Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [153]

Returning to the inn, Bailu radiated satisfaction. For the heir of the High Elder Dragon, her status as the future leader of her clan meant few would dare to lay a hand on her.

Chen Lin, on the other hand, had far more pressing concerns.

The lurking dangers within the Alchemy Commission, the intricate schemes of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus—all pointed to the Xianzhou reaching a tipping point in its internal and external crises.

Jing Yuan, his elder brother in arms, was undoubtedly a shrewd strategist. He understood that any harm to Chen Lin would only weaken the Xianzhou, not strengthen it. Jing Yuan’s foresight extended to Fu Xuan, whom Chen Lin recognized as the chosen successor for generalship. Both were allies Chen Lin could trust among the Xianzhou.

The near-death encounter at the Alchemy Commission yesterday convinced Chen Lin that someone had likely discovered his identity and sought to disrupt Xianzhou’s stability by eliminating him. Were it not for his quick thinking and unconventional tactics, his fragile alliance with the Xianzhou might have fractured.

To prevent such a scenario in the future, Chen Lin needed a foolproof escape mechanism—something that could guarantee his survival no matter the danger, as long as he drew breath.

As he tossed and turned in bed, he decided to test whether his Leader’s Replacement ability could teleport him back to Belobog.

“Hmm?”

Opening the planetary management panel, Chen Lin saw Bronya’s portrait occupying the leader position. Beside it was an unoccupied leader slot, which used to belong to him. Ever since boarding the Astral Express and leaving the Jarilo system, his portrait had been automatically removed.

Curious, he clicked on the slot and found a surprising array of familiar faces:

Seele, Clara, Serval, Gepard, Natasha… and even Svarog?

Chen Lin: “?”

All old acquaintances.

Since leaving Belobog, Chen Lin had queued up numerous construction projects on Jarilo-VI. Now dubbed the “Heart of the Empire,” the planet had progressed significantly, benefiting from planetary buffs and policy effects he had enacted before his departure. To his amazement, a third of these projects were already completed.

Despite his hectic schedule, Chen Lin hadn’t paid much attention to planetary management. Seeing the progress now, he was genuinely stunned.

Each district provided numerous job opportunities, and as soon as a district was completed, workers immediately filled the positions. Though Jarilo-VI wasn’t yet fully developed, its productivity was astonishing.

Energy credits were being generated at a daily rate of over 150 units. Mineral output had soared to an impressive 300 units, with food surpluses exceeding 70 units after feeding the population. Consumer goods and alloys, though slightly lower, still held steady at over 50 units each.

Before leaving, Chen Lin had focused on building research centers to replace Belobog’s old research facilities. The planet now boasted consistent outputs of 90 units across all three scientific categories, marking rapid advancement.

And these developments occupied less than a tenth of the planet’s total capacity. Only three buildings had been constructed so far, leaving a vast number of vacant slots awaiting development.

If fully realized, Jarilo-VI’s potential would be nothing short of mind-boggling.

This is the payoff of patience, Chen Lin thought. The initial investment may have been steep, but the longer we hold out, the more resources we’ll accumulate later.

Soon enough, the resources consumed during planetary transformation would be recouped, and every subsequent day would yield pure profit.

Spotting his own portrait among the leader options, Chen Lin examined the list of traits beneath it before dragging himself back into position.

[This leader is currently not assigned to any planetary role. Traits are inactive. Move this leader to ‘Jarilo-VI’?]

[Confirm/Cancel]

It actually worked?

Without hesitation, Chen Lin clicked Confirm.

In an instant, his body disappeared from the inn. Had anyone been watching, they might have thought they were seeing a ghost.

---

Far away in Belobog’s Qlipoth Fort, inside the administrative hall, two young women sat in serious conversation. The air was tense, their expressions grave.

Thanks to the miraculous expansion of Belobog, the Qlipoth Fort, which once housed all governmental departments, now served primarily as Bronya’s residence and office for handling state affairs. Meetings were held here only for urgent matters, and access was restricted without the Supreme Guardian’s explicit permission.

Of course, there were exceptions.

Seele, sitting next to Bronya with her legs crossed and arms folded, was one such exception.

“That thing—whatever it is—even the fleet captains can’t figure it out. All they’ve managed to surmise is that it’s some kind of damaged anchor point,” Seele suggested. “Bronya, maybe we should just have the fleet fire on it. We never cared about what was beyond our planet before, but now there’s this weird structure sitting in our territory. It’s unsettling.”

