203: Chapter 203 Star Mist Rescue: Resonance of the Seven Realms and the Puppet's Breakthrough

Section 1: Gathering of the Seven Realms: Star Mist Qi Successor and Equipment Upgrade

Just as the Alliance Mothership departed the black planet where the Mother Nest's body was located, the communicator beeped frantically—it was a strange Star Mist signal. On the screen, a girl wrapped in pale blue star mist was hiding behind a rock, stardust still clinging to her hair, clutching a half-broken "Star Mist Crystal Core" in her hand: "Help! The Source of Martial Tradition in the Star Mist Galaxy is surrounded by Star Mist Puppets! If you don't come soon, they'll gnaw the crystal core to pieces!"

The girl’s name was Luna, the successor of the "Star Mist Qi" from the Star Mist Galaxy. She spoke with a slight wheeze: "My Qi can control the star mist and hide me from the Puppets, but your equipment needs a 'Star Mist Filter Layer.' Otherwise, once you enter the star mist, you won't even be able to see the way and will be ambushed by Puppets." Ling leaned toward the screen and raised an eyebrow: "Star Mist? Can it be darker than the Dark Domain? Don't trick us. If we can't see the way and crash the ship, then what?" Luna rolled her eyes at him: "Why would I lie to you! The Puppets in the star mist can track the scent of martial techniques. Without a filter layer, you're just sitting ducks!"

The equipment upgrade site instantly turned into a noisy market. Luna ground the Star Mist Crystal Core into powder and mixed it into the layers of the spacesuits: "This powder will make the star mist flow around you and help you hide your martial technique fluctuations." Lu Yu held a wrench, applying the crystal core powder to the Alliance Mothership's "Star Mist Navigator." As he applied it, he grumbled: "This thing is harder to deal with than the Origin Resonance Cannon! Too little has no effect, and too much clogs the interface! Luna, come look, why did the navigator's screen go black?" Luna crouched down and blew on the interface with her Star Mist Qi: "So stupid! The crystal core powder clogged it, obviously. Be more gentle when you apply it next time!"

Xiao Juan's Nature Qi gloves gained a layer of "Star Mist Sensing Membrane." Luna smeared some Star Mist Crystal Core liquid onto the membrane: "You can sense the Source of Martial Tradition; this membrane will allow you to see the trajectories of the Puppets in the star mist, even finding their claws hidden within the fog." The Little Whale Spirit's Qi Energy Cabin was placed next to the navigator. The little fellow was currently twisting Source Energy (pale white light), Six Realms Qi, and the new Star Mist Qi into a "Seven-Qi Spiral Ball." As it touched the navigator, the screen instantly lit up. The Star Mist Galaxy map on the screen was so clear that the flow direction of every patch of star mist was visible, leaving everyone stunned.

"This little fellow can actually resonate with seven types of Qi simultaneously!" Luna crouched by the cabin and poked the Little Whale Spirit's ball, which actually rolled into her hand. "In the future, we'll definitely have to rely on it to find the Source of Martial Tradition." Chen Wu nodded and held up the fusion jade—the seven types of Qi on the jade were spinning along with the navigator and the Little Whale Spirit's ball, emitting rainbow-like light: "We are now the 'Seven Realms traditional martial arts Alliance'—Solar System, Andromeda, Triangulum, Small Magellanic Cloud, Extragalactic System, Supercluster, and Star Mist Galaxy (awaiting rescue). This time, going to the Star Mist Galaxy, we not only need to save Luna's Source of Martial Tradition but also find out the Origin of the Star Mist Puppets. Let's hope they aren't a new Spirit-Devourer variant."

The global live stream comments were flooding the screen: "Seven Realms Alliance! This lineup is even more hype than before!" "The Little Whale Spirit's Seven-Qi ball is so cute I could cry! It actually rolled into Luna's hand!" "The part where Ling and Luna were bickering was hilarious! They're probably going to be another bickering couple!" The Technical Department sent word that 71 galaxies had already joined the Alliance. The location of the Star Mist Galaxy's Source of Martial Tradition had been locked, but there were too many Star Mist Puppets around it, with at least 20 "Star Mist Puppet Generals" standing guard.

Section 2: Star Mist Navigation: Turbulence and Spirit-Devourer Remnant Crisis

When the Alliance Mothership entered the Star Mist Galaxy, the window was instantly enveloped in pale blue star mist—it wasn't ordinary fog, but a "Dense Star Mist" that could swallow light. The ship's navigator had only been lit for a few seconds before the screen began to flicker. Even Ling's Stardust Energy was enveloped by the star mist; when he sent it out, it drifted back and stuck to his spacesuit like a layer of blue frost.

