Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [362]

The same familiar scent. The same familiar formula.

Jing Yuan’s facial muscles twitched slightly.

Watching Chen Lin’s bright, effortless smile and casual tone, he immediately knew—his younger brother’s devious mind was at work again.

Jing Yuan understood this sworn brother of his all too well. Back in the Divination Commission, they had spent countless nights in deep discussion.

Chen Lin was kind-hearted, generous, and deeply loyal—his character was beyond question. But beyond that, he possessed a level of political finesse, perceptiveness, and ability to win people over that was unparalleled, even among the Xianzhou. In some aspects, Jing Yuan himself couldn’t help but feel a tinge of admiration.

From the moment they met, Jing Yuan knew Chen Lin wasn’t one for petty tricks or deceit. He never played at conspiracies—he always laid his cards out openly. Yet, even when his intentions were clear to all, people still found themselves dancing to his tune, unable to resist the momentum he created.

That was the terrifying thing about his strategies—everyone knew what he was doing, but no one could stop it. They could only follow the path he had paved for them.

Take the situation back on the Luofu, for example. Both Jing Yuan and Chen Lin had deduced the presence of an unknown, powerful adversary—one with deep ties to the Disciples of Sanctus.

So what did Chen Lin do?

After quietly dealing several blows to the Artisan of the Abundance, he deliberately exposed his own identity. Not only that—he flaunted his political influence, gaining the full cooperation of Jing Yuan’s Divination Commission and propelling himself into the spotlight.

Then, when he was certain he could retreat unscathed, he baited Phantylia—who was still lurking in the shadows—into making a move. This forced her to reveal her identity as a Messenger, buying valuable time for the Divination Commission and the Xianzhou authorities to respond.

Did Phantylia not realize that attacking prematurely would leave her at a disadvantage? That it would force her to accelerate her plans, reducing her chances of claiming the Ambrosial Arbor?

Of course, she knew.

But the disruption of the Artisan of the Abundance had left her with no choice. She had to create obstacles elsewhere—to stall the Xianzhou’s response.

This entire sequence of events had been laid out by Chen Lin—one step leading seamlessly into the next. And once an opponent took the first step, escape became nearly impossible.

Both mentally and physically, it was a descent into hell.

By the time they realized the cost of turning back, they had already sunk too deep.

Jing Yuan had long instructed Qingque to collect intelligence on the Jarilo sector. He had seen firsthand how quickly the region was transforming into a full-scale military-industrial complex at a breakneck, almost terrifying, speed.

And then there was the matter of the L-Drake within the L-Gate.

Jing Yuan had studied it closely. There was no doubt that these massive space-dwelling creatures were powerful. But their size also made them cumbersome, limiting their mobility.

Moreover, their attack range fell far short of some of the Imperial warship weaponry detailed in Qingque’s reports. They couldn’t outmaneuver battleships either.

In truth, their actual threat level wasn’t as high as the rumors suggested.

Of course, this conclusion was based on the intelligence he had access to.

And the fact that Qingque had obtained such detailed intelligence meant that Chen Lin had deliberately allowed it.

As the Luofu’s ambassador, Qingque technically represented the Luofu’s official interests.

Which meant that Chen Lin had intentionally provided this information to the Luofu!

That revelation changed everything.

So, when the Empire put on an elaborate performance of struggling in battle, Jing Yuan’s expression had been akin to that of an ancient Xianzhou elder—one who had spent centuries in seclusion, only to emerge and see young people playing video games with psionic interfaces.

Utter confusion.

Complete bewilderment.

The only thing he could be sure of was that Chen Lin was planning something big. Beyond that, nothing was certain.

At the very least, Jing Yuan refused to believe that his sworn brother had truly been forced into such a passive position.

Now, as Chen Lin finally revealed that he had been waiting for the Luofu’s arrival for quite some time, Jing Yuan’s mind instantly cleared.

Of course.

The brat had a scheme all along…

Jing Yuan lifted his teacup, taking a slow sip as his gaze drifted toward the entrance of the Divination Commission. His expression turned hazy, unreadable.

“Ai… My dear brother, I truly owe the Luofu an apology. And I owe an even greater debt to the generations of Xianzhou people who have called the Luofu home…”

Chen Lin blinked.

