Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? [226]
Added 2025-01-28 00:17:27 +0000 UTCThe Vidyadhara were one of the three major native peoples of the Xianzhou Alliance. History books often mentioned this, but Chen Lin had also come across records from the Divination Commission about their origins.
In some sense, this race was an external group that had been "fished" into the Xianzhou. Over time, through long-term assimilation and interaction—not to mention the appearance of many great individuals among their ranks—the Vidyadhara became fully integrated into the Xianzhou's society.
Chen Lin had once mused: The Vidyadhara and the Foxians are minorities, right? Wouldn't they count as the "ethnic minorities" of the Xianzhou?
He didn't know much about the history of the Foxians. Before his transmigration, he had seen plenty of cat girls and fox girls in fiction and wasn't too interested in them. Instead, he was far more intrigued by the Vidyadhara—this dragon-descendant race. Because of this fascination, he had memorized many ancient texts about them.
And now, it was finally coming in handy.
Fu Xuan, seething with anger, ordered the Cloud Knights to take her to meet the Vidyadhara representatives. She barely made it a few steps before whirling around to shout, "Brother, come with me! I want to see exactly what kind of 'charges' they’re bringing against us!"
Chen Lin silently followed. Meanwhile, he recalled that the Vidyadhara currently benefited from certain special policies in the Xianzhou, largely due to their biological constraints. Vidyadhara could not reproduce. The only way for them to "rebirth" was after a natural death, when their bodies would transform into eggs. And if a Vidyadhara died in battle, that was one less Vidyadhara, permanently.
No ability to reproduce…
This biological limitation naturally led to a dwindling population over time. But this begged the question: Where did the Vidyadhara originally come from?
Pondering this question, Chen Lin followed Fu Xuan as the Cloud Knight soldiers led them to a cordoned-off area near the main hall. There, they encountered dozens of Vidyadhara standing in protest.
“Move aside! This is the Scalegorge Waterscape, not a place where your Divine Dignitary Office can do as it pleases!”
“That’s right! The Scalegorge Waterscape should be under the jurisdiction of the Vidyadhara! You stormed in without warning, and now you’re blocking us from entering? Are you sheltering a criminal of the Vidyadhara?”
“Is the Divine Dignitary Office trying to harbor Vidyadhara traitors and break the promises made to us?”
“We are here on the orders of the Elders to verify the matter of the traitor. If this delay causes problems, who will bear responsibility?”
The gathered Vidyadhara shouted indignantly at the Cloud Knight soldiers standing in stoic silence. A few of the soldiers, unable to suppress their frustration, attempted to argue back, but their lack of training in verbal sparring left them quickly overwhelmed.
Fu Xuan strode forward and declared in a booming voice, “I will bear this responsibility! But you—where were you when the Cloud Knights were fighting to the death against the foreign invaders attempting to desecrate the Ambrosial Arbor?! Where were you when we battled the remains of the Abominations not an hour after quelling the Disciple Sanctus? Speak!”
Fu Xuan’s formation amplified her voice, her words ringing out with sharp authority. The fury in her eyes silenced the Vidyadhara crowd in an instant.
“Charges, you say? Not only do you lack the qualifications to bring such charges, but even if the Dragon Masters themselves were present, they would have to submit their claims to the General and the Ten-Lords Commission for adjudication! Furthermore, all my actions are transparent and for the preservation of the Xianzhou. What guilt do I bear?”
A Vidyadhara man stepped forward to speak but immediately shrank back under Fu Xuan's withering glare.
“This is a Vidyadhara sacred ground…” he began weakly, only to falter.
“Do you still remember that this is sacred ground?!” Fu Xuan snapped. “And is it not also a sacred ground of the Xianzhou? You dare create such a commotion here—what sort of behavior is this?”
As a high-ranking official, Fu Xuan naturally had her own set of rhetorical skills. The man quickly retreated into the crowd, unwilling to draw further attention.
It was evident that Fu Xuan was livid. She had been tirelessly working to secure peace for the Xianzhou, only to have accusations of harboring criminals thrown at her as soon as she stepped out of the hall.
Who wouldn’t be furious?
The Vidyadhara crowd, some of whom were armed, quickly quieted. They had thought that causing a scene would force the Cloud Knights to back down, but the swift appearance of the official in charge left them too stunned to respond.
