Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [270]

As more than a dozen supply carrier aircraft slowly descended onto the landing platforms, their hatches opened, revealing a small figure standing at the forefront.

She glanced around, her eyes finally locking onto someone dressed in Xianzhou attire. Upon spotting the blessing token hanging from the person’s waist, her gaze flickered, and without hesitation, she dashed down the stairs, preparing to leap toward them.

"Old—"

"Honored Guest!"

Just as Qingque opened her mouth to call out “Old Chen,” a commanding voice interrupted her.

The next moment, a synchronized crisp snap echoed through the air.

Pa!

The ceremonial honor guard raised their hands, a faint glow emanating from their palms. Spears of ceremonial design danced through the air in perfect unison—without a single person physically touching them.

The Xianzhou people had long practiced sword control techniques. To wield a sword was to wield one’s qi, linking one’s mind with the weapon and commanding it at will.

Although Qingque had previously worked at the Divination Commission, the Xianzhou martial tradition ran deep, and nearly every Xianzhou native had at least a basic understanding of swordsmanship.

Anyone capable of controlling even one sword could carve out a place in the path of the sword. However, such talent was extremely rare— among tens of thousands, perhaps not even one person would possess it.

And to not only wield a weapon remotely but also execute precise, coordinated movements—those with such a gift, if properly trained, could rise through the ranks of the Cloud Knights and even earn noble titles.

As of now, the greatest sword prodigy in Luofu was Yanqing, the general’s disciple, who could control six swords in combat and was considered a strong contender for the title of Sword Champion.

But… what was she seeing here?!

Each of these soldiers controlled over a dozen rifles simultaneously, reloading and chambering rounds in midair while executing complex tactical maneuvers—without affecting their own physical actions whatsoever.

Didn’t this mean that… this entire unit was filled with prodigies of object manipulation?

The only difference was that instead of wielding cold weapons, they preferred controlling guns, cannons, and even artillery shells…

This scene was no less impressive than the grand expeditions led by the Sword Champions of old, which Qingque had only read about in books. The sheer grandeur of it all left every Xianzhou observer in a state of stunned disbelief.

"Honor salute—fire the ceremonial guns and cannons! Welcome the first nation to establish diplomatic ties with our empire!"

With a deafening roar, gun salutes exploded in succession. Colorful streamers burst into the sky, while artillery stationed around the perimeter fired skyward. At the same time, a grand military orchestra struck up a resounding tune.

As the fireworks thundered, two massive symbols appeared in the sky.

One was an eagle soaring high with its wings spread wide.

The other was an enormous warship.

To any Xianzhou native, one glance was enough to recognize that ship—it was none other than Luofu itself!

Photographers furiously snapped their cameras, while the crowd waved small flags bearing the emblems of both nations. A deafening cheer erupted like a tidal wave, shaking the very ground beneath them.

Perhaps the Xianzhou Alliance wouldn’t bring sweeping advancements to Jarilo-VI.

Perhaps, in some ways, the Xianzhou civilization still lagged behind.

But none of that mattered.

This was history in the making.

Because this moment marked the first-ever diplomatic alliance and comprehensive treaty signing between Jarilo-VI and a foreign power since it had become part of the empire.

Chen Lin’s diplomatic strategy had always been one of openness and sincerity. Every treaty signed with the Xianzhou was made public, and Xianzhou’s goodwill toward Jarilo-VI was also transparently shared with its citizens.

After all, a nation willing to share all its scientific advancements unconditionally, waive all import and export taxes, and pledge to mobilize its entire fleet to assist in times of crisis—how could they not welcome such an ally?

It wasn’t about how much one could offer—it was about sincerity.

And today, the people of Belobog, born and raised here, would witness history firsthand.

Qingque stared, dazed, at the grand spectacle before her.

The other diplomatic envoys behind her were equally overwhelmed. Among them were several young women who had heard of Chen Lin’s name before.

Now, seeing their long-admired figure approaching, their breathing grew rapid. It was as if, in the next moment, they would lose all restraint and pounce on him outright.

This was hardly surprising.

Since Chen Lin’s departure, his heroic deeds had been widely publicized in Luofu. A man who had saved billions of lives—his renown had reached unprecedented heights following the official alliance.

Rumor had it that Fu Xuan herself had overseen the construction of a colossal statue in Changlian Square, depicting Chen Lin’s battle against Phantylia.

His tale—how he had defeated Phantylia and saved Luofu’s people—had become a beloved legend, spread far and wide by storytellers and street performers alike.

It was only natural that some people had begun comparing him to Jing Yuan.

But Jing Yuan? He appeared utterly indifferent to it all. Even when he heard the rumors, he merely waved his hand dismissively, signaling his subordinates to let it be. He and Fu Xuan had their own plans.

Chen Lin stepped forward, catching Qingque before she could launch herself at him. He subtly signaled with his eyes toward the reporters recording the event and said with a smile:

"Qingque, it’s been a while. From now on, you’ll be stationed in Belobog—at minimum for a few years, at most for a decade or more. Don’t get too homesick!"