He paused for half a second, then smoothly followed Jing Yuan’s lead.

“Elder brother, you are upright and honorable. You have dedicated yourself to the Luofu for years, governing this land with diligence. The people live in peace, commerce flourishes, and the military stands strong—why would you say such a thing?”

Even Fu Xuan, sitting to the side, furrowed her brows in confusion.

She had no idea what nonsense Jing Yuan was spouting now.

My dear brother is asking for your help—are you deaf?

If you are, then do us all a favor and abdicate already. I’ll take over and make the decisions myself.

“Sigh…”

Jing Yuan sighed deeply, shaking his head as he gestured toward the distance.

“You wouldn’t understand, my dear brother. A year ago, when Phantylia wrought havoc and the Stellaron disaster struck, I ordered the Celestial Voyager Division to seal off all trade routes, all in the hope of capturing the true culprit. But in doing so, I plunged the Luofu into commercial decline."

"The subsequent economic crisis left the people on edge, fearing another calamity like the Plague of Immortality that once devastated our ancestors. Hunger loomed over the land, unrest grew… As the general overseeing it all, how could I not feel ashamed?”

“……”

Chen Lin blinked.

He was starting to get a sense of what Jing Yuan was trying to do.

Just as he was about to respond, Jing Yuan subtly signaled him to stay silent and look to the side.

Chen Lin followed his brother’s gaze, catching a glimpse of Fu Xuan’s expression—dark and stormy.

In an instant, she shot up from her seat with a sharp rustle of fabric, startling Chen Lin enough to make him swallow the words he had been about to say.

“What do you mean by this, Jing Yuan?!”

Fu Xuan’s voice was livid. She no longer cared for titles, ranks, or formalities—she called him by name, her fury spilling over.

“The Divination Commission had already foreseen the Luofu’s tribulations! It was a predestined calamity! The task of mortals is to act upon fate!"

“If not for my dear brother’s righteous aid back then, we would have had no hope of escaping disaster. Now that the Luofu has risen from the ashes, you would dare use this as an excuse to turn him away?"

“Have you no shame?!”

Months ago, the conflict between the Luofu and the corporate branch had reached its peak.

The collapse of the Luofu Credit System had caused runaway inflation—entertainment was the least of concerns; even food prices changed by the day.

The corporate branch hoarded its supplies, hoping to outlast the Divination Commission in a war of attrition.

Just as the people teetered on the brink of starvation, Jing Yuan finally ordered Fu Xuan to release the Imperial provisions—offered at an extremely low price. At the same time, it was announced that these supplies could only be purchased using Strale, a newly introduced currency.

To further reinforce this, the Divination Commission set up massive exchange centers, allowing Xianzhou citizens to trade legal currency at a 1:30,000 exchange rate for Strale. Using Strale to buy food from the Divination Commission came with huge discounts, whereas those insisting on using Luofu Credits faced exorbitant prices, endless bureaucracy, and strict purchase limits.

It was a devastating one-two punch.

The corporate branch was utterly blindsided.

In a desperate counterattack, they tried to mimic the Divination Commission’s strategy, flooding the market with their stockpiled goods.

But no matter how low they dropped their prices, no matter how much of a loss they took, the Divination Commission always had cheaper grain.

After enduring this economic siege for over a month, the corporate branch finally collapsed.

The Luofu was still traveling at high speed, its Jade Gate sealed to external trade, making outside reinforcements impossible. The branch declared bankruptcy and fled, tails between their legs.

Yet even with that victory, the Six Commissions remained overwhelmed.

By the time the Luofu reached the Jarilo Star Sector, the aftershocks of the economic crisis had not fully dissipated. The Luofu had only managed to stabilize thanks to Chen Lin’s continuous shipments of food, goods, and resources.

It wasn’t until the establishment of the Pan-Galactic Free Trade Market that things truly began to turn around.

A flood of new orders and advance payments restored the people’s confidence.

At long last, after over half a year of turmoil, the Luofu was reborn.

Bustling shops reopened.

Once-deserted streets filled with laughter again.

Factories roared back to life.

Protests vanished from the streets.

And now—now—you dare reject my brother’s request?

Are you pulling the same “use and discard” trick as those heartless Vidyadhara scholars who were condemned for their treachery after the Stellaron crisis?!

