Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [227]

Splash... splash...

Within the ancient sea, shrouded in dim light and thin mist, streaks of golden light burst forth from the depths of the grand hall.

In an instant, an immense, oceanic pressure radiated in all directions. Everyone immediately felt a crushing force wash over them, an indescribable and overwhelming power surging outward from the heart of the ancient sea. Wherever it passed, waves roared and surged as if a giant blade was attempting to cleave the tides in two!

Amid the flying spray and mist, the ground trembled violently, and the air filled with a metallic tang of salt and blood. The Vidyadhara, who hadn’t gone far, started yelling in a mix of awe and fear.

“... It’s really him!!”

“He’s returned! There’s no place here for that criminal anymore!”

Chen Lin appeared to walk steadily, unaffected by the trembling ground beneath him. However, if one looked closely, his feet were hovering a few centimeters above the surface—he was walking in mid-air. Together with Jing Yuan, he headed straight into the depths of the hall.

The golden light illuminated their figures as they finally stopped behind Dan Heng.

The tides parted under an invisible force, revealing the layered platforms and ancient structures on the sea floor. Massive, damp corals continuously dripped with water. Dan Heng, his eyes closed, was levitating slightly above the ground. A radiant, golden pearl hovered in the air before him, exuding the power that was splitting the sea apart.

In less than thirty seconds, all the entrances to the Scalegorge Waterscape were exposed to everyone’s view. Such a feat required immense power. Even Chen Lin, who possessed formidable psionic abilities, would likely exhaust all his energy to achieve the same effect. Yet for Dan Heng, suspended in mid-air, it appeared as effortless as drinking water.

When the last drop of seawater receded, Dan Heng slowly descended. Sensing the two figures standing behind him with their hands clasped behind their backs, he turned to face this forbidden land he had once guarded.

“This is the Vidyadhara Dragon Palace, the ancestral homeland of the Vidyadhara. Later, it was submerged under the ancient sea to seal the plague of immortality—the Ambrosial Arbor.”

Chen Lin, taking in the spectacle, couldn’t help but marvel. “The records in the Xianzhou’s archives weren’t exaggerating after all.”

Jing Yuan, lost in his own memories, spoke slowly. “During the upheaval of the ‘Shuhu Chaos,’ I had the misfortune of witnessing its horrors. Mountains shifted, seas churned, palaces fell to ruin, walls crumbled to dust… The Xianzhou owes the Vidyadhara much.”

The trembling ground finally stilled. At that moment, Fu Xuan entered with the Cloud Knight commanders. Hearing Jing Yuan’s words, she thought he was subtly chastising her and immediately felt indignant.

“General, there are many ways to repay a debt. Indulgence doesn’t have to be one of them...”

Jing Yuan chuckled. “Heh. True. And in dealing with certain troublemakers who overstep their bounds, you’ve done well, Fu Xuan. To disrupt morale at such a critical time by spreading baseless accusations against the Xianzhou Alliance—that’s unacceptable. I suspect there may be Vidyadhara influenced by the schemes of the Lord Ravager, Phantylia. I’ll investigate this matter personally and clear my brother’s name.”

Fu Xuan’s expression softened slightly. “It must be done.”

“Before we act, I need to ask: where exactly is the Ambrosial Arbor?” Chen Lin pointed to a distant, coiled dragon shadow. “And what is that?”

Deep in the heart of the Scalegorge Waterscape, a massive, flickering dragon shadow hovered in the air, rising and falling. This was the most peculiar part of the Vidyadhara Dragon Palace. The dragon shadow looked incredibly lifelike from a distance, exuding an oppressive presence as if it might roar and ascend at any moment.

Jing Yuan shook his head, indicating he didn’t know. He turned to Dan Heng, hoping the former Arbiter of the Dragons could provide an explanation.

“A seal,” Dan Heng replied impassively. “To completely suppress the power emanating from the Ambrosial Arbor, the Vidyadhara not only submerged it beneath the ancient sea but also placed three layers of seals upon it. If undisturbed, the seals would remain intact forever.”

“So you’ve remembered everything,” Jing Yuan said with a smile.

Dan Heng nodded. “Yes. But I am Dan Heng. Not him.”

Jing Yuan: “...”

Dan Heng continued, “To unseal the Arbor, one must kneel and pay homage to the ‘Three Talons’ and the sacred tree. When all three seals are released, the dragon shadow will dissipate, and the true path to the Arbor’s root will be revealed.”

“Do these seals require a specific key or unique power to unlock?”

Standing beside Dan Heng, Chen Lin asked, “For instance, do you personally need to activate them because of your inheritance?”

“That’s not necessary. The seals can be unlocked by following the proper procedure. Why do you ask?”

“I think we should prepare for trouble…” Chen Lin glanced at Jing Yuan. The two exchanged a knowing look, instantly understanding each other’s concerns.