Seele was no longer the girl she once was. Since her psionic awakening, she had experienced the world as a genius for the first time. Tasks that once took her hours now came effortlessly. Reading comprehension, once a struggle, was now second nature.

Empowered by her psionics, Seele’s mental resilience had skyrocketed. She could work tirelessly, learning in one day what might take others months or even years.

The scientists invited by Asta for technological assistance were astounded by the sheer concentration of geniuses on Jarilo-VI. What was initially planned as a 20-year project could likely be completed in less than a year.

Before leaving, Chen Lin had predicted this outcome. He instructed Bronya to appoint Seele as the fleet commander upon her awakening, entrusting her with the management of all fleets within the Jarilo system. Bronya had followed his guidance to the letter. On the day of Seele’s awakening, she issued the appointment, granting Seele authority over not just the fleets but also the training and management of the elite psionic guards.

Following their awakenings, the Silvermane Guards underwent significant enhancements. Many gained combat abilities, and the most capable were promoted to Bronya’s personal guard, now called the Psionic Guards.

Though numbering only a few hundred, these guards were individually powerful enough to annihilate entire regiments of standard Silvermane Guards with ease.

Seele, determined to honor her promise to Chen Lin, threw herself into her new responsibilities with vigor. Over the past month, she had barely rested, alternating between studying and managing the planet with unyielding dedication.

Her efforts paid off. Seele’s rapid progress was visible to all, and she was well on her way to becoming a competent fleet commander.

Meanwhile, Bronya continued to respect the friends who had supported her throughout her journey, treating them as equals despite her newfound authority as the planet’s supreme leader.

“Using force before understanding it isn’t a good idea,” Bronya said after a moment of thought, shaking her head.

“So we’re just going to leave it there?” Seele scowled, frustrated. “What if something crawls out of it? That thing’s not even ours, and we don’t need it. It’s better to destroy it than to worry about it every day.”

Bronya smiled faintly. “We’ll monitor it closely. If there’s any sign of danger, we’ll act. For now, focus on steady growth. Chen Lin taught us that taking things one step at a time is the way to build something enduring.”

“Fine, I’ll deploy a few ships to keep an eye on it,” Seele conceded grudgingly.

Bronya nodded in approval. “That will do.”

Bronya's gaze drifted to the pristine white ceiling, her eyes filled with unwavering determination. “At the very least, we need to hold off until the mentor returns…”

Bronya had once boarded a ship to view the world beyond their planet. The moment she breached the atmosphere and beheld the vast, mysterious expanse of the stars, her heart was captivated, her eyes sparkling with wonder.

So this is what lies beyond the surface…

Even though she had been mentally prepared, the sight of space stirred a deep yearning within her. It was at that moment that she truly understood how small her former self had been. Despite having united the entire planet, the realization filled her with a renewed sense of purpose.

In this boundless expanse of stars, Belobog must carve out its place!

With her horizons broadened, the pride that had once lingered in her heart was subdued.

This level of achievement is nothing.

If the mentor hasn’t allowed himself pride, what right do I have to stand still?

She resolved to chase after that figure who always walked ahead. Even if she couldn’t stand shoulder to shoulder with him, she couldn’t afford to lag far behind… At the very least, she had to ensure she was worthy of him.

Over the next few hours, Bronya and Seele finalized their plans. Seele, always straightforward with her brothers and sisters, accepted the agreed-upon course of action without dwelling on it further. Instead, she shifted the conversation to the progress of Belobog as the heart of the empire.

Since her awakening, Seele had buried herself in books, immersing herself completely in the study of fleet management. Even during her rare moments of leisure, she sought guidance from the fleet captains, asking for insights into space warfare doctrines. Thanks to Chen Lin’s prior instructions, the captains willingly shared their expertise with her. Some were adept at guerilla tactics, others specialized in surprise maneuvers, and a few excelled in large-scale fleet operations.

The pirate groups that had recently ventured into their territory became Seele’s training ground.

She had crafted numerous strategies, but in the end, her awakened abilities alone were enough. Through feints and ambushes, her forces had sunk or incapacitated dozens of enemy warships. Those who surrendered were captured and thrown into prison, awaiting Chen Lin’s eventual return for further handling.

“By the way,” Seele asked, her tone curious, “I heard Clara and Serval made some huge contraption. I saw it on display in the central square on my way here. What’s that thing supposed to do?”

---

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!