"Holy crap! This star mist is way too thick! I can't even see my own hands!" Ling rubbed his eyes, trying to wipe away the star mist, but the more he wiped, the more there was. Luna's Star Mist Crystal Core lit up, and a pale blue light enveloped the mothership: "Don't panic! Dense Star Mist must be guided with Star Mist Qi. I'll lead the way." The light from her fingertip drew a pale blue trajectory outside the cabin, and the star mist immediately parted along the path. The navigator also slowly returned to normal.

But before they had gone far, a "Star Mist Vortex" suddenly appeared ahead. Within the vortex drifted many remains of traditional martial arts practitioners, along with a half-broken Star Mist Crystal Core. Clearly, the Star Mist practitioners who had resisted the Puppets before had fallen here. "It's a trap set by the Star Mist Puppets! The vortex can swallow ships and turn the star mist into Puppet claws to grab the vessel!" Luna's expression changed, and she tried to steer away, but the vortex suddenly emitted a gravitational pull, dragging the mothership inward.

"Karen! Use Storm Qi to push back! Leo! Use Star Core Energy to burn the edges of the vortex!" Chen Wu immediately commanded. Karen's Storm Qi began to spin, the silver-gray wind forming a barrier in front of the mothership, but as soon as the wind touched the star mist, it was enveloped and turned into a pale blue "Mist Wind," unable to block the vortex at all. Leo's Star Core Energy condensed into fireballs and smashed toward the vortex; as soon as the fireballs touched the star mist, they were wrapped in fog, becoming "Mist Fireballs" that drifted back and nearly hit the mothership!

"Watch out! The fireballs will be wrapped by the star mist and bounce back!" Xiao Juan shouted, the Star Mist Sensing Membrane on her gloves lighting up. "There's a 'Star Mist Spirit-Devourer Remnant' at the core of the vortex! It's controlling the vortex! I can see its position!" She marked the Spirit-Devourer Remnant's location on the screen; it was right in the center of the vortex, wrapped in a thick layer of star mist like a blue sphere.

The Little Whale Spirit suddenly rushed out of its cabin, the Seven-Qi Spiral Ball growing larger in front of it as it flew toward the vortex. As soon as the ball touched the vortex, the rebounding Mist Fireballs disappeared, and the vortex slowly began to shrink. "Its Seven-Qi ball can neutralize the star mist!" A-Yue shouted in surprise. "Little Whale Spirit! Throw another ball at the core!" The little fellow nodded and spat out another Seven-Qi ball, smashing it into the Spirit-Devourer Remnant. The remnant was instantly purified, the vortex vanished completely, and the star mist thinned slightly.

The global audience watched with sweaty palms, the comments filled with: "The Little Whale Spirit is incredible! The Seven-Qi ball can actually break a vortex!" "Xiao Juan's sensing membrane is so useful! Precision targeting of the Spirit-Devourer Remnant!" "Luna's Star Mist Qi guidance was crucial! Otherwise, they would have crashed into the vortex long ago!" An hour later, the mothership finally arrived at the Star Mist Source of Martial Tradition area. The distant "Star Mist Core" revealed itself—it was a pale blue crystal floating in the center of the star mist, its surface carved with Star Mist Runes. However, it was surrounded by 20 Star Mist Puppet Generals, with countless smaller Puppets patrolling the area. Each Puppet was wrapped in star mist, holding sabers made of fog; every time they struck the Source of Martial Tradition's shield, they left a scratch.

Section 3: Star Mist Core Battlefield: Puppet Siege and Team Confrontation

Just as the Alliance Mothership came to a halt, the foremost Star Mist Puppet General raised its head. Its body was composed of rock fragments wrapped in pale blue star mist, and its eyes were two orbs of dark blue light. It opened its mouth and spat out a burst of "Star Mist Saber Qi," heading straight for the mothership's Star Mist Filter Layer! "Quick, use Star Mist Qi to block it! This Saber Qi can cut through the filter layer!" Luna shouted. The pale blue light around her formed a barrier outside the filter layer; when the Saber Qi hit the barrier, it was slowly neutralized.