The Scalegorge Waterscape didn’t have just one entrance. As the site of the Vidyadhara Dragon Palace, there were several similar access points, akin to ceremonial halls like the Dragon Ascension Temple. After all, this was once a thriving Vidyadhara city, and it surely had multiple ways in.

Chen Lin didn’t know the full extent of the grudge between the Vidyadhara and Dan Heng. What he did know was that most of the Vidyadhara hated Dan Heng enough to wish him dead. It didn’t take much imagination to foresee that they might cause trouble. After all, they had dared to challenge the Cloud Knights’ blockade. Now that Dan Heng’s identity as the Arbiter of the Dragons was confirmed, who knew what they might try next?

Chen Lin pondered. “General, I recommend having Fu Xuan deploy troops to seal off all other entrances. Additionally, I suggest stationing heavy forces to guard this main passage and prevent any incidents. What do you think?”

“That was exactly my intention.”

“Huh? Then am I not going inside?”

Fu Xuan froze. She had been ready to face Phantylia head-on, but now her brother was effectively cutting her plans short.

Jing Yuan shook his head, surveying the entire Scalegorge Waterscape. “Though Phantylia is the least combat-capable of the Lord Ravagers, she is still a Lord Ravager. As the General of the Xianzhou Luofu, I must face her myself. Moreover, with so many Cloud Knights stationed here, one of us must remain to command them, ensuring order and avoiding chaos.”

In short, Jing Yuan meant that the Cloud Knights needed a commander whom they respected and obeyed. If Jing Yuan went inside, Fu Xuan had to stay. If Fu Xuan went, Jing Yuan had to remain.

But the Xianzhou was currently under threat from a Lord Ravager. What kind of general would cower at the rear?

So Jing Yuan had no choice but to go.

“You’re going to face Phantylia alone?!”

“No. I will have old friends accompanying me.”

As he spoke, Jing Yuan glanced at Dan Heng, who nodded in agreement. The Trailblazers also stepped forward, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Dan Heng.

Welt Yang said, “We will assist the General in resolving this crisis for the Xianzhou.”

“So, it’s up to me and my brother to protect your retreat?” Fu Xuan narrowed her eyes at Jing Yuan, about to protest when she heard Chen Lin cheerfully pipe up.

“Fu Jie, the job of guarding the passage is all yours. I never said I wasn’t going in. The Alliance owes me a few favors, and it’s about time I collected some interest.”

“...”

Fu Xuan stared at Chen Lin, then vehemently objected. “You were ambushed by Phantylia not long ago! Absolutely not!”

She turned to Jing Yuan. “General, surely you agree—”

“Fu Xuan, Fu Xuan…” Jing Yuan sighed. “My brother’s friends are going with me. He won’t sit still. And even if it were just the two of us, he would still insist on going.”

Sometimes, the brightest smiles hide the most vengeful hearts.

Chen Lin’s grudge against Phantylia for the ambush—and everything related to the Stellaron disaster on Jarilo-VI—was clear to Jing Yuan. If Chen Lin did nothing, it would truly be shocking.

Though, to be honest, Jing Yuan wasn’t entirely thrilled about Chen Lin joining him either.

Fu Xuan fumed. “And I’m supposed to sit still?!”

Jing Yuan pointed at himself and said firmly, “Fu Xuan, I am the General.”

Fu Xuan was rendered speechless. After a moment, she muttered, “And what about the Alliance…?”

Chen Lin waved dismissively. “I’m here as an unnamed guest traveling with friends. The Alliance approved this last night. Don’t worry about it.” He grinned. “Save the doom-and-gloom for later. Why not prepare some flowers and wish us luck in battle? Besides, I’ve got plenty of aces up my sleeve. A measly Lord Ravager like Phantylia isn’t enough to make me hesitate.”

“You’re still joking at a time like this?! Fine, do as you like!” Fu Xuan shot him a glare, exasperated.

Stop him?

There was no stopping them now.

Sitting in her position, Fu Xuan understood better than anyone that in the face of major events, preparations must always account for the worst possible outcome.

As if to confirm her thoughts, Jing Yuan immediately summoned all the Cloud Knight commanders.

“Cloud Knights, hear my order! If there is any disturbance after we enter the Ambrosial Arbor—such as the sea returning to its original state—all Cloud Knights must retreat immediately and re-seal the Scalegorge Waterscape. Until further instructions are issued by the Marshal, all matters will be under the command of the Master Diviner.”

The commanders shouted in unison, “Understood!”

Jing Yuan turned to Fu Xuan, who was still puffed up with indignation, and spoke gravely. “If I do not return, you must present the entire truth to the other Xianzhou ships. I leave this important task to you. Chen Lin—do you have anything you’d like to say to your elder sister?”

