Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [231]

Beneath the bluish glow, a streak of lightning flashed by, as if piercing through time and space. A long blade suddenly descended upon the wooden lotus, which was slowly rotating in midair.

At first glance, the strike appeared ordinary, lacking the dazzling and frenzied vitality seen when the sacred Ambrosial Arbor sprouted. However, this attack alone was enough to make Welt falter.

The reason was simple—at the moment the blade was swung, Welt sensed the power of an Aeon embedded within this seemingly unremarkable strike.

Welt sighed. "The Hunt… is quite generous to its followers."

Jing Yuan was well-versed in the art of war and understood the importance of seizing the initiative. There was no reason to wait for Phantylia to complete her preparations. The correct course of action was to strike first, using courage and skill to create an opening for victory.

However, from within the wooden lotus, a sigh echoed. Jing Yuan’s expression darkened as he realized something was about to emerge. Yet, despite his grim realization, he steadied himself and brought his blade down with all his might.

Boom!

The wooden lotus bloomed like a flower in full blossom, and in an instant, the crisp clang of metal striking metal resounded dozens of times. Jing Yuan leveraged the force of the impact to flip backward, retreating to his original position. He raised his blade and pointed it forward, his gaze turning sharp.

"You’re siphoning power from the Ambrosial Arbor?!"

"Oh dear, you’ve finally noticed? General of the Xianzhou, your insignificant strength is far from enough to withstand this calamity!"

Rumble—!

The wooden lotus became enveloped in a bluish light—the same glow that had repelled Jing Yuan just moments ago. Countless roots from the Ambrosial Arbor surged forth, forming visible streams of energy that converged atop the lotus.

The next second, a colossal figure began to materialize within the azure radiance. A woman, as towering as a skyscraper, slowly emerged. Her lower body remained kneeling atop a bed of transparent mist, while her upper body maintained a poised and elegant posture. With a gentle smile, she gazed at those before her.

In her hand, she held a silk fan, embroidered with the image of the Ambrosial Arbor branching out and flourishing. A golden lotus crown adorned her head, while a luminous forehead ornament radiated opulent brilliance. The sash around her waist defied gravity, lifting into the air like enormous leaves fluttering in the wind.

All around, countless flowers bloomed, releasing shimmering pollen that continuously siphoned the life force of those present, transferring it to Phantylia. Though Chen Lin felt a moment of discomfort, it was nothing too severe.

Jing Yuan remained still, his figure becoming blurry in the eyes of those around him—like the reflection of a full moon on water, suddenly disturbed by a tossed stone, sending ripples of distortion across its surface.

"Brother, Mr. Welt, I entrust you both with exterminating the phantom blossoms! I will break through Phantylia’s corporeal form!"

From a distance of over ten zhang, Phantylia let out a soft chuckle. With a casual motion, she raised her hand and clapped lightly. Jing Yuan’s attack was effortlessly neutralized.

From within the drifting haze, an ethereal hand suddenly extended, flicking a finger forward. A muffled thud followed as Jing Yuan was sent hurtling backward. Despite stabbing his long-bladed sword into the ground to slow his momentum, he was still forced back more than ten meters before barely coming to a halt.

Phantylia examined her own hand and giggled. "From my perspective, you are no different from ants. No matter how fiercely ants bite, they cannot so much as scratch me. This Miracle of Abundance truly lives up to its name."

"Hah! The mere power of the Plague Ancestor? I can sever it in an instant!" Jing Yuan once again charged at Phantylia. "Brother, I entrust my back to you! I have given my word—whatever happens afterward, I alone shall bear the consequences!"

"Then… we’ll go with that for now."

Chen Lin tore off the thorny vines that had sprouted from the ground, entangling his legs. With a serious expression, he called out, "Uncle Yang, buy me some time!"

"Understood."

Welt had no idea what these two brothers were planning, but even without Chen Lin's request, he would never allow such a promising young man to be harmed.

He had already witnessed the Miracle of Abundance multiple times. Phantylia had used the Ambrosial Arbor to forge a body and to create phantom blossoms that absorbed the life force of others, converting it into her own power. These vines, too, were an extension of the Ambrosial Arbor…

For Welt, knowledge and experience were not merely for broadening his horizons—they were also weapons of their own.

Although his understanding wasn’t perfect, it was enough to counter the immediate threat posed by the Ambrosial Arbor!

His cane struck the ground heavily, causing the surrounding space to twist and distort. In that instant, countless vines and phantom blossoms appeared in this sealed-off domain, but now in a new form. The transformed vines tangled with the originals, ensuring that wherever Phantylia’s influence spread, Welt’s counterforce followed.

The power being siphoned by the phantom blossoms was now caught in a perpetual tug-of-war, preventing it from further weakening the three of them or fueling Phantylia.

Even so, Welt’s expression was far from optimistic. His usually composed face was now covered in sweat, his glasses fogged up. His hands, gripping the cane, trembled ever so slightly as veins bulged against his skin.

But he had kept his promise—no matter the cost, he had secured a temporary reprieve for his comrades.