At this moment, a Vidyadhara woman stepped forward and bowed slightly to Fu Xuan. “Respected Master Diviner, I am Wanxi, a maid and guard in service to the Dragon Maiden. We are here on orders from the Dragon Masters’ Elders. We cannot disobey. Furthermore, we have only heard rumors of the traitor Danfeng’s return and wish to verify the truth.”
“Ah…?”
Fu Xuan’s heart sank. She had only learned about Danfeng’s return mere minutes ago. How had the Dragon Masters already gotten wind of it?
The word ‘spy’ resurfaced in her mind, her delicate eyebrows furrowing tightly.
Why does the Xianzhou always seem riddled with traitors?
Sighing internally, she decided it was no use concealing the matter. Fu Xuan replied candidly, “If I were to tell you that Danfeng is indeed here, what would you do?”
Wanxi bowed again and answered, “I would do nothing. I would report the matter to the Elders for their deliberation. Additionally, I thank the Master Diviner for her cooperation.”
“Hmph… If that’s all, then leave!” Fu Xuan waved dismissively and turned to head back.
Chen Lin, watching his elder sister’s retreating figure, thought to himself: She’s too soft. If it were me, I’d have made a few threats about confiscating their household registries or something equally dramatic to vent my frustration.
She gets so angry her face turns red, but she won’t even curse… Yep, the Xianzhou’s upbringing is far too civilized compared to the people of Jarilo-VI.
“Master Diviner, the Elders have one more message and a question for Governor Chen Lin.”
“Speak,” Fu Xuan said flatly, stopping in her tracks.
Wanxi glanced at Chen Lin and asked, “This must be the renowned Governor Chen Lin, correct?”
Chen Lin replied nonchalantly, “Ababababa…”
Wanxi blinked in confusion. The Elders hadn’t mentioned that this governor had a speech impediment. Flustered, she said, “I-I was unaware of Governor Chen Lin’s condition. Someone, bring paper and a pen for the Governor!”
The Vidyadhara looked at one another awkwardly. No one carried such things on them. After much effort, one person finally handed over a tablet and stylus.
Fu Xuan watched her brother’s antics with mild confusion but chose not to intervene.
When Wanxi handed the tools to Chen Lin, he smiled and waved them off. “No need.”
Wanxi and the Vidyadhara: “...?”
Wait, so you’re not mute?!
“Pfft…” Several Cloud Knights, who had been holding back their frustration throughout the confrontation, couldn’t help but crack a smile.
Thanks to their discipline, they managed to stifle outright laughter, but their amusement was evident.
“You—you’re not mute?”
“Ababababa,” Chen Lin repeated cheerfully.
Wanxi: “...”
At this point, his intentions were clear: he wasn’t going to answer her questions.
Wanxi sighed and resorted to delivering the Elders’ words directly.
“Master Diviner,” Wanxi said, bowing again. “The Elders believe that the recent disasters have occurred under suspiciously convenient circumstances. Often, those who seem like innocent bystanders or enthusiastic helpers are the true culprits behind such calamities. This matter will also be brought before the Ten-Lords Commission for investigation. No conspirator targeting the Xianzhou will be allowed to escape.”
Before she could finish, the Cloud Knights’ restrained smiles turned to quiet fury.
The implication was clear: the Vidyadhara were suggesting that Chen Lin himself might be the mastermind behind these events.
To the Cloud Knights, this was not only preposterous but offensive. Chen Lin’s meticulous planning had forced the Disciple Sanctus into a corner, cutting off their operations and saving countless Vidyadhara lives.
The thought of someone accusing Chen Lin of being a traitor after all he had done ignited a quiet but palpable anger among the soldiers.
However, before anyone could act, a voice cut through the tension.
“Get out!!”
Everyone turned toward the direction of the voice, seeing Fu Xuan standing there, chest heaving, her finger trembling as she pointed at Wanxi, her face ice-cold.
If she had shown restraint before, now she had completely let go of her considerations, directly launching into a furious tirade.
"Ungrateful wretches! Governor Chen Lin has contributed immensely to resolving this crisis for the Xianzhou! To ensure the recovery of the Luofu in the shortest time possible, he even pledged to aid us with all sorts of military and civilian supplies afterward! Before the battle, when the Cloud Knights were on the verge of running out of provisions, the General and I lost countless nights of sleep worrying about logistics! Governor Chen Lin, without a word, donated one million tons of grain to the Xianzhou and even activated energy-intensive equipment to teleport the grain here!"