Qingque instantly understood. She took a deep breath, calming her excitement and suppressing the urge to hug her dear friend.

Then, she sighed dramatically.

"Old Chen… you’re wrong. Completely, utterly wrong."

"Hmm?" Chen Lin raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Qingque’s voice was filled with grievance.

"Do you really think the Master Diviner will let me return in just a hundred years…? You’re too naive. She couldn’t be happier to have me out of her sight for good."

…At least she was self-aware.

Clearing his throat to cover the awkwardness, Chen Lin gestured invitingly.

"This isn’t the place to talk. I’ve arranged a banquet in the palace to welcome you all—let’s chat on the way."

The primary means of transportation in Jarilo-VI were both ground vehicles and aerial transports. Given the vastness of the city, high-speed travel was a necessity for everyday life.

However, this time, they weren’t using cars.

Instead, they were utilizing a gateway teleportation system.

These paired portals required a significant amount of psionic energy to activate. The maximum distance between two connected gates was five li (approx. 2.5 km).

This invention was credited to a vice director at the Psionic Research Institute—a former chief scientist under Cocolia. He was the very man who had repeatedly petitioned against Cocolia’s order to execute Chen Lin and, after receiving no response, resigned in protest.

The technology held immense potential for military, civilian, and commercial use. If only its range could be extended…

"Wow! This gate is amazing! If Luofu had this, traveling between city districts would be so much faster!" Qingque marveled as she stepped through, realizing they had moved even closer to the city center.

Chen Lin chuckled, shaking his head.

"Unfortunately, it requires psionic energy to activate, so even if we shared the technology, it—"

"That just means we could play mahjong for an extra half-hour before heading to work!" Qingque interrupted excitedly. "And the moment we’re off duty—bam! Straight home! Brilliant!"

"Miss Qingque, why are you in such a hurry to go home?"

The voice belonged to Clara, who had spoken in a soft, curious tone.

Along the way, Chen Lin had briefly introduced the delegation members to one another, including Clara, one of the chief scientists.

He still vividly remembered the expression Qingque had made upon hearing that this tiny girl was a chief scientist.

At first, Qingque had assumed Clara must be a descendant of some long-lived species. But when she learned that Clara was only fifteen, she nearly trembled in shock.

The way she looked at Chen Lin afterward practically screamed—

"Old Chen, you big-browed, righteous-looking man—how could you be using child labor?!"

Qingque folded her arms and declared proudly,

"Clara, you’re still too young to understand. The Divination Commission is full of different factions, and the Qingque School of civil servants has but one guiding principle—never spend a second longer at work than absolutely necessary!"

"…"

Chen Lin was done with her. He simply ignored her nonsense and turned to Qingzu instead.

"Miss Qingzu, does anyone in your group have dietary restrictions? If so, I can have the chefs make adjustments."

"No need to worry, Lord Chen Lin," Qingzu replied, though her gaze kept involuntarily drifting toward Phantylia.

There was something… strangely familiar about this fox-woman.

If she weren’t taller and more refined in appearance, Qingzu might have actually mistaken her for Phantylia, the Lord Ravager.

But then again…

Hadn’t Chen Lin and Phantylia fought a deathmatch at the Battle of the Arbor?

Hadn’t he essentially declared a war to the death against Destruction itself?

Would a leader of his stature—a man hailed as one of Luofu’s Twin Strategists alongside General Jing Yuan— truly allow Phantylia to infiltrate his inner circle?

…Clearly impossible.

When it came time to introduce Phantylia, Chen Lin simply stated that she was his Chief Guard, a girl he had once rescued from slavers who had since remained by his side.

Hearing this, Qingzu subconsciously assumed that this beautiful fox-woman had been with Chen Lin for many years and immediately lowered her guard.

"That’s good. Moving forward, fostering cooperation between our nations will require everyone’s dedicated efforts. Let’s work together to build a harmonious and prosperous relationship."

Chen Lin leaned in slightly and asked in a hushed voice, "Why did the Divine Strategy Mansion send you here, Miss Qingzu? Wouldn’t it make more sense for you to stay by my big brother’s side? The mansion should have plenty of people to assign, right?"

"My appointment as an envoy was actually arranged by Lady Fu Xuan through the General. Since I have prior experience in similar work, I was assigned to… oversee the ambassador. Well, mainly to handle paperwork—supervising the ambassador is just a side task."

Qingzu let out a helpless laugh, her gaze drifting toward Qingque, who was already blending in with Clara and the others.

"I believe you understand Lady Fu Xuan’s true intentions…."

So, she was here to make sure Qingque didn’t slack off.

Chen Lin patted her shoulder with sympathy. "My condolences."

As the Chief Strategist under Jing Yuan, Qingzu represented the Divine Strategy Mansion. Meanwhile, among the 600+ members of the delegation, representatives from all six Xianzhou Commissions had been dispatched, including two judges from the Ten-Lords Commission.

Chen Lin recognized the name of one of them—a woman with an air of ethereal elegance, whose alias was Hanya.

The other, a timid fox-girl trailing nervously at the back of the group, caught his attention. He had originally intended to greet her, but the moment he stepped closer, she let out a small yelp and bolted behind Hanya.

…Good thing Chen Lin had thick skin. Otherwise, that might’ve been unbearably awkward.

Shifting gears, he turned to greet a few familiar faces from the six commissions.

It made sense for all six commissions to send people— doing so would facilitate future collaboration. Even Natasha, whom Chen Lin had dispatched to Luofu, had traveled alongside a sizable contingent of elite specialists.

But why had the Ten-Lords Commission gotten involved? That part… was puzzling.

Noticing Chen Lin glancing toward the back of the delegation, Qingzu followed his gaze and spoke.

"Lord Chen Lin, that little judge over there is from the Ten-Lords Commission. Her name is Huohuo. I’ve heard she has a… rather unique constitution, though the specifics are known only to the Ten-Lords themselves."

"During our voyage over the past few months, I’ve observed that she struggles significantly in social interactions. What happened just now wasn’t intentional… I hope you won’t take offense."

Chen Lin waved it off. "I’m not that petty. What’s done is done. I’m just curious—why did the Ten-Lords Commission send people with you?"

Qingzu hesitated briefly before shaking her head. "I don’t know the full details. All I can say is that this was arranged directly by Lady Fu Xuan, following a decree from the Ten-Lords. I suspect… it might have something to do with our own circumstances."

"What do you mean?"

"Lord Chen Lin, please don’t forget—we are all Xianzhou natives. Even though the delegation consists mostly of younger individuals, with an average age of 200 to 300 years, we must still remain vigilant against the threat of Mara corruption and ensure that we do not bring harm to the empire."

"The Ten-Lords Commission specializes in handling such matters. I suspect Lady Fu Xuan considered this risk and thus arranged for their presence."

"Hmm… perhaps."

Outwardly, Chen Lin nodded in agreement.

But internally, he was still thinking about the way the Ten-Lords judges had positioned themselves.

Both Hanya and Huohuo seemed distanced from the main group, as if they weren’t particularly welcomed…

His understanding of the Ten-Lords Commission was limited—he only knew its basic function as a judiciary body independent of the six commissions.

In other words, a rather enigmatic institution.

Qingzu gave a small nod. "Before our departure, Lady Fu Xuan and the General instructed me that should you have any questions, you are welcome to ask me directly—or reach out to them. Moving forward, I will be relying on your guidance during my time in Jarilo-VI."

"Of course."

While Qingque was officially the ambassador, Chen Lin highly doubted that Fu Xuan would entrust her with full authority.

Now, with Qingzu’s explanation, he understood—Qingque was here for training and credentials.

And the real paperwork mule?

That unfortunate soul would be Qingzu, the second-in-command.

…Tragic.

---

At some distance from the main group, Hanya and Huohuo stepped through a teleportation gate and found themselves standing in an enormous plaza.

The surroundings radiated grandeur, and in front of them loomed a colossal, majestic white palace.

This was undoubtedly Qlipoth Fort—the very structure the Governor had spoken of.

Perhaps overwhelmed by the sheer scale of it all, Huohuo’s small head swiveled left and right, taking in the sight.

But then, suddenly—her vision blurred, her mind spun, and a chilling laughter echoed in her ears.

In the haze before her, a phantom-like figure, as fleeting as drifting smoke, appeared before her eyes.

Instinctively, she opened her mouth to scream.

But before she could, she was abruptly flipped upside-down in midair—only to be caught by Hanya.

"Tail, you’re acting up way too much today," she sighed.

"Tch! What? I just tugged her a little—didn’t do anything else!"

A voice—fiery and indignant—came from Huohuo’s own tail, which had suddenly detached itself and was now floating freely in front of her.

"This little crybaby spends all day in the ship’s cabin, flipping through newspaper clippings and gushing over that guy—Oh, he’s so amazing! Oh, if only I could meet him someday! Bah! I was sick of hearing it!"

The flaming tail twitched irritably, floating back and forth in front of her.

"So, I figured I’d do her a favor—let her see firsthand that all these ‘legendary figures’ she idolizes are just a bunch of overhyped frauds! Look at that—did he even spare her a glance?"

Huohuo’s face went pale as a sheet, her voice trembling into a soft whimper. "Uuuhh…."

"Cry, cry, cry—what the hell are you crying for?!

"Listen up—if I hadn’t yanked you back just now, you wouldn’t even have managed a peep in front of him! You’d have been standing there like an idiot while he completely ignored you! And if someone decided to gobble you up whole, you’d be too stupid to even notice!"

---

This is a fan translation of 在星穹铁道点群星科技树真的没问题吗? by 杏雨诗韵 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!