At the Sky-Faring Division headquarters, confusion spread among the officers like wildfire. Many staff members couldn’t comprehend the latest orders from the Division Helm. Some of the more senior personnel even abandoned their posts, rushing to Yukong in protest, loudly warning her of the dangers her decision might bring.

Yukong, buried in work, shared their concerns—how could she not?

But Jing Yuan had contacted her several hours ago, instructing that once Fu Xuan reported his entry into Scalegorge Waterscape, she was to immediately unlock the Jade Gate for unrestricted access. No matter what—or who—came through, the Sky-Faring Division was not to obstruct them.

"Sigh…"

Yukong turned around, her gaze sweeping over the bewildered and anxious officers before her. She understood that the General had his own plans, and as someone stationed at the rear, the only thing she could do was not add to the chaos on the frontlines and execute his orders as instructed.

She had been retired from the Cloud Knights for some time now, but the scars of war still lingered in her mind. Though she no longer longed for the blood-soaked battlefield, she also did not fear war when it came knocking.

As a former Cloud Knight and now the Helm of the Sky-Faring Division—one of the Six Commissions—Yukong didn’t have to understand every command given to her by Jing Yuan.

But that never stopped her from carrying them out.

Some officers, upon hearing that the order came directly from Jing Yuan, even suspected the General had lost his mind. Others doubted the reliability of his command and refused to comply. If the Jade Gate was currently left completely defenseless, it was because Yukong had personally overridden all opposition to ensure its opening.

To her, if Jing Yuan was unreliable, then the Xianzhou Luofu would have long since fallen.

"Why are there still patrol teams in the Jade Gate’s airspace? I ordered a full clearance—get it done, now!"

"But Division Helm, opening the Jade Gate alone is already dangerous enough. If we don’t maintain patrols—" A middle-aged officer anxiously tried to explain but stopped short as Yukong’s sharp glare bore down on him.

She ordered coldly, "You have two minutes to clear the airspace. Otherwise, I will find someone else to do it."

"...Understood."

Once the clearance was confirmed, Yukong’s expression softened slightly. She turned to the officers and declared, "The General must have a reason for this order. The Luofu is under attack by foreign invaders, and the frontlines have already confirmed that one of them is Phantylia, the Doom Incarnate. Now is the time for unity—believe in the General. He has never let us down, and we must not let him down either!"

Hearing this, the opposition gradually subsided. Yukong then beckoned to a nearby communications officer and asked, "How much longer until Yaqun’s reinforcements reach the Luofu?"

"Division Helm, they will arrive in approximately four days."

"Four days…?"

Yukong pressed a hand to her forehead in despair. Given the Luofu’s current military strength, holding out for four days against a being like Phantylia would be nearly impossible. In her mind’s eye, she could already see the Luofu littered with corpses, its hard-earned economic prosperity reduced to ashes.

Before she could ask any further, the communications officer quickly continued, "The reinforcements from the other Xianzhou ships will take at least ten days to reach us, Division Helm…"

"Ten days…?"

Yukong clenched her fists.

She knew the Luofu couldn’t afford to wait that long.

Without hesitation, she issued new orders: "Relay this message—have all Sky-Faring Division personnel begin evacuating civilians from Liuyun Crossing to the inner sanctums of the Grotto-Heaven. The Tai Bu Commission has fortified the area with protective wards, making it the safest place in the city for now."

Then, she retrieved a stack of documents from beneath her desk and handed them over. "Everyone listed here is to cease their current assignments and report to the Divine Stratagem Division’s armory to retrieve their equipment. Once assembled, I will personally lead them into battle."

A subordinate hesitated. "Division Helm, you…?"

"As the head of one of the Six Commissions, it is my duty to ensure everything runs smoothly. And as a former Cloud Knight, no matter how grim the battlefield, if the enemy dares to bring the flames of war to our doorstep, they will have to step over my dead body first!"

Yukong rose abruptly, reaching for the longbow stored behind her desk. She ran a hand over its familiar frame, whispering under her breath, "At worst… I will apologize to them in the afterlife. I failed to protect her, after all…"

The laughter of an old friend, the promise she once made—the mere thought of them made her unable to face those she had lost.

Her grip tightened around the bow.

Her eyes, now resolute, carried the determination of one who had accepted their fate. As she prepared to leave for the Divine Stratagem Division, a sudden uproar erupted from the monitoring station within the Sky-Faring Division.

"Something’s wrong—something’s very wrong! A massive number of unknown entities are attempting to pass through the Jade Gate! Based on the waveform analysis… they appear to be warships, but they aren’t from Yaqun!"

Panic spread like wildfire, and the once-disciplined Sky-Faring Division fell into disarray.

Yukong immediately shouted, "Silence!"

The room fell quiet, save for the occasional beeping of monitoring equipment. She approached the console with calm composure, instructing her officers to continue their observations while she prepared to send a transmission.

[This is the Xianzhou Luofu Sky-Faring Division. You have entered our domain. Identify yourselves immediately!]