Hearing this, the Cloud Knights were stunned. It was the first time they learned the reason why their once-empty granaries had suddenly been filled to the brim. Upon realizing this, their gazes grew increasingly murderous.
Fu Xuan’s hand, still pointing at Wanxi, trembled from the sheer force of her anger. “Even children in the academy are taught to study history, understand the past, and cultivate virtue! To know gratitude and repay it! Yet you—ignorant of the past, shameless in the present—how dare you slander such a noble act?
“History is studied to reflect on our inadequacies! Shame is remembered so we can hunt our enemies and avenge our losses! Not for you to use bloodline heritage to discriminate against outsiders! You claim to be noble, yet you refuse to improve yourselves, clinging to outdated traditions and putting on a false front! You envy the achievements of others and spread baseless rumors to sow chaos!”
Most of the Cloud Knights didn’t fully understand the intricacies of Fu Xuan’s scolding, but it didn’t stop them from knowing she was fiercely defending Governor Chen Lin’s integrity.
A few well-read soldiers began explaining Fu Xuan’s insults to their comrades. Upon hearing the full meaning, the Cloud Knights erupted into cheers and applause.
Many of them had participated in the battle at Changle Heaven to exterminate the remnants of the Disciple Sanctus. Even those who hadn’t were well aware of the sacrifices and contributions made by Chen Lin.
Despite not being one of them by identity, Chen Lin had tirelessly worked to alleviate the Xianzhou’s plight. The Cloud Knights might not consider themselves as noble as Chen Lin, but they admired his selflessness.
An imperial governor? Not a Xianzhou native?
So what?
Nobility lies in one’s deeds, not in one’s profession or race!
Among the Cloud Knights, there were also many Vidyadhara soldiers. Yet this time, they looked at their fellow Vidyadhara with disgust, wishing they could pin these accusers to the ground and rip off their distinctive Vidyadhara ears to make them admit they were just cosplayers pretending to be Vidyadhara.
Those sent by the Vidyadhara Elders turned pale under Fu Xuan’s scathing criticism, their faces alternating between green and white. They didn’t dare to retort. Didn’t they see that the Cloud Knights’ hands were already gripping their sword hilts? Another word, and they might not leave here alive.
As for Wanxi, the maid and guard of the Dragon Maiden, her face remained calm, showing no trace of anger.
“Master Diviner, please calm yourself. I am only acting under orders. This matter is ultimately decided by the Dragon Masters’ Elders. Neither I nor my companions have any choice in the matter.”
“Hmph! I’ll remember this. When I go speak to them, they better not hide from me!” Fu Xuan snapped.
---
In the depths of the hall, Jing Yuan slowly emerged. He had laid bare all the memories he could unseal, leaving himself with no backup plans. Now, everything rested on whether Dan Heng could reclaim his power as the Arbiter of the Dragons and his past memories.
As Jing Yuan stepped out, he noticed the Trailblazers, Qingzu, and many Cloud Knights gathered near the entrance, peeking outside. He was momentarily puzzled.
What are they doing?
March 7th heard footsteps behind her and turned around to see Jing Yuan approaching. She called out excitedly, “General, come quick! Master Diviner is on the offensive!”
Jing Yuan raised an eyebrow. “Fu Xuan? Offensive? Let me see…”
Right at that moment, Fu Xuan’s voice carried over.
“Even children in the academy are taught to study history, understand the past, and cultivate virtue…”
As he listened, Qingzu summarized the events for him. Once Jing Yuan finished hearing Fu Xuan’s fiery tirade, he burst into hearty laughter.
Qingzu, worried, hesitated. “General, Master Diviner’s words were rather harsh. Should you intervene?”
“Hahaha! No need!” Jing Yuan chuckled, crossing his arms. His usually gentle expression turned sharper, though his voice remained icy. “If it were me standing there, they wouldn’t leave without shedding a few layers of skin.”
“Ah, this…”
“Fu Xuan has grown so much…” Jing Yuan mused, stretching his arms. “I must be getting old. Just a bit of movement, and my whole body feels stiff. Qingzu, do you remember the last time I took a vacation?”
“Since I joined, you’ve always been at the Divine Dignitary Office…”
Qingzu had barely finished his sentence when a golden light flared deep within the hall. The sound of ancient waters surging, howling, and trembling echoed in everyone’s ears.
---
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!