Everyone turned their attention to Chen Lin, who had been smiling all along. He blinked, then chuckled.

“Well, since the atmosphere has reached this point, I’d feel out of place if I didn’t say something dramatic. How about this: Fu Jie, make sure to eat well and grow taller, okay?”

“Pfft…”

Jing Yuan couldn’t help but laugh, and Fu Xuan’s face darkened.

So you’re calling me short, huh?

Seeing that the mood had lightened a little, Chen Lin pulled out a half-empty flask of wine from his dimensional space—leftovers from a drinking session with Qingque—and handed it to a bewildered Fu Xuan.

“Fu Jie, keep this warm for me. I’ll be back soon to finish it. Pour the wine, but don’t drink it all—I’m just stepping out for a bit.”

What arrogance…

Yet Jing Yuan found himself smiling. “Be sure to pour a cup for your elder brother as well!”

“You two…”

Fu Xuan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Why had fate decided to put these two fools together? It was bad enough that her younger brother had no sense of decorum, but now her elder brother was happily joining in on the nonsense.

Is this really the time for jokes?!

Taking a deep breath, Fu Xuan suppressed her irritation and said firmly, “General, I will carry out your orders—and better than you expect. As for you, Chen Lin, I’ll take care of your request as well. But you two had better keep your promises.”

“Oh, now you sound like a proper general. Don’t you think so, brother?”

“Agreed.”

“Ha-ha-ha!”

With their arms slung over each other’s shoulders, the two brothers made their way into the depths of the Scalegorge Waterscape. Before leaving, March 7th approached Fu Xuan and asked hesitantly, “Master Diviner, do Jing Yuan and Chen Lin always act like this?”

Fu Xuan’s face was blank as she replied, “Always. They enjoy having secret discussions behind my back, and whenever they go out to play, they never invite me. They’ve always had this inexplicable camaraderie.”

“...”

Wow, March 7th thought. The Master Diviner is holding quite the grudge.

She hurriedly caught up with the group, leaving Fu Xuan behind to organize her forces.

Once the troops were dispatched to secure the other entrances, Fu Xuan stood for a long time, staring at the empty path ahead. The mist had long been swept away by Dan Heng’s power, and the brilliant sunlight now illuminated the ancient city beneath the sea. Yet, for some reason, she felt an unexpected sense of loneliness.

Since when did I start fearing this feeling of solitude?

She gave the wine flask a small shake. It was light in her hands, yet the weight of her brother’s casual words made it feel as heavy as a mountain.

Those offhanded remarks now carried the weight of the world.

Fu Xuan let out a quiet huff, turned around, and walked away. When a commander asked her where she was going, she replied, word for word, “To light the fire, warm the wine, and await the return of heroes.”

This is trust.

Before the Cloud Knight reinforcements reached one of the other entrances to the Scalegorge Waterscape, strange voices could already be heard.

“It’s open, just as expected!”

“The Elders really are brilliant strategists…”

“Enough chatter. Move!”

Footsteps splashed through the muddy terrain, heading deeper into the Scalegorge Waterscape. No figures could be seen—only footprints appearing out of thin air.

---

In Changle Heaven, within a dilapidated courtyard marked with the word “Sealed,” Blade sat cross-legged on a bed in one of the guest rooms. His face alternated between calm and twisted as he meditated.

Even when someone climbed over the wall and pushed open the door, he didn’t react.

Leaning against the doorframe, Kafka sighed. “Listen to me, Blade. You can control the curse within you.”

Hearing her voice, Blade’s pained expression began to ease. After about ten minutes, he finally got off the bed, though he looked weak and his voice was hoarse.

“Have you… finished your part?”

“Yes. Once Elio’s prophecy reached the Dragon Masters, they went mad at the thought of reclaiming the Arbiter’s legacy. They’ve already sent people into the Scalegorge Waterscape—and when the rumor of the former Arbiter being present was confirmed, they even increased their forces.”

Kafka idly twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “I didn’t even need to use my rhetoric on them. For once, Elio’s prophecy had a small flaw, though I suppose I’ll have to let him know about it so he can adjust any unexpected contingencies.”

“...Kafka… I… I have something to say, too.”

“Oh?” Kafka raised an eyebrow. “What is it, Blade?”

“It’s not just that… person, Jing Yuan, and his lackeys in there. Chen Lin showed up, too…”

Blade’s breathing grew heavier as he continued haltingly, “Chen Lin… wasn’t supposed to be in the script.”

About ten minutes later, Kafka used Silver Wolf’s network to report everything to Elio. Soon, Elio’s reply arrived.

——“It’s a minor disruption, but it requires adjustment. At 19:00 system time, eliminate the Dragon Masters and, quite literally, set it all ablaze.”

---

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!