun 138
• Cannot overcome enemies whose Star Energy replenishes faster than it can assimilate 162
• Presence Erasure is less effective against people familiar with Chen Kong 113

The Visionary

A Star Source that turns fantasies into reality by replicating abilities after acquiring sufficient real-world “soil” or information 114.

• Replicates other Star Sources, including Jing Liuli's Daytime Dream and Vivian's Black Iron Clock 51 114
• Synchronizes with Twin Stars' Star Core abilities to extend the duration of copied Star Sources 114
• Uses up to two Replicated Star Sources at once after Perfect Awakening 114
• Perfectly copied Liu Ma's Star Core, Star Source, punching rhythm, and combat style 150
• Tracks Star Energy residue to locate targets 180
• Absorbs a Star Beast's life information and Star Core characteristics 371
• Its high-output use causes pain and unstable power surges 400

Stealth and Infiltration

Chen Kong combines Presence Erasure, copied Star Sources, and careful observation to infiltrate secured locations.

• Entered the Gear Church without detection 179 180
• Avoided patrol blind spots and Star Energy Detectors despite visiting the church for the first time 180
• Used a copied Treasure-Seeking Rat Star Source during infiltration 180
• Infiltrated a Quicksand Star Black Ant nest while avoiding multiple waves of ants 371

Combat Adaptation

Chen Kong favors analysis, imitation, and unconventional solutions over direct strength.

• Probes unknown abilities with the Void Weaver before committing to a strategy 344
• Replicates an opponent's fighting style to meet technical challenges 150
• Fights back-to-back with Vivian against Chen Xing's vengeful souls 162
• Makes tactical decisions during the Blood Crystal Coral ambush to protect the trains behind his group 254

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Seconds Hand Rapier — Used with a Blood Flame manifestation of replicated Black Iron Clock 113 114
• Void Weaver — Chen Kong's primary weapon; used to probe enemies and fire attacks 181 344
• Modified Star Energy gun — Fires Mark of the Void bullets 138
• Sweet Dream Candy - Blue — Temporarily boosts his Star Energy and helps him break free of pressure 138
• Sweet Dream Candy (False Blue) — Created through a replicated Star Source; boosts his strength and willpower 51
• Multi-functional tactical suit — Tested with Vivian and Liu Ma for desert operations 463

Relationships

• Chen Xing — Older sister. Their relationship is strained by her harsh expectations and Chen Kong's commitment to protect others, but her actions are driven by deep concern for his safety 2 163 191.
• Tiandao Siming — Early source of encouragement and guidance. Chen Kong credits Tiandao with helping him survive and teaching him how to live, though he later opposes him to protect Vivian 2 110 139.
• Vivian — Ally and romantic interest. Chen Kong becomes infatuated after she helps him, later repeatedly risks himself to protect her and works closely with her in the Rust Iron District 46 106 162 179.
• Liu Ma — Initially an opponent, then a training partner and ally. Chen Kong defeats him through strategy, trains under Yu Qianxia beside him, and later fights alongside him 114 141 150 254.
• Yu Qianxia — Mentor who recognizes his potential, trains him with Liu Ma, and offers to teach him Gun-Fu 141 150.
• Bai Kong / Qiong — Malevolent consciousness within Chen Kong. Bai Kong bargains for temporary control of his body, while Qiong later fully takes over 185 213 517.
• Mi Yao — Old acquaintance and competitive rival. They gamble over Martial Arts Emblems, then form a temporary survival alliance on Longevity Island 346 427.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Final Assessment

Initially unable to act against the Earth Dragon Lizard, Chen Kong awakens the Mark of the Void after recalling Tiandao's words. The event reveals his Twin Star Core nature and begins his shift away from passive self-loathing 20 21.

Deep Blue Capital

Chen Kong confronts Molten Mountain in a burning supermarket. By protecting civilians despite expecting no reward or recognition, he establishes the self-sacrificial resolve that earns him recognition as a protagonist 50 51 139.

Rust Iron District and Gear Church

Chen Kong becomes a more reliable operative while helping Vivian search for the Church's missing item. He fights Liu Ma, infiltrates the Gear Church for Quantum Keys, and later loses his memories after the Soul Space conflict involving Bai Kong and Tiandao's projection 106 113 114 179 191.

Steam Furnace Conflict

To save Vivian, Chen Kong makes a contract with Bai Kong: Bai Kong may control his body once every seven days for three minutes, but may not kill anyone. Bai Kong subsequently fights Tiandao while posing as Chen Kong 213 214.

Martial Arts Heavenly Capital

Placed in the Yellow-tier class despite being a Starborn, Chen Kong faces manipulated setbacks involving the Prosperity Martial Tower. He confronts Zhang Hao, renews his rivalry with Mi Yao, and increasingly relies on tactical use of the Visionary 342 343 344 346.

Later Expeditions

Chen Kong leads and coordinates with allies against threats including the Blood Crystal Coral, the Quicksand Star Ant nest, and Longevity Island's Rotten Vine Corpses. His increasing power grants major combat potential, but the Visionary's side effects become a growing danger 254 371 400 427.

Qiong's Awakening

Qiong attempts to take Chen Kong's body by using his Star Core as leverage. Chen Kong resists but ultimately fails; Qiong fully awakens and transforms part of his body before confronting Tiandao 517.

Notable Quotes

“I was never a prodigy, just an ordinary person.” 50

“An ordinary person can't do what I'm doing now.” 110

“Compared to monsters like that, I'm no different from an ordinary person.” 110

Trivia

• Chen Kong was originally Stellaris No. 36, the final-ranked trainee in the Star Project 191.
• The Dimensional Audience initially considered him one of the weakest and least-liked protagonists among the Starborn before his actions in Deep Blue Capital changed their opinion 51 139.
• His Perfect Awakening imitation of Liu Ma was so exact that only their different physiques distinguished them 150.
• He is skilled at arcade games and had known Mi Yao since their base days 346.