Chen Wu immediately assigned tactics: "Luna, Ling, and A-Yue, you're Group One. Use Star Mist Qi + Stardust Energy + Star Orbit Qi to bind the Puppet General's limbs. Leo and Xiao Kaya, Group Two. Use Star Core Energy + Erosion Energy to blast the Puppet's rock body. Leon and Viya, Group Three. Use Space-Time Energy + Star Cluster Qi to freeze the small Puppets. The new generation will follow me to protect the Core and prevent the Puppets from gnawing on the runes!"

Luna's group was the fastest to charge. Luna's Star Mist Qi condensed into ropes that coiled around the Puppet General's legs; the pale blue light tightly bound the misty legs upon contact. Ling's Stardust Energy condensed into daggers that stabbed into the Puppet's rocky chest, blowing small holes into the stone. A-Yue's Star Orbit Qi coiled around the Puppet's arms, the pale purple light acting like chains to bind them and prevent it from swinging its saber. But the Puppet General suddenly shook, and countless small Puppets crawled out of its body like a swarm of blue insects, lunging toward the three of them!

"It can actually release small Puppets from its body!" Ling was covered in small Puppets; he shook his Stardust Energy to fling them away. "These Puppets are too disgusting! They're making me itchy all over!" Luna immediately used Star Mist Qi to blow the small Puppets away: "Don't move recklessly! The small Puppets can crawl through gaps in your Qi techniques! Leon! Freeze them, quick!" Leon nodded, his pale gold Space-Time Energy freezing the small Puppets in place. Viya's Star Cluster Qi condensed into a hammer, and with each strike, she smashed a small Puppet into mist residue.

Leo and Xiao Kaya weren't having an easy time either. The Puppet General's rock body was too hard; Leo's Star Core Energy fireballs only left black marks on it. Xiao Kaya's Erosion Energy enveloped the rocks, only then slowly corroding them: "Leo! Use your Star Core Energy to burn the corroded spots! I'll handle the corrosion!" Leo immediately complied, his fireballs smashing into the corroded black marks. The rock instantly cracked, and the two took the opportunity to pour their Qi into the gaps, causing the Puppet General's body to slowly dissipate into mist.

Suddenly, most of the runes on the Star Mist Core dimmed—the "Star Mist Puppet King" in the very center had taken advantage of the distraction to gnaw off half a rune! "Don't let it eat them!" Little Karim shouted, his Pyramid Force bracers lighting up as a pale gold light shield protected the remaining runes of the Core. Mei's Ninja Qi darts shot toward the Puppet King's mouth, but as soon as they got close, they were enveloped by the star mist and turned into "Mist Darts," bouncing back and nearly hitting Laila. Laila was so anxious she was almost in tears; the corrosion-resistant microorganisms summoned by her Shamanic Martial Force were swallowed by the mist as soon as they touched it.

The Little Whale Spirit suddenly rushed over, smashing its Seven-Qi Spiral Ball into the Puppet King's mouth. Upon contact, the Puppet King roared in pain, its star mist body beginning to dissipate, no longer able to gnaw on the runes. "Its Seven-Qi ball can counter the Puppet King's star mist!" Xiao Juan shouted in surprise. "Everyone, follow the Little Whale Spirit's ball and attack the Puppet King's core together!"

Section 4: Climax: Seven Realms Star Mist Resonance and Puppet King Defeat

"Luna! Use Star Mist Qi to stabilize the Core! Leon! Freeze the Puppet King! We need to charge up!" Chen Wu shouted. Luna immediately enveloped the Core with Star Mist Qi to prevent the runes from being gnawed further. Leon's Space-Time Energy surged, the pale gold light wrapping around the Puppet King, whose movements instantly slowed as if the slow-motion button had been pressed. Leo, Xiao Kaya, A-Yue, Ling, Viya... everyone poured their Qi into the Little Whale Spirit's Seven-Qi ball. The ball grew larger and larger, emitting seven lights—gold, silver, purple, red, dark silver, dark purple, and pale blue—shining brightly enough to pierce through the Dense Star Mist.

Seeing things were going south, the Puppet King tried to break free from the Space-Time Energy, but the Little Whale Spirit's ball suddenly pressed against its star mist body. The seven types of Qi slowly bored into the body, and the star mist began to dissipate, revealing the "Rock Core" inside—a black stone wrapped with a Star Mist Spirit-Devourer Remnant, clearly the source of the Puppet King's power. "Attention, all Alliance members! Channel the Source of Martial Tradition's energy to the Alliance Mothership! We are going to release the Seven Realms Star Mist Resonance Qi!" Chen Wu shouted into the communicator. traditional martial arts practitioners from 71 galaxies exerted their strength together. Countless beams of light shot from all over the Universe, converging into the Alliance Mothership and then transferring to the Little Whale Spirit's ball. The ball's light grew brighter and brighter, until even the Dense Star Mist became transparent.