Fu Xuan’s breathing grew sharp and heavy, her chest rising and falling in anger.

Her gemstone-like eyes burned with the fury of someone confronting betrayal.

Chen Lin forced a bitter smile.

My dear sister, could you calm down for just a second? Do you really not see that Jing Yuan is teasing you?

He hurriedly got up, pressing a hand against Fu Xuan’s smooth shoulder and whispering, “Fu-jie, our elder brother is just—”

But Fu Xuan completely misread his actions.

To her, it looked as though her brother was trying to pacify the situation—to swallow his pride and endure humiliation in order to maintain peace.

That he was compromising to avoid ruining his relationship with Jing Yuan.

That he was willing to suffer in silence.

Before Chen Lin could even finish speaking, Fu Xuan raised an arm in front of him, stepping forward to shield him with her own body.

“You need not fear, my dear brother! I will see justice done for you!”

“……”

May the stars watch over you, Jing Yuan…

Chen Lin cast a helpless glance at his elder brother, silently expressing his inability to intervene.

Jing Yuan, meanwhile, wore an expression that practically screamed:

"See? I told you she’d lose her temper."

"Hahaha."

Chen Lin could feel a headache coming on.

Why do I feel like I’ve somehow become part of your weird superior-subordinate roleplay dynamic?

Fu Xuan, still seething, caught sight of the silent exchange between the two men.

It infuriated her.

They were exchanging glances.

They were laughing!

The burning fury in her chest surged again.

A thousand biting retorts rushed to the tip of her tongue.

She was this close to delivering a verbal onslaught filled with the most damning rebukes from ancient texts—

"You treacherous wretch, as cold as a stranger!"

"A disgrace unworthy of true comradeship!"

"The very embodiment of a brainless, spineless worm!"

All locked, loaded, and ready to fire.

But Jing Yuan simply ignored her and turned back to Chen Lin.

“So, dear brother… On your journey here, what did you think of the Luofu’s current state?”

Chen Lin thought for a moment before answering.

“Goods are cheap. The people can afford to eat, live, and enjoy themselves. Welfare has skyrocketed. Compared to before, this is a prosperity far beyond even our golden age.”

Jing Yuan nodded.

“Exactly…”

Jing Yuan smiled faintly.

Turning his back to them, he stretched out his arms as if embracing the very air itself.

“So next time, there’s no need for such formal inquiries. Simply say what you need.”

“The people of the Luofu will always remember the kindness you have shown us…”

Suddenly, he spun around, his voice firm, each word carrying weight.

“This Xianzhou will always answer your call!”

“You’re making too big a deal out of this. Fine, next time, I’ll just say it outright.”

“That would be best.”

“Alright.”

“Hahahahahaha!!!”

As the two brothers burst into hearty laughter, Fu Xuan, who had been gearing up for a furious rebuke, was left utterly dumbfounded.

Her hand, poised to strike the table, froze midair.

Her mind whirled as she replayed the conversation in her head.

Half a minute later, realization struck.

A tremor ran through her petite frame.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, fists clenching and unclenching, while the tips of her toes twitched inside her embroidered shoes.

The flames of her fury died down—only to be replaced by an overwhelming wave of shame that crashed over her, drowning her in mortification.

While the two brothers huddled close, whispering about something, a shadow loomed over them.

Fu Xuan’s voice, gritted with barely contained rage, sliced through the air.

“Jing. Yuan.”

“Haha! Diviner Fu, you’re still doing well, I presume?”

“……”

Fu Xuan’s icy glare bore into Jing Yuan, but she refused to even spare a glance at Chen Lin.

She couldn’t bring herself to face her younger brother—not after falling for such an obvious trick.

If she had to vent her frustration, then all of it would be directed at Jing Yuan!

Chen Lin felt his stomach drop.

Oh no.

He had known this would happen.

With Fu Xuan’s temperament, the moment she realized she had been played, her rage would be uncontainable.

Best case? She’d storm off.

Worst case? She’d actually throw a punch.

And the fact that she wasn’t leaving… meant she was leaning toward the latter.

No time to think—

Chen Lin shot to his feet in an instant.

With a mere thought, the nearby seat slid beneath Fu Xuan.