She still remembered Jing Yuan’s instructions—she did not follow the standard protocol of warning and repelling intruders. Instead, she waited, eyes locked on the screen, fingers curled into a tense grip.

If these newcomers were indeed the reinforcements the General had arranged, then all was well.

But if they were enemies, then the Luofu’s one remaining hope would instantly turn to despair.

Thump… thump, thump!

Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. Yukong’s breath grew shallow, anxiety creeping up her spine. She struggled to maintain her composure, knowing that the slightest mistake could spell disaster.

If they didn’t respond soon, should she close the Jade Gate immediately?

Would that be disobeying the General’s orders?

If they were enemies, how many innocent lives would be lost because of her hesitation?

Before she could spiral further into doubt, the console flickered, and a holographic communication request appeared.

The sudden request froze everyone in place. Silence filled the room as all eyes turned toward the screen, eager yet terrified to see who these warships belonged to.

Holding her breath, Yukong accepted the call.

The hologram wavered, then solidified—revealing a man clad in a black military uniform. His square-jawed face was stern and imposing, the golden aiguillette on his shoulder swaying slightly as he moved. The red insignia on his chest bore the image of an eagle in full flight.

A loud gulp echoed in the silent command center.

Then, the man’s voice rang clear and authoritative:

"Imperial Psionic Shipyard Fleet, First Fleet—arriving under His Majesty’s command to aid the Xianzhou Luofu in repelling Phantylia’s invasion. We request full operational freedom for transit, engagement, and necessary military cooperation."

For a moment, everyone’s minds went blank.

Then, it hit Yukong.

This… This was what Jing Yuan and Governor Chen Lin had planned all along.

A heavy silence engulfed the Sky-Faring Division’s command center. The Imperial Psionic Shipyard Fleet—an entity most had only heard of in passing—had arrived above the Luofu in overwhelming force.

Their commander had spoken with absolute certainty, as if it was only natural for an extraterrestrial empire to interfere in the Luofu’s affairs.

Yukong inhaled sharply, her thoughts racing.

So this was the contingency Jing Yuan had prepared. He had anticipated that the Luofu would struggle against Phantylia, and rather than depending on the other Xianzhou ships—whose reinforcements would take far too long—he had chosen the Empire as his ally.

This meant one thing: Jing Yuan never believed he could return alive.

His decision to hand over military authority to Fu Xuan now made complete sense. If he had been certain of victory, he wouldn’t have needed to make such drastic preparations.

And yet… trusting a foreign power? Allowing an empire infamous for its psionic dominance unrestricted access to the Luofu’s territory? This was unprecedented.

Had Jing Yuan taken a gamble?

Or had he and Chen Lin, the Empire’s young governor, foreseen this situation from the very beginning?

Yukong clenched her fists. She had no time to dwell on doubts. The situation on the frontlines was deteriorating by the second, and hesitation now would only bring catastrophe.

Her voice was steady as she responded:

"Under orders from General Jing Yuan and after review by the Sky-Faring Division, the Xianzhou Luofu grants your fleet full operational clearance."

The man in the hologram nodded once. The transmission ended.

For several long seconds, no one in the command center spoke.

Then, the alarms blared.

"Unrecorded entities detected in the airspace!"

Everyone rushed outside, their eyes turning toward the sky.

===

The air above the Luofu shattered.

A colossal purple rift tore open in the heavens, followed by another, and another—like cracks forming in glass, spilling forth the might of a galactic war machine.

Through these rifts emerged the Imperial First Fleet.

Each ship was a towering metal fortress, their surfaces gleaming with an unnatural psionic glow. Unlike the sleek, spiritual elegance of Xianzhou vessels, these leviathans of war were built with one purpose: absolute military dominance.

A single Imperial cruiser was the size of all of Liuyun Crossing. Their hulls bristled with weapons—railguns, energy lances, and planet-cracking artillery—all now unfolding into battle formation.

Then, came the strike craft.

Thousands of smaller fighter ships swarmed from the cruisers, moving with eerie precision. They did not dart around like traditional pilots—no, their movements were too synchronized, their formations adjusting with inhuman reaction speeds.

It was clear to anyone watching:

These were not manned ships.

These were psionically controlled war machines, guided by a will far beyond mortal cognition.

And then, at the heart of it all, it arrived.

A dreadnought-class battleship, easily the size of an entire Xianzhou city, descended through the rift.

At its bow, a golden insignia of the Empire glowed with unshakable authority—the same eagle crest the fleet commander had worn on his uniform.

The sky darkened as its massive form eclipsed the sun, casting the Luofu in a deep, ominous shadow.

However, despite there being only four cruisers, their fully equipped arsenal exuded such overwhelming pressure that many felt as if they could hardly breathe.

That included Division Helm Yukong—because she knew very well that this fleet’s transmission was merely a courtesy. They had never intended to enter the Luofu through the Jade Gate in the first place. They possessed the ability to bypass space entirely and arrive at their destination directly!

The sky-darkening aerial fleet was demonstrating its martial virtue in an entirely different way.

"So this is what you meant by ‘not interested’…" Yukong murmured with a wry smile from beneath the shadows.

---

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!