"Seven Realms Star Mist Resonance Qi! Fire!" Chen Wu roared. The Little Whale Spirit's Seven-Qi ball, carrying the energy of the entire Alliance, was like a colorful sun smashing into the Puppet King's Rock Core! "Bang!" With a thunderous explosion, the Rock Core was smashed to pieces, and the Star Mist Spirit-Devourer Remnant was instantly purified. The Puppet King's star mist body dissipated into fog, and the surrounding Puppet Generals and small Puppets followed suit. The Dense Star Mist of the Star Mist Galaxy slowly thinned, revealing the stars within—it turned out the Star Mist Galaxy wasn't naturally so foggy; it was the Puppet King's star mist that had shrouded the stars. Now that the Puppets were destroyed, the stars shone brightly once again.

Even more surprisingly, all the runes on the Star Mist Core lit up, projecting an image—it was an ancient traditional martial arts practitioner from the Star Mist Galaxy. He pointed to the other side of the Star Mist Core and said: "The Star Mist Galaxy is an 'ancient branch' of the Universal Martial Arts Alliance. Our Star Mist Qi comes from the 'Universal Source of Martial Tradition.' Currently, the signal of the Origin is weakening in the 'Hongmeng Galaxy.' You must go and check it out, lest something has gone wrong with the Origin..." In the image, the location of the Hongmeng Galaxy glowed with a pale white light, the same color as the Little Whale Spirit's Source Energy, clearly related to the Origin.

The global live stream comments had already exploded: "The Seven Realms Resonance was so hype! I have goosebumps!" "The Little Whale Spirit is the GOAT! Without it, we couldn't have broken the Puppet King!" "The Star Mist Galaxy is an ancient branch! There's a new lead in the Hongmeng Galaxy!" Luna leaned against the Core, wiped away a tear, and smiled: "Thank you... the Source of Martial Tradition in the Star Mist Galaxy has finally been saved."

Section 5: Ending: Star Mist Core Activation and New Foreshadowing

After the Star Mist Core was activated, a "Universal Source of Martial Tradition Branch Map" appeared on the Alliance Mothership's screen. The Sources of Martial Tradition from the 71 galaxies were connected by lines of different colors. The pale blue line from the Star Mist Galaxy led to the Hongmeng Galaxy deep in the Universe, labeled as a "Source of Martial Tradition Branch." Chen Wu looked at the branch map, his voice firm: "From now on, we will not only protect the known galaxies but also search for the Universal Source of Martial Tradition, find all the ancient branches, and make the Universal Martial Arts Alliance complete."

Luna pulled a "Star Mist Crystal Core Fragment" from her robes and handed it to Chen Wu: "This is the traditional martial arts token of the Star Mist Galaxy. It can sense the Origin signal from the Hongmeng Galaxy. The Hongmeng Galaxy is very far from here, and there is 'Grandmist Turbulence' on the way, which is even more dangerous than the Star Mist turbulence. We must prepare quickly, or the Origin signal might disappear completely." The Little Whale Spirit floated over and pressed its Seven-Qi ball against the crystal core fragment. The fragment suddenly lit up, projecting a clear image of the Hongmeng Galaxy—the galaxy was wrapped in pale white light, and in its center was a "Source Crystal Sphere" that was slowly dimming, clearly in need of rescue.

As the Alliance Mothership prepared to leave, the Star Mist Core shot out a strand of pale blue light that coiled around the fusion jade. The seven types of Qi on the jade could now resonate with the Universal Source of Martial Tradition signal simultaneously, becoming dazzlingly bright. Xiao Juan touched the Core and said softly: "Don't worry, we will go to the Hongmeng Galaxy, find the Source of Martial Tradition, and make sure the efforts of the ancient branches weren't in vain."

The final scene of the global live stream showed the Alliance Mothership following the pale blue light of the Star Mist Core, sailing toward the Hongmeng Galaxy. Behind it followed the ships of 71 galaxies, like a colorful long dragon carving a brilliant trail through the star mist. Chen Wu said to the camera: "No matter how far the Hongmeng Galaxy is or how dangerous the turbulence, we are not afraid. Because we have the backing of traditional martial arts practitioners from the entire Universe, Seven Realms Qi Techniques as our weapons, and partners like the Little Whale Spirit. As long as we are together, there is no Origin we cannot find, and no mission we cannot complete."