Before she could react, he wrapped one arm over her shoulder and took her hand in the other—not just out of feigned concern, but to physically stop her from hitting Jing Yuan.

It wasn’t a question of whether she could win or not.

According to the laws of the Xianzhou—laws he had learned through his youngest disciple—relationships like master and student were strictly bound by hierarchy and respect, even codified into legal doctrine.

If that was the case, then the hierarchy between government officials would be even more rigid.

A Diviner assaulting a General?

That wasn’t just a personal grudge—that was treason!

If Fu Xuan struck Jing Yuan, there was a real chance she could be formally charged and imprisoned.

The moment Chen Lin held her in place, Fu Xuan went rigid.

The words she had prepared to shout died in her throat.

It was as if she had been jolted by electricity—completely frozen.

“Jie…” Chen Lin sighed, shaking his head.

“I won’t deny that Gege played a little trick on you, but come on—how could you fall for something so obvious? That’s on you.”

“If you can be fooled this easily, how do you expect to lead the Luofu’s military in the future?”

“Didn’t you just lecture Qingque about learning from her mistakes? Eat a loss, gain wisdom?”

“Well, now it’s your turn to reflect on your actions.”

“No matter the situation, you should always keep a level head. Think things through before you act. Otherwise, how can you possibly live up to the expectations of the Xianzhou people who trust you?”

“I-I was just worried about you, little brother…” Fu Xuan’s voice faltered.

“I appreciate that, but right is right and wrong is wrong. No matter how you spin it, you still made a mistake.”

“Are you telling me the great Master Diviner of the Luofu can’t even admit when she’s wrong?”

Chen Lin let out a dramatic sigh, shaking his head.

“Look at what you’ve done. I even tried to warn you, but you cut me off.”

“This lack of trust wounds me deeply. My heart aches, my soul shatters—”

Fu Xuan panicked.

Her pride, her authority—all of it momentarily forgotten in the face of her younger brother’s pitiful act.

She fumbled for words, tripping over herself as she scrambled to reassure him.

In mere moments, the tide had turned.

The once-mighty Diviner, poised for righteous fury, had been utterly subdued.

Chen Lin, satisfied with the reversal, took a moment to glare at Jing Yuan when Fu Xuan wasn’t looking.

Jing Yuan, in turn, simply smiled—his expression full of amusement.

As if this was all part of his plan.

In the end, the once-furious Fu Xuan found herself sitting obediently at the side, quietly reflecting on her mistakes.

Chen Lin, finally catching his breath, wiped the sweat from his brow.

Then, glancing up, he saw—

Jing Yuan.

Casually sitting across from him.

Holding a bowl of white rice.

Eating.

Like nothing had happened.

When Jing Yuan noticed Chen Lin’s stare, he calmly finished his last two bites, reluctantly placing the bowl back onto the table.

Then, as if the past few minutes had never occurred, he let out a satisfied sigh.

“Hic… So, dear brother—where were we?”

“Oh, right.”

“We were discussing how the Luofu would coordinate with you.”

Chen Lin exhaled, calming his mind.

Then, without hesitation, he said:

“Fraternal strife.”

“…Fraternal strife?”

Jing Yuan’s brows furrowed.

Then, he noticed something—

Chen Lin’s lips were moving.

No sound came out.

But he was mouthing something else entirely.

Jing Yuan’s eyes widened slightly.

In an instant, understanding dawned upon him.

He clapped his hands together, his grin returning.

“Ah—now I see.”

Chen Lin chuckled, nodding.

“The Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors strategy—it’s exactly that.”

“An excellent Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors strategy! But… there are still a few loose ends.”

“Which is why we need to refine the details together.”

“Naturally.”

On the sidelines, Fu Xuan quietly peeked up.

She still felt like a scolded child, but curiosity began to creep in.

Why do these two always communicate in such vague, cryptic exchanges?

Am I only confused because I missed part of their earlier discussion?

A storm of questions swirled in her mind.

But in the end…

She didn’t dare ask.

She feared her younger brother might scold her again.

…Fine.

I’ll just go back later and divine the general direction myself.

---

T/N: ughh the taxes and the selling made me forget to take my meds and now my head hurty, this will be the last update for the day